Freemium

Managed Services

Mobile-first RMM Pulseway strengthens MSP services with IT Glue integration

July 6, 2018 Mark Cox Comments Off on Mobile-first RMM Pulseway strengthens MSP services with IT Glue integration
Pulseway’s new integration adds an integration with a commonly-used IT documentation platform, that will improve MSPs’ ability to troubleshoot Pulseway, and make Pulseway a more attractive option for MSPs.

Managed Services

Avast to embrace AVG for Business non-freemium model as acquisition closes

September 30, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast to embrace AVG for Business non-freemium model as acquisition closes
Avast also stresses its commitment to AVG’s RMM business, and indicates that while the goal is to expand the number of resellers, they will also be rationalizing the product line.

Managed Services

Datto deepens RMM integrations, Canadian datacentre presence

August 4, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Datto deepens RMM integrations, Canadian datacentre presence
Data protection vendor Datto has begun more significant integrations with RMM vendors, announcing a full integration with LabTech by ConnectWise. The company also stepped up its Canadian presence with the announcement of a second Canadian data centre, in Calgary.

Managed Services

Avast sees AVG acquisition as bolstering SMB, channel presence

July 7, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast sees AVG acquisition as bolstering SMB, channel presence
For the channel, the key issue is what the acquisition will mean to the SMB businesses of both companies, particularly the MSP-focused RMM business AVG originally acquired from Level Platforms. Avast CEO Vince Steckler addresses the issue.

Cloud

Asigra expands partner opportunities with free AWS Snapshot Management tool

April 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Asigra expands partner opportunities with free AWS Snapshot Management tool
Asigra looks to fill a void in the marketplace by providing its MSPs with a tool for snapshot management in AWS, which will assist partners with workload migrations to AWS and provide a service for which they can charge.

Channel Programs

SugarCRM seeing success in shift to enterprise market

February 12, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SugarCRM seeing success in shift to enterprise market
SugarCRM has essentially restructured its whole business model, shifting from an open source model with a freemium component and an SMB focus, to a clearly enterprise-focused strategy. While they have recruited new partners for that space, most of their Elite Partners are long-time partners who have made the transition with them.

Servers

Savision releases new HTML5-based dashboarding tool for Microsoft System Center

April 9, 2015 Mark Cox 1
Savision, a Dutch company who makes business service and cloud management solutions for Microsoft System Center, but whose R&D is mainly in Canada, has released a new dashboarding tool for System Center Operations Manager aimed at more technical users, which complements their flagship Live Maps solution

Security

Avast seeking MSPs to sell new freemium Avast for Business offering

February 23, 2015 Mark Cox Comments Off on Avast seeking MSPs to sell new freemium Avast for Business offering
While the product, aimed at the sub-100 seat market, is free, Avast thinks MSPs will sign on because the free product will attract new customers who they can then sell other services.

Cloud

Cisco announces Project Squared free SaaS collaboration app

November 17, 2014 Mark Cox 1
Project Squared, a SaaS business collaboration app for chat, audio, video, multi-party meetings and content sharing, will initially be a free download, but Cisco expects to monetize it as they add more features, and they see it as a strong channel opportunity.

Hardware

Arcserve announces first appliance offering

November 4, 2014 Mark Cox Comments Off on Arcserve announces first appliance offering
The CA spinoff, which is now free to focus on its SMB and midmarket-focused product line, is also announcing a free edition of its software, and an update of its Unified Data Protection (UDP) which adds some new features.