The VAR Guy

Open source software companies continue to strengthen their channel partner programs. The latest example involves SugarCRM’s new Open+ Partner Program. But SugarCRM isn’t alone. The VAR Guy has a hunch that several open source partner program announcements will surface this week. Here are the details.

Digium Asterisk, the open source IP PBX platform, just received a major vote of confidence from a key channel partner. Synnex Corp., a distributor that supplies more than 15,000 resellers in North America, has agreed to promote Digium’s Switchvox to channel partners. Here are the implications for the unified communications market and the emerging open source IT channel.

It has been about a month since Digium launched the Asterisk Exchange — an online marketplace to help VARs and customers piece together telephony solutions based upon the open source IP PBX. It’s an intriguing concept — similar to Red Hat’s failed Red Hat Exchange efforts. So can Digium succeed where Red Hat failed? Yes. Here’s why.

Digium continues to build stronger partnerships in the unified communications market. The latest evidence: From Polycom to Skype, a long list of companies will evangelize Digium’s open source IP PBX during the Asterisk World conference (January 20-22, Miami Beach, Fla.). And yes, Digium will dial up channel partners during the event. Here’s the scoop.

Some critics say Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — is for hackers rather than real telephony customers. EUS Networks begs to differ. The New York-based solutions provider, which works closely with Digium, has launched an Asterisk-based IP telephony solution for a hedge fund client’s trading room floors. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy has spent plenty of time covering Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — in recent weeks. But a few solutions providers are telling our resident blogger to give equal time to 3CX, which develops a software PBX for Windows. What’s the story?  You’re about to find out.

Digium — which promotes Asterisk, the open source IP PBX — is gathering data to help accelerate the company’s push into corporate enterprises. The effort includes a comprehensive survey, conducted with the 451 Group, about the potential financial benefits of open source. Here’s the scoop.

What does the future hold for Cisco Systems? The VAR Guy spotted Cisco opportunities and challenges this week in Arizona during two small but strategic conferences: Astricon and N-able Partner Summit. Here’s the scoop.

Digium CEO Danny Windham has a message for networking VARs seeking a new opportunity in the IT channel: Digium — the provider of Asterisk, the open source IP PBX — is profitable, growing and seeking talented solutions providers. Here are more thoughts from Windham and the Digium executive team.

Has Google embraced Digium’s Asterisk, the open source IP PBX? Google Open Source Programs Manager Chris DiBona (pictured) provides some answers during the AstriCon conference in Glendale, Ariz. The VAR Guy captured DiBona’s thoughts in this FastChat video…

At the Astricon conference in Arizona, Digium announced the AsteriskExchange application store, an overhauled Asterisk.org community site and AsteriskForge for software developers. The three moves potentially solidify Asterisk and Digium as a disruptive force in the IP PBX market and the channel. Digium Founder and CTO Mark Spencer explained the strategy to The VAR Guy.

Asterisk, the open source IP PBX, is turning 10 years old. And Digium, the fast-growing provider of commercial Asterisk solutions, is hosting the Astricon conference this week. All sounds well. But The VAR Guy will raise seven key questions when he speaks with Digium officials later today. Here they are.

When the Astricon conference kicks off Oct. 13 in Glendale, Ariz., The VAR Guy will be checking to see if Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — is ready for mainstream VARs and solutions providers. Actually, The VAR Guy thinks he already knows the answer to that question. Here’s why.

Talk about a disruptive solutions provider. Foehn Ltd., a UK-based systems integrator, has completed its first ever Skype for Asterisk enterprise deployment. Why should other VARs care? You’re about to find out.

The latest word from Digium involves speech recognition for Asterisk, the open source IP PBX. The effort involves a growing relationship with Incendonet, which specializes in — you guessed it — speech recognition. Here’s some analysis from The VAR Guy.

At a time when Cisco Systems has aggressively reduced its face-to-face event spending and travel budget, the networking giant has signed on to become a visionary sponsor for the Red Hat Summit (Sept. 1-4, Chicago). And Cisco isn’t alone. IBM, Dell and Hewlett-Packard are also getting cozy with Red Hat at the summit. Here’s why.

The open source world is cheering as Red Hat joins the S&P 500. It’s a huge vote of confidence in Red Hat. But is it a vote of confidence in the open source business model? Or more of a sign that Red Hat is miles ahead of its open source rivals on Wall Street and in the channel? Some clues from The VAR Guy…

When fall 2009 arrives in North America, Digium hopes to stage an Asterisk uprising. Digium is planning at least two major training and education events for the open source IP PBX. Here’s the scoop, from The VAR Guy.

Alas, Red Hat is the only publicly held open source company that’s consistently profitable. Finding privately held, profitable open source companies is like searching for the proverbial needle in the… well, you get the picture. But during a July 7 conference call, The VAR Guy stumbled onto a profitable, channel-driven open source company that’s making the leap from Europe to North America. Here’s the scoop.

The sleeping giant has awakened. It looks like Cisco Systems is addressing the potential Asterisk open source IP PBX threat — and opportunity. Here’s the scoop from The VAR Guy at Cisco Partner Summit.

Isn’t it ironic: Microsoft (the king of independent software vendor relations) is mulling the fate of Response Point VoIP for small business. Meanwhile, Digium (the upstart company known for Asterisk) is building an online community for ISVs and partners that want to write unified communication applications. Hmmm. How will this story play out?

The Asterisk industry seems to be answering a loud, global call for open source IP PBX training. While Digium has started planning for the annual AstriCon conference, solutions providers and training centers are striving to educate the masses about the open source IP PBX. Here are some perspectives.

Time for The VAR Guy to eat a little crow. A few days ago our resident blogger reported that open source IP PBXes — and Asterisk — would have a low profile at the VoiceCon Orlando conference this week in Orlando. But Digium and Fonality sent a wake-up call to The VAR Guy. Here’s a scoop.