Channelnomics

Mobility

  • Samsung Still Leads Cooling Mobile Market (0)May 16, 2013Global mobile phone sales increased slightly in the first quarter of the year, with Asia-Pac the only region to show real sales growth. But Samsung is still dominating the vendor leaderboard according to Gartner.
  • Sophos Broadens Endpoint in UTM Release (0)May 13, 2013Sophos is expanding endpoint security, wireless and VPN features in its latest UTM release -- additions to keep the company on top of a crowded and and competitive race in UTM.
  • Westcon Collaboration Targets BYOD (0)May 13, 2013Westcon is attempting to fill the needs gap in BYOD solutions to help partners take advantage of the burgeoning mobility market with a subscription-based, easy-to-deploy package that aims to take some of the complexity and risk out of BYOD initiatives. Is this a glimpse of the future of distribution?
  • Webroot Boosts Security in XRoad Alliance (0)May 13, 2013Webroot is once again partnering to make an entrance into new markets, this time forming an alliance with bandwidth and unified management firm XRoad Networks, a move that gives partners a bit more exposure in network security arenas.
  • Microsoft Hits Back at ‘U-turn’ Accusations (1)May 10, 2013The software giant claims some reports did not 'accurately represent' content of its conversation with certain national media journalists.
  • Microsoft Preps Course Corrections for Win 8 (0)May 7, 2013Breathless reports in the media notwithstanding, the changes due for Redmond’s struggling flagship OS amount to more of a veer to the right than a U-turn, and are nowhere near a concession of “New Coke” proportions.
  • Sophos MDM Push Takes on Rivals (0)May 6, 2013Sophos is asserting a bigger presence in MDM, a move that it hopes will give it more leverage to take on bigger challengers as the mobile security space heats up.
  • BlackBerry: Tablets Have Clear Expiration Date (0)May 6, 2013BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins believes the age of tablets will be short lived. He has a point, but it’s based on faulty reasoning. Here’s why.
  • Dell Reseller in Dutch Over Sales to Syria (0)May 6, 2013Dell is scrambling to explain how one of its largest Middle East resellers managed to sell hundreds of Dell laptops, tablets and desktop PCs to the embattled Syrian government in violation of long-standing trade embargoes.
  • Samsung Gains Ground on Apple in Tablet Wars (0)May 3, 2013The market share gap between Apple and Samsung in the tablet space has narrowed by 25 points in the last year. But whatever the name on the label, the tactile devices continue to fly off the shelves at an incredible rate, IDC data reveals.
  • Intel COO Krzanich to Succeed Otellini as CEO (0)May 2, 2013For only the sixth time in its 45-year history, Intel has a new CEO. The company tapped 31-year veteran Brian Krzanich to succeed Paul Otellini who is set to retire later this month.
  • For Many, It’s BYOD or the Highway (1)May 1, 2013Gartner finds 38 percent of companies worldwide say they expect to stop providing mobile devices to their staff by 2016.
  • Google Glass May Have Channel Appeal (0)April 30, 2013At first blush, Google Glass isn’t exactly what you would expect. Its applications are limited and it immediate marks the user as uber geek. While the jury is still out whether this cyborg-like device is truly marketable, there are a few practical applications that may find their way into the channel.
  • Low Tablet Margins Punish Ingram Micro Profits (0)April 26, 2013Ingram Micro has become the latest channel player to see its profitability hit by low margins in the tablet space, as its net income fell more than 40 percent despite a big sales hike in Q1.
  • Samsung Saw 42% Profit Jump in Stellar Q1 (0)April 26, 2013The South Korean technology conglomerate today announced record profits of $6.5 billion for the past quarter, a 42 percent rise over the same period last year.
  • Dell Unites Channel Amid Software Push (0)April 25, 2013Dell -- calling itself a software and service company -- has come out swinging with releases around BI, mobility and productivity. But Round Rock underscores that its transformation wouldn't be complete without a unified channel.
  • Apple Eyes Innovation Amid Weak Q2 (0)April 24, 2013Despite banking $9.5 billion in net profit and growing its cash pile, CEO Tim Cook acknowledges how Apple's results -- and the manner in which the company's share price has fallen -- has disappointed some market watchers.
  • Gartner: Mobile Fuels Chip Market Gains (0)April 24, 2013The analyst firm notes that 2012 marks the first time that semiconductor revenue for mobile devices surpassed that of PCs and notebooks.
  • GFI Updates Boost Managed Services Prowess (0)April 22, 2013GFI Software may be in throes of redefining itself, but the firm is staying true to its SMB core customer base with a slew of feature tweaks to its managed services platform that take into account mobile and Mac OS X environments.
  • CA Boosts IAM With Cloud, Mobile Refresh (0)April 22, 2013CA Technologies is refreshing its identity and access management portfolio with a new cloud and mobile look and feel. CA's rejuvenated IAM investments indicates that the market is likely primed for an upsurge in growth,, propelled by compliance and the cloud.
  • Symantec: A Company In Transition (0)April 17, 2013Most opening keynotes generate excitement and pump up the audience with a "let's go get 'em" team spirit. But at Symantec Vision Conference 2013, CEO Steve Bennett laid it out in no uncertain terms that the company is in a state of transition and has a long ways to go before it gets back on…
  • PC Malaise Punishes Intel Profits in Q1 (0)April 17, 2013Battered by the same forces withering most of the technology giants, Intel suffers a 25 percent drop in its Q1 profits as it attempts to adjust to the rapidly changing face of IT. But it could have been worse.
  • Symantec Security Refresh Bodes Well for MDM (0)April 16, 2013Symantec is remaining true to its stated mobility ambitions with a series of security updates to its mobile device management suite. It plans to invest further in MDM, indicating partners can breathe easier when placing bets in this space.
  • Cloud Trends Put Accelerator on GRC (0)April 12, 2013Few can deny the area of governance, risk and compliance has experienced a revival over the last year, indicated by a dearth of new start-ups and legacy players touting innovative offerings. One of the biggest catalysts driving GRCs growth is the cloud.
  • Synnex Making Big Push Into Mobility Market (0)April 12, 2013Synnex is joining other distributors in enabling solution providers to capitalize on the mobility trend by forming a new division that will give resellers products and support in selling devices, transport services and complementary technologies.
  • 7-inch Surface Smacks of Microsoft Desperation (1)April 11, 2013Microsoft's rumored plans to dive into the 7-inch tablet fray have been interpreted as a last-ditch attempt by the software giant to remain relevant in the post-PC world.
  • Gartner: IT Spending at ‘Turning Point’ (0)April 11, 2013This year is set to be the first in the past decade in which business decision-makers plan to significantly increase their IT investment, according to Gartner.
  • Aruba Adds App Controls to ClearPass MDM (0)April 10, 2013The new Aruba WorkSpace component extends current ClearPass capabilities for provisioning and managing mobile devices by adding network-aware applications controls, which can limit the apps allowed on the corporate network, enforce network prioritization policies for work applications and change security profiles on the fly.
  • Study: Poor User Profiling Threatens UCC Growth (0)April 10, 2013IT decision-makers charging full speed toward UCC with visions of greater organizational efficiency and improved worker productivity are skipping a key step in the process: Most haven’t bothered to ask what their employees need or want.
  • Mobile App Downloads Continue to Climb (0)April 10, 2013Canalys found that app downloads from the four leading stores worldwide – Apple's App Store, Google Play, Microsoft's Windows Phone Store and BlackBerry World – shot up 11 percent sequentially to 13.4 billion.
  • HP Looks to Shake Off Funk With Moonshot (0)April 9, 2013HP's release party for their hyperscale Moonshot servers was filled with references to HP’s desire to help save the planet. The real question for partners is whether Moonshot can help save the struggling vendor.
  • Pace of Mobile Device Shift Increasing (1)April 8, 2013A new Gartner estimate shows conventional desktop and notebook PC shipments falling by one-fifth over the next four years, while tablets and smartphone sales skyrocket. The change will mean new opportunities and challenges for vendors and solution providers.
  • Five Steps In Managing BYOD Impact (0)April 5, 2013While BYOD is gaining traction within all market segments, onboarding and managing a slew of personal devices onto a network still represents a formidable challenge for organizations. Here are a few tips for solution providers when getting BYOD under control.
  • Meteoric Tablet Sales to Top 200M in 2013 (0)April 5, 2013Tablet shipments will reach nearly 200 million in 2013 and not far off 500 million by 2017 as more consumers settle on the touchy-feely form factor as their main computing device, according to Gartner.
  • Cisco Bolsters Mobile Wares With Ubiquisys Buy (0)April 4, 2013The Swindon-based firm supplies service providers with 3G, long-term evaluation (LTE) and small-cell technologies, and is set to be integrated into the networking giant's Service Provider Mobility Group in Cisco's fourth fiscal quarter which begins at the start of next month.
  • Microsoft Surface in the Channel Just Rumors (0)April 3, 2013Microsoft is starting to sell its Surface tablets in bulk to business through a direct sales model, similar to its consumer strategy. Rumors persist that the Windows tablet will be released to the B2B channel in July, but there’s little supporting evidence.
  • Is Korea’s Samsung Safe From Threat of War? (0)March 29, 2013As governments on both sides of the border ratchet up the war rhetoric, the perceived vulnerability of the biggest information technology company in the world is a concern that stretches well beyond the borders of the Land of the Morning Calm.
  • Gartner Lowers 2013 IT Spending Forecast (0)March 29, 2013Doubts over U.S. fiscal policy and the unresolved European debt crisis will likely cause corporations to curtail IT spending in 2013, analyst firm Gartner says. The good news: IT spending is still expected to double over 2012.
  • BlackBerry Claws Its Way Back Into Black (0)March 28, 2013The company formerly known as Research In Motion Ltd., which has lost ground to rivals – particularly Apple and Samsung – in the smartphone space over recent years, saw Q4 revenue hit $2.7 billion compared with $4.2 billion in the same quarter of 2012.
  • Smartphone Surge Buoys Global Device Sales (0)March 28, 2013A surge in spending on premium mobile phones has driven Gartner to increase its predicted annual growth for the worldwide devices market this year from 6.3 percent to 7.9 percent.
  • Tablet Envy: Weathering the Post-PC Era (0)March 27, 2013Warnings of the post-PC era shone a little brighter this week with new figures showing traditional computing devices floundering, while tablet sales are set to overtake desktop shipments this year and laptops by 2014.
  • Kaspersky Lab Bolsters Mobile Security Effort (2)March 27, 2013Kaspersky Lab updates its mobile security product, indicating it plans to hold its ground in the tightening MDM race.
  • Acer Chief Sees Tablet Market Maturing (0)March 25, 2013Speaking outside an Acer-sponsored corporate social responsibility conference in Taipei last week, Wang told reporters he sees "a turning point" in the coming year with lower retail prices and rapidly growing popularity pushing global tablet sales toward a "magic number" of 200 million units, and perhaps even improving the fortunes of the beleaguered Windows 8…
  • Intel Wants to Stimulate Massive PC Refresh (0)March 21, 2013Intel believes there may be more than 500 million PCs more than 4 years old, open for refresh with new, touch-screen computers. The chip vendor says its new products are designed to stimulate innovation so PC vendors and solution providers can capture this potentially high opportunity.
  • Microsoft to Sell Surface Direct to Businesses (1)March 20, 2013The channel will be left with "raised eyebrows" following Microsoft's reported plans to sell its Surface tablets in bulk to business users directly, according to some resellers.
  • Cisco Upgrades Boost B2B Video Performance (2)March 19, 2013The new set of improvements should also give partners more options for packaging and managing value-added services for clients looking for better face-to-face communications in their daily business routines.
  • FireEye, Bradford Partnership Expands MDM (0)March 19, 2013FireEye is the latest security vendor to add mobile device management capabilities by partnering with NAC firm Bradford Networks, a move that gives partners in both camps new reach and cross-sell opportunities. The union also indicates that Bradford is seizing a market opportunity to extend BYOD capabilities to vendors otherwise on the fringe of the…
  • GFI Spins Off Security, Debuts ThreatTrack (0)March 18, 2013GFI is spinning off its security business, honing its former offerings into ThreatTrack, a new firm that aims to swipe at larger, more lucrative advanced threat markets. But how it will develop its channel to be competitive with larger and more established players remains to be seen.
  • Webroot Debuts Per-User Licensing Program (0)March 18, 2013Smartphones, tablets, eReaders --these days BYOD trends seldom stop at one device per person. Webroot is attempting to make the road a little bit easier. The Broomfield, Colo.-based SaaS security firm officially launched a flexible user-based licensing model, a move that gives partners a bit of a leg up in mobility markets as they face…
  • Insiders Say Microsoft Surface Sales Lagging (0)March 15, 2013Sales of RT version thought to have reached one million, while only 400,000 Surface Pros have been shipped.
  • Gadget Overload Opens Channel Doors (0)March 14, 2013Users are carrying more gadgets these days, according to a Sophos study. For users, that means more devices to track, more passwords to remember and more operating systems to keep secure. And the channel will be called upon to help them do so.
  • Trend Micro Folds MDM in Data Protection Suite (1)March 14, 2013Trend Micro is taking another stab at mobile security by rolling MDM into a more comprehensive data protection suite of solutions. The move could give channel partners a new way to introduce MDM to an established base of customers, but Trend Micro will have to stay focused on mobility strategy if it wants to gain…
  • Samsung Gets a Boost from Smartphone Surge (0)March 14, 2013Anticipating is building that the lunch of the fourth-generation Galaxy 4S smartphone will put Samsung on par with mobility rival Apple. Surging Samsung smartphone sales is lifting the company’s brand preference and marketability, making it easier for solution providers to sell its other products.
  • Analyst: VMware, Yammer, Google, Citrix Driving IT (0)March 14, 2013Ovum's Enterprise 2020 report claims that in the next seven years, the technology landscape will change more than it has done in the past 30 years, and said businesses must act now to adapt, or risk being left behind by their own employees and markets.
  • MDM Offers Choices For Security Channel (0)March 13, 2013Security firms can enter rapidly growing mobile device management markets one of two ways -- by partnering with MDM players or becoming one themselves. Both approaches come with their share of channel benefits and drawbacks. It will be up to solution providers to decide what's best for their practices.
  • IDC: Android Tops iOS on Tablets, Windows Lags (0)March 12, 2013The proliferation of smaller and cheaper devices will drive the tablet market to even greater heights this year, but's decision to sell two devices running on discrete operating systems has "yielded poor results so far.”
  • Lenovo Eying Buyout of Troubled BlackBerry (0)March 12, 2013Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing says the PC manufacturer may be interested in buying BlackBerry -- if the deal made sense. If it happens, Lenovo will enhance its competitive threat against rivals Hewlett-Packard and Dell and provide a formidable challenge to Apple and Samsung.
  • Sophos Bolsters Encryption for Next-Gen OS (0)March 11, 2013Sophos updated its flagship encryption solution with next-gen OS functions, a move that powers the security fundamentals that drive partner value and profitability in increasingly specialized compliance markets.
  • McAfee Embeds Android Application Control (1)March 11, 2013McAfee is taking steps to fulfill old promises with the launch of an embedded application control solution targeting the Android platform. This gives solution providers a new way to crack into increasingly competitive enterprise mobility markets.
  • Logicalis, MobileIron Join Forces for MDM (0)March 11, 2013Global systems integrator Logicalis has rounded out its BYOD strategy by forging a partnership with MDM vendor MobileIron
  • Accellion Partner Program Expands Mobile Niche (0)March 8, 2013Mobile file sharing firm Accellion launched a new partner program. a move that represents the inevitable growth of mobility niches that will ultimately be leveraged as a competitive value-add to channel portfolios.
  • Remote, Mobile Trends Spur Channel Innovation (0)March 7, 2013A study conducted by data governance firm Varonis indicated that half of workers have lost a mobile device with important company information. Going forward, accelerating remote and mobile trends will prompt the channel to think beyond standard BYOD policies and solutions to secure their customers.
  • Top 10 Sights From Mobile World Congress (0)March 7, 2013More than 72,000 mobile technolphiles from 200 countries packed Spain’s Fira Gran Via last week for GSMA’s Mobile World Congress. If you couldn’t make it to Barcelona for the event, here’s some of what attendees saw and heard at the show.
  • Microsoft Cutting Windows 8 Prices for OEMs (0)March 7, 2013Days after analysts pinned at least part of a global slump in PC shipments on weak adoption of Windows 8,Microsoft is reportedly taking steps to jumpstart uptake of its flagship operating system on some systems.
  • PC Sales Still in the Tank, May Get Worse (0)March 6, 2013Weak holiday sales, a stubbornly stagnant global economy, the growing trend toward tablets, and “an underwhelming reception” to Windows 8 conspired to drive down PC shipments by more than 8 percent last quarter.
  • Why IBM Gets the Channel’s Future (0)March 6, 2013At last week’s PartnerWorld conference, Big Blue rolled out several initiatives around services, Big Data mobility and hardware to enable partners to build and support better smarter systems. In reality, IBM set the stage for making itself a channel platform, on which solution providers can build next-generation value-add businesses.
  • Tablet Boom Can’t Buoy Tech Data Profits (0)March 5, 2013The world's second-largest IT distribution company moved $2 billion worth of tablets last quarter but profits still fell short of both expectations and last year's total.
  • PCI Mobile Guidelines Adds Channel Value (0)March 5, 2013Last month, PCI DSS was updated yet again to incorporate mobile transactions, boding well for solution providers wanting to build out portfolios and deepen compliance prowess.
  • F5, Websense Team In Security Expansion (0)March 1, 2013F5 Networks and Websense have launched a partnership that aims to combine unified access, firewall and Web gateway solutions with DLP, e-mail and Web security offerings with the aim of covering a much larger security footprint. For now, it's a solution that gives partners a ready-made differentiator while expanding cross-sell opportunities into new markets.
  • Can HP’s Big Vegas Bet Win? (0)March 1, 2013HP turned up in a gambler's paradise to stake its future on chief executive Meg Whitman’s turnaround plan. What are the key parts of this big bet, and do partners believe it can pay off?
  • Doctors Love Mobility, CompTIA Study Finds (0)February 28, 2013Healthcare providers are anxious to take technology to the next level in their practices, particularly with mobile devices, but a lack of requisite concern for persistent security risks could slow potential growth for IT service providers in the vertical space, a new study finds.
  • IBM: Mobile is Platform of Future Opportunities (0)February 28, 2013IBM is pushing a broad agenda with its MobileFirst initiative. Going beyond mobile device management, IBM sees a tremendous need for partners to deliver integrated mobile systems. Those who delay mobile capability will miss on billions of dollars in opportunities.
  • Verizon Revs Partner Program in Midmarket Push (0)February 27, 2013Verizon is wringing much of the complexity out of its disparate business channel programs, consolidating partner efforts in an effort to marshal reseller efforts for an all-out assault on the midmarket.
  • IBM Urges Partners to Transform Models (0)February 26, 2013IBM tells partners changes in technology, buying habits and non-IT buyers should compel businesses to transform their business models to address new needs and markets, as well as build value based on productivity outcomes.
  • Study: Stock Rising for IT Security Pros (0)February 26, 2013If the avalanche of recent hacking and malware incidents hasn’t emboldened you to trumpet the value of your IT security services, a new study shows your expertise is in high demand, short supply and worth more than ever before.
  • Global IT Spending Topped $2 Trillion in 2012 (0)February 26, 2013Global spending on smartphones exceeded that of PCs for the first time in 2012, according to the market watcher, which claims that the popularity of mobile devices is continuing to reshape the IT landscape, according to IDC.
  • HP Launches Android Tablets, Sells WebOS (0)February 25, 2013Hewlett-Packard is upping its game in tablets by launching a low-cost 7-inch tablet running Google’s Android operating system. At the same time, it’s shedding the last vestige of its failed 2011 foray into the tablet market.
  • Dell Takes On iPad With Biz-Focused Security (0)February 25, 2013Dell is making a concerted effort to target its Microsoft Windows 8-based mobile computing devices at vertical industries and is counting on channel partners to champion updated functionality and security improvements to specific users in healthcare, education, government and financial services.
  • AT&T Opens Doors to New Channel Program (0)February 21, 2013AT&T relaunches its channel program to enable resellers and OEM partners to reach new market opportunities, as well as attract solution providers to integrate and resell AT&T products. The revamped AT&T Partner Exchange is reflection of carriers becoming less hostile toward the channel to maintain relevancy and profitability.
  • IBM Looking Beyond MDM in Mobility Enablement (1)February 21, 2013IBM unveils MobileFirst, its strategy for addressing the total mobile enablement and support, in which it will provide tools for managing, secure and enhancing tablets and smartphones. The vision goes beyond what most mobile device and applications vendors are doing today and could change the mobile landscape.
  • New Threats Indicate Mobile Security Uptick (0)February 20, 2013McAfee released a report indicating a rise of increasingly sophisticated mobile malware that will increasingly be leveraged by organized cybercriminals in black market trends. Going forward, that means battling mobile attacks will become an even more significant component of channel MDM portfolios.
  • VMware Horizon Suite Targets ‘Multi-Device Era’ (0)February 20, 2013VMware launches a comprehensive mobility and virtualization suite, VMware Horizon, encompassing key areas on application, security, data management and virtual desktop access for a "multi-device era."
  • Gartner: Age of ‘Cognizant Computing’ Upon Us (0)February 20, 2013Consumers' reliance on personal cloud-driven devices has marked the coming of a new era of "cognizant computing" according to Gartner, which claims that the trend will drive innovation in sensor-enabled devic
  • Citrix’s Zenprise Now XenMobile MDM Suite (0)February 20, 2013Citrix turns around its Zenprise acquisition with the introduction of XenMobile, an end-to-end MDM suite that addresses pain points like application security, identity management and secure remote access.
  • HP’s Whitman Thrills VARs With Channel Stance (0)February 19, 2013To an enthusiastic response from the thousands of partner representatives gathered, the HP CEO outlined a hard stance on any reseller business being taken direct by the vendor's sales force.
  • Eager Mobile Adopters Face More Risk, Benefits (0)February 19, 2013A Symantec State of Mobility survey indicated that organizations eager to adopt mobility face greater risks but reap higher rewards. No surprises there. But for the channel, it indicates a narrowing window for mobile implementation services that will inevitably transition to increased opportunities in mobile security and optimization in the near future.
  • F5 Networks Takes New Approach with BYOD 2.0 (0)February 19, 2013F5 Networks kicks off "BYOD 2.0" with the F5 Mobile App Manager, a specialized SaaS suite that compartmentalizes app management and security on each device, eliminating traditional BYOD issues by focusing only on data and content.
  • Apple Has Post-Innovation Dilemma (0)February 19, 2013Apple has stunned the tech market with its ability to not just grab huge chucks of sales and profits, but also to completely win the hearts and minds of customers and control the innovation conversation -- but many fear Apple is at the end of its innovation limits. There are lessons for finding and sustaining…
  • Connectivity Consultation Is Next Specialization (0)February 19, 2013Channel partners have an opportunity to become connectivity specialists, offering consultation practices that help create custom-designed cloud solutions for industry-specific purposes. A connectivity specialist will be less concerned about offering a specific set of services and instead, more focused on ensuring all needed services and solutions are properly deployed and connected.
  • PCI Deficiencies Enable Compliance “Remodeling” (0)February 18, 2013Research by SecurityMetrics indicate that despite the widespread acceptance of PCI DSS, many retail organizations fail to be compliant. The number indicate that disruptive technologies such as mobile and cloud have changed PCI dynamics. But it also indicates that partners have a chance to rebuild customers' programs from the ground up.
  • Microsoft Misses Billions Without Office for iPad (0)February 18, 2013A new analyst report estimates Microsoft is missing out on as much as $2.5 billion annually by not marketing a version of its popular Office productivity suite for Apple’s iPad. The loss actually could be much more substantial if Android tablets and channel value-add sales opportunities are taken into consideration.
  • Vendors Need Differentiation in Antivirus Game (3)February 15, 2013F-Secure launches its latest endpoint protection solution coupled with a central management console touting elevated detection powered by heuristics and behavior-based technologies to nab advanced threats. While a market differentiator, F-Secure's release speaks to the challenge that antivirus vendors face to keep their products competitive as cloud and mobility continually change threat dynamics.
  • Is Microsoft Losing Its Grip on the OS Market? (3)February 15, 2013HP is reportedly planning a high-end Android tablet to sell alongside premium Windows tablets and ultrabooks -- on the heels of HP announcing it would develop a Chromebook. Are these signs Microsoft is losing its grip on the OS and mobility markets?
  • AppSense’s DesktopNow is Now For Enterprise (1)February 14, 2013AppSense reboots their flagship suite with the introduction of DesktopNow, a holistic approach to virtualization management in the enterprise, encompassing everything from Windows 7 Migration, BYOD and to per-user VDI management.
  • Why Apple’s iWatch Makes Mobile Security Easy (0)February 14, 2013Apple's iWatch has the potential to be the only mobile device that needs management, linking up with connected iOS devices and sharing authentication configurations. With iOS a regularly used platform in the enterprise, Apple's latest consumer device could have a profound affect on mobile security.
  • ViewSonic’s Thin Clients Foresee Post-PC Era (0)February 13, 2013ViewSonic's new thin and zero clients broaden its reach in the virtualization space and offer a complement to ViewSonic's growing portfolio of connected display devices -- a critical market strategy as ViewSonic leverages the post-PC era to expand its core display business.
  • Alicia Keys Can’t Save BlackBerry (8)February 13, 2013Despite strong reviews for the BlackBerry 10 OS and enterprises support tools, the newly branded BlackBerry Corp. continues to slide. The reason: continued market share erosion and a chaotic rollout of new devices. Can the channel save BlackBerry?
  • Xerox ConnectKey Is More Than Managed Print (0)February 13, 2013Xerox brings streamlined managed print services to a wide audience with ConnectKey, a specialized software suite targeted at service providers looking to manage multi-function printers, documents in the cloud, mobile print privileges and much more.
  • Wave Cuts Passwords From Tablet Authentication (0)February 12, 2013Wave Systems introduces an authentication mechanism for Windows 8 tablets. The biggest hook? No passwords.
  • Radware Acquires Optimization Firm Strangeloop (0)February 8, 2013Application security and delivery firm Radware just onboarded Web performance and optimization vendor Strangeloop, a move that promises to build out solution provider portfolios in burgeoning optimization niches.
  • Mobile Growth Portends Channel Opportunity (0)February 7, 2013Cisco's predictions about the incoming wave of mobile traffic and mobility demands paints a picture of what the channel will look like in the next coming years. If partner's aren't gearing up for the cloud services market, the infrastructure technology space will be the next big space to demand trusted advisors.
  • Samsung Cloudant Investment an Apple Offensive (0)February 6, 2013Samsung Ventures makes a strategic investment into Cloudant, a specialist in database-as-a-service capabilities and mobile data replication and synchronization. While Samsung attests Cloudant's technology is key for large enterprise businesses, Cloudant's capabilities would uniquely complement Samsung's mobile agenda and help it compete with Apple.
  • Sobel to Lead New CompTIA Mobility Group (1)February 6, 2013The community already boasts a roster of thought leaders from vendors, solution providers and others active in the fast-growing market for mobile technology and mobile apps, according to CompTIA officials.
  • Webroot Targets Network Security Partners (0)February 6, 2013Webroot is edging into the network security space with the launch of its Intelligence for Networks Suite, a release that gives partners the ability to service a broader markets and compete with the growing number of industry rivals incorporating both networking and endpoint security into their portfolios.
  • RIM, Trend Micro Partner In BlackBerry Security (0)February 5, 2013Research In Motion is infusing Trend Micro's Mobile Application Reputation Service into its BlackBerry platform, indicating that it plans on playing the security card to gain customer trust and credibility that could help fuel a rejuvenated market push.
  • HP’s Chromebook a Competitive Test Balloon (0)February 4, 2013Hewlett-Packard launches the HP Pavilion Chromebook, marking HP's first entry into the Chromebook arena. With a looming Dell-Microsoft relationship and questionable demand for Windows 8, HP could be sending up a trial balloon for new competitive efforts in both the consumer and education space.
  • Oracle Snaps Up Acme Packets for $2B (0)February 4, 2013The acquisition of the Bedford, Mass. based next-gen voice, data and unified communications solutions firm is expected to bolster Oracle’s ability to deploy all-IP networks, particularly across mobile devices, in a variety of vertical applications.
  • Sophos Makes Stronger MDM Push (0)February 4, 2013Sophos kicked off the New Year by bolstering the latest version of its mobile device management solution with an array of Google Android malware defenses, indicating that MDM will likely be a focal point for the endpoint security firm going forward.
  • Cisco Delivers the Big Game to Your Phone (0)February 1, 2013Cisco launchesStadiumVision Mobile, a live wireless video delivery platform that links into the Cisco Connected Stadium platform, providing live interactive content to sports fans in large-scale stadium environments. Cisco's efforts reveal a larger story about the growing need for advanced wireless infrastructure.
  • iOS 6 Adoption Proves Cloud Readiness (0)February 1, 2013Apple's rapid adoption of iOS 6 and subsequently, iOS 6.1 prove that the cloud is more than ready for prime time use. In a consultative setting, partners can leverage these real world examples to help wary customers understand how cloud services can provide direct and instant benefits to business productivity.
  • Kaspersky Lab Adds MDM to Endpoint Launch (0)January 31, 2013Kaspersky Lab is bulking up its endpoint prowess by adding mobile device management to the mix, a move that will give partners more leverage with customers. That said, the firm is not straying far from its SMB or endpoint security expertise.
  • Oracle Virtual Desktop Goes Android, Windows 8 (0)January 31, 2013Oracle Corp. brings Android support to its mobile virtual desktop client, alongside an overhaul the desktop client for USB peripheral support and full Windows 8 compatibility. With BYOD commonplace now and a must-have in the future, Oracle effort's to improve productivity at the end-user level is a small part of a larger cloud strategy.
  • Apple Heading for a Dell-Like Channel Epiphany (0)January 31, 2013Apple had a monster holiday season, generating record revenues and selling tens of millions of iPhones and iPads. But the company Steve Jobs built is showing signs of innovation and market fatigue, as evidenced by the forthcoming expanded-memory iPad. Chances are Apple will come to the same point in the crossroads as Dell and be…
  • Cisco: BYOD, Privacy Top Gen Y Issues (0)January 30, 2013Cisco Systems released a series of security reports, indicating new trends around BYOD and privacy for Generation Y workers. When taken with recent product launches, the studies could possibly provide a glimpse into the networking firm's future security investments.
  • RIM’s Gamble: All-in on BlackBerry 10 (0)January 30, 2013RIM unleashes BlackBerry 10 with two new devices, the BlackBerry Q10 and Z10, and a few surprises: RIM has changed its corporate name to "BlackBerry" as it seeks to refocus its efforts on flagship products that will be its namesake in the smartphone battleground. But is BlackBerry 10 ready to do battle?
  • HP ElitePad Needs a Partner Push (0)January 30, 2013Hewlett-Packard's well-equipped ElitePad 900 promises to be a "true" tablet for businesses, but if HP wants to be successful, it may want to push the tablet through a wide base of channel partners and resellers to creating a strong link between partner, product and demand.
  • Microsoft’s Office 365 Home a Cloud Catalyst (1)January 29, 2013Microsoft unleashes Office 365 Home Premium to the consumer market, giving users access to Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype and Skydrive on up to five devices for $99 a year. With more competitive pricing for students, Microsoft may be looking to create consumer demand that catalyzes the business world. Success is critical, as Office may…
  • Happy Holidays for Apple, Tablets at Large (0)January 28, 2013With tablets dominating tech spend in the run up to Christmas, it's no surprise sales of the touchy-feely form factor more than doubled in final quarter of 2012.
  • Symantec 4.0 No Easy Road to Recovery (3)January 28, 2013Symantec's massive overhaul, detailed in last week’s product and channel strategy unveiling, will be instrumental in turning around the vendor suffering from stagnation, increased competition, product deficits, questionable mergers and acquisitions, and an unclear go-to-market strategy. Is the plan bold enough to succeed?
  • Report: Lenovo Eyes BlackBerry Maker RIM (0)January 25, 2013Growing PC-manufacturer Lenovo has enterprise ambitions as it ponders a buy of BlackBerry maker RIM in search of a solid post-PC mobile strategy. But RIM will likely have to prove itself before any true new alliances can be made.
  • Wireless Google Signals Secure Cloud Services (0)January 25, 2013Hints that Google may be experimenting with its own wireless network should have cloud service providers thinking about how to more securely deliver software and services to users across the public cloud, especially as the reliance on public cloud infrastructure ramps up in a few short years.
  • RSA Launches Business Continuity, Mobile App (0)January 24, 2013RSA, the security division of EMC Corp. launched a new business continuity solution and related mobile app. Thus far, mobile GRC and backup solutions are still a fledgling and nascent market, but could accelerate as users demand the ability to customize GRC solutions to meed their own needs.
  • Webroot Partners to Boost Mobile Prowess (0)January 24, 2013Webroot is entering the mobile security space by partnering, not developing, MDM capabilities.
  • RIM Readies Rebound With BlackBerry 10 EMM (0)January 24, 2013RIM launches BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, the latest enterprise mobility management suite from the once-ubiquitous handset maker. Could RIM's laser focus on enterprise management help spring it back to relevancy when BlackBerry 10 devices launch at the end of Q1 2013?
  • Cisco’s Intucell Buy Mobilizes Future Plans (0)January 23, 2013Cisco Systems acquires network optimization company Intucell as Cisco captures new capabilities to help it capitalize on the next wave of networking technology that prioritized which is focused around software-centric solutions.
  • KineticD Launches Mobile Cloud Backup (0)January 23, 2013Cloud backup provider KineticD is launching a cloud-based mobile backup solution. While the space is still in infancy, accelerating cloud backup and mobile security trends could give the market a boost.
  • SMB 500: EMRs Open Doors for Health Care VAR (0)January 23, 2013Under the HITECH Act, doctor offices and medical facilities are required to migrate patient data to EMRs, or face stiff financial penalties. This directive means opportunity for Auxano Solutions, which has found a niche in easing EMR and compliance woes for health care industry customers.
  • Dell Survey Says BYOD Changes IT Culture (0)January 23, 2013A new survey from Dell Quest reveals IT executives are warming up to BYOD and touting its productivity benefits. Partners leading with BYOD and mobility specializations may soon find themselves in high demand -- and customer stickiness -- if solutions are well placed.
  • Tech Data Partners for Extended Warranties (0)January 21, 2013The distributor has joined forces with after-market warranty provider SquareTrade to offer channel partners new options for protection plans when selling a variety of end-user gear.
  • Ex-Ingram Mobility Exec Lands at Angie’s List (0)January 21, 2013The former BrightPoint executive who came to Ingram by acquisition last summer and ended up heading the distributor’s North American mobility efforts has landed a new gig as the COO of the consumer review site.
  • CompTIA Names Community Leaders for 2013 (0)January 21, 2013The IT advocacy and training organization unveiled a list of industry luminaries to head up the Downers Grove, Ill., group’s member communities in various disciplines for the coming year.
  • Webroot’s Tomeo Takes Channel Chief Role (1)January 17, 2013SaaS security firm Webroot likely has a bit more direction after naming Charles Tomeo as vice president of worldwide channels and technical sales, heralding a rejuvenated channel focus for the year ahead.
  • Webroot, SOTI Partner in Mobile Security (0)January 15, 2013Webroot just got a leg up in mobile markets with a partnership that weaves its security intelligence and secure Web browsing technologies into SOTI's MDM solution. The move will broaden partners' reach and customers-base while paving the way for entrance into mobile markets.
  • HP Regains Top PC Spot, But at What Cost? (0)January 14, 2013HP retook the PC crown from Chinese rival Lenovo, but may have taken a margin hit in the process, says Gartner.
  • Redspin Debuts Mobile Assessment Service (0)January 10, 2013Penetration testing firm Redspin is launching a derivative of its security assessment services for the mobile platform, a move that promises to create differentiation and deepen channel niches in compliance and increasingly competitive mobile security markets.
  • Good Technology Bulks Secure Productivity Line (0)January 10, 2013Good Technology is bulking up its portfolio of productivity offerings with the biggest differentiator: security. For the channel, that indicates security will be an inherent value-add as the MDM race becomes increasingly competitive.
  • Dell Wyse Cloud-Enables Displays for VDI (0)January 8, 2013Dell Wyse unleashes "Project Ophelia," a specialized display dongle that can turn any desktop monitor into a virtualization thin client. Mobile connectivity options like these are driving the move to a modernized workplace and data center.
  • Sophos Combines Endpoint Security, MDM (0)January 8, 2013Sophos is pushing into the MDM space with its Sophos Enduser Protection, a solution that protects devices by securing every user on the network. The solution represents a big step for Sophos in its overarching MDM strategy, but will it be enough of a differentiator to keep competitors at bay?
  • Marvell mPrint Mobilizes Wireless Printing (0)January 8, 2013Marvell releases a new USB dongle that can turn most printers into wireless printers, bringing the benefits of wireless and mobile printing capabilities to the workplace with minimal effort. Designed for use by OEMs and solution providers, any partner specializing in mobility or managed print may find this useful.
  • Tablets to Rule 2013 as Dominant Form Factor (0)January 8, 2013The tablet will usurp the notebook as the world's dominant PC form factor in 2013, driven by a surge in sales of the new class of 7-inch to 8-inch models.
  • Good Technology Names Apple Vet Wyatt CEO (0)January 7, 2013Enterprise mobility firm Good Technology names Motorola and Apple vet Christy Wyatt to the role of CEO, signaling a new direction for the firm and expanded channel opportunity as it seeks creative ways to differentiate in the hot MDM space.
  • Lenovo Unveils Windows 8 Tablets and Tables (0)January 7, 2013Lenovo launches the IdeaPad Horizon, a new 27-inch sharable desktop table tablet, and the ThinkPad Helix, a Microsoft Surface-like ultrabook with a detachable keyboard. Armed with an additional fleet of all-in-one units focused on optimizing the Windows 8 experience, Lenovo is offering a massive portfolio of post-PC era PCs.
  • AirTight Networks Offers MSP-Friendly WLAN (0)January 7, 2013AirTight Networks offers wireless access points that include embedded security, analytics and controller-less cloud manageability targeted for the enterprise or retail space. AirTight is on track to ride the wave of mobility-driven business while giving solution providers areas for value-added management.
  • Forrester Predicts Optimistic 2014 (1)January 7, 2013Forrester Research offers an optimistic outlook for 2013, calling it a transitional year to 2014, where IT budgets will loosen up and major spending on mobility, cloud and Big Data-style solutions will spur considerable growth.
  • Mobile Viruses Set To Rise In 2013 (0)January 4, 2013Security firm Trend Micro forecasts mobile viruses to rise significantly in 2013, and if history is any indication, they probably will. But the anticipated rise of mobile threats sets the stage for Trend Micro's continued push into mobile security and MDM markets.
  • CES No Longer Dismissible in B2B Circles (0)January 4, 2013The massive Consumer Electronics Show opens in Las Vegas next week, showcasing the latest and forthcoming gadgets and digital devices for 2013. Ordinarily, this is an event given token status in business tech circles, but no more. Consumers are increasingly leading the technology purchasing discussion.
  • Analysts: Future Looks Bright for Projector Sales (0)January 4, 2013Projector sales globally are forecast to expand 18 percent to 11.4 million units this year, driven by several especially strong emerging technological areas.
  • RSA: Strategy Key in Tackling IT Disruptors (0)January 3, 2013RSA, the security division of EMC, issued a report outlining strategies for implementing security mechanisms and failsafes when assimilating emerging technology trends. While it's nothing that partners haven't heard before, the report gives solution providers some insights into where to put their energies around Big Data and threat intelligence services going forward.
  • IT Forecast Revised Up; PCs, Tablets Still Soft (0)January 3, 2013Gartner handed the channel a New Year's boost by upwardly revising its global IT spending forecast for 2013.
  • Mobile PCI DSS Looms Large in 2013 (0)January 2, 2013Credit card swipers on mobile devices expand MDM practices for the channel, and the biggest opportunities will include rejuvenated offerings around mobile PCI DSS and other growing compliance niches.
  • Big Data, Cloud Fuel Enterprise in 2013 (0)December 31, 2012Software AG reveals the results of its customer adoption survey, showing cloud, Big Data and mobility are set for adoption and expansion into the next two years. Partners can use this as an outline on where to specialize for 2013.
  • Desktop Outsourcing Signals Partner Possibilities (0)December 28, 2012New research reveals the market for desktop outsourcing is set to grow 5 percent into 2015. With virtualization and mobility advancements and the demand for customizable cloud solutions -- and trusted advisors -- the channel is well prepared to take advantage of the evolving market.
  • Nokia Tablet May Reboot Windows RT (0)December 28, 2012Rumor has it Nokia may build a Windows 8 RT tablet based on ARM. But with Microsoft's Surface RT tablet somewhat of a dud, why is Nokia taking up the reigns? Microsoft's OEM partners are all sticking with Intel, but why won't Microsoft?
  • Partners, Not Potatoes, Assess Infrastructure (0)December 26, 2012Boeing's latest in-aircraft WiFi testing included people-like potato sacks to measure signal penetration and quality. Partners have the very same opportunity to deliver penetration services to the marketplace, reshaping the way in which solution providers can differentiate in delivering wireless infrastructure.
  • SMBs Push Consolidation To New Levels (0)December 26, 2012The IT environment is more heterogeneous, which doesn't bode well for cash-strapped SMBs struggling to stay on top of complexity. Fortunately in 2013, there will be a groundswell of industrial strength solutions that house numerous multi-platform features under one roof.
  • Mobile Device Management a Boon for MSPs (0)December 26, 2012If 2012 ushered in the era of BYOD, the coming twelve months will be the year mobility goes mainstream. Here are some key things for solution providers to consider when crafting an MDM offering.
  • Toshiba: Ultrabooks Poised for 2013 Takeoff (0)December 21, 2012Toshiba is betting that ultrabooks will finally start flying off the shelves in 2013 as consumers and businesses are tempted with a wider choice of price points.
  • EMC Syncplicity Poised for 2013 Data Needs (0)December 20, 2012EMC Syncplicity is looking to give the channel a way to provide save data collaboration and management with flexible reseller options. Leonard Chung, Syncplicity co-founder, talks channel strategy, competition and BYOD.
  • Channelnomics’ Technology Predictions for 2013 (0)December 19, 2012What emerging technologies and business models will come into their own over the next 12 months? Channelnomics editors make their picks for what will be big in IT and the channel in the coming year.
  • Citrix’s Gallant: Service Triangulation in 2013 (0)December 19, 2012Citrix Systems Inc.'s Cynthia Gallant discusses the fast-growing services segment linking cloud and mobility. With nZenprise under its belt, Citrix is positioning partners for disruption by grouping key services that can become powerful solution sets.
  • Cisco to Buy Policy Control Specialist BroadHop (0)December 18, 2012The purchase of BroadHop, a long-time Cisco partner as a Wi-Fi service provider, aims to improve the way Cisco customers deliver premium, on-demand network services across mobile, fixed and wireless broadband networks.
  • SAP Afaria Updated for Enterprise MDM (0)December 18, 2012SAP updates its Afaria MDM platform to address enterprise mobiltiy management (EMM) needs, including enhanced security, and network policy management, alongside device-specific features for iOS and Android. Solution providers approaching large corporations want to check out SAP's efforts to satisfy a multitude of complex enterprise demands.
  • Omnichannel: Dell’s Vision for Partner Unity (0)December 18, 2012“Omnichannel is where we are able to merge all of our capabilities to deliver complete solutions,” CEO Michael Dell told partners at Dell World, adding that getting resellers up to speed on increasingly complex solution sets through advanced training is equally important to the success of PartnerDirect members.
  • Aerohive’s Kurt Mills Pilots Accelerated Channel (0)December 17, 2012Aerohive's new vice president of channels, Kurt Mills, discusses Aerohive's planned channel growth. With Aerohive earning the number 5 spot on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 list, its success is well timed for a company seeking continued channel traction amid a world of growing wireless challenges and mobility.
  • Avaya Expands Mobility, Radvision Solution Set (0)December 14, 2012Avaya enhances its mobility and Radvision solutions as it digs deeper into the SME space and competes rivals in the UC and collaboration space. Cloud and mobility have drastically reshaped what is possible in the UC landscape and Avaya is ensuring it can deliver on those innovations.
  • Businesses Know, Ignore BYOD Security Risks (0)December 14, 2012A new ISACA survey suggests organizations understand the security risks inherent in BYOD initiatives -- though few are doing much about it.
  • With Podio & Zenprise, Citrix Should Channelize (0)December 13, 2012Citrix updates the Podio suite with a collaboration module, allowing non-Podio users to access the platform, much like Google Docs. As Citrix seeks to capitalize on the wave of cloud and mobility -- two sides of the same coin -- the question remains whether Citrix will bridge all of its new technology technology to create…
  • BlackBerry 10 Gets Boost From Federal Agency (0)December 13, 2012RIM's upcoming BlackBerry 10, the on-again, off-again mobile operating system upon which the flagging Canadian vendor is pinning its future hopes, is getting a reprieve from one of its long-time clients in the government sector.
  • Semiconductor Estimates Revised Downward (0)December 13, 2012Gartner has revised down its forecast for worldwide semiconductor sales next year, saying the market will expand only 4.5 percent to $311 billion.
  • SMB Apple Love Is Fruitful Provider Pursuit (0)December 13, 2012A new survey from Intermedia shows there's a rising preference for Apple's iOS in the SMB space, particularly with the iPad. Service providers and VARs that tweak their solutions to be Apple-friendly may find they have much to gain in terms of value-added attach and customer stickiness.
  • HP FlexNetwork Gives CSPs Jump-Start (0)December 12, 2012Hewlett-Packard Co. rolls out the HP FlexNetwork Utility Advantage program, a pay-per-use platform that communication and cloud service providers can use to deliver HP hardware and software to customers at no cost, jump-starting the process of building reoccurring revenue streams while expanding the reach of HP service partners.
  • Intel’s Microserver Has Macro Challenges (0)December 12, 2012Intel unleashes the Atom S1200 system-on-a-chip processor, 64-bit comptable and designed for use in microserver situations. But it will take more than just a new CPU for Intel to promote the paradigm shift of the microserver era.
  • Dell Unveils MDM Appliance for BYOD Efforts (0)December 11, 2012Dell announced a new mobile management appliance that aims to simplify support and security for a broad range of corporate and personal mobile devices in the enterprise.
  • Samsung Trumps Apple in Smart Device Sales (0)December 11, 2012Samsung has widened the gap between itself and biggest rival Apple in the smart connected device market after almost doubling its shipments over the past year, according to the latest figures.
  • ADTRAN Cloud APs Focus on Manageability (0)December 11, 2012ADTRAN unveils the Bluesocket 1900 virtual wireless LAN access point (AP) designed for system integrators and service providers. With built-in cloud management capabilities and advanced security options, these units are ideal for any partner or MSP attacking large enterprise campuses and vertical environments.
  • Chambers: Cisco Transition Is Growth Mode (0)December 10, 2012Cisco leverages its history of innovation and successful market transitions to make the case that Cisco is equally poised for the world of cloud, software and services. Cisco CEO John Chambers outlines's the strategies that are making these transitions a reality.
  • Despite Regs, Finance Firms to Boost IT Spend (0)December 10, 2012Financial services firms expect to spend more on IT in 2013, and the opening wallets have more to do with improving their businesses and gaining competitive advantage and less to do with merely complying with a growing list of regulations.
  • NComputing Goes End-to-End With vSpace (0)December 7, 2012NComputing overhauls its virtualization portfolio as it seeks to deliver an end-to-end virtualization portfolio and expand the capabilities of its channel partners. With a growing subscriber base and a strategic alliance with Citrix, NComputing is a rising star in the virtualization space.
  • Samsung, Apple Head Back to Court (0)December 7, 2012The South Korean vendor and bitter rival Apple go back to court so a judge can review the jury's $1 billion decision.
  • IBM SmartCloud Docs Target Google, Microsoft (0)December 6, 2012IBM launches SmartCloud Docs, a new cloud-based office suite complete with social business and collaboration capabilities. The SmartCloud Docs is also a direct competitive effort against Google Apps and Microsoft's Office 365 as IBM seeks to expand into the midmarket.
  • RIM Betting Big on BlackBerry 10 (0)December 6, 2012Research in Motion believes BlackBerry 10, the much anticipated operating system with a new supporting server, will stanch customer defections and revive its flagging fortunes. The strategy has tell-tale signs of channel engagement and opportunity.
  • Channel ‘Disarray’ Hurts Microsoft Surface Sales (0)December 6, 2012Microsoft has coyly avoided talk about if and when it will release its Surface tablet to the channel. Now analysts are weighing in saying that the limited sales channels are what’s holding back Microsoft’s tablet strategy. The word they use: Disarray, and this is on top of lackluster Windows 8 sales.
  • Citrix Acquires MDM Specialist Zenprise (0)December 5, 2012Citrix confirms it will acquire MDM vendor Zenprise for its advanced device management and security capabilities. Citrix's moves solidify its plans to deliver end-to-end mobility capabilities for BYOD and reinforces Citrix mobile-first agenda, critical in the coming wave of workplace mobility.
  • Sources: Citrix to Buy MDM Player Zenprise (0)December 5, 2012Rumors are circulating that Citrix is poised to leap headfirst into the mobile device management space by snapping up leading protagonist Zenprise.
  • Enterasys, Meraki Wield WiFi Agendas (1)December 4, 2012Enterasys doubles-down on its wireless strategy with a channel program boost built around its IdentiFi WAN technology. Meraki prepares its access points for wide scalability and more sophisticated BYOD demands. Both vendors are on track to capture the rising demand mobility brings upon company infrastructure.
  • VMware Spin-Off Is Virtual ‘Pivotal Initiative’ (0)December 4, 2012VMware's much-rumored spin-off is announced as a "virtual organization," dubbed the Pivotal Initiative. Paul Martiz, former VMware CEO and current EMC CSO, will now head up the virtual organization as VMware and EMC seek to realign their efforts and create a focused developmental outlet for the future of cloud technology.
  • Centrify’s SSO SaaS Push Centers on Channel (0)December 3, 2012Centrify's new Identity-as-a-Service single sign-on capabilities are paired with an effort to expand its channel presence, as Centrify seeks to recruit providers that deliver a mix of SaaS and mobility solutions. By leveraging Microsoft Active Directory as the base management portal, partners can quickly deploy this solution in almost any workplace environment.
  • SMB 500: Lessons Learned by Education VARs (0)December 1, 2012Navigating the education vertical, however, requires special attention to timing and an understanding of budget constraints, the most successful VARs on the Ingram Micro SMB 500 report.
  • Cisco Eyes Cariden Technologies Acquisition (0)November 30, 2012Cisco Systems Inc announces its intent to acquire Cariden Technologies for its prowess on managing massive converged networks. As cloud and solution provider needs expand, maintaining networks across long distances will be come critical for large service providers and telecom customers.
  • Microsoft Announces Pricing for Surface Pro (1)November 30, 2012Microsoft is moving ahead with the planned release of the enterprise version of its Surface tablet running Windows 8 Professional. Unlike the Windows RT model, the pro edition will run legacy apps. The bigger issue is whether the pro tablet will lift Windows 8 sales, and if it will be made available to the channel.
  • SAP’s SME Focus Is Channel Focus With RDS (0)November 30, 2012At the SAP SME Summit, the enterprise software company focused on how rapid deployment solutions (RDS) can help channel partners bring right-sized and customized solutions to businesses of all kinds. With a growing base of channel partners, SAP has gained considerable momentum with its partner community. With the right moves, this will continue.
  • BYOD Adopters Could Be ‘Heading for a Fall’ (0)November 29, 2012The channel could be left picking up the pieces next year as the headlines prompt CIOs to adopt bring-your-own-device schemes before they have shored up their security.
  • Microsoft: Windows 8 on Strong Sales Pace (0)November 28, 2012Microsoft reports Windows 8 has sold more than 40 million in the first month of general availability, putting it on a faster sales pace than Windows 7. The actual sales volume and types, though, remain unclear, and it could be Microsoft magic behind these numbers.
  • Trend Micro Security Tool Assesses Cloud, APTs (0)November 27, 2012Endpoint and cloud-security firm Trend Micro launches a do-it-yourself assessment that analyzes security practices around cloud, mobile and advanced persistent threats. It's a ready-made conversation piece for partners looking to talk about customers' security posture.
  • Black Friday, Cyber Monday and BYOD (0)November 27, 2012How consumers spent money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday never made much of a difference to commercial IT vendors and solution providers. The times are changing though, and the IT purchasing influencers are roaming suburban shopping malls.
  • Dell Mobilizes PocketCloud For Windows RT (1)November 27, 2012Dell delivers an upgraded version of the Dell Wyse PocketCloud suite which is now compatible with WIndows 8 RT tablets. Does the rise in vendor-specific cloud portal applications say something about the marginalization of Windows 8 RT as a differentiated computing platform?
  • AppNeta Brings Device-Level Monitoring to MSPs (0)November 27, 2012AppNeta introduces an update to its cloud-based PathView network performance monitoring solution, allowing MSPs and solution providers to see network traffic and performance on a per-device level, even beyond the network edge. With MSP requirements extending into mobility and remote network management, AppNeta is well-positioned to court the services market.
  • Black Friday Reveals Shifts in IT Preferences (0)November 23, 2012Consumers are racing to the malls in search of bargains for the holiday season. The Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island may prove a laboratory in which consumers will set the pecking order of vendors in the hotly contested PC and mobility market.
  • Mobile Solution Providers Will Focus on Apps (0)November 23, 2012With the rise of ARM-based CPUs and mobility in the channel, forward-thinking solution providers should outline how to deliver services and software to mobile devices, not just around them. As devices become increasingly more powerful, so too will software application capabilities; thus, it will fall on the channel to sort through the sea of mobile…
  • RSA Nabs Trojans With ‘Adaptive’ Authentication (0)November 21, 2012RSA, the security division of EMC, is going full tilt on its security intelligence strategy with the launch of an adaptive authentication solution, leveraging Big Data capabilities to nab advanced threats. The release represents a few more steps in RSA's concerted attempts to gain ground in security intelligence markets, while also promises to give partners…
  • Cloud, Mobile Create Big Security Challenges (0)November 20, 2012A CompTIA study indicates organizations adopting cloud and mobile technologies for productivity and convenience are facing mounting security issues.These days, organizations are demanding a higher level of expertise, clearing a path for partners to hone expertise and beef up skills by investing in related certifications and specializations.
  • Symantec Mobility Specialization Now Official (0)November 19, 2012Symantec officially got the ball rolling on its Mobile Solution Specialization, a move which will paves the way for partners to go deeper and wider with dedicated mobility practices with enablement, tools, training and other resources. But if anything, the move indicates that Symantec is going full tilt on its mobile ambitions and is determined…
  • Cisco Bets $1.2B on Cloud With Meraki Buy (0)November 19, 2012Cisco made another bold move into cloud-based networking on Sunday with the $1.2 billion purchase of San Francisco-based start-up Meraki, maker of Wi-Fi, switching, security and mobile device management centrally managed from the cloud.
  • SMBs Want More Technology, Fewer IT Workers (0)November 16, 2012Small and midsize businesses expect to spend more for information technology, especially to incorporate mobile devices and cloud computing into their organizations, but they plan on hiring fewer IT professionals to get the job done, a new survey reveals. Can the channel capitalize?
  • Dell Revenues Plummet With PC Decline (1)November 15, 2012For its third fiscal quarter, PC manufacturer Dell reported sinking earnings that included a 47 percent decline in net income compounded by an 11 percent drop in sales revenues. While grim, the numbers reflect a company in the process of reinventing itself and placing key investments where it hopes will be crucial in its transformation.
  • GFI Targets SMB With Patch Management, MDM (0)November 15, 2012GFI Software is expanding its antivirus offerings by introducing patch management and MDM embedded in a multi-facted security product, targeted squarely for the SMB. The launch speaks to the growing complexity of the threat environment, subsequently indicating that partners will increasingly be required to target the SMB customers on multiple security fronts.
  • Cisco Pleases Wall Street Amid Internal Transition (0)November 14, 2012Cisco's earnings beat Wall Street amid lowered expectations, but the company still has a long way to go to maintain a profitable leadership position in the industry. Cisco's earnings show a company still undergoing internal changes.
  • Sinofsky Departure: Sign of Microsoft Civil War? (0)November 13, 2012Windows boss Steven Sinofsky's unexpected departure from Microsoft raises new speculation about the health of the company and its flagship Windows operating system. Could his departure be a reflection of internal strife between the old and new guard?
  • Tough Tech M&A Scene Has Trendy Bright Spots (1)November 13, 2012Pressured by a challenging global economy, technology mergers and acquisitions continue their downward, but a few M&A bright spots remain in trending areas familiar to most successful channel players.
  • Network Assessment is Business Enablement (0)November 13, 2012A Cisco Channels blog highlights why channel partners should use network assessments to ensure major technology upgrades are both customized and right-sized before implementation. But Cisco's recommendations can be easily applied to many of the leading spaces that dominate the IT industry. It's not just a smart move, it has the potential to increase a…
  • Lantronix xPrintServer Simplifies Mobile Printing (0)November 12, 2012Lantronix launches the business-ready xPrintServer, delivering mobile printing to the workplace without any major configuration required by the end-user or network administrator. Solution providers can use Lanronix's portfolio as an on-ramp to managed print or to enhance existing print services.
  • Amid Enterprise File-Sharing, E-mail Dies (0)November 9, 2012Citrix and NetApp join forces to make enterprise file storage and sharing more secure and ubiquitous, but their partnership may signal a larger trend on the shifting styles of collaboration in the enterprise. Will communication and collaboration technology converge to marginalize e-mail?
  • Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager Wrangles BYOD (0)November 9, 2012Dell unleashes the Dell Wyse Cloud Client Manager, giving solution providers and IT admins an all-encompassing look into the network for virtualization and mobile management needs. With built-in compliance policies and easy-to-use remote software, Dell's solution delivers on its efforts to be an end-to-end vendor.
  • Will Partners Flee or Flock to Windows 8? (0)November 8, 2012We want to hear what trusted advisors in the channel think. Take our Windows 8 Implementation in the Channel survey now and tell us your plans for pushing or passing on Windows 8 for your clients.
  • Continuum Adds MDM to Hosted MSP Portfolio (0)November 8, 2012Continuum, a leader in hosted managed services, is extending to support mobile devices and the BYOD trend through a technology partnership with FiberLink. The arrangement gives Continuum and its MSP partners a foothold in the growing small business and midmarket MDM segment.
  • Apple Dumping Tech Partners, Resellers (1)November 7, 2012Apple is moving away from using Intel processors in Mac computers and Samsung chips in iPads and iPhones -- and, now, word is the company is purging reseller ranks around the world. Is this arrogance, as some charge, or a reflection of a changing channel dynamic?
  • Cybersecurity Top Priority for Federal Verticals (0)November 6, 2012A study commissioned by Lockheed Martin and Cyber Security Alliance partners indicates cybersecurity is a top priority among federal, military and intelligence verticals. Despite previous setbacks, government and other public sector partners might do well to lay a foundation of strategy and policy in anticipation of future federal cybersecurity investments.
  • HP Mobile Thin Clients Now Cloud-App Ready (0)November 6, 2012Hewlett-Packard launches a new laptop-style mobile thin client alongside a new and improved HP Device Manager, offering a modest boost to its virtualization portfolio with a thin client that is purpose-built to handle intensive mission-critical cloud and virtualized applications.
  • Enterasys IdentiFi Allows Wide-Scale BYOD (0)November 5, 2012Enterasys continues to bolster its wireless networking capabilities with IdentiFi, a new wireless solution set that is designed for "hyper-dense" wireless deployments that can accommodate any size enterprise environment. With mobility on the rise, wireless infrastructure is a smart place for partners to specialize.
  • Sharp, Panasonic Lead Japan’s Troubled Techs (0)November 5, 2012A combination of stiff global competition, a difficult currency exchange rate and a perceived lack of innovation has some of the channel’s best-known Japan-based vendor partners on the ropes – and at least one of them may not make it to see 2013 through.
  • Microsoft Woos Developers to Back Windows 8 (0)November 2, 2012At the annual Build conference this week, Microsoft is rolling out the red carpet for application developers to create applications for Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. While the new operating systems are getting good reviews, the big shortcoming is the lack of applications. Going forward, apps will make the difference in the success of…
  • HP Targets SMB With New Storage, Networking (0)November 2, 2012HP unleashes a new lineup of storage and networking solutions to bring a more modern data center to the burgeoning SMB. With channelized networking solutions that focus on wireless and mobility, opportunity exists for solution providers to build mobile-centric SMB offerings.
  • Cell Carriers Struggling to Restore N.E. Service (0)November 1, 2012Hurricane Sandy knocked out as much as 20 percent of the wireless telephony and data service in New York and New Jersey. At least one major relay station was taken out by surging flood waters. Power outages and downed transmission lines hinder service to stricken areas. Experts say the service disruption reflects the vulnerability of…
  • John Chen Steps Down From SAP’s Sybase Post (0)October 30, 2012With his organization now fully folded into SAP, well known technology executive John Chen, who ran Sybase for the better part of two decades, is stepping down from his chief executive’s post.
  • Fortinet, Bradford Team on Mobile Security (0)October 29, 2012Fortinet and Bradford Networks have partnered to offer a joint mobile security solution that will likely allow partners to delve into mobile security practices and compete in the rapidly heating market. That said, Fortinet might be playing catch-up with competitors.
  • Microsoft Has a Hit, and It’s Not Windows 8 (1)October 29, 2012After more than a year of waiting, the Windows 8 operating system and the Surface tablet officially hit the market last week to much fanfare. Microsoft needs a hit, but the surprise comes with Surface, which has sold out of its initial inventory. More surprising, there’s more moderate enthusiasm for the new version of Windows.
  • 2013 Tech Trends Are Channel Aligned (0)October 29, 2012Mobility, cloud and advanced computing technologies are taking focus in 2013, painting a bright picture of opportunity for channel partners that are looking to take the next step in delivering next-generation solutions.
  • FatCloud Offers .NET Approach to Cloud (0)October 26, 2012FatCloud offers a way for ISVs and solution providers to build easy-to-deploy cloud and mobile applications by leveraging .NET against the company's specialized cloud backbone and Microsoft's Windows Communication Foundation.
  • Gartner Offers Simple 3-Part MDM Strategy (0)October 25, 2012Gartner outlines a simple 3-step plan that can help both channel partners and customers manage and built a more security mobile device strategy as tablets take hold in the enterprise.
  • Box Enterprise Ambitions Expand to Windows 8 (0)October 25, 2012Box Inc. launches their Windows 8 application, providing users with a deep level of integration that can nearly supplant local storage on Windows 8 devices. As Box vies more enterprise customers, this cloud solution is unique way for users to leverage its services and create stickiness. Partners sell storage solutions should take note.
  • Windows 8 a Transitional Challenge for Partners (0)October 25, 2012Microsoft Partners speak out on Windows 8, discussing the migration challenges and the future of Windows for the business world. Like many Windows refreshes in the past, the latest is likely to be a journey with many challenges, but if the conditions are right, it could be one worth taking.
  • T-Mobile, Lookout Team On Security Service (0)October 24, 2012T-Mobile and mobile security firm Lookout have partnered to launch a mobile security service that aims to stave off the exponential rise of Android malware. For partners, the inclusion of security as standard issue on mobile devices could serve to set the stage for customer migration to more robust MDM solutions as Android threats continue…
  • Obama, Romney May Ignore EU, but IT Can’t (0)October 24, 2012The presidential candidates may be ignoring the festering economic crisis in Europe, but IT professionals need to stay focused on a deteriorating EU, which is dragging down the entire industry.
  • Cisco: Cloud Data Set for Six-Fold Rise (0)October 23, 2012A Cisco Systems, Inc. study indicated that data center traffic is set to quadruple, driven primarily by cloud data that is projected grow by a factor of six by 2016. In light of the anticipated barrage of Big Data, partners will need to be standing by to ready and optimize networks to ensure customer performance.
  • Xerox Results Mark End of Printers’ Golden Age (4)October 23, 2012Xerox reports a 12 percent decline in quarterly revenue, and demand for printers and associated consumables has slid. Other printer vendors, including Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark, are pushing managed print as the future, but the disruption caused by tablets and smartphones has reached its zenith. The golden age of printing is finally over.
  • Android, Mac Threats Expand Security Offerings (0)October 22, 2012A Q3 security roundup reported released by Trend Micro report indicated that Android malware has skyrocketed, driven in part by a groundswell of aggressive adware apps. Among other things, the report indicates the continuation of an Android malware trend that has made mobile security an increasingly necessary part of partner offerings.
  • Business Apps Come Into Focus in 2013 (1)October 22, 2012A Zenprise survey shows more businesses are taking mobile initiatives and developing in-house apps to suit business needs and bring mobility into the workplace. As the trend increases, there's potential for the channel to capitalize on this demand and shape the mobile-first future today.
  • Motorola HC1 is Ahead in Wearable Computing (0)October 22, 2012Motorola Solutions is setting the mark in wearable, hands-free enterprise computing with its new HC1, a headset that’s a fully functional, voice-activated PC designed for labor-intensive and hazardous work environments. It may just be the first entry into a new class of mobile computing.
  • Tablet Tsunami Will Drive MDM Demand (0)October 18, 2012Before the end of the month, Microsoft will release its long anticipated Surface tablet, PC manufactures will debut at least 20 Windows 8 tablets, and Apple and Best Buy are coming out with new tablets of their own. All these tablets will pressure businesses to control BYOD devices entering the workplace.
  • HP Debuts Concierge Portal for SMB Partners (0)October 17, 2012Finding more and better ways to engage the potential partners in the small and midsize business strata is the driving force behind a new online resource portal dubbed the HP Partner Concierge
  • Sophos Tweaks Free Virus, Mobile Security Tools (1)October 16, 2012Sophos is once again updating its free mobile security and virus removal tools. The move has merit for partners, who can leverage raised brand awareness and free apps for services, but also indicates that the anti-virus and endpoint security firm means business in the fiercely competitive MDM space.
  • Two-Factor Authentication Set For Revival? (1)October 16, 2012The New York Times recently heralded two-factor authentication as a means to reduce Web site hacks for major services such as Google and Amazon. While the security solution has been slow to gain momentum in most market segments, cloud and mobile technologies could serve to rekindle growth and allow the channel to reach a wider…
  • Microsoft Tablet Won’t Surface in the Channel (0)October 16, 2012Microsoft launched an advertising blitz to promote its first tablet, Surface, which is being released next week alongside Windows 8. While the new operating system will hit the channel immediately, Surface won’t fall into solution provider’s hands unless they buy one through Microsoft’s retail operations.
  • What Declining Search Says About Selling Services (0)October 16, 2012Research shows overall web search traffic is in decline as users flock to more relevant and personalized ways to get at information. What does this trend in search tell us about how solution providers should target their own apps, solutions and services?
  • SAP’s Mobile Apps Strategy Slow But Steady (0)October 15, 2012SAP's Mobile Apps Program spurs new enterprise-ready apps, alongside a renewed focus on the company's mobile strategy. But what can SAP's efforts tell us about the evolution of the mobile-first landscape?
  • Channel Warms to Maturing Video-as-a-Service (0)October 15, 2012Video collaboration technology is becoming more interoperable in the cloud. With it, the channel has an ideal opportunity to capitalize on both the tech convergence and the coming wave of demand.
  • Verizon Expands MDM With Mobility-as-a-Service (0)October 12, 2012Verizon has significantly expanded its mobile device management solution with the launch of Enterprise Mobility-as-a-Service, an end-to-end release bolstered with security and management capabilities that aims to take territory in the MDM space while curbing MDM efforts by security industry peers.
  • Amid Huawei Row, CTIA Wants More Info Sharing (0)October 11, 2012Despite allegations that two of its members pose a threat to U.S. national security, the world’s largest wireless networking advocacy group is urging vendors and carriers to share more information with each other and the government in pursuit of safer networks.
  • Rapid7 Adds MRM With Mobilisafe Buy (0)October 11, 2012Rapid7 is adding mobile risk management with the acquisition of Mobilisafe, a move that allows partners to hone mobile security expertise but indicates the market is also becoming more specialized.
  • IBM, AT&T Partner on Secure Cloud Service (0)October 10, 2012IBM is attempting to raise its cloud profile, partnering with AT&T to offer a joint “network-enabled” cloud service that provides access to IBM’s backend infrastructure over AT&T’s secure network. The duo is playing the security angle, a move that might be crucial in differentiating against Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle and other major competitors.
  • Symantec Revs Mobility Program, MDM Suite (1)October 9, 2012Symantec is letting it be known that its serious about MDM, with a new mobility channel specialization, an app ready program and the launch of a comprehensive MDM Suite. If anything, the launch aims to give partners a concerted boost and cement their standing in the growing mobile security space, as the company plays catch…
  • WebPlatform Pushes Open Web Agenda (0)October 9, 2012WebPlatform.org has been established, designed to become a one-stop shop for all developmental information on open web technologies. With backing by Adobe, Apple, Facebook, Google, HP, Microsoft, Mozilla, Nokia, and Opera, is the shape of web-based apps and services about to change?
  • Continuum Goes Mobile With iPhone App (0)October 5, 2012Hosted MSP Continuum releases a new Apple iOS application that allows managed services partners the ability to view reports, diagnose problems on customer machines and resolve alerts regardless of location. It’s part of an ongoing evolution at Continuum to build its portfolio of managed services.
  • Behind Whitman’s Sober Assessment of HP (1)October 4, 2012Meg Whitman gave analysts and partners what they wanted yesterday; a cold, sober and hard assessment of the state of Hewlett-Packard today and its long-term challenges. The backhanded rewards were a plunging stock value and skepticism of the company’s future. Here’s why critics are only half right.
  • Kaspersky Lab Updates Mobile Security (1)October 2, 2012Kaspersky Lab updated its Mobile Security offering with a slew of enhancements that include a "mugshot" feature and better security control,which will undoubtedly give partners a bit of a competitive edge when going after customers embarking on BYOD programs. But down the road, the Moscow-based security firm will likely have to step up its game…
  • HP ElitePad 900: Business-Ready With Win 8 (0)October 1, 2012HP readies the ElitePad 900, a business-class tablet designed to run Windows 8, with an eye on business needs, security and expandability. But can HP's tablet find any traction as users become wary about Windows 8 and HP's reputation?
  • Smartphone Security Still A Challenge (1)October 1, 2012McAfee Inc. and the National Cyber Security Alliance released a joint study indicating that despite efforts to the contrary, there is still a strong disconnect between users' security knowledge and behavior, especially when it comes to smartphones, giving the channel a chance to go back to square one with their customers on mobile devices.
  • Like Pacquiao, HP’s WebOS Fighting for Respect (1)October 1, 2012What do HP's mobile operating system efforts and Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao have in common? A lot more than the Pac-Man's failed HP TouchPad and Veer sales pitches.
  • IDC: Mobile Enterprise Management Coming (1)September 28, 2012IDC predicts the merger of MDM and MAM into a unified mobile enterprise management platform. With this consolidation on the horizon, it's possible more pportunity exists in the enterprise mobility space than initially perceived.
  • Perimeter E-Security Makes Cloud MDM Push (0)September 27, 2012Perimeter E-Security has placed itself in a small but growing niche of vendors that have launched a cloud MDM solution. It's a move that could give partners a natural leg up over competitors in the space with an ability to offer increased visibility, rapid deployment and lowered costs among the many perks.
  • Sophos Offers Free Android Security, Encryption (1)September 27, 2012Sophos is offering two free mobile security apps for Android, suggesting that the endpoint security firm is serious about staying a few paces ahead of competitors as the mobile security and MDM race heats up.
  • Study: Mobile Devices Still Lack Security (1)September 26, 2012A recent study by Kaspersky Lab indicates 40 percent of smartphone owners lack antivirus on their devices. The good news: Now the majority of device owners do have security, indicating MDM and mobile device security solutions are gaining steam.
  • Aruba Instant Enterprise Streamlines WLAN (0)September 25, 2012The Aruba Instant Enterprise brings a range of automated features to wireless LAN infrastructure, streamlining the processes of management, control and optimization of an entire network infrastructure. MSPs and VARs that specialize in mobility may want to take a closer look.
  • Seagate Hard Drive Forecast Worrisome for PCs (0)September 25, 2012The hard drive maker is slashing its forecast for hard drives, reflecting a continuing slowdown in the demand for personal computers and the increase demand for mobile devices. Many in the industry are quietly saying that the coming of Windows 8 and a slew of ultrabooks won’t help reverse the PC trend.
  • Skype-Lync Integration Headed for Windows 8 (0)September 24, 2012Microsoft expands its UC prowess by enhancing the existing Lync platform, custom-tailoring it for the Windows 8 tablet experience and providing direct connectivity to the Skype platform, allowing a platform-agnostic communication solution geared for both the desktop and the mobile workplace. Partners keen on advancing UC and mobility may want to keep an eye on…
  • SMB 500: Examining the Top 20 VARs (0)September 23, 2012Distributor Ingram Micro and The 2112 Group’s effort to study SMB channel success reveals secrets of excellence among top-performing U.S. solution providers. Here’s a closer look at the top 20 VARs in Ingram’s customer network.
  • IBM: Mac Malware, Password Exploits Spike (0)September 21, 2012An IBM mid-year risk report found that APTs are increasingly targeting the Mac OS X platform, while social networking password exploits are on the rise. These indicate to partners that there's still -- and may always be -- a need for Security 101 best practices.
  • Dell Readies Windows 8 Business Tablet, PCs (1)September 20, 2012Dell unleashes a trio of Windows 8-ready business devices, including a Windows 8 tablet, an ultrabook and an all-in-one touchscreen computer. Channel partners looking for a well-rounded hardware portfolio for 2013 may find Dell's offerings well honed for the SMB and SME space in 2013.
  • SAP Delivers Custom Mobility App Design Center (0)September 19, 2012SAP, which has been busy sprucing up its wares and partner programs, is now laser-focused on an emerging target demographic: the mobile end-user. Will custom mobile apps as-a-service be the way of the future?
  • Value, Sketched on the Back of a Napkin (0)September 19, 2012At a conference littered with tchotchkes and conventional marketing brochures, telephony hosting firm Simple Signal stands out from the crowd by distributing napkins with diagram sketches of its services. The unique marketing collateral is effective because it’s memorable and shows the value of deviating from the norm in conveying value.
  • Citrix Receiver for Windows 8 RT Arrives (0)September 17, 2012Citrix readies a Windows 8 RT / ARM version of its Citrix Receiver app as it paves the way for a business-centric tablet and virtualization future. Solution providers looking to leverage next-generation services may want to keep an eye on Citrix.
  • Data Center Woes Spur eDiscovery Growth (0)September 17, 2012A Symantec State of Data Center survey indicates organizations are struggling to keep their data under control. These data center woes will likely give rise to a slew of eDiscovery and governance solutions and related services that could open profitable niches for partners.
  • Acronis Buys Apple Backup Specialist (0)September 17, 2012GroupLogic is the first acquisition for backup specialist Acronis, reflecting the growing importance of having Apple capabilities in the business-to-business market even if solution providers cannot sell Apple products.
  • Whitman Calls HP Mobility Mulligan (2)September 14, 2012Hewlett-Packard CEO Meg Whitman says HP is continuing to work on a smartphone to capitalize on the growing momentum of mobility and mobile computing. After failure of Palm and webOS, can HP truly capitalize on mobility the second time around?
  • VMware Floats in vCloud Suite 5.1 (0)September 14, 2012VMware officially launches vCloud Suite 5.1, complete with the removal of vRAM licensing fees. VMware's cloud automation and scalability focus with vCloud 5.1 shows VMWare is gearing up for a cloud-based world that may parlay into mobility.
  • Cutting Through the Mobile Security Clutter (1)September 13, 2012The volume of mobile malware has jumped 600 percent so far this year. The BYOD trend has businesses scrambling to find security solutions for the influx of smartphones and tablets in their workplaces. For solution providers, mobile security presents a rich opportunity for those who can make sense of the cluttered technology landscape.
  • New Law Would Crack Down on Mobile Apps (0)September 13, 2012The proposed legislation would force app developers, phone makers and network providers to get user consent before collecting most usage data. Industry insiders complain the regs would stifle innovation in a red-hot market.
  • iPhone 5 Solidifies Mobile-First Future (0)September 13, 2012The iPhone 5's improvements continue to show the sophistication of mobile devices, setting the stage for a future where mobility and mobile computing are standardized platforms for everyday use.
  • Cisco’s Big Moves to Secure Data Center (0)September 12, 2012Cisco has unveiled a new data-center grade intrusion prevention system along with several security enhancements to existing wares all aimed at strengthening the defenses of high-capacity consolidated and virtualized computing environments.
  • Podcast: GTDC’s Curran on State of Distribution (0)September 11, 2012GTDC's Tim Curran sits down with Channelnomics to discuss IT distribution hot topics on the eve of the organization's annual vendor summit.
  • Dell Delivers ERP With Ramco Systems Alliance (0)September 11, 2012Dell has teamed up with Ramco Systems, an ERP-company in India, to proliferate Ramco System's corporate cloud computing platform while Dell seeks to bolster its SaaS portfolio and strengthen its cloud strategy.
  • Citrix Eyes App-Centric Cloud With CumuLogic (0)September 11, 2012Citrix's investment into CumuLogic reveals the virtualization company is actively developing an app-centric focus to help fuel the growth of platform agnostic SaaS and tablet computing. Partners focusing on the future may find Citrix is heavy on the pulse of tomorrow.
  • Cisco Outlines Wireless Infrastructure Challenges (0)September 11, 2012Cisco outlines four steps to building a robust wireless infrastructure for BYOD and MDM, identifying common hurdles that can hamper a successful wireless network. These pain points, however, are exactly where the channel can uncover true opportunity in the WLAN space.
  • Sophos Pushes MDM to the Cloud (0)September 10, 2012Sophos is taking its MDM solutions to the cloud with a hosted version of Sophos Mobile Control. The move is ideal for partners looking to quickly capitalize on MDM services, especially for limited infrastructure and budget-strapped organizations – but providers will still need value-add to be profitable.
  • Capitalizing as Cloud Storage Climbs (0)September 10, 2012Cloud storage continues its ascent despite being a nascent market with a sea of small players. A new report suggests that, despite the rise in cloud storage services, there’s little revenue to be generated from pure-play cloud storage solutions. What should channel partners look for in building powerful storage options with room for value-add?
  • Rise of Consumer Cybercrime Affects Enterprise (1)September 7, 2012A Symantec study reveals a rise in consumer cybercrime, driven by the slow-but-steady rise of mobile malware. But BYOD trends are increasingly blurring the lines between consumer and enterprise threats, calling for the channel to beef up solutions to placate a wider base of users.
  • Google’s Chromebook-as-a-Service Hints at Future (0)September 6, 2012Google launches a new Chromebook rental program, effectively rolling out Chromebook-as-a-Service with no contract obligations, starting at $30 per Chromebook per month. The channel could tangentially capitalize on this platform, but Google's moves unveil a bigger change coming to the IT industry.
  • IDC Says Verticals Boosting WLAN Demand (0)September 6, 2012IDC research suggests the wireless LAN marketplace is growing exponentially, with major verticals buying wireless infrastructure for BYOD implementations. Channel partners have an opportunity to capitalize and carve out mobility infrastructure niches to support the education, government and health care verticals.
  • Polycom and IBM Refine Video-as-a-Service (0)September 5, 2012Polycom and IBM team up to develop VaaS technology for Polycom's RealPresence platform. The duo hopes to build out a new standard in interoperable video conferencing, allowing disparate devices to easily connect while giving solution providers an on-ramp to deliver video conferencing technology in cloud packages.
  • Citrix Gets BYOD Ready With Podio on iPad (0)September 5, 2012Citrix revamps the Podio for iPad, bringing native social collaboration, custom apps and productivity tools to the iPad. Will Citrix's tablet ambitions spark the first of many mobile-first approaches to BYOD and tablet-based productivity?
  • McAfee Report: Malware Spikes in Q2 (1)September 4, 2012A McAfee threat report indicates the biggest spike in malware in four years, driven largely by the proliferation of mobile devices that will pave the way for the channel to ramp up mobile security portfolios. But with the dearth of mobile threats comes an increasingly competitive security environment that will prompt partners to get creative…
  • Sophos Appoints New CEO Hagerman (3)September 4, 2012Sophos has appointed Kris Hagerman as its new CEO, replacing Steve Munford, who has officially resigned. While potentially destabilizing for partners, the leadership change may lead to greater efforts around marketing and branding, which will be key to gaining market share as the company's marches forward in the mobility, cloud encryption and network security arenas.
  • Dell Paves Way for Lenovo Evolution (0)September 4, 2012Lenovo isn’t just on the verge of becoming the world’s largest PC maker, it’s also eyeing a rapid expansion into other enterprise and consumer technologies, mostly through an acquisition strategy. The future of its channel may rest with lessons gained from rival Dell.
  • Mobility Isn’t Mobile Without Infrastructure (1)August 31, 2012A recent survey suggests that -- although hardware sales are in decline -- wireless LAN technology is not. With enterprise demand for wireless infrastructure rising 26 percent year-over-year, can the channel continue to capitalize by specializing hardware sales with BYOD/MDM packages?
  • The HP Metltdown: One Year Later (1)August 31, 2012It’s been one year since the wheels appeared to be coming off one of the great American technology companies. Here is a look back at the events of one year ago, a vital timeline in understanding the HP of today.
  • Dell Channel Chief: PC Slump is No Distraction (0)August 31, 2012Dell global channel chief Greg Davis tells Channelnomics that despite his company’s continued slide in PC market share, the emerging technologies segments – many brought in through recent acquisitions – are growing rapidly thanks to partner support.
  • VDI Growth Directly Linked to BYOD (0)August 30, 2012VMware, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Citrix are placing big bets on the continued growth in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The driver of this classic enterprise solution is none other than the leading consumerization trend, BYOD.
  • Microsoft Is Big Winner in Tablet Legal Wars (0)August 30, 2012Apple is pressing ahead with plans to seek a court injunction barring tablet rival Samsung from selling some of its most popular mobile products in the U.S. Meanwhile, Samsung is looking to Microsoft’s Windows 8 as a mechanism for tablet growth. The net result: Microsoft may ultimately be the winner in the Apple-Samsung feud.
  • Lexmark Gets Out of Inkjet Printing Biz (0)August 28, 2012The age of printing draws a little closer to its end with Lexmark's announcement that it is exiting the inkjet business and laying off 1,700 workers.
  • Four Ways To Manage a Mobile Workforce (0)August 28, 2012Mobility in the workplace isn't a singular issue with a singular solution. Understanding different mobility technologies should help partners and customers choose an ideal solution for the workplace – whether it's a light-handed touch with BYOD, or fully-implemented solution with integrated VDI.
  • Sprint Continues SaaS Push With BYOD (0)August 27, 2012Sprint expands its SaaS offerings with a new turnkey BYOD Management suite. While Sprint looks to conglomerate its mobile resources to attack the business world, the channel still has a very real opportunity to do the same.
  • MDM Market Still Maturing Amid AT&T SMB Push (0)August 27, 2012AT&T makes a bid for the mobile device management market with a new SMB-focused MDM solution. These moves indicate major vendors are seeking to define and capitalize on the space, but will the real maturation of MDM come from the channel?
  • Channelnomics Weekend Top 5 +1 (0)August 25, 2012A look back at our top five stories for the week gone by, plus one thing we're gearing up for your Monday morning.
  • Samsung Must Pay $1B in Patent Loss to Apple (0)August 24, 2012A San Jose jury finds Samsung purposefully and illegally copied key features of Apple’s smartphones and tablets.
  • Virtualization, Mobility Represent Opportunity (0)August 24, 2012A new Information Week survey reveals that, while businesses are eagerly adopting virtualization and mobility strategies, there's still uncertainty and complexity in the implementation. Could the channel find new opportunities in refining existing IT infrastructure?
  • OEMs Owe Microsoft Thanks for Surface (1)August 23, 2012Instead of heaping scorn on Microsoft for its tablet efforts, the hardware makers should see this as a chance to innovate beyond the almighty iPad. How many are up for the challenge?
  • Mobile-First Will Reshape Reseller Priorities (0)August 23, 2012Gartner's outlook for 2015 predicts mobile application development will outpace PC application development 4 to 1. With such a shift in a relatively short amount of time, how will the channel adapt to meet the influx of mobile computing?
  • Austin Is New Barometer of Mobile, PC Future (1)August 22, 2012Austin, the capital of Texas, is the epicenter of two contrasting trends – mobility and PCs. Samsung is investing billions to expand a mobile memory chip facility here, while Dell is reporting a sharp decline in its once-might PC sales. The two trends are indicators of the IT industry’s endpoint future.
  • IndependenceIT Debuts Cloud Partner Program (0)August 20, 2012independenceIT is launching a three-level cloud-based partner program designed to streamline the process of cloud provisioning, deployment and management for VARs, MSPs and ISVs. Leveraging Veddio technology, independenceIT can now provide a complete cloud package to resell.
  • 10 Software Companies Cisco Should Fear (0)August 16, 2012Cisco Systems may be the big dog in the data center today, but sluggish sales are a source of concern as a new breed of software makers develop tools to handle network traffic more efficiently, reducing the need for old-school switches and routers. Here are some of the lesser known threats to Cisco’s hardware-centric data…
  • HP Sets WebOS Free With New ‘Gram’ Spin-off (0)August 16, 2012The vendor is spinning off its mobile device operating system unit and associated development and cloud services into a completely new and separate company.
  • Licensing Won’t Save RIM, but Developers Can (0)August 16, 2012RIM readies its BlackBerry 10 OS to be licensed to other handset manufactures. Can this last-ditch attempt really save RIM, or is it already too little too late?
  • Cisco Beats the Street, but Sales Stagnate (0)August 15, 2012Networking giant Cisco Systems beat out Wall Street's expectations with soaring profits but relatively flat revenues, indicating that the San Jose-based company might have to step up its game to go toe-to-toe with VMware, Oracle and others nipping at its heels in the emerging software-defined networking space.
  • Device Diversity May Hurt Microsoft Mobile (0)August 15, 2012Microsoft is banking much of its enterprise mobility future on the success of Windows 8 to carve market share in the tablet and enterprise mobile market. Unfortunately, enterprises are moving on, and a few are making some unconventional device and operating system choices. One major retailer is going with the iPod Touch.
  • Sage Spies SMB But Partners See Paltry Pay (0)August 13, 2012Sage focuses on the SMB sector by involving its partners in a direct referral program for the Sage One SaaS platform. But can Sage capitalize on the SMB market with a limited partner engagement?
  • Sophos Bulks Up MDM Solution (0)August 13, 2012Sophos has bulked up its mobile device management solution with a slew of security tweaks garnered from its April acquisition of DIALOGS. If nothing else, the latest updates will give it more of an edge amid the growing ranks of competitors.
  • Google to Trim Motorola Mobility Payroll (0)August 13, 2012Google is cutting up to 20 percent of the Motorola Mobility staff – approximately 4,000 workers – to restructure the handset company now under its stewardship. For Google, Motorola Mobility is about the technology and patents, not cellphone sales.
  • BYOD Challenge: Separate Personal, Biz Clouds (0)August 9, 2012As desktop and mobile operating systems become more intertwined with the cloud, solution providers have a unique opportunity to provide protection and compliance capabilities to ensure sensitive corporate data never escapes users' personal cloud spaces.
  • Studies: Organizations Still Struggle With BYOD (1)August 8, 2012Two surveys commissioned by Trend Micro clearly indicate that most organizations are finally coming around to BYOD, but are still bewildered as to how to implement effective strategies managing corporate data loss. The findings suggest wide swaths of opportunity in the market for partners to fill those gaping knowledge gaps.
  • Avaya Ramps BYOD in Aura, Flare Collab Tools (1)August 7, 2012Updates bring some new conferencing and unified communications capabilities along with client availability for iPad and Windows devices.
  • iPhone 5 Mobile Payments to Spark POS Sales? (0)August 7, 2012The iPhone 5 may arrive with a near-field communication (NFC) chip build in. If Apple decides to push an NFC agenda, could it ignite the industry and, subsequently, the POS space?
  • Field Techs Say Mobile Security Lagging BYOD (0)August 6, 2012Businesses are allowing ever-increasing amounts of BYOD, but calls for mobile security are not keeping pace, according to the latest OnForce Q3 Confidence Index. The report also shows a modest increase in short-term economic confidence among the 500 technology service professionals polled nationwide.
  • New Google Apps MDM Alludes Convergence (1)August 3, 2012Google has updated its free MDM offering with Google Apps, giving Google Apps Resellers a bit more value-add to the hosted productivity suite. Does Google's refinement of MDM under the Google Apps program signal a convergence of MDM with major technology suites?
  • Tech Data: Intermedia Integration, New VP (0)August 3, 2012Tech Data appoints William Brooks as vice president of sales and technical services, and expands its StreamOne cloud store with hosted Exchange packages from Intermedia.
  • Dell KACE, Bomgar Partner on Remote Support (0)August 2, 2012Dell KACE teams up with Bomgar to offer an integrated remote management solution integrated into the Dell KACE K1000 management appliance. With Bomgar inside, IT admins and MSPs can remotely support and manage nearly any device running any operating system, even outside the company network.
  • Study: More Saying ‘No’ to Insecure Mobile Apps (1)August 2, 2012A Zenprise Mobile Device Management study finds that more organizations are wary of insecure mobile apps, opening doors for partners to leverage high-profile breaches to secure customers' mobile environments and add MDM to their portfolio.
  • Windows 7 Could Die Hard Like XP (0)August 2, 2012After three years, Windows 7 has nearly beat out Windows XP on operating system marketshare – but with Windows 8 upgrade concerns, will Windows 7 be the next operating system to die hard?
  • Five Ways to NOT Be Like the Postal Service (0)August 1, 2012In some ways, the post office is the original channel partner. Here's a look at the lessons solution providers can take away from the storied service's looming demise.
  • Dell’s Windows 8 Thin Clients Could Be Tablets (0)July 31, 2012Dell gears up for Windows 8 with Metro by suggesting its new thin clients are "finely tuned" for the touch-based experience of Windows 8. With Wyse under its belt, Dell could be building a thin client tablet made for the Windows 8 world.
  • SAP Mobile Apps Program Seeks Partners (1)July 30, 2012The SAP Mobile Apps Partner program is designed to help partners capitalize on the need for mobile apps in the enterprise. These new moves provide incentives, tools and developmental resources to make cross-platform business apps easy to build, deploy and sell. But can SAP make inroads in the US market?
  • Microsoft: Our OEMs Will Be Irked by Surface (0)July 27, 2012Microsoft admits its Surface is going to anger OEM partners – but reports of the device's $1,000 price tag are bogus.
  • Samsung Surge Undercuts Integrated Stack (0)July 27, 2012Apple says its slumping smartphone sales are due to consumers holding back in anticipation of the forthcoming iPhone 5. Meanwhile, Samsung is selling twice as many smartphones as Apple. The difference may be the open vs. closed stack models; and it could hold a significant lesson for Microsoft.
  • Will Alcatel-Lucent Cuts End Cisco Challenge? (0)July 27, 2012In addition to creating more channel setbacks, Alcatel-Lucent's massive 5,000-job layoff throws a huge wrench in the networking and telecom equipment manufacturer's plans to compete with industry giant Cisco.
  • Dell Targets SMB With MS Office 365 Solution (1)July 26, 2012Dell is aiming at the SMB with the Microsoft Office 365 with Dell, a cloud-based collaboration service that expands partner reach and provides a stronger foothold in the lower markets with a slew of related services.
  • What Went Wrong and What’s Next at Symantec (0)July 26, 2012Symantec surprised many in the market and channel with yesterday’s sudden ouster of longtime chief Enrique Salem. While Symantec is tight-lipped about the significance of this change, telltale signs point to what’s happening at the security and storage company, as well as what may come next.
  • RSA Service Detects Rogue Mobile Apps (0)July 26, 2012RSA, the security division of EMC, launched a new monitoring service aimed at detecting and quashing rogue apps on Android and other mobile platforms. This adds to the company's slow-but-steadily-growing portfolio of monitoring services, which could potentially give partners new direction for their security practices.
  • Dell, Intel: BYOD Is Productivity Powerhouse (0)July 26, 2012A survey conducted by Dell and Intel has uncovered that the bring-your-own-device to work trend is effective in stimulating mobile and productive employees – though it's not without security concerns. Meeting the demands of trepidacious businesses is a unique opportunity for channel partners, especially as BYOD becomes commonplace in a mobile-first world.
  • iPhone Anticipation Humbles Juggernaut Apple (1)July 25, 2012Apple reported a rare miss in its quarterly earnings report as slumping iPhone sales dragged revenues and profits. Apple aptly blamed consumers who are holding back on purchases in anticipation of new products this fall. Apple isn’t alone – other vendors are seeing the same slump ahead of the fall product release season.
  • AVG Grows SMB With Channel Support Centers (0)July 24, 2012Antivirus firm AVG is attempting to make a greater SMB push with the launch of two new channel support centers, which, among other things, will likely give partners an added boost when embarking on mobility business in the lower markets down the road.
  • Good News, Microsoft: iPad Is a Business Tool (0)July 24, 2012As Microsoft readies the launch of tablet-friendly Windows 8 and its Surface this fall, there’s mounting evidence that tablets are increasingly seen as business tools among new tablet buyers. The evidence: New business tablet buyers are choosing iPads.
  • Unified Communications is Mobility Glue (0)July 24, 2012As mobile device management and BYOD steal the spotlight, there's one important factor that will truly make a mobile workforce more productive: unified communications. Without the UC 'glue' to keep it all together, mobility will never reach its true potential.
  • Confidence Wanes Among IT Execs (0)July 20, 2012The dismal results of CompTIA's latest Industry Business Confidence Index point to fiscal pessimism and continued sluggishness in the IT business world.
  • Good Channel News in Microsoft Earnings (0)July 20, 2012Microsoft took a massive write-off related to its online advertising business, which caused its first quarterly loss as a public company. Nevertheless, there’s lots of good news in the rest of the business, and that reflects the power and potential of the Microsoft channel network.
  • What the ARM Race Means for the Channel (0)July 20, 2012ARM CPUs are finding their way into servers instead of smartphones. If the new use of ARM CPUs takes off, what will the channel’s responsibility be in supporting this new architecture?
  • Blue Coat Brings App Control For BYOD (1)July 19, 2012Blue Coat expands its security offerings with the Blue Coat mobile application control platform. Via an appliance or the cloud, Blue Coat can provide granular control over application network access, eliminating the risk of data leaks or inappropriate network behavior.
  • Trend Micro Launches MDM Solution (1)July 18, 2012Trend Micro is taking incremental steps forward in BYOD and mobility trends with the launch of a MDM solution as it takes aim at challengers vying for dominancy in this space.
  • Symantec Bulks Up Mobile Management (1)July 17, 2012Symantec released a series of mobile management platform enhancements, which, for the channel, could translate to new paths to device and application management practices and niches in mobile threat protection.
  • Avaya IP Office 8.1 Brings SME Focus (0)July 17, 2012Avaya debuts IP Office 8.1, with a focus on the SME community. Avaya has also sought to capitalize on the BYOD trend by expanding its mobile UC offerings to the SME space.
  • The Waning Influence of Intel (0)July 17, 2012The maturation of mobility and the changing landscape of everyday computing has given rise to versatile and popular ARM-based alternatives that are supplanting traditional Intel footholds in the marketplace. Does Intel have a backup plan?
  • The New Office: Microsoft Aims Sky-High (0)July 16, 2012Microsoft completely revamps its Office ecosystem, introducing a new version of Office 365 for the consumer world and Windows 8 versions of Office that exploit the benefits of the tablet form-factor. The new Office also includes collaboration hooks for Skype, Lync and Web-based applications.
  • RIM Loses $147M in Mformation Patent Dispute (1)July 16, 2012RIM loses a court-settled patent dispute with MDM company Mformation, costing it $147.2 million in losses. With RIM already scrambling to make ends meet, will surmounting legal pressures put the company out of business?
  • 7-inch Tablets in The Channel (0)July 12, 2012Rumors about an iPad mini and the nearly-here Google Android Nexus 7 tablet have many speculating about the future of 7-inch tablets. Here's a quick look at some of the latest mid-sized tables on the market and their potential channel implications.
  • Surface Conspicuously Absent at Microsoft WPC (0)July 10, 2012Microsoft is building high expectations for its first tablet, Surface, which is expected to hit the market concurrently with the Windows 8 release this fall. At the Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Microsoft is showing off examples of Windows 8 everywhere. Surface, however, is nowhere to be found.
  • Mobile Strategies Come First In The Future (0)July 9, 2012In the future, the acceptance of tablets as standard computing platforms will force a shift in the channel, turning solution providers into mobile-first cloud brokers that will outfit organizations with the software and tools needed to host a mobile-first environment.
  • New Dell Printers Are Mobile-Ready (1)July 6, 2012Dell launches a fleet of new laser printers designed with the SMB and home office in mind. The new lineup is cost-conscious and feature rich, including expanded mobile printing capabilities which should give mobile-centric companies a boost.
  • Study: MDM Lacking On BYOD Devices (3)July 6, 2012A study conducted by AOTMP Research indicated that only 38 percent of organizations manage work-related applications on employee owned devices, illuminating major security and management gaps that set the stage for the growth of MDM channel businesses.
  • Juniper on Verge of Partner Program Revamp (0)July 5, 2012Juniper is about to roll out new channel program overhauled with revamped training, marketing and incentive features – all aimed at giving partners a competitive boost against rival Cisco in mobility and other disruptive trends.
  • Apple’s Me-Too Device Is the iPad Mini (1)July 5, 2012Apple's 7-inch iPad Mini may be a "me-too" device, but it has the potential to maintain the company's stronghold over the tablet space for a long time to come.
  • Tablets to Reign Supreme in 2017 (0)July 4, 2012By 2017, tablets will officially outpace notebooks in sales and market share, according to estimates. With this continued growth, what fate befalls the venerable notebook computer?
  • HP Goes Intel-First on Windows 8 Tablets (0)July 2, 2012Reports confirm HP's first Windows 8 tablet will be x86-based and focused around the business user. Could this help super-charge HP partners and resellers looking to build-out specialized Windows 8 portfolios?
  • Countdown to Microsoft WPC Toronto (0)July 2, 2012Microsoft’s annual channel confab, the Worldwide Partner Conference, is in Toronto in just one week. Microsoft says it’s the biggest WPC in its channel history – and it’s probably the most important gathering of Microsoft partners in years.
  • Microsoft’s Coup Is Google’s Reward (0)June 29, 2012Could Microsoft's vertically-oriented plans with Surface and Windows Phone 8 backfire, causing traditional Microsoft OEMs to run to Google? Or will the vision succeed, forcing OEMs to compete and readjust their strategies?
  • Enterasys Partnership Enables Public Channel (1)June 29, 2012Enterasys will likely get a bigger foot in the door in the public sector after forging a partnership with government liaison immixGroup. The move promises to ease the way for partners' expanding mobility niches with federal and other government customers.
  • RIM Slides Further on iPhone’s 5th Anniversary (1)June 29, 2012Research In Motion reported first quarter earnings that reveal a precipitous decline in sales is further exacerbating an already bad situation. RIM’s fall is coming at the expense of Apple’s success. The final analysis: It’s all about the apps.
  • Windows 8 RT Signals End of NT Era (0)June 28, 2012With Windows 8 RT arriving shortly, it's only a matter of time before this new platform supplants the legacy of Windows NT. As the transition sweeps the IT world, the channel is uniquely poised to capitalize -- if it knows where to look.
  • Level Platforms Boosts MDM Security (0)June 27, 2012Level Platforms enhances its MDM offering for MSPs leveraging its RMM platform. With these new updates, MSPs will have access to new security, automation and management capabilities to streamline multiple customer environments.
  • RIM May Become a Company Divided (0)June 26, 2012Rumors are swirling that RIM may split in two, spinning off a hardware division and keeping a software division intact. Can this crazy plan be pulled off and, more importantly, can the channel capitalize?
  • Kaspersky Targets Android With Mobile Security (0)June 25, 2012Kaspersky Lab updated its Mobile Security offering with a slew of tweaks addressing growing Android threats, further paving the way for partners to implement mobile security infrastructure to holdout customers.
  • Surface’s First Casualty: Summer PC Sales (2)June 25, 2012The PC market is already suffering eroding sales as more businesses and consumers flock to tablets and smartphones. Many would-be buyers are waiting until the Windows 8 this fall to buy new machines; the Surface announcement is only confirming the need to sit tight, which could affect Lenovo, Dell and HP sales.
  • Motorola Envisions Integrated Retail Systems (0)June 22, 2012Motorola Solutions released its vision for the retail IT system of the future, in which retailers and merchants use integrated mobility, wireless and business analytics to create more efficient operations and better consumer experiences. The channel opportunities in hardware, software and services are boundless.
  • The New Microsoft: Windows Phone 8 (2)June 22, 2012Rumor has it that Microsoft is building its own phone for Windows Phone 8, right alongside its new Surface Tablet. What does that mean for Nokia and the rest of the industry? Is Microsoft going crazy or has it finally found its way?
  • LANDesk Scoops Wavelink for MDM (0)June 21, 2012LANDesk could be emerging as a key player in end-to-end enterprise management solutions as it picks up company Wavelink for it's wireless infrastructure and MDM capabilities.
  • HP Release Boosts SMB Mobile Infrastructure (0)June 20, 2012A comprehensive HP release – dubbed HP Converged Infrastructure – aims to launch SMBs into an increasingly mobile world with a slew of dedicated solutions, services, financing and training programs, while placing channel partners firmly at the helm of the effort.
  • Will Microsoft WPC Have a ‘Surface’ Surprise? (0)June 20, 2012So far, Microsoft says it will only sell its new Surface tablets direct online and through its own retail stores. However, there are indications Microsoft could unveil its channel plans for Surface at its annual Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto next month.
  • Cisco Launches WebEx Social (1)June 19, 2012Cisco extended social collaboration with WebEx Social and a corresponding cloud client, a move that could fill in a valuable mobility piece for partners and create inroads in the SMB and lower markets.
  • Samsung CEO: It’s All about the Apps (2)June 19, 2012New Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun wants the hardware giant to step up efforts to develop software and applications for its myriad devices. Not only is he right, but he’s preaching a lesson that channel needs to learn, too.
  • Microsoft Surface Tablet Marks the End of an Era (2)June 19, 2012Microsoft's foray into vertical integration marks the end of the software-centric company. As Microsoft plots a course to new computing paradigms, will it inadvertently set the stage for more vertically integrated platforms?
  • Microsoft Unveils ‘Surface,’ Its First Tablet (0)June 18, 2012Microsoft's Surface tablet may not be an 'iPad killer,' but it has strong potential to expand the tablet market and break new ground in the enterprise space, driven by existing infrastructure and broad partner support.
  • Microsoft Reboots Tablet Project (0)June 15, 2012Microsoft may release a tablet Monday, but its strategy for the unit remains unknown. Will Microsoft offer a consumer device, or will it focus on a business-centric tablet to specifically oust rival Apple from the corporate world? Most importantly, can the channel cash in either way?
  • ADTRAN Suits Up for BYOD (0)June 14, 2012The networking company unleashes its BYOD solution, bringing together Bluesocket and NetVanta technologies for an end-to-end MDM package.
  • Apple’s New MacBooks Target Ultrabooks (0)June 14, 2012Apple's MacBook refinements at WWDC show a competitive attitude amid the throng of ultrabooks coming later in 2012. Is Apple's plan to dominate the market with the MacBook Air and an iPhone 5 this fall?
  • Study: SMB Struggles To Stay Secure (1)June 12, 2012A Sophos study finds that a significant portion of SMB data is protected by five-year-old firewalls and other outdated infrastructure, leaving a wide-open playing field for partners to help lower-market customers find creative approaches to security and compliance.
  • IBM AppScan Offers Security for App Devs (0)June 8, 2012IBM introduces its Security AppScan portfolio, specifically designed to make security an innate process of app lifecycle and development and ensuring a production-ready application meets enterprise and SMB security demands.
  • Cisco Cius Death vs. The Trust Advisor Concept (0)June 7, 2012Vendors count on solution providers to leverage their 'trusted advisor' relationship with customers to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and products. When those products fail, though, vendors don't realize the damage they inflict on partners’ 'trusted' status. Case in point: the defunct Cisco Cius.
  • Samsung Buys Into Linux Foundation (0)June 6, 2012Samsung donates $500,000 to The Linux Foundation and joins as a platinum member. Will this move steer The Linux Foundation in new direction, or just leverage Linux for the mobile world?
  • Tech Data Adds Mac Management with Casper (0)June 6, 2012As Apple's devices invade the enterprise, Tech Data teams up with JAMF Software to bring Mac OS X and iOS management to the channel with Casper Suite.
  • IBM Streamlines Cloud App Development (0)June 5, 2012IBM caters to its growing base of cloud and mobile software development companies with a new set of lifecycle development tools wrought from IBM's recent Worklight acquisition.
  • Ruckus Adds New Leadership, Training (1)June 4, 2012Ruckus is putting reinvigorated effort into its channel with the addition of new talent and training, signs the company could be setting the stage for accelerated growth with an impending IPO.
  • Motorola Unites ISVs, Expands PartnerEmpower (0)June 4, 2012Motorola unites its partner program, bringing PartnerSelect ISVs into its PartnerEmpower program, and allowing PartnerEmpower resellers to access new wireless solution specializations . Can Motorola partners work together to deliver end-to-end solutions?
  • Dell’s Computer Portfolio Gets Workforce Refresh (0)May 31, 2012Dell introduces a new line of desktops and laptops that have been refreshed to meet the needs of the ever-connected ever-communicatiing workplace. Dell is also channels its inner-consumer with a business-centric all-in-one unit.
  • RIM Headed for a Breakup (1)May 31, 2012Research in Motion, makers of the BlackBerry smartphone platform, is seeking new partners to license its technology. The move is a possible precursor to a sale of the company, which continues to see market share slide against the crushing weight of consumerization.
  • CompanionLink Promises Zero-Cloud Sync (1)May 31, 2012CompanionLink offers DejaSync and DejaConnect as cloud-free alternatives to ensuring mobile CRM data is synchronized securely and encrypted without a byte of data existing on a cloud server.
  • Newer, Sportier Chromebooks Target Workforce (1)May 30, 2012Google's new fleet of Chromebooks and the Chrombox may be consumer-centric on the surface, but thay're packed with business-savvy features that set the stage for Chrome OS to be widely used in the workplace.
  • DeviceLock Launches DLP Partner Alliance (0)May 29, 2012DeviceLock launches a new partner program built around the DeviceLock DLP Endpoint suite. The company is banking on specialized security VARs to adopt the Active Directory-integrated software to bring DLP to BYOD and social-enabled workplaces.
  • McAfee: PC, Android Malware On The Rise (0)May 28, 2012A McAfee Q1 threat report revealed a rising tide of PC and Android threats, indicating possible windows of opportunity for partners looking to expand practices to mobile security niches.
  • Wyse, Rise Set Stage For End-To-End Services (0)May 25, 2012Wyse partners with UK company Rise to deliver end-to-end desktop virtualization and cloud solutions. Could the trend towards end-to-end services reshape the way channel partners deliver cloud and virutalization?
  • Cloud Acquisitions: Oracle, SAP, VMware (0)May 24, 2012Oracle, SAP and VMware are set to acquire Virtue, Ariba and Wanova, respectively. These acquisitions serve to strengthen each company's core portfolio while helping them expand into the cloud.
  • New Alcatel-Lucent Routers Target Cloud, Video (0)May 23, 2012Alcatel-Lucent is attempting to challenge competitors with Internet core routers aimed at better addressing increasing network complexity and traffic volumes created with the cloud and mobile devices. Questions remain as to whether the offering will be seen as a viable alternative for the channel.
  • SAP May Tap MobileIron For Mobile Apps (0)May 22, 2012Reports suggest SAP has informally spoken to MDM company MobileIron in an effort to bring mobile apps and mobile device management into one neat package for the entire IT market.
  • BYOD’s Greatest Opportunity Lies in Verticals (1)May 21, 2012As the BYOD phenomenon becomes commonplace in the channel, it's imperative channel partners know where solutions are most needed and what solutions hold the most promise. Vertical markets like health care and education represent BYOD opportunities that could be bigger than the enterprise.
  • Enterasys SuperDrive: Partners And The Future (0)May 17, 2012At Enterasys SuperDrive 2012, partners are buzzing about the OneFabric networking portfolio while Enterasys celebrates its growth in the marketplace. Is Enterasys a rising star on the networking scene?
  • Reports: Enterprises Embracing BYOD Trend (0)May 16, 2012Enterprise organizations have moved well past the acceptance phase to embrace the BYOD trend, creating swaths of opportunity for the channel to create holistic and scalable mobile security policies and management services for their customers.
  • Inside the Great Huawei Threat (3)May 10, 2012China’s Huawei Technologies is a repeat target of criticism by competitors and governments as a competitive and security threat. The reality is Huawei is just getting started in the U.S. market and channel, and it’s taking a deliberate approach to building its presence.
  • Can BYOD Survive the End of Subsidies? (0)May 10, 2012Consumers can’t get enough of smartphones and tablets, and that’s driving IT vendors and solution providers to adopt mobile device management. What many consumers don’t know is their devices are heavily subsidized by carriers, who are growing tired of paying for hardware. Will BYOD continue if subsidies are curtailed?
  • F5 Networks Offers SPDY Application Delivery (0)May 8, 2012F5 Networks introduces the SPDY Gateway, an appliance designed to optimize the Web and Web-based applications via Google's SPDY protocol. F5 networks is also leveraging SPDY as an effective way to optimize Web apps for mobile use, and for browsers that don't natively support SPDY.
  • Skype Stunting Microsoft, Nokia Turnaround (7)May 7, 2012Nokia is blaming Microsoft’s ownership of Skype as the reason many carriers don’t want to carry the new Lumia smartphone powered by Windows Phone 7. There’s some truth to this excuse, but it’s more a reflection of what’s happening across the technology landscape in terms of allies becoming frienemies and competitors.
  • Sprint Picks Zenprise for MDM Service (0)May 4, 2012Sprint’s selection of Zenprise MobileManager for its new mobile device management service offering reflects the growing need and demand for enterprise-class management and security of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices. It’s another sign the channel needs to step up MDM adoption.
  • Juniper Unveils Mobile Security, Access Tools (0)May 3, 2012Juniper Networks launched a slew of mobile security and management enhancements to its Simply Connected portfolio, which aim to give channel partners a few more tools to address security and access challenges stemming from the rising tide of BYOD.
  • VMware View 5.1 Ready For Mobile Workforce (0)May 3, 2012VMware View 5.1 arrives with new optimization features alongside the VMware Project Octopus Beta storage platform. With virtualization, cloud and storage capabilities under its belt, VMware readies itself for the mobile enterprise.
  • Quest Software Boasts Robust Migration Services (0)May 1, 2012Quest Software announces itself as a leading provider of Microsoft Office 365 migration. Are Quest Software's moves indicative of a recent change from public to private company or a company moving to cloud services? Or both?
  • Ultrabooks Drive Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience 3.0 (0)April 30, 2012Lenovo's EE3 offers an optimized boot environment for PCs, shrinking boot time 40 percent. Is Lenovo gearing up for ultrabooks and Windows 8 tablets?
  • Symantec: Malicious Attacks Spike 81 Percent (0)April 30, 2012Symantec's new Threat Report indicates the increasing need for channel partners to hone skills and expand security practices and highlights the need for more mobile device management and protection.
  • Enterasys MDM: One Appliance to Rule Them All (0)April 30, 2012Enterasys introduces the Mobile Identity and Access Manager appliance, offering granular MDM controls based on 50 unique attributes. With a virtual appliance option and cloud-based controls, will this be the style of MDM to dominate the future?
  • Why Jabber Is All About Mobile Enterprise (0)April 27, 2012Cisco's ambitions with Jabber may be to build a de-facto UC platform for the upcoming wave of mobile devices in the enterprise.
  • How Microsoft Will Trump Android in Mobility (0)April 24, 2012Google's Android is facing court challenges by Oracle over its use of Java, while customers are raising frustrations over their user experience. A combination of Android shortcomings and Google miscalculations will open the door for Microsoft to roar back in the mobility market. In the end, it's all about integration.
  • SAP Recruiting Partners To Expand Reach (0)April 23, 2012SAP is focused heavily on expanding its partner program into key areas like mobility and data analytics as it looks to decrease direct sales involvement and expand market reach.
  • Microsoft Extending Windows Intune’s Tentacles (0)April 20, 2012At this week’s Microsoft Management Summit, the software company announced the next version of Windows Intune will include mobile device management capabilities including support for rival Android and Apple tablets and smartphones. Is this surrender or strategic genius?
  • Intel Preparing for ARM’s Race (0)April 18, 2012Intel's success in the mobility market may never come to pass. Can it really compete against the flexible nature of the ARM platform?
  • Unified Communications: An Integrator’s Dream (0)April 17, 2012Unified communications suffers from a singular problem: There’s no one product that encompasses the full communications spectrum. That one issue is holding back progress in the unified communication channel. The reality is unified communications can be anything we want it to be. Here’s why.
  • Google Wallet: A Channel Opportunity (0)April 13, 2012Google Wallet is impressive, but proliferation remains low as mobile phones slowly adopt NFC technology. Is now the perfect time for channel partners to gear up solutions and services wrapped around NFC payments?
  • Gartner: iPad Still King in 2016 (0)April 13, 2012A recent Gartner projection places Apple's iPad as the leading tablet well into 2016. But what does that say about other tablet contenders?
  • Best Buy Reorganizes As CEO Resigns (2)April 10, 2012Best Buy's CEO Brian Dunn resigns as internal company reorganizations adapt to the digital world. Will Best Buy find new profitability through systems integration services in the channel?
  • Sophos Installs New Channel Chief (0)April 9, 2012Sophos management tells Channelnomics the changing of channel leadership is not an indication of a strategy shift. Rather, the installation of a new channel chief comes as the security vendor continues to integrate acquired companies and refine channel relationships.
  • BoxTone Launches Mobility Management Network (0)April 6, 2012BoxTone is looking beyond mobile device management and security to deliver enterprise mobility management (EMM), which extends MDM to include application sourcing and management. The program positions BoxTone as an enterprise mobility aggregation point.
  • Mac Malware Dispels Invulnerability of All Devices (0)April 6, 2012More than 600,000 Macs are infected by the Flashback Trojan, which disables many of the native OS X security protections. While not unique, the mass infection shows Mac users can no longer be cavalier about malware and vulnerability threats. Nor can mobile users.
  • MDM is a Growing Vendor Battleground (4)April 4, 2012Research in Motion yesterday started shipping its universal mobile management application, while Sophos bought German mobility leader DIALOGS. Networking, security and mobility vendors are racing to field mobile device management solutions. While there’s already a pecking order, no one company dominates this growing segment.
  • Is ‘McAfee Inside’ Intel’s New Secret Weapon? (1)March 30, 2012Security vendor McAfee had a big presence at the Intel Solutions Summit this week in New Orleans. Intel executives repeatedly cited McAfee’s security technology as instrumental to its future roadmap, and called security challenges a $23 billion opportunity. Is the integration of McAfee one of Intel’s secret weapons for enabling the platform of the future?
  • Cisco To Acquire ClearAccess (0)March 28, 2012Cisco said it planned to acquire ClearAccess, which aims to give its service provider partners a leg up in managing and integrating mobile, cloud and other residential devices for their customers.
  • Tablets Facing Same Fate as Netbooks (0)March 26, 2012Apple’s iPad will remain the dominant tablet for the next five years, but a flood of low-cost tablets and the rise of ultralight notebooks will transform the market dynamics again. The shift has the potential of rendering conventional tablets obsolete as quickly as tablets dispatched netbooks.
  • Ingram Launches New Mobility Unit (0)March 23, 2012Ingram Micro named Michael Romero to head its North America effort in mobility technology development and sales. The appointment comes as Ingram Micro and other distributors look to penetrate the exploding mobility market and bring opportunities to its channel partners.
  • Symantec Expands Mobile Management Portfolio (0)March 23, 2012Symantec has acquired Nukona, an innovative supplier of mobile application management solutions, to extend its capabilities in enabling ‘Bring Your Own Device’ to work policies. The addition complements earlier mobility acquisitions, and positions Big Yellow and its partners to capitalize on a $7 billion market opportunity.
  • Intel Bets Big on Ultrabooks, Mobility (0)March 21, 2012At its annual partner summit, Intel showed off the technology driving the next generation of ultrabooks and mobile devices. The processor and component vendor believes the future will be the convergence of PCs and tablets into a consolidated computing device.
  • Level Platforms Brings MDM to MSPs (0)March 20, 2012Level Platforms reports positive response to its Managed Workplace 2012, particularly among managed service providers interested in new capabilities such as mobile device management for the growing fleet of smartphones and tablets.
  • Symantec Trial Brings MDM Need into Focus (2)March 14, 2012“The Symantec Smartphone Honey Stick Project” revealed how readily people will try to access data and applications on lost smartphones. The remedy is better mobile device management, which is quickly growing into a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for solution providers.
  • Microsoft Closing Windows Mobile Marketplace (0)March 12, 2012Microsoft is shutting down its Windows Mobile Marketplace that supports Windows Mobile 6.x phones and embedded devices as part of its gradual phasing out of the legacy operating system. Still unclear is the future of enterprise and embedded devices on the older platform.
  • Cisco, Symantec, McAfee Top in Mobile Security (1)March 9, 2012A new Infonetic report finds Cisco, Symantec and McAfee rated top in mobile device security by business IT decision makers. While that’s no surprise, the report is deceptive in that the mobile security field is young and there are numerous vendors vying for a piece of this opportunity. In other words, it’s not a solid…
  • Apple’s iPad Announcement Marks PC Era’s End (0)March 7, 2012Apple CEO Tim Cook uttered the phrase “post-PC world” more than a dozen times in the first five minutes of a presentation introducing a slew of new products, including the iPad 3. Is this truly the end of the PC era, and will the world be ruled by mobile, personalized devices?
  • Microsoft May Rise Again with Windows 8 (0)March 1, 2012A strange juxtaposition is happening in the technology continuum, as Microsoft is suddenly getting all the buzz over the forthcoming release of Windows 8 and Apple is the one fighting for attention lackluster releases, such as the iPad 3 and Mac OS Mountain Lion. Microsoft may yet regain the initiative, as it’s long stated.
  • RSA Conference Buzz is All About Mobility (1)February 28, 2012Cloud security, hacktivism and advanced persistent threats are significant items on the RSA Conference agenda. Mobility, though, is overshadowing all these topics at the world’s largest security confab, as vendors and solution providers look to capitalize on the consumerization and mobile device revolution.
  • AT&T Considering Toll-Free Mobile Apps (0)February 28, 2012The wireless carrier is developing a new program through which mobile application developers would pay data transport fees instead of customers. Though app developers are decrying the concept, there’s merit in the idea for app developers and mobile users alike.
  • Palo Alto Expands Alliances in IPO Run-Up (2)February 24, 2012Among the crop of much-anticipated tech IPOs this year is Palo Alto Networks, the market-leading and channel-darling next-generation firewall vendor. While no IPO date has been set, Palo Alto Networks is expanding its tech alliance roster – and that’s probably for more than just extending interoperability with complementary vendors.
  • Verizon, Motorola Team on Mobile Enablement (0)February 24, 2012Verizon Wireless announced a new alliance with Motorola Solutions to provide more reliable data and voice transport services for enterprise-class mobile devices and machine-to-machine solutions. Motorola partners will provide the field sales, implementation and support for these mobile solutions.
  • Tech Data’s TDMobility Adds Carrier Partnerships (0)February 23, 2012New agreements with AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint quicken Tech Data’s pace to keep up with other distributors in competitive bids to offer partners simpler, more profitable routes to the mobile market.
  • Mobile Device, Data Traffic Poised to Soar (0)February 21, 2012Solution providers need to get ready for opportunities in the explosive growth of smartphone and tablet sales, along with an accompanying boom in mobile data traffic — with mobile cloud use accounting nearly three-quarters of that traffic — by 2016.
  • Intermec Sharpens Channel Focus on Solutions (0)February 8, 2012Intermec is refining its channel program with new focus and improved incentives in mind as more VARs and ISVs embrace rugged mobile enterprise devices.
  • Microsoft’s Other Mobile Problem (1)February 7, 2012Microsoft went “all in” on Windows Phone 7 to reverse its fortunes against Google's Android and Apple’s iOS in the smartphones wars. Left out of the battle, though, was Windows Mobile, the operating system for rugged devices, a sector Microsoft thought was secure. Not only is that position being threatened, Microsoft may have already lost…
  • Surging Smartphone Sales Usher In MDM Era (0)February 6, 2012For the first time, smartphone sales surpassed shipments of client PCs – including tablets – to become the world’s most prolific computing platform. Over the next three years, more than 1 trillion smartphones will enter service, compelling businesses to adopt mobile device management.
  • RIM Faces Long Road to Redemption (0)January 23, 2012Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, is replacing its co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis today. The task of turning around the vendor falls to Thorsten Heins, who is faced with sliding market share and customer satisfaction ratings. Could RIM become the first casualty of the mobility era?
  • IT Buyers No Longer Looking at Tech in Isolation (0)January 23, 2012Business 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.
  • Webroot Exiting Email Security, Archiving (8)January 19, 2012Webroot is getting out of the email security and archiving business, telling partners it will now focus on providing endpoint anti-malware software. The move is jarring to some partners who are coping with the shift in providers and places them in the stream of the already crowded endpoint security market.
  • Juniper Turns to Partners to Combat Cisco (0)January 18, 2012At its first global partner conference in Las Vegas, Juniper executives appealed to channel partners to help compete with and take business from rival Cisco in what’s been positioned as an innovator against a legacy company. It’s a growing sign that networking market competition is heating up since Cisco refocused. But it’s not just Cisco…
  • Microsoft’s 2012 Challenge: Beating Itself (0)January 10, 2012Microsoft is finally getting good reviews for new products, such as Windows Phone 7 Mango and the forthcoming Windows 8 with Metro GUI. What it’s unable to shake is a reputation of lethargy and the complacency of customers. In other words, Microsoft has to beat itself before it can compete with Google, Apple and others.
  • Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part I (1)January 3, 2012Today, we unveil the first round of our Channelnomics 2011 Influencers awards, in which we recognize those special people and businesses that – for better or worse – influence the thinking and operations of the channel over the last year. We will publish our winners all this week. Up first, associations and channel groups, mobility,…
  • Security, Privacy Challenges Abound in 2012 (1)December 29, 2011Privacy threats and Internet security will continue to dominate tech challenges of consumers, organizations, governments, vendors, and solution providers during 2012—a year in which the pace to deploy emerging solutions involving cloud computing, social networking and mobile devices will advance, along with the manner and numbers of hack attacks.
  • 20 Billion Mobile App Downloads and Counting (0)December 28, 2011The holiday season pushed the number of Android and Apple downloads to record highs. The holiday shopping season reveals not just emerging opportunities in mobile app development, but the integration of holistic systems that include tablets and smartphones.
  • Apple Patents Fuel Cells for iPhones (1)December 26, 2011Apple filed patents for what amounts to a hydrogen fuel cell small enough for smartphones and tablets. If perfected, the new power source could energize mobile devices for days or weeks at a time, changing the dynamics of mobility.
  • 5 Considerations for Picking MDM Solutions (3)December 21, 2011Mobility is poised to become the next big thing in technology, as more than 3 billion IP-enabled devices are set to flood the market in the next year alone. End users want mobile device management (MDM), so it’s up to solution providers to select the right platform. Here are a few thoughts on selecting mobile…
  • CompTIA Offers Mobile App Security Certification (0)December 19, 2011Security threats that continue to place everyone using mobile devices at risk are at the heart of a new joint effort by CompTIA and viaForensics. The goal: Develop security technologies and channel partner practices that are robust and pervasive enough to catch up to the market flood of mobile apps.
  • Enterprises Love Android and Social Web Sites (2)December 14, 2011The new quarterly Zscaler ThreatlabZ report finds global enterprise Android adoption skyrocketing among enterprise users, as is their visits via mobile devices to Facebook and Twitter. There’s definitely a security issue here, but an even greater mobile management opportunity.
  • HP Planning a WebOS Tablet, Again (0)December 12, 2011Even as it prepares to launch a Windows 8-powered tablet next year, Hewlett-Packard is already looking forward to 2013 when a new WebOS tablet could reappear in the portfolio. Here’s why this idea may or may not fly.
  • Gartner’s IT Predictions Hold Channel Promise (1)December 2, 2011It’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.
  • WatchGuard, SonicWall Extend VPNs to iOS (0)December 1, 2011SonicWall and WatchGuard Technologies become the latest security vendors to offer protection to Apple mobile devices such as the iPhone and iPad. Their secret weapon is the tried and true virtual private network.
  • RIM Offers to Manage iOS, Android Devices (0)November 29, 2011Research in Motion, the company behind BlackBerry, is expected to launch its Mobile Fusion platform that will extend management to iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. The new product is designed to stem customer defections. It’s also a sign of the increasing need for broad mobile device management.
  • Is Mobile Antivirus a Scam? (3)November 23, 2011All of the major security software vendors – Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, Sophos and Kaspersky Lab – have products for safeguarding smartphones and tablets from the ills of malware. While mobile malware is real, a Google engineer says it’s not prevalent and that security vendors should be ashamed of themselves.
  • Mushroom Networks Growing a Wireless World (0)November 23, 2011Mushroom Networks, the vendor with products like Truffle and PortaBella, is growing its channel program to deliver its bandwidth management and video streaming solutions to any wired and wireless location. Mushroom is leaning toward a future where wireless and portability are king.
  • RIM’s Demise, Apple’s Rise: A Sales Potential (0)November 21, 2011Research In Motion commanded the government market because of its security. Now, the government and enterprises are embracing Apple’s iPhone and iPad, and augmenting them with add-on management and security. This is giving rise to new channel opportunities for collateral technology sales.
  • Mobility’s Bright Channel Future (0)November 15, 2011The proliferation of tablets and smartphones in the enterprise is only the beginning of a bright, prosperous future for mobility products and services among solution providers. Getting into this game starts with understanding where things are today and where they’re going over the next decade.
  • HP Keeps WebOS Hanging in the Balance (1)November 9, 2011A decision on the fate of WebOS, the operating system HP has kept in limbo since summer, was expected today. Instead, CEO Meg Whitman told employees the decision process is “complicated” and would take time. Complicated, indeed.
  • File Synch Services Open New Opportunities (1)November 3, 2011Backup is good for preserving and restoring data, but it’s not much of a mechanism for sharing files between devices and users. A growing number of file synchronization services including Dropbox, Box.net and YouSendIt are looking to the channel to grow their subscriber base and break out of their consumer roots.
  • Intel Explains to Partners Why It Bought McAfee (0)October 18, 2011Renee James, senior vice president of Intel’s Software and Solutions Group, told partners attending the Focus conference in Las Vegas that the processor giant has no plans to assimilate, disrupt or change McAfee’s operations and channel. Instead, the two companies will collaborate on transforming security for the future.
  • Motorola Solutions Enters Tablet Market with ET1 (1)October 11, 2011The new Android-powered tablet is purpose-built for business and industrial environments, clearly separating it from causal consumer competitors. If successful, the ET1 could redefine what “business tablet” means to the channel and end-user market.
  • RIM Looks to IT Channel to Reverse Fortunes (0)October 5, 2011Research In Motion (RIM), makers of the Blackberry, is partnering with Tech Data to deliver end-to-end smartphone solutions for resale through the IT channel. The deal comes as Blackberry continues to lose sales and market share to competitors, most notably Apple and Google.
  • LifeSize Brings Video Conferencing to iOS 5 (0)October 5, 2011The high-definition video conferencing specialist now supports Apple iOS 5 and will soon support iPhone 4S, enabling business users of these popular smartphones to connect to its collaboration platform. Will smartphones be the catalyst for video conferencing adoption?
  • Reports: Amazon May Buy WebOS (2)September 30, 2011As Hewlett-Packard continues to go through its leadership and strategic transition throws, stability seems elusive. The latest disruption: the potential sale of the former Palm business to Amazon. It’s a sign that instability is here for a while.
  • Zenprise Builds Channel to Tap Mobility Trend (0)September 19, 2011As more consumer and mixed-use devices find their way into enterprise environments, IT managers are looking for a way to exercise control over data and applications. Zenprise is forming a new channel to push its mobile management applications to this growing market segment.
  • McAfee, Intel Strategy Coming into Focus (1)September 16, 2011McAfee and Intel are busy making a series of product and technology development announcements that will culminate at McAfee’s annual Focus security conference in October. At Focus, partners will get a first-hand look at the future of these integrated companies.
  • Verizon Morphing into a Solution Provider (0)September 14, 2011Verizon Wireless took the wraps off a new initiative, the Verizon Wireless Private Applications Store, a new initiative to provide businesses with applications for mobile devices. The initiative shows how wireless carriers are evolving into technology companies with multiple value propositions.
  • Mobile Security Poised for Big Growth (1)August 26, 2011The proliferation of mobile devices, such as increasingly powerful smartphones and tablets, will create more demand for mobile security solutions. A new report indicates the market will top $14.4 billion worldwide by 2017.
  • We Were Wrong about HP TouchPad, WebOS (2)August 18, 2011Hewlett-Packard seems on the verge of a major restructuring and refocusing. The tech world is waiting details that may include the spinoff of its PC division. What’s known so far is the TouchPad tablet and the WebOS smartphones are the first casualties.
  • Google-Moto: A Catalyst for Convergence (0)August 16, 2011Google is gambling on Motorola Mobility giving it the ability to create holistic mobile solutions and patents to fend off rivals. Google may be building a bridge between the IT and telephony channels to create a new converged world.
  • Shocker: Google Buys Motorola Mobility (1)August 15, 2011The search giant is making a big bet on mobility by paying $12.5 billion for handset maker Motorola Mobility. The deal has the potential of reshaping the mobile market.
  • Vendor Guarantees New Partners RFID Revenue (0)July 21, 2011ODIN, a maker of RFID management software, is launching a new channel program to attract partners that don't have extensive RFID technology. The intent is to expand the channel ranks and enable sales. The reward: guaranteed revenue – with conditions, of course.
  • iPhone Gets Tailor-Made Antivirus App (0)July 13, 2011French security vendor Intego is release the first antivirus application for the Apple iPhone. Malware threats to smartphones is on the rise. Intego's app is a harbinger of emerging channel opportunities in mobile security.
  • Windows Phone 7: A Market Leader? (0)July 13, 2011Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer basically said it all about Windows Phone 7’s market share: “We’ve gone from very small to very small.” And yet, Microsoft executives at the Worldwide Partner Conference are predicting a surge in adoption that will make Windows mobile platform a true Android rival.
  • webOS and the Future of Mobility (0)July 8, 2011Hewlett-Packard isn’t shrugging off bad reviews of its TouchPad tablet and underlying operating system. Instead, it’s using those reviews to improve its products – and that shows HP’s ambitions to be an operating system company and the true future of computing.
  • Challenges Ahead for iPad Rivals (1)June 30, 2011Hewlett-Packard debuts its first tablet, the TouchPad, tomorrow and Cisco is releasing its improved Cius business tablet at the end of July. Both vendors have high hopes their product will rival the Apple iPad, but it’s a tall order to dethrone the market leader. Does either of these tablets stand a chance?
  • Chromebooks in the Channel Worth the Wait (1)May 23, 2011Google and its laptop partners Acer and Samsung are prepping for the June launch of the Chromebooks through the retail channel. The business versions will be sold exclusively through the Google channel, but not until fall. Trust us, it’s worth the wait.
  • Microsoft, Nokia Mobility Market Shares Slide (0)May 12, 2011Since the release of Windows Phone 7 six months ago, Microsoft’s share in the mobility and smartphone market have declined. Its new partner in smartphones, Nokia, is also seeing precipitous declines in its market share. Can the two companies reverse the slide and challenge Google Android and Apple iPhone?
  • Sprint-Clearwire Deal Reflects Cloud Mobility (0)April 20, 2011Over the next two years, Sprint Nextel will pay Clearwire more than $1 billion for access to its 4G network. The deal is as much about enabling the mobile cloud as it is about inter-carrier competition with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Deals such as this may also accelerate cloud convergence.
  • Microsoft-Toyota Deal a Spark of Future Mobility (0)April 8, 2011Microsoft and Toyota announced a partnership to develop integrated systems for extending onboard and cloud-based applications to vehicles. The partnership has tremendous potential for building a new foundation of channel service and support opportunities.
  • Report: Managed Telecom a $237B Opportunity (3)March 11, 2011The recession permanently changed the way enterprises view managed telecom and IT services. A new report predicts spending on converged managed services will surge over the next five years as businesses look to shed costs by contracting support.
  • SMBs Like Retail for PCs. Is That So Bad? (0)March 8, 2011There's some breathlessness in the channel press over a  new research report indicating SMBs are increasingly choosing the likes of Best Buy and Walmart over their local VAR when it comes time to buy a new desktop PC. Small analyst firm Techaisle of San Jose, Calif., issued the bad news Monday, saying that retail sales…
  • 4 Things We Learned Today – February 10 (0)February 10, 2011Here’s a look at some of the stories and trends that hit our radar screen that are relevant to the channel. My favorite: Rackspace's quarterly earnings report.
  • First RetroDex Reveals What’s Next in Tech (1)November 17, 2010Last night, I had the privilege of keynoting the new RetroDex event at the Seattle Music Experience – a wonderful museum dedicated to pop music (and science fiction memorabilia). RetroDex is intended to provide a live compendium to the revived Comdex in virtual form. More than 150 attended to network and hear about what’s going…
  • Alternate Interpretation of Market Research (0)October 11, 2010Oracle co-president Mark Hurd once said, “If you interrogate the numbers long enough, they will provide you the answer.” He was of course talking about business analytics – the study of market indicators, sales performance and customer trends. He was right; numbers don’t lie, but it’s all in how you interpret them.
  • Battle for Mobility Heads to Court (0)October 4, 2010On the eve of Windows Phone 7 finally coming to market, Microsoft launched an unusual legal battle against rival Google by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Motorola. Yes, you read that right: Microsoft is suing Motorola for patent infringement for the way Google’s Android operating system synchs email and files on smartphones.
  • Checking Out Converging Channels in Washington (0)September 21, 2010While the rest of the world is lulled into an Indian summer slumber at Oracle World, I’m heading to Washington for the Channel Partners Conference, a production of Phone+ Magazine and Virgo Publishing. This is my first time at the three-day summit, so I’m very curious about how the other side of the channel lives.…
  • Intel Reveals the Cloud is Dead (5)August 30, 2010Let me be the first to say this: “The cloud is dead!”In fact, I’m not sure if cloud computing was ever a real trend. The real disruption to the IT paradigm is mobility, which is part of the promise of cloud computing – access to data from any place, at anytime from anywhere. In that…
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