The VAR Guy

Cisco Systems is extracting revenge on The VAR Guy. Since around 2006, our resident blogger has asked Cisco channel insiders to join a range of social networks and collaboration sites. Some beta. Some real. Some successful. Some pitiful. Now, Cisco is turning the tables and pulling The VAR Guy into The Vibe — a social network built for Cisco Partner Summit 2009. Should The VAR Guy go into the light?

The VAR Guy and Cisco Systems’ channel team now have two things in common. They both love Starbucks. And they both blog. Indeed, Cisco has launched a channel blog. Hmmm. Does The VAR Guy have new competition — or a new way to track Cisco’s channel news?

Is there room in the world for another mystery blogger? The VAR guy would say no, but Cisco disagrees. The company has launched a phantom blog site — called Tech Edge Weekly — written by “Ira Pumfkin” (pictured). Cute. But is there a point to the effort? Apparently so. The blog represents Cisco’s countdown to a major product launch. Here’s the scoop.