The VAR Guy

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.

We’re heading into a holiday weekend. Wonderful. It’s always nice to unplug a bit. But be careful: Technology companies are notorious for announcing bad news late on Friday or even on Saturday during a holiday weekend. Also, three-day weekends are a great time for companies to hammer out big partnerships or acquisitions in quiet solitude. If Yahoo and Microsoft are going to break bread, The VAR Guy believes it will happen this weekend.

Reports are circulating that Microsoft may make a run at acquiring Facebook. If true, this would be more than a consumer social networking move for Microsoft. In recent months, several Fortune 500 companies — including a major bank — have begun using Facebook to enhance employee communications and collaboration. Here’s the scoop.

The VAR Guy always worries when two big, market-trailing companies try to merge. Alcatel-Lucent, for instance, has failed to compete with Cisco Systems. Microsoft-Yahoo would have faced an uphill battle against Google. Ironically, Microsoft’s failure to acquire Yahoo — at least for now — could be a blessing in disguise, especially for customers.

Now that Microsoft has ended its pursuit of Yahoo!, a lot of folks are analyzing the big picture at both companies. Yada, yada, yada. But instead of focusing on the forest, The VAR Guy would prefer to focus on one tiny tree: Zimbra, the open source email platform that Yahoo owns, can now breathe a little easier.

The VAR Guy likes writers who buck conventional wisdom. In recent weeks, most pundits have been bashing Microsoft’s proposed Yahoo! takeover. But James Nicholson, a CNet veteran, has an interesting take on the proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! combo that caught The VAR Guy’s eye.