Articles by Mark Cox

Channel Programs

OpenText opens up private cloud to partners and unveils new MSP pricing model

July 11, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on OpenText opens up private cloud to partners and unveils new MSP pricing model
Prime Unlimited is an optional flat rate per-user price for OpenText managed services, while Prime Protect is a standard support package for partners.

Managed Services

Parallels adds enterprise features to RAS 16.5 to appeal to growing MSP market

July 11, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Parallels adds enterprise features to RAS 16.5 to appeal to growing MSP market
Some key changes involve Parallels responding to an opportunity created among Citrix and VMware customers by changes to their support and maintenance costs, as well as the End-of-Life of XenApp 6.5.

Channel Programs

Lenovo unveils channel transformation in response to partner feedback from Accelerate

July 9, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Lenovo unveils channel transformation in response to partner feedback from Accelerate
The changes involve restructuring the deployment of Lenovo resources to better support partners, new rewards for alignment and new logos, and changes to improve slow pricing policies – although a big one won’t roll out until next year.

No Picture
Managed Services

SolarWinds MSP introduces new enablement and training tool for partners with MSP Institute

July 9, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on SolarWinds MSP introduces new enablement and training tool for partners with MSP Institute
The 2018 version of the Institute, which should be all online by the September-October timeframe, has five series – three persona-oriented ones for manager/owners, salespeople and marketing, and two topic-focused on security and backup.

Artificial Intelligence

Commvault beefs up AI search capability with Lucidworks partnership

July 6, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Commvault beefs up AI search capability with Lucidworks partnership
The Commvault technology integration with Lucidworks will open up new conversations with partners where they can lead around search, and build their connections to a broader array of executive contacts beyond backup.

Managed Services

Mobile-first RMM Pulseway strengthens MSP services with IT Glue integration

July 6, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Mobile-first RMM Pulseway strengthens MSP services with IT Glue integration
Pulseway’s new integration adds an integration with a commonly-used IT documentation platform, that will improve MSPs’ ability to troubleshoot Pulseway, and make Pulseway a more attractive option for MSPs.

Data Centre

HPE unveils high-density SimpliVity HCI solution for space-constrained environments

July 6, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on HPE unveils high-density SimpliVity HCI solution for space-constrained environments
The HPE SimplVity 2600, which is the first SimpliVity that is entirely software-optimized, is being pitched at the VDI market to start, but the company thinks its flexibility will eventually take it beyond that.

Backup

Unitrends rethinks channel philosophy with multi-tier program as part of higher margin strategy

July 6, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Unitrends rethinks channel philosophy with multi-tier program as part of higher margin strategy
Unitrends also promotes Clark Brown, who formerly managed their DMR relationships, to the channel chief role.

Channel Programs

Canada comes through for Dell EMC channel business

July 5, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Canada comes through for Dell EMC channel business
Dell EMC Canadian channel chief Deanna Thomson discusses the Canadian channel, and why its performance in Q1 was even better than overall Dell EMC numbers.

Hardware

AMD touts software development as key in their hardware rebound

July 5, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on AMD touts software development as key in their hardware rebound
Dr. Jeffrey Cheng, the chief software architect at AMD, was just named an AMD fellow. He talks with ChannelBuzz about AMD software’s role in the company’s recent turnaround.