Unified Communications

Small Business

Ooma CEO says Voxter acquisition moves them up from small business VoIP, creates new channel plays

March 8, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Ooma CEO says Voxter acquisition moves them up from small business VoIP, creates new channel plays
Ooma’s CEO Eric Stang discusses the implications of the deal with ChannelBuzz, including the likely impact on both the Ooma and Voxter solution provider channels.

Channel Programs

ShoreTel influence strong in new Mitel channel program and shift to two-tier distribution

March 7, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on ShoreTel influence strong in new Mitel channel program and shift to two-tier distribution
Specific details on the new Mitel channel program elements, and the distributors involved, will not be announced until April, but the strategic outline of both elements of the go-to-market strategy was made clear.

Cloud

New Calabrio VP of Strategic Partnerships reworking channel strategy to expand ecosystem presence

February 5, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Calabrio VP of Strategic Partnerships reworking channel strategy to expand ecosystem presence
While Calabrio has been expanding its cloud presence with new partnerships with Contact Centre-as-a-Service providers, they are also leveraging their strategic platform and reseller partners and looking to expand into new kinds of platform markets.

Unified Communications

Phones a major highlight in new Avaya product releases at ENGAGE event

February 1, 2018 Mark Cox 1
Avaya also rebooted their chatbot strategy with a significant deepening of their AI focus, and they have some things coming in the near future that will be of interest to partners.

Channel Programs

Avaya seeing rebound in business for Canadian channel

February 1, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya seeing rebound in business for Canadian channel
Avaya’s restructuring issues in 2017 had an impact in the midmarket in Canada which is served by the channel. Those problems have disappeared, and Avaya is bullish about its Canadian channel business moving forward.

Cloud

New Avaya cloud boss outlines strategy to make Avaya a cloud powerhouse

January 31, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on New Avaya cloud boss outlines strategy to make Avaya a cloud powerhouse
Mercer Rowe, newly recruited from IBM’s cloud business to put Avaya on a cutting-edge path in the cloud, laid out his plans at the Avaya ENGAGE event this week

Unified Communications

Avaya CEO lays out forceful agenda for reborn company

January 29, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya CEO lays out forceful agenda for reborn company
New Avaya CEO Jim Chirico acknowledged the old Avaya was the equivalent of a team that loses football games by playing a prevent defense, and told the company’s customers and partners that now they have a fundamentally different gameplan.

Unified Communications

Avaya announces new integrated voice and communications platform with Spoken acquisition

January 29, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya announces new integrated voice and communications platform with Spoken acquisition
Avaya was already partnered with Spoken, but the acquisition will allow broaden application of their technology throughout Avaya’s portfolio, to enable customers to transform their business models.

Managed Services

HP vet Ken Archer lays out vision and plans as new Nectar Chief Revenue Officer

January 12, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on HP vet Ken Archer lays out vision and plans as new Nectar Chief Revenue Officer
Nectar creates a new Chief Revenue Officer position to coordinate the company’s different channel routes to market.

Cloud

Avaya, Salesforce expand relationship with enhanced Service Cloud-Oceana integration

November 8, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya, Salesforce expand relationship with enhanced Service Cloud-Oceana integration
This extension of the Avaya-Salesforce relationship provides a complete omni-channel integration between the customer engagement and CRM platforms. The companies plan to develop the relationship further, into areas like the Internet of Things.