Microsoft is releasing an update to Dynamics CRM to extend accessibility to virtually any mobile device via the cloud and enhance productivity through social communications features. The update is part of a long-running push to bolster its CRM market share against Oracle and Salesforce.com.

Business analytics is the technology most on the minds of CIOs recently surveyed by Gartner. Along with mobility, cloud and social business, the survey reveals a shift in IT organizations newly focused on combining these forces to change the way a business interacts externally.

Tom LaRocca is the latest high-profile Hewlett-Packard channel executive to defect to Oracle. It’s a significant loss, but may speak more about Oracle’s long-term market and channel ambitions. The lawsuits should start any minute.

Several managed services mergers and acquisitions have heralded in the new year, perhaps signaling a surge in deals and buyouts. The reality is these deals were signed in December and are part of an annual rite of cashing out and buying up before the end of the tax year.

Tons have been discussed and written about everyone on the Channelnomics’ list of Top CEOs for 2011, which we offer in no particular order. From Tim Cook taking the helm at Apple following the death of Steve Jobs to former eBay chief Meg Whitman stepping in as chief executive at HP, it’s been a busy year at the top.

A new report suggests Dell’s key weapon in its battle plan for war with Cisco in the data center is low pricing and attached sales. The idea: Attack with servers and drag low-cost networking gear to undercut Cisco’s premium advantage. This battle will have significant cost implications for solution providers, too.

The company better known for its open-source cousin, Snort sensors, and intrusion detection systems is entering the next-generation firewall fray with a next-next-generation firewall that includes a next-generation IPS. The release raises questions on technology consolidation and nomenclature.

It’s December, so it’s time for the prognosticators at Gartner to publish their annual list of things-to-come in IT. This year’s forecast is heavy in predictions for cloud computing, mobility, security and managed services. While some of the list may seem daunting, it’s full of great possibilities for the channel.

Big Blue is finding traction in the midmarket through “next-generation business partners” who not only deliver conventional managed services but also application and business services. Midmarket general manager Andy Monshaw believes it’s the next stage in channel evolution.

The new Oracle Database Appliance comes prepackaged with Oracle Database 11g and an ‘pay-as-you-grow’ model, a combination of technology and sales designed to make it easier for the channel to sell and small enterprises to buy. It’s also a reflection of the growing interest in future-proofing customer bases.