Unified Communications

Channel Programs

Zoom launches Master Agent channel with related Referral Partner Program

March 9, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Zoom launches Master Agent channel with related Referral Partner Program
The new channel and program are focused on taking Zoom’s video-first UC platform to market, which they believe will fit partner business models better through a referral system rather than doing deals on the partner’s paper.

Unified Communications

Synacor sees Qumu merger as expanding channel opportunities for video in midmarket

February 14, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Synacor sees Qumu merger as expanding channel opportunities for video in midmarket
Synacor has a large channel, for whom the addition of Qumu’s enterprise-grade video will significantly deepen their collaboration offerings.

Unified Communications

Poly looks to unify its endpoint management solutions, add insight with Poly Lens

February 12, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Poly looks to unify its endpoint management solutions, add insight with Poly Lens
Poly Lens will eventually unify all the endpoint management solutions from both the Plantronics and Polycom sides of the house.

Cloud

Consistency remains key asset for Avaya Canada in midst of change

February 7, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Consistency remains key asset for Avaya Canada in midst of change
Avaya is introducing new cloud services through their RingCentral partnership, and is aggressively expanding into the Master Agent channel, but even as a Canadian channel exec moves on, the company still sees its stability in Canada as a major asset.

Channel Programs

Avaya goes broader with ‘All In’ partnering strategy

February 7, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya goes broader with ‘All In’ partnering strategy
New Avaya channel chief Jon Brinton lays out Avaya’s channel strategy for the year ahead, which unsurprisingly emphasizes the new Avaya Cloud Office but also focuses on developing new channels.

Unified Communications

Kitchener’s Network Telecom delivers big results from small markets to win major Avaya award

February 5, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Kitchener’s Network Telecom delivers big results from small markets to win major Avaya award
While Avaya is putting more emphasis on the cloud, Network Telecom, whose customers are mainly in small town southwestern Ontario, won a Midmarket Partner of the Year award by leveraging a very traditional business model.

Cloud

Avaya CEO Chirico spells out strategy at critical Engage conference

February 4, 2020 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya CEO Chirico spells out strategy at critical Engage conference
Avaya kicked off the first day of their big customer event by focusing on their partnership with RingCentral and how it fits into their overall vision. They also announced the Avaya Cloud Office UCaaS solution with RingCentral, which will be available later this quarter.

Partnerships

French communication platform vendor LumApps looks to build out Microsoft channel

November 8, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on French communication platform vendor LumApps looks to build out Microsoft channel
LumApps, which is aggressively expanding in North America and now sells more here than in Europe, has joined the Microsoft Partner eXperience program and plans to build out a strong Microsoft channel, as they have already done with Google.

Unified Communications

Poly looks to redesign huddle rooms with Studio X all-in-one video bars for Zoom Rooms

October 15, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on Poly looks to redesign huddle rooms with Studio X all-in-one video bars for Zoom Rooms
These new devices, which support Zoom natively and will support more third-party apps in the future, offer users greater simplicity, and offer channel partners 3x the margins compared to selling a solution around a PC.

Unified Communications

LogMeIn redesigns GoToMeeting with video-first look and feel

October 1, 2019 Mark Cox Comments Off on LogMeIn redesigns GoToMeeting with video-first look and feel
The revamped collaboration platform is a key part of LogMeIn’s strategy of unifying and harmonizing its UCC offerings.