Avaya’s program changes give more partners ways to make more money, but also step up the requirement to have happy, satisfied customers.
Channel Programs, Unified Communications
Avaya fleshes in details of channel program changes
by Mark Cox •
Security
New Dell SonicWALL Threat Protection Service to be major channel play
by Mark Cox •
The new service combines one sandbox Dell has used internally, and being productized for the first time, with two licensed third party sandboxes, on the principle that modern threats that try and evade sandboxes won’t be able to evade three different ones at the same time.
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Mobility, Networking
Xirrus enhances MSP support with CommandCenter to simply Wi-Fi-as-a-Service management
by Mark Cox •
In addition to CommandCenter, which greatly simplifies the provisioning of new customers, Xirrus is also announcing enhancements to their MSP program to improve benefits.
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Digital Signage, Hardware
Dell strengthens IoT push with its first Embedded PCs [Updated]
by Mark Cox •
Dell believes its configure-to-order embedded PCs will do well in a market dominated by smaller manufacturers doing custom orders, and whose machines lack the software, manageability and support options Dell can offer.
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Storage
Tegile deepens all-flash emphasis with high-end Tegile IntelliFlash HD
by Mark Cox •
Tegile’s IntelliFlash HD storage array uses Tegile’s hybrid architecture, but with two types of flash, one layer being very dense and the other very fast. Tegile also announced a new entry level all-flash array, the T3550.
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Managed Services
VAR Dynamics announcing new name (CloudPlus), pricing, website, programs
by Mark Cox •
VAR Dynamics completes a major restructuring with a name change to highlight the company’s focus on its platform rather than the services on top, and to illustrate that the company’s base has also moved beyond VARs to include other types of partners.
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Big Data, Networking, Security
Gigamon enhances security focus with new Metadata Engine
by Mark Cox •
Gigamon enhances the security platform at the core of their growing security business, while continuing to increase and develop the security-focused part of their channel. They will also be implementing a Gigamon Professional Services program in Q2.
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Mobility, Networking
Lantronix launches first 5G Wi-Fi module for IoT
by Mark Cox •
Lantronix says the cost to enterprise management of their wireless stacks, together with the greater difficulty of updating obsolete embedded technology, makes customers ready for a cutting edge 5G (802.11ac) Wi-Fi connectivity solution for the Internet of Things.
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Security
Agiliance takes new name, RiskVision, and makes major push into channel
by Mark Cox •
Risk intelligence solution Agiliance pulls an Oracle, rebranding itself after its RiskVision product. RiskVision has done most of its business direct in the past, but is aggressively looking to change that, looking to add VAR, solution provider and MSSP partners.
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Networking, Servers, Storage, Virtualization
Nutanix, Mellanox partnership adds Mellanox Ethernet switch to Nutanix platform
by Mark Cox •
Mellanox thinks the Nutanix partnership can let Mellanox do for networking what Nutanix has already done for storage and compute – make it invisible. They also think it can grow their Ethernet switch business from the single digits to the neighborhood of their market leadership in Ethernet adapters.
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Cloud, Mobility
BES12 EMM platform first BlackBerry solution certified on Azure, more to follow
by Mark Cox •
The companies anticipate that the BlackBerry BES12 enterprise mobility management platform being tested and certified for Azure and available in Azure Marketplace will significantly increase its exposure and sales.
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Security
LookingGlass sees new CS-4000E enterprise network security platform as strong channel play
by Mark Cox •
This platform, the CS-4000E, is a version of the CS-4000 the company has been selling to government customers, priced lower for the enterprise. Looking Glass has begun to recruit a channel, and sees the platform’s ability to cover the whole threat intelligence spectrum as a strong incent for partners.
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Cloud, Storage
SwiftStack sees great IoT opportunities in joining Cisco Solution Partner Program
by Mark Cox •
The approved compatibility with Cisco allows any Cisco UCS server to be turned into the equivalent of a private Amazon S3 storage cloud, which is well suited for IoT requirements. More specific partner-focused announcements relating to this partnership are also coming.
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Cloud, Unified Communications
ShoreTel Connect HYBRID Sites offer single user experience for cloud and on-prem
by Mark Cox •
The new HYBRID Sites complete the integration of ShoreTel’s cloud and on-prem solutions which began with the new ShoreTel Connect branding last year. They improve partners’ selling ability with the single solution, and its suitability for larger deployments.
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Networking, Servers, Storage, Virtualization
Scale Computing partners with Mellanox to add networking to hyper-converged solution
by Mark Cox •
Adding networking to the server, storage and virtualization capabilities of their HC3 solution gives Scale a complete bundle that responds to customer requests for such an addition.
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Storage
Nimble Storage looks to new predictive analytics for enterprise push
by Mark Cox •
Flash-focused Nimble Storage has announced its new Nimble AF-Series of All Flash arrays, a family of four models which adds predictive analytics. Nimble thinks it will position them better in the enterprise market.
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Big Data
HDS announces new predictive analytics UCP model that forecasts customer churn
by Mark Cox •
The new Hitachi Unified Compute Platform 6000 for Predictive Analytics integrates SAP Predictive Analytics software, and while aimed mainly at telcos and media service providers, may have a broader audience than that.
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Mobility, Networking
Citrix reworks NetScaler T1000 by integrating ByteMobile technology
by Mark Cox •
The new NetScaler T1000 incorporates the ByteMobile optimization software within the NetScaler appliance for improved mobile traffic handling.
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Cloud, Software, Virtualization
VMware aims for thought leadership with new releases
by Mark Cox •
The new VMware Workspace ONE suite, and enhanced VMware Horizon VDI and Horizon Air solutions and VMware vRealize Suite 7 cloud management suite offer channel partners enhanced opportunities and the ability to gain deeper relationships with customers.
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Distribution
Ingram Micro sold to Chinese company for $6 billion: should partners be concerned?
by Mark Cox •
It’s a great deal for Ingram’s stockholders — which include many of their channel partners. But for their businesses, will it be business as usual.
