The VAR Guy

The Google Apps Marketplace cat is out of the bag, and software developers seem to be tripping over themselves to get listed. A few software companies have been shouting the reasoning behind their marketplace moves from the rooftops, calling it the herald of the emerging software as a service (SaaS) market. Here’s a roundup of what some of these companies have to say for themselves.

We knew Google had been making nice with software developers – and now we know why. The Google Apps Marketplace has just launched, giving ISVs a way to integrate their products with Google Apps and sell them to a huge-and-growing customer base. Intrigued?

Despite our predictions, the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco ended with a whimper on Friday. Awards were presented, but the biggest announcements were made earlier in the week. Here’s the roundup of the day’s events and our overall convention analysis.

In a speech to the student body University of Washington, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer elucidated the promises and perils of the cloud, shedding some light on Microsoft’s cloud strategy.  Gizmodo’s got the blow-by-blow – here’s a recap and our take.

Yesterday was Day 4 of the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stole the show by challenging the private sector and individuals alike to come up with a way to educate the public on the necessity of cybersecurity. Some details, and the rest of the fourth-day highlights behind the jump.

On March 2nd 2010, Apple filed a suit against mobile phone maker HTC for patent infringement. HTC, who notably supports Android and the Google Nexus One is fighting back. What’s more, Google is backing HTC. Is this just another court-spat between companies, or the start of the oncoming mobile wars and Steve Jobs’ increasing hostility towards Google…?

The biggest news out of the the third day of the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco: a gamut of computing industry leaders, including Google, Verizon, and CA, announced the formation of the Open Identity Exchange, a non-profit organization dedicated to building trust in online identity credentials. Here’s the scoop, along with the rest of the day 3 highlights.

Public institutions are looking into the cloud as a money-saving maneuver, and rightly so. Now Microsoft is breaking into that market with the unveiling of BPOS Federal, a version of its hosted online collaboration and productivity suite with enhanced security aimed at filling the needs of the federal government. Here’s what VARs should know.

Account creation is such a pain. That’s why Zoho, the browser-based, enterprise-focused productivity suite that competes with Google Apps, today rolls out integration with Facebook Connect, turning the ubiquitous social network into a new market for their product. Here’s why resellers should care.

While Google isn’t quite ready to reveal the software developer partner program we’re convinced is coming, the search giant has unveiled their new Qualified Developer Program, designed to certify the best and brightest of those working with the Google and open source APIs. Here’s the scoop.

Just when you thought the tablet rumors were over, they’re back. The latest is that February 25 will launch the pre-orders for the iPad. But here’s a twist: rumor has it there are a few extra features that weren’t discussed at the media launch. Read on…

It’s finally here, Windows Mobile 7, or as it more colloquially wants to be known: Windows Phone 7 Series. It doesn’t really roll off the tongue and it’s not exactly the seventh series of any kind of Windows Phone, but that’s what they’re sticking with. So what’s the scoop on the new dialer from Redmond? Well, it all started at the Mobile World Congress 2010 in Barcelona…

Google seems to be a step closer to an inevitable software developer partner program. The latest clue: Google has quietly launched the Google Solutions Marketplace, a kind of Craigslist that helps enterprise customers find Google App solutions from a range of companies. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy speculated months ago that Google might launch a partner program for independent software vendors (ISVs). The fact that they just launched a Google Apps Developer Blog is just fuel for the fire. Here’s why.

Apple says their new iPhone update is going to be killer. Google’s Android Phone and OS proliferating is catching on like wild-fire. New rumors point to some groovy stuff for Microsoft’s Windows Mobile 7 experience. But the real story involves Steve Jobs’ preoccupation with Google. Here are the details.

One of the little gizmos floating around CES 2010 this year was the Dell Mini 5. It’s not a netbook like the Mini 9, but a touch-screen tablet, of sorts. While 5  inches seems a little small for the tablet, it’s got some interesting potential. Read on to see how Dell is adapting to some new trends in the Linux world — even as the PC giant balances its Windows 7 relationship with Microsoft.

Yes, Google has launched its own phone; the Google Nexus One. It’s sexy, stylish and sleek, and everything you’d come to expect in a post-iPhone world. It’s also sporting Android 2.1, a step up from what the Droid had when it launched. Read on for some price points and pontificating if your interest is piqued.

Voice over IP technology has quietly matured from its status as cutting-edge to mainstream. But that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t moving forward. Quite the contrary: recent advances point to VoIP as a technology to watch (yet again) in 2010 = thanks to moves by Google and others. Here’s why.

Is Google mulling a more aggressive move into the hardware market with a range of partners? Could Google’s Chrome OS set the stage for a Google Netbook? Buzz about a potential Google Netbook seems to be growing. But will Google really make the move — and what are the implications for solutions providers?

I’ve had a Google Voice account since it was known as GrandCentral, but I never had much use for it. Until now. When I started blogging regularly I needed a desk phone to speak with my industry sources and with The VAR Guy’s staff. So I figured now is the time to take Google’s VoIP telephony solution for a test run.

Google’s sneaking in one more acquisition before the New Year: DocVerse, providers of a Microsoft Office plugin that enables real-time, multi-user collaboration, essentially causing Word, Excel, and Powerpoint to behave like Google Docs. While Google isn’t willing to make a statement on its DocVerse strategy, here are our quick observations.

At first glance, Google is making three moves that don’t impact VARs. But take a closer look and Google’s latest efforts could actually have some implications for channel partners. Here are the detals…

Everyone’s looking for the iPhone killer, including Motorola and Verizon. And with the advent of the Droid, competition is alive and well in the mobile smart phone market. I’ve had the Droid for little over a week now, so I thought VARs and MSPs might be interested in know if the new Android phone is a good replacement for their customers’ iPhone or Blackberry.