Microsoft

Big Data

HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering

June 21, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on HDS targets midmarket with expanded UCP 2000 and new hyper-converged offering
The HC V240, HDS’ first hyper-converged appliance, is based on the VMware stack, but the hyper-converged road map is likely to broaden out beyond that.

Rocco Seyboth, vice president of marketing at BitTitan
Managed Services

BitTitan seeking Canadian expansion after landing first external funding

June 13, 2016 Robert Dutt Comments Off on BitTitan seeking Canadian expansion after landing first external funding
BitTitan’s 15 million (U.S.) in series A financing arrives just as the vendor feels cloud expansion is about to explode in Canada and around the world.

Storage

Scality adds Microsoft Active Directory and AWS IAM support in S3 API commitment

June 9, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Scality adds Microsoft Active Directory and AWS IAM support in S3 API commitment
Version 6.0 of Scality’s RING software significantly enhances their commitment to the AWS S3 protocol, which the company says will significantly expand their business with their vendor and reseller partners.

Channel Programs

Citrix contemplating unique model for upcoming Cloud Partner Program

May 26, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix contemplating unique model for upcoming Cloud Partner Program
A key part of the Cloud Partner program, now slated to roll out with the new fiscal year in January, will be working out how to best handle joint Citrix-Microsoft partners around Microsoft Azure.

Cloud

Citrix, Microsoft announce major expansion of long-term partnership

May 25, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Citrix, Microsoft announce major expansion of long-term partnership
Key elements include Azure becoming Citrix’s preferred cloud platform, and Microsoft Skype for Business now being optimized for the Citrix VDI environment, the only one to receive this preferred treatment.

Cloud

SAP, Microsoft expand partnership through deepened cloud integrations and support

May 18, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on SAP, Microsoft expand partnership through deepened cloud integrations and support
None of the announcements, which included joint validation for SAP HANA on the Azure platform, were earth-shattering, but they do speak to the significance of the relationship between the two long-time allies and how they see the market moving.

Cloud

Microsoft puts a data centre in every Canadian channel partner’s pocket

May 13, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Microsoft puts a data centre in every Canadian channel partner’s pocket
The going live this week of Microsoft’s two Canadian data centres opens up significant opportunities for both Microsoft – and its channel partners.

Notebooks

Lenovo launches new Chrome, Windows N-series laptops for K-12

May 10, 2016 Mark Cox 1
The new models include Lenovo’s first Yoga form factor for the K-12 market. Combat kits for the new offerings are also coming to channel partners.

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst
Channel Programs

Red Hat boss sets sights on $5B

April 6, 2016 Robert Dutt Comments Off on Red Hat boss sets sights on $5B
Red Hat wants to grow its business dramatically over next five years, including tripling revenues through channel partners.

Cloud

Atera adds new features to integrated RMM-PSA platform in push into North America

March 31, 2016 Mark Cox Comments Off on Atera adds new features to integrated RMM-PSA platform in push into North America
The new functionality enhances a platform for MSPs based on extreme simplicity and a lower price point. Atera is making a push into North America this year, in particular among solution providers who have been turned off by the complexity of getting an MSP business up and running.