Articles by Mark Cox

Cloud

Amazon, IBM, Microsoft top Canadian cloud provider market

February 23, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Amazon, IBM, Microsoft top Canadian cloud provider market
IBM and Microsoft enter the Leaders category in cloud in Canada for the first time, while eight companies classified as Major Players are closely grouped.

Channel Programs

Wasp Barcode upgrades partner program to enhance margins, training

February 23, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Wasp Barcode upgrades partner program to enhance margins, training
Wasp raises partner margins for its top two tiers to as high as 35 per cent, believing this is what it will take to be a market leader in the barcode space.

Storage

New IBM all-flash systems seen as strong channel play

February 20, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on New IBM all-flash systems seen as strong channel play
Two new systems were announced, the FlashSystem 900, a pure speed system aimed at traditional flash use cases, and the V9000, which IBM believes can replace high end spinning disk arrays.

Distribution

PROMISE Technology to deepen Canadian channel presence through NetStor Technology Group

February 20, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on PROMISE Technology to deepen Canadian channel presence through NetStor Technology Group
The Markham-based manufacturer’s rep will expand PROMISE’s Canadian markets by educating its VARs and distributors how the vendor has evolved from making components to a range of solutions.

Cloud

Axcient unveils up-front SaaS compensation for VARs

February 18, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Axcient unveils up-front SaaS compensation for VARs
Axcient looks to recruit VAR partners with a model that will pay them more up front than they could make with a traditional hardware-software sale.

Software

FalconStor launches major reboot with FreeStor horizontal converged data services platform

February 18, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on FalconStor launches major reboot with FreeStor horizontal converged data services platform
Left for dead in many quarters, FalconStor re-emerges with a new platform aimed at flash and hybrid storage vendors, MSPs, and a VAR channel which it acknowledges needs to be won over again.

Cloud

Infrascale announces unique converged backup solution with WAN acceleration

February 18, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Infrascale announces unique converged backup solution with WAN acceleration
While converged backup is becoming more common, Infrascale’s offering, which includes WAN optimization and a cloud gateway, is unique.

Storage

Violin Memory introduces Flash Storage Platform designed for primary storage

February 17, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Violin Memory introduces Flash Storage Platform designed for primary storage
Violin’s new platform is the first all-flash storage system designed to run all primary storage for less than traditional spinning disks, and should significantly expand what to date has been a limited North American channel presence.

Cloud

Cloud PSA software provider Vorex signs first RMM vendor alliance with Naverisk

February 12, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Cloud PSA software provider Vorex signs first RMM vendor alliance with Naverisk
Vorex is broadening out from a direct sales model to enlisting a channel, signing up MSPs and VARs directly, and launching the first of what they intend will be multiple partnerships with RMM vendors.

Cloud

Mitel’s MiCloud 2.0 cloud communications solution strengthens partner capabilities

February 12, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Mitel’s MiCloud 2.0 cloud communications solution strengthens partner capabilities
The new version of Mitel’s cloud communication enhances partner capabilities to offer customers new functionality, while helping the partners deploy and provision their resources more effectively.