Educating customers – and partners – about pure play and hybrid cloud options is a critical part of the Avaya strategy.
Cloud, Unified Communications
Avaya preaching cloud to Canadian customers and partners at road shows this week
by Mark Cox •
Unified Communications
Unified Communications
Sennheiser enhances cloud IT management with new HeadSetup Pro Manager
by Mark Cox •
HeadSetup Pro Manager provides the ability to roll out updates globally, as well as full asset management and configuration management capabilities. It can also scale to manage up to a million devices.
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Unified Communications, Video over IP
Avaya unveils channel-only video conferencing and collaboration service
by Mark Cox •
Avaya Equinox Meetings Online is a rebranded and significantly upgraded updating of Avaya Live Video. It is a service which integrates well with on-prem video, and is aimed at the premium part of the market where video quality matters.
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Networking, Partnerships, Unified Communications
Aryaka enters first UCaaS partnership with 8×8 deal that creates a ‘meet in the channel’ solution
by Mark Cox •
The best-of-breed partnership is aimed at enterprises with a global presence, as well as regional customers with significant challenges.
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Unified Communications
Avaya Canada names David Robertson new Canada country manager
by Mark Cox •
Following Rejean Bourgault’s departure for AWS Canada, Avaya names a replacement from within, hoping for some stability in the Canadian country manager role.
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Channel Programs, Unified Communications
Sennheiser unveils their first deal registration program for North America
by Mark Cox •
The deal reg discount comes bundled with a permanent spiff for completion of a registered deal, and Sennheiser says that some interesting new products in the new year will add to the program’s value.
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Distribution, Unified Communications
8×8 signs on Ingram Micro as key part of channel expansion strategy
by Mark Cox •
The Ingram Micro deal is part of a significant initiative 8×8 has been making this year to up its investment in the channel.
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Channel Programs, Cloud, Unified Communications
Mitel lays out channel plans stemming from ShoreTel integration
by Mark Cox •
Because the closing of the acquisition will take place during a planned extensive restructuring of the Mitel channel program, the integration of both programs into a new one will take place in relatively short order.
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Cloud, Unified Communications
UPDATED: Mitel accelerates move to cloud with ShoreTel acquisition
by Mark Cox •
The plan is to rationalize and simplify the portfolio, although there is no rush to settle on a common platform. There is also relatively little channel overlap, so no need to rationalize the number of partners.
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Channel Programs, Unified Communications
Mitel will protect own channel in Toshiba UC acquisition
by Mark Cox •
Mitel’s acquisition of the Toshiba business is all about acquiring customers, and their channel. In order to protect their own Mitel channel partners, the two channels will, however, remain separate.
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Distribution, Unified Communications
Sennheiser signs on Westcon-Comstor to distribute Enterprise portfolio in Canada
by Mark Cox •
Sennheiser adds a distributor with focus on the communications space, after trimming its distribution channel by about half a year ago.
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Unified Communications
Avaya Canada channel chief sees real momentum in march from PBX to software and services
by Mark Cox •
Avaya Canada channel chief Corey Mindel discusses partner momentum selling Avaya’s software-based next-gen products, including Zang, which can be a tricky issue for some partners.
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Cloud, Unified Communications
Avaya’s Zang highlights ISV partner Mutare’s healthcare solution
by Mark Cox •
Mutare is one of about 90 strategic ISV partners of Zang, but they were also one of the very first.
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Cloud, Managed Services, Podcasts, Sponsored Content, Unified Communications
New Year’s Podcast Series: Carl Watene of Jive Canada
by Robert Dutt •
Carl Watene of Jive Canada on the company’s partnering strategy, and why MSPs should be giving UCaaS a second look.
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Cloud, Unified Communications
Avaya introduces new global channel chief – and new partnering philosophy
by Mark Cox •
Walter Denk, who has a distribution background and has been working for Avaya in Germany, is the company’s new global channel chief. Even more importantly, he says that the job has been redefined and that the channel will benefit.
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Unified Communications
Avaya Canada introduces both new country manager and new channel chief
by Mark Cox •
Rejean Bourgault, who has been in the lead role in Canada since October, and Corey Mindel, who has been acting channel leader since Ange Valentini left at the end of the year, were both formally introduced at Avaya Engage.
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Cloud, Unified Communications
Avaya’s Zang introduces new cloud phone service, and new collaboration tool
by Mark Cox •
Zang moves into the cloud PBX market with Zang Office, although at this stage, the channel opportunities, other than referral fees, are limited. Partner opportunities for Zang Space, the collaboration tool, appear stronger.
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Unified Communications
Avaya looks to reduce debt burden and re-emerge stronger with Chapter 11 filing
by Mark Cox •
Avaya says that the sale of its Contact Center business is not being considered as a way to restructure its balance sheet, but that it is in discussions to possibly sell off other assets.
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Unified Communications
Improved ease of deployment highlights Avaya IP Office Contact Center 10
by Mark Cox •
The changes will save partners hours in deployment time, and by reducing time to value, should also please customers.
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Channel Programs, Unified Communications
ShoreTel enables partner cloud installs with new PartnerStart Program
by Mark Cox •
ShoreTel has done all the cloud installs itself since it acquired its cloud business in 2012, but now their Enabled partners who get certified through the new program will be able to do so.
