The VAR Guy

With ADTRAN’s renewed efforts to be a key player in the infrastructure space, the company also is continuing to focus its attention to the mid-enterprise market with the latest addition to its NetVanta series, the 644, designed specifically for VoIP and SIP trunking. Read on for the details …

VoIP company BroadSoft has conducted a survey about mobile phone usage in the workplace. Surprisingly (or not?), mobile phones are replacing physical ones in the workplace. Here’s what VoIP-centric VARs should know about the marketplace …

Siemens Enterprise Communications is breaking the tradition of selling third-party session border controller technology for its OpenScape Voice offering by developing its own SBC technology.

The buzz around SIP has permeated the IT networking space to the point where VARs no longer can ignore it – especially those who are moving into VoIP or other convergence technologies. Westcon Group is hoping its latest educational offering can help.

Network monitoring and management is pretty much a must-have technology for the enterprise, especially for those companies that use VoIP and other bandwidth-intensive applications such as video. But for remote sites or branch offices that utilize less than 100Mb of bandwidth, on-site management applications are few and far between. Plus, those that do exist come with a hefty price tag, making the idea of on-site management for smaller offices pretty much a pipe dream.

At Intermedia’s 2011 Partner Summit, COO Jonathan McCormick (pictured, left), along with CMO Manlio Carrelli (right), laid out the groundwork for Intermedia‘s 2011 product strategy. The key takeaway: Intermedia, a leading provider of hosted Exchange, saw its channel business more than double in January 2011 vs. January 2010. Now Intermedia is partnering up to promote online backup, encryption and other services to channel partners. Here’s what VARs and MSPs can look forward to as the year rolls on…

After spending a few years as the upstart technology in the channel, unified communications finally seems to be coming into its own. The VAR Guy has always had high hopes for UC as a great add-on technology for communications- and convergence-focused solution providers, which is why his ears perked up over Alteva’s new Unified Communications Certification (UCC) program. Read on for the details …

IP communications software vendor BroadSoft is filling out the features of its BroadCloud cloud-based delivery platform with the introduction of BroadCloud Video, a high-definition, SaaS-based videoconferencing service offered through service providers.

AsteriskExchange, an online marketplace for the open source IP PBX, has attracted more than 50 partner offerings since Digium launched the exchange in January 2010. In a quick Q&A, Digium Community Director Bryan Johns offers some updates on AsteriskExchange and some partner trends involving hardware providers, ISVs (independent software vendors) and VARs. Here’s what Johns told The VAR Guy.

Grandstream, which focuses on VoIP and SIP solutions for the SMB market, has launched a reseller program. True believers include 3CX, the international IP PBX provider and Microsoft partner. Here’s a quick look at Grandstream’s strategy.

The keynote was called “The Sky is the Limit – How to grow your SaaS and On-Premises Business.” But Open-Xchange CEO Rafael Laguna had his head in the cloud when he kicked off the open-source messaging and groupware provider’s second-ever partner summit here in Cologne, Germany. His speech covered a lot of ground in a very short time, but the core message to VARs was constant: Microsoft and Google aren’t the final word in the channel, especially as you head to the cloud. Here are 15 key takeaways for VARs and solutions providers.

ShoreTel, provider of “brilliantly simple” VoIP and unified communications solutions, has acquired enterprise mobility solution developer Agito Networks for $11.4 million. The deal gives ShoreTel the ability to extend UC systems to cell phones — a potential boon for any business. Here are some details.

Not long after announcing its own channel program, Skype has signed a strategic partnership deal with Avaya to provide communication and collaboration solutions to businesses of all sizes. Meanwhile, GigaOm is calling on FaceBook to acquire Skype. Here’s both sides of the story.

When people think of computer telephony, they increasingly think of Skype, which has provided voice services to consumers since 2003. Now, Skype is aiming to extend their near-ubiquity to the enterprise space with the launch of a channel partner program. The move comes amid rumors that Cisco Systems may look to acquire Skype. Here’s the 411.

Hosted Microsoft Exchange provider Intermedia is making a big step towards a real, cloud-delivered unified communications (UC) product today with the launch of its hosted PBX service, targeted at giving even the smallest of enterprises a voice-over-IP (VoIP) solution that integrates with their messaging system. Here are the potential implications for VARs and MSPs.

Hosted interactive voice response (IVR) solution provider Angel.com is making two moves today: First, a rebranding to just “Angel.” Second, the launch of Angel 4.0, the latest release of their flagship product, designed to roll all the various aspects of their product line into one cohesive platform. Here’s the scoop.

Solution providers serving the SMB space often don’t have the breadth of technology choices that their enterprise brethren do. Many times their customers have to settle with what’s available, receiving far fewer benefits of the technology than what larger customers enjoy.

Ingram Micro’s “house brand” — dubbed “V7″ — has unveiled a line of unmanaged networking switches for the masses. They’re designed to be affordable high-performance units for the SMB or home network. Here’s the scoop…

Qwest Communications will leverage SaaS technology from Angel.com to power the new IVR (interactive voice response) on demand cloud-based component of its Qwest iQ Contact Center call center suite. Here’s the scoop.

First, a disclaimer: Neither Alteva nor The VAR Guy are promoting e-mailing and texting while driving. But when it does inevitably happen, Alteva has a solution that’s apparently safer and more productive: the integration of voice-powered Microsoft Exchange into their hosted unified communications (UC) package. I had the chance to see — well, hear — a demo, and I came away intrigued. Here’s why.

Back in December 2009, I reported on enterprise VoIP services provider M5 Networks and their push to build smarter phone systems for SMBs. Now, fast forward to the present: I had the chance to catch up with M5 Networks CEO Dan Hoffman (pictured) on where the company’s going, how the cloud is helping them get there, and how the Apple iPad fits into their vision for enterprise telephony. Here’s the scoop.

What a difference two years can make. At least, that’s what Dave Ehrhardt, president and CEO of hosted communications company Apptix, tells me. When his executive team came on in 2008, Apptix was a company in crisis, struggling to grow its business even as Apptix tried to figure out exactly what market it was servicing. Today, they’re providing messaging for 100,000-seat enterprises and making money amid a mixed economy. Here’s how Apptix apparently got back on track, and where VARs fit in.

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.