The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy plans to chat with Stephen Cho, director of Google Apps Channels, during the CompTIA Breakaway conference (Aug. 3-6, Las Vegas). Or resident blogger plans to raise the following three questions about Google’s SaaS (software as a service) strategy for VARs and managed service providers.

Novell and Tech Data have inked a partnership to promote SUSE Linux and open source application appliances to VARs and channel partners. In some (but not all) ways, the partnership counters recent work by Red Hat and Synnex (co-founders of the Open Source Channel Alliance). Here’s the scoop.

Despite misleading rumors on the Web, Google has not changed the pricing or its SKUs for Google Apps. Here’s the scoop from The VAR Guy, along with accurate pricing information.

Red Hat is hitting the road and shaking hands with channel partners. In fact, the Linux and open source middleware provider is launching a training road show for Red Hat Advanced Business Partners. But that’s not all. The VAR Guy thinks Red Hat’s annual channel revenues will potentially top $600 million within five years, up from about $326 million today. Here’s the math.

At CompTIA Breakaway in Orlando, The VAR Guy is hearing some rumblings about Cisco Systems’ business strategy for Linksys.

When The VAR Guy heads to CompTIA Breakaway, he’ll be sure to poke around to see what Dell’s up to at the show. In the meantime, here’s some color commentary regarding Dell and its managed service strategy from our sister site, MSPmentor.

The VAR Guy hears OnForce will give away Nintendo Wiis at CompTIA Breakaway next week. Our mystery blogger by day (and video game addict by night) will stop by the OnForce booth — with open arms and empty hands — to say hi. (Are wii clear?) Kidding aside, here are five things The VAR Guy wants to hear from OnForce at Breakaway.

Anecdotal evidence all around The VAR Guy suggests that the economy is going from bad to worse. A 30-year-old deli down the street from his Long Island hideaway just closed down; a local bar just shuttered; and now comes word that Starbucks is closing 600 US stores and cutting 12,000 full- and part-time positions.