Collaboration

Cloud

CafeX integration for omni-channel service beefs up Microsoft Dynamics 365

March 15, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on CafeX integration for omni-channel service beefs up Microsoft Dynamics 365
CafeX provides Dynamics with full omni-channel capabilities for both mobile and Web, upgrading its capabilities significantly against its competition.

Cloud

Microsoft Teams chat-based workspace now globally available

March 14, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft Teams chat-based workspace now globally available
Microsoft Teams is significant for the channel because it deepens Office 365’s functionality further, and gives partners another arrow in their quiver to pitch this already hot product.

Backup

Zerto unveils different type of vendor alliances program

March 14, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Zerto unveils different type of vendor alliances program
While IT vendor alliance programs typically emphasize API sharing, Zerto’s program involves much more including active building of joint solutions and joint investments in field marketing.

Storage

Nexsan expands Unity portfolio with archiving box, desktop client

February 22, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Nexsan expands Unity portfolio with archiving box, desktop client
Nexsan’s new Unity Active Archive is expected to have a much larger market than Nexsan’s Assureon archiving product, because of its ease of use and deployment, broader use cases, and attractive pricing.

Cloud

Panzura targets NAS with Freedom product family

February 17, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Panzura targets NAS with Freedom product family
Panzura’s family of three offerings offer progressively more functionality, and all are geared to let customers leverage cloud storage while still having all the performance and features of local storage.

Cloud

Avaya’s Zang introduces new cloud phone service, and new collaboration tool

February 13, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avaya’s Zang introduces new cloud phone service, and new collaboration tool
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.

Cloud

Jive, inContact, and Polycom announce UCaaS technology predictions

February 13, 2017 Guest Poster Comments Off on Jive, inContact, and Polycom announce UCaaS technology predictions
Jive Communications, inContact, and Polycom share their top predictions for 2017 in the unified communications-as-a-service space.

Channel Programs

Kitchener-based Intranet provider Igloo looking to build out channel in North America

January 27, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on Kitchener-based Intranet provider Igloo looking to build out channel in North America
Igloo, which makes a cloud-based SaaS solution that includes Intranets within a broad array of collaboration and other business apps, presently has no partners in North America. Now, however, having piloted a partner program in other geos last year, they are looking to change that.

Distribution

D&H Canada continues strong growth with 26 per cent overall sales growth in 2016

January 6, 2017 Mark Cox Comments Off on D&H Canada continues strong growth with 26 per cent overall sales growth in 2016
Growth was good pretty much across all D&H segments, although notebooks, collaboration and video conference solutions, systems components, and even printers, all did exceptionally well.

Software

Yappn rolls out global strategy for real-time language translation solutions

November 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Yappn rolls out global strategy for real-time language translation solutions
While Yappn has a hybrid go-to market strategy, they are looking to the channel to lead the way, and are particularly interested in attracting top eCommerce-focused partners.