Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference

Channel Programs

Microsoft tweaks partner profitability strategies

July 14, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft tweaks partner profitability strategies
Microsoft reviews response to their second cloud profitability eBook, which finished its ‘rolling thunder’ rollout at WPC, and looks at what’s ahead to assist with partner profitability.

Cloud

Momentum, opportunity highlight Microsoft Office 365 messaging at WPC

July 14, 2016 Mark Cox 3
Office 365 business continues to show impressive growth, although Microsoft is impressing upon partners that the real money here doesn’t come from selling subscriptions, but in integrating it into other solutions and building their own custom offerings on top.

Cloud

ConnectWise expands Microsoft relationship with Azure support in Cloud Management Tool

July 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on ConnectWise expands Microsoft relationship with Azure support in Cloud Management Tool
ConnectWise has built its Microsoft practice up massively in a very short time, and the full support for Azure should continue that trend.

Managed Services

BitTitan, Dropbox see enormous opportunities in new go-to-market alliance

July 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on BitTitan, Dropbox see enormous opportunities in new go-to-market alliance
BitTitan and DropBox will collaborate on an integrated go-to-market strategy where the services of each will be bundled together and available to both channels.

Networking

Sonus Networks expands support for Skype for Business

July 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Sonus Networks expands support for Skype for Business
Sonus sees significant opportunities here for partners, who are their sole go-to-market in the enterprise space. They also announced their SBC portfolio has been certified for Skype for Business.

Cloud

SkyKick touts unique value proposition to WPC partners

July 12, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SkyKick touts unique value proposition to WPC partners
SkyKick offers a three-pronged cloud management solution which facilitates migration, backup and management, using a 100 per cent channel model. They recently extended the platform by adding the capacity for partners to offer a white-labelled syndicated version from their own websites.

Cloud

StorageCraft enters cloud backup market

July 12, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on StorageCraft enters cloud backup market
The on-prem specialist announces it will make a belated entry into the cloud backup space, to allow existing partners to get both their on-prem and cloud products from a single vendor, and to expand their partner base among MSPs.

Cloud

Growing Azure demand prompts new Acronis solutions, quest for more cloud resellers

July 12, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Growing Azure demand prompts new Acronis solutions, quest for more cloud resellers
Data protection vendor Acronis announces a Backup Cloud Extension for Azure, as well as the future availability of a Backup Cloud Extension for Microsoft Azure Stack – which will be available when Microsoft releases Azure Stack.

Cloud

IndependenceIT rebranded workspace automation platform hits general release

July 12, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on IndependenceIT rebranded workspace automation platform hits general release
The new IndependenceIT cloud management platform now uses Azure Active Directory for its authentication of record. Changes permitting multi-tenanted application delivery will also allow partners to push many more app services out, to the point the company’s licensing policies are being changed to accommodate this.

Renée Bergeron, senior vice president of global cloud channel at Ingram Micro
Cloud

Enhanced Odin platform highlights Ingram Micro WPC cloud messaging to Microsoft partners

July 11, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Enhanced Odin platform highlights Ingram Micro WPC cloud messaging to Microsoft partners
In addition to the Odin enhancements, Ingram Micro is emphasizing the relevance of their new referral program for Advisors, in the wake of Microsoft’s announcement that the program is being sunsetted.