Month: March 2016

Cloud

Atera adds new features to integrated RMM-PSA platform in push into North America

March 31, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Atera adds new features to integrated RMM-PSA platform in push into North America
The new functionality enhances a platform for MSPs based on extreme simplicity and a lower price point. Atera is making a push into North America this year, in particular among solution providers who have been turned off by the complexity of getting an MSP business up and running.

[…]

Cloud

Accellion sees massive upside in decision to dance with Microsoft

March 31, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Accellion sees massive upside in decision to dance with Microsoft
Accellion joins the Microsoft Cloud Storage Partner Program, allowing its kiteworks platform to allow users to create or access Office 365 files from any device without having to save or upload the file back to the original content source.

[…]

Mobility

Janam launches ultra-rugged, ultra-compact XT2 Android touch computer

March 30, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Janam launches ultra-rugged, ultra-compact XT2 Android touch computer
Janam’s second Android entry has a smaller form factor than the first. This is also the first machine in its class to have the new Android 5 Lollipop OS.

[…]

Distribution

New certification program, expanded distribution key AVG SMB strategy

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on New certification program, expanded distribution key AVG SMB strategy
New AVG SMB chief Fred Gerritse recently talked with ChannelBuzz about the impact of recent management changes on the company’s strategy and Canadian presence, and about how AVG is now looking to enhance the markets for its SMB solutions and the skills of the partners who sell them.

[…]

Cloud

SAP top partner Projexia grows by acquiring Forgestik’s SAP Business ByDesign practice

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox 1
The Montreal-based SAP integrator adds to the largest SAP Business ByDesign ERP practice in Canada by acquiring the Canadian customers of fellow SAP partner Forgestik.

[…]

Channel Programs

ioFABRIC unveils unique LEaD generation program for partners

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on ioFABRIC unveils unique LEaD generation program for partners
The Toronto-based startup, which sells entirely through the channel, has created a three stage program to show potential customers who are educating themselves about software-defined storage how ioFABRIC’s differentiated solution for managed I/O allocation can meet their business needs

[…]

Distribution

NetApp enhances SANtricity software for Big Data analytics apps

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on NetApp enhances SANtricity software for Big Data analytics apps
New, preconfigured NetApp bundles for enterprise Splunk deployments will now also be available through Arrow, which is expected to significantly increase the amount of EF-series all-flash arrays sold in particular, as well as E-series arrays.

[…]

Cloud

IndependenceIT unveils Cloud Workspace Suite 5.0 in its biggest update ever

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on IndependenceIT unveils Cloud Workspace Suite 5.0 in its biggest update ever
The move up from Version 4.2 includes the adoption of Azure Active Directory as the authentication of record, a new interface, Cloud Workspace Suite’s first app services, resource scheduling, server scaling and automatic server cloning.

[…]

Security

Citrix expands browser app offerings with new Secure Browser family

March 29, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix expands browser app offerings with new Secure Browser family
Citrix rebrands the Workspace Cloud Browser Apps Service introduced last summer as Citrix Workspace Cloud Secure Browser, and complements this hosted service with two other offerings, the Citrix XenApp Secure Browser and the Secure Browser Deployment Kit.

[…]

Networking

SD-WAN vendor Viptela expands go-to-market with SevOne partnership and integration

March 28, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SD-WAN vendor Viptela expands go-to-market with SevOne partnership and integration
Viptela, whose SD-WAN platform is differentiated by a centrally controlled overlay network that simplifies policy changes, cuts costs, and provides more flexible access to cloud connections, expands its go-to-market by being integrated in the SevOne platform. They also indicated that more such partnerships are coming.

[…]

Networking

Avaya urges partners to get their SDN fabric in front of customers

March 24, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya urges partners to get their SDN fabric in front of customers
At an event Wednesday, Avaya strongly urged its partners to look closely at their networking fabric and the middleware which enables its automation, saying that it provides a clear path to smart computing and a strong differentiator from competitors.

[…]

Channel Programs

Security startup Vectra Networks continues channel build-out with new partner program

March 23, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Security startup Vectra Networks continues channel build-out with new partner program
Vectra, which goes to market entirely through partners, is looking to add a select number of security partners to its channel, and support them through their new channel program.

[…]

Channel Communities

CompTIA rethinks approach to member education with new Channel Standards program

March 22, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on CompTIA rethinks approach to member education with new Channel Standards program
The IT Solution Provider Standard is the first of five scheduled to roll out this year. The Channel Standards differ from the Trustmarks in their emphasis on imparting best practices to make the business better, rather than earning a badge to use in your marketing.

[…]

Channel Programs

Nexsan enhances partner program, including new support for Transporter appliances

March 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nexsan enhances partner program, including new support for Transporter appliances
Imation, Nexsan’s parent company, has recently undergone a major reorganization, designed to give it greater focus and make it competitive in a tough storage market. A key part of that is integrating the core Nexsan portfolio with Transporter Sync and Share technology. Access to that technology is one element of the enhanced partner program.

[…]

Networking

New Glue Networks Sales VP looks to expand company’s markets

March 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Glue Networks Sales VP looks to expand company’s markets
Alan Grahame looks to strengthen the Glue sales teams, including channel managers, expand their SaaS business, and continue to move their business beyond Cisco.

[…]

Jason Bystrak, executive director of cloud for Ingram Micro North America.
Cloud

Ingram ramping up Canadian cloud team

March 21, 2016 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Ingram ramping up Canadian cloud team
Ahead of its annual Cloud Summit next month, Ingram Micro is building out the Canadian team for cloud services and looking add new leadership.

[…]

Distribution

Avnet’s solution team launches four new sales plays to lead the channel to success

March 21, 2016 Guest Poster Comments Off on Avnet’s solution team launches four new sales plays to lead the channel to success
Avnet’s Bruce Gilroy on four new playbooks to help solution providers find success in converged infrastructure, analytics, identity and access management, and IoT.

[…]

Cloud

Customers still in early stages in digital business transformation: EMC-VMware study

March 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Customers still in early stages in digital business transformation: EMC-VMware study
A new report from EMC and VMware has data on enterprise digital transformation that, except in virtualization, shows customers are far, far short of where they want to be. The sunny side of the story is that many are taking moves to get there.

[…]

Channel Programs

Equinix adds first partner training programs as company restructures to strengthen channel

March 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Equinix adds first partner training programs as company restructures to strengthen channel
Ex-Rackspace channel chief Chris Rajiah also indicated that following a broad recruitment effort last year, which included mainly agents and referral partners, Equinix is focusing on adding key resellers this year, especially top Microsoft partners.

[…]

Digital Signage

ViewSonic, Userful extend partnership into digital signage with inexpensive video walls

March 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on ViewSonic, Userful extend partnership into digital signage with inexpensive video walls
In addition to a significant extension of their partnership with Calgary’s Userful, ViewSonic also announced an improved version of the “Do-It-Yourself” digital signage software solutions it has been selling with Best Wave, as well as a new 98-inch CDP9800 Ultra HD commercial display.

[…]