The VAR Guy

Fluke Networks is looking to push its network monitoring and analysis solutions deeper into the channel through Ingram Micro. With the ink still drying, Ingram Micro will serve as Fluke’s preferred master distribution partner in the United States for the entire Fluke Networks portfolio. Read on for the details …

HP is launching its Interactive Digital Learning Suite for the educational market, complete with a round of new software tools and solutions to help both students and teachers. What’s the scoop on this interactive learning, and can the HP channel partners capitalize with this package? Read on …

SaaS productivity provider HyperOffice differentiates itself from competitors like Google Apps and Microsoft BPOS by wrapping up its core functions in a familiar desktop shell, accessed through the browser. And now HyperOffice is making a channel play with the launch of a formal reseller program. Here’s the scoop on HyperOffice’s channel value proposition.

Two pieces of channel news from Google today: The search giant’s Google I/O Conference (May 10-11, 2011, San Francisco) could evolve to include more channel partner content, The VAR Guy has learned. Plus, Google says more than 2,000 channel partners have signed up to sell Google Apps — the company’s SaaS productivity suite. That milestone is an important morale-booster for Google’s base of solution providers ahead of the forthcoming channel battle with Microsoft for SMB cloud service supremacy. Here’s the scoop.

Even as Intel acquires McAfee, the chip giant continues to partner with McAfee rivals like Symantec. The latest Intel-Symantec deal deal brings with it Backup Exec 2010 to system builder partners. Here’s a look at the relationship.

The VAR Guy promised that he’d keep an eye on MySQL veteran Marten Mickos (pictured left) in his tenure as CEO of open source cloud platform provider Eucalyptus Systems. Our resident blogger had the chance to chat with him for a few minutes this week and catch up. In ten minutes, Mickos covered a lot of ground. Here’s the update.

Convirture is launching a partner program, featuring virtualization management software for OEMs, distributors and channel play for solution providers and resellers. Here’s the scoop on the company’s plans.

Shiftboard is a software developer that specializes in smarter SaaS workforce scheduling — and they’ve launched a channel partner program designed to help VARs bring the company’s solution to new markets. Just don’t call it “calendaring.” Here’s the scoop.

Symantec’s looking to make it easier for SMB partners to get the word out about their services with the new Campaign Creator and Partner Support Center.Tricia Atchison, Symantec’s senior director of channel marketing for the Americas, shares some details and the implications for channel partners.

Apptix, which provides hosted Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint messaging and collaboration to the enterprise, has announced a revamped partner program designed to help VARs meet the needs of businesses of all shapes and sizes. The company says the new effort includes increased margins for its partners. Here’s the scoop.

Fresh out of VMware: vSphere version 4.1 with a slew of new features, plus an updated focus on the channel and VMware partners. The moves come as both Microsoft and Red Hat make competitive virtualization claims vs. VMware. Read on and find out what Doug Smith, senior direct of global distribution for VMware, has to say about the latest VMware partner program moves.

Talari Networks has just signed a deal with UK-based value-add distributor Zycko to supply their enterprise WAN solution across Europe for the very first time. Here are some quick details.

Cloud-delivered file-sharing hub solution vendor (and lower case letter enthusiast) ftopia has launched a reseller program — and ftopia offering partners a 40 percent commission rate as they try to build channel buzz. Here’s the scoop.

New Jersey-based Phone.com is the latest company to target the increasingly crowded SMB VoIP channel. Specifically, Phone.com has officially launch a partner program, giving VARs a potential option for customers with less than 40 phone lines. Here’s the scoop.

Bocada Inc, the company know for their data protection management software and the birthplace of the “Data Protection Service Management (DPSM ) model,” has launched a partner program. Naturally, Bocada is looking to empower resellers and MSPs with the usual gamut of perks and rewards. Want to know if it’s right for you? Well, read on…

While Oracle’s acquisition of Sun is old news, one question has still been hanging overhead: What about Sun’s channel partners? Well, as of today, at least part of the answer stands revealed as Oracle announces an expansion of their OPN Specialized program to encompass several key parts of Sun’s portfolio. I had the chance to talk to Oracle Senior VP of Worldwide Alliances and Channels Judson Althoff (pictured) for details.

Last week I spoke about the Citrix app for the iPad, and briskly noted that ClubDrive was the company behind my virtualized experience. Today, I’m blogging about ClubDrive specifically. In case you didn’t know, they specialize in platform agnostic application virtuliazation and hosted IT. I got to chat with ClubDrive Executive VP Byron Attridge about what the company does and some VAR opportunities. Here’s a recap.

Yes, even business intelligence partner programs are connecting with the cloud. One prime example: Birst, an upstart in the BI market, says 27 systems integrators have joined the company’s SaaS-centric partner program. Here’s the scoop.

Alfresco Software, which specializes in open source enterprise content management, says it more than doubled its partner network in 2009. But here’s the really interesting part: Alfresco partners are earning $10 to $15 worth of services for every dollar of Alfresco Enterprise subscriptions sold. Here are the details.

Apparently, there’s more money to be made in hosted applications — which is why Rackspace Hosting‘s hosted solutions division is relaunching their reseller program with higher margins and more products. Here’s the deal.

Cbeyond makes communications and IT solutions; ADTRAN makes networking and communication solutions. A match made in heaven? Maybe. ADTRAN has joined up with the Cbeyond PBX Platform Partner Program at the ‘Platinum’ Tier. Honors and mentions aside, here’s what it means for you, dear reader…

The Rackspace Cloud posted a net revenue of $56.4 million in 2009 — an increase of almost 125% from 2008. Impressive. But the company will need partners to help maintain that type of growth. With that goal in mind, the cloud hosting provider has launched a partner program to keep that ball rolling. Read on for details.

The prevalence of wide-area networks has made network optimization by way of MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) a $16 billion industry. Talari Networks has been taking a bite out of that market since late 2009 with their Adaptive Private Network (APN) solution, which provides MPLS-like functionality over the public Internet. And with the launch of Talari’s partner program last week, resellers potentially can too. Here’s how.