Telephony/VoIP

Services May Unlock Unified Comm's Potential (0) May 17, 2012 Unified communications – the integration of various forms of digital messaging in a single platform – remains of high interest among businesses, but adoption is still relatively low. A new CompTIA study finds the attachment of cloud and managed services may open the door for greater unified communications adoption.
Vu, Vidtel Break through Video Garden Walls (2) May 9, 2012 The partnership between Vu TelePresence and Vidtel will enable users of the video conference technology to collaborate and communicate with non-Vu and competitive platform users, effectively breaking through the garden walls that limit many telepresence solutions.
ShoreTel Unloads Collaboration Cornucopia (0) May 9, 2012 ShoreTel unleashes the SA-400 with ShoreTel UC platform 12.3, in addition to the cloud-based UC management M5 Portal, plus a new remote monitoring system to ensure the stability of ShoreTel IP PBX systems.
Skype Stunting Microsoft, Nokia Turnaround (7) May 7, 2012 Nokia 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.
The Fuzzy Future of Telepresence (7) May 5, 2012 Cisco pioneered the concept of the virtual conference room with telepresence. Rivals including Polycom and Hewlett-Packard have followed suit. They are magnificent systems that few can afford, and that’s the problem argues one pundit. Is this a harbinger for video conferencing?
Huawei Profits Plummet Amid Market Pressure (0) April 24, 2012 China's IT equipment manufacturer saw annual profits fall 53 percent under pressure by competitors, government regulators and a soft communications market. Huawei executives insist the fall was anticipated and the company has turned the corner to become a portfolio vendor like Cisco and Dell.
Study: Telecom-Channel Partnerships Profitable (0) March 27, 2012 The telecom world is increasingly relying on channel partnerships to stay competitive, acquire new customers and create new revenue streams, driven in part by the emergence of cloud computing and a greater demand for services.
Polycom Sees Video Chance in Network Refresh (0) March 26, 2012 Polycom sees an opportunity to drive broader video-conferencing adoption by teaming up with Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft, and driving sales as businesses refresh the networking infrastructure. In this case, high-capacity switches could drag video adoption.
M5 Adds Biz Intelligence to Hosted VoIP (0) March 16, 2012 Hosted unified communications provider M5 Networks is partnering with InsightSquared to deliver a new SMB-focused analytics solution aimed at making it easier for partners to manage and utilize data. It’s another notch in a growing solutions and partner portfolio for M5.
Siemens Offers OpenScape UC as a Service (0) March 9, 2012 In a deal with Ingram Micro Services, Siemens Communications will start offering its OpenScape unified communications platform as a service to be resold through the channel. The service offering aims to tap into the growing demand for hosted VoIP, communications and collaboration services.
LifeSize Video Added to Switchvox UC Phones (1) March 8, 2012 Digium is updating its Switchvox UC business phones to include LifeSize HD video conference capabilities directed at small to midsized businesses. The move adds to evolving channel options amid an upswing in demand for UC video applications.
Logic Backs Cisco’s Objection to Skype Deal (1) February 20, 2012 Cisco is appealing to the European Union, which has a history of regulatory advocacy in technology, to impose requirements on Microsoft to ensure openness in future generations of video telephony and communications. There’s good logic behind Cisco’s argument, and it will ultimately benefit resellers.
Digium’s New IP Phones Aimed at Midmarket (0) February 10, 2012 Described as a bold move by some industry watchers, Digium has launched its own line of IP phones. Execs say the step opens mid-market opportunities, reduces total cost of ownership and presents better margins for both Digium and its partners.
Logitech Peripheral Strategy Paying Off (0) February 8, 2012 Last year, Logitech – best known for keyboards and mice sold through retailers – embarked on a strategy of being the agnostic peripheral supplier for video and unified communications. The strategy appears to be paying off as the vendor is attracting scores of partners to its nascent channel program.
January Channel Sales Explode (0) February 2, 2012 While hard to quantify, reports are streaming into Channelnomics from solution providers experiencing unusually high sales and request for quotes in what’s normally a low period of the year. The sudden surge is a good omen for 2012.
ShoreTel Expands Hosted UC with M5 Deal (1) February 2, 2012 ShoreTel’s acquisition of hosted UC solution provider M5 gives partners a new choice between on-premise or cloud-based solutions. And its expansion to the cloud continues a growth streak that's turning heads in a red-hot hosted VoIP market.
Continuant Scores Win in Avaya Antitrust Lawsuit (0) January 31, 2012 A New Jersey federal court has dismissed motions by Avaya that would end the lawsuit brought by independent service provider Continuant. The case will go to trial, and the outcome could change the way vendors and customers work with “authorized” partners.
BT, Microsoft Launch Hosted Lync Pilot (0) January 9, 2012 Microsoft’s partnership with British Telecom to offer Lync Voice to BT’s U.S. customers as a hosted cloud service is being view by industry watchers as yet another sign that unified communications, and managed cloud services, are attracting the attention of small to mid-sized businesses.
Channelnomics 2011 Influencers Awards: Part 2 (9) January 4, 2012 Channelnomics continues conferring its inaugural 2011 Influencers of the Year awards by unveiling winners in four categories: Distribution, Europe, Voice/Data Networking and Channel Business.
Managed Telecom Services to Take Off in 2012 (0) December 13, 2011 A new market study from Insight Research forecasts global spending on managed telecom services, delivered by carriers and solution providers, alike in 2012 will reach nearly $140 billion, and that number is expected to soar to $266 billion by the end of 2016.
Avaya Moves to Performance-Based Channel (0) November 11, 2011 Avaya unveiled changes to its channel program designed to reward partners who achieve superior customer satisfaction and business performance. At the same time, Avaya is looking to recruit more partners as it looks to expand its value-based sales model. In short, Avaya is getting aggressive.
Avaya Refocuses on Collaboration Value (2) October 31, 2011 Avaya is shifting its attention to more than just talking about communications and collaboration; it’s staking its value proposition on the quality of service that enables connectivity for advanced collaboration applications. In fact, Avaya wants to be known as a “collaboration” company.
Microsoft Clears EU Hurdle in Skype Deal (0) October 10, 2011 With European regulators essentially paving the way for Microsoft to close on its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype, the new era of Microsoft communications may finally begin. Skype is a significant addition to the Microsoft portfolio – and one that could ultimately benefit solution providers.
RIM Looks to IT Channel to Reverse Fortunes (0) October 5, 2011 Research 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, 2011 The 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?
Google Opens First Retail Store in London (1) October 3, 2011 Google is taking a page out of the Apple playbook by opening a retail outlet called ‘Chrome Zone’ to promote and sell its products. Will it find the same success Apple did with its retail outlets? Microsoft hasn’t so far.
Apple Cuts iPad Orders; iPhone 5 Imminent (0) September 28, 2011 Apple is summoning the press to its headquarters next Tuesday for the presumed launched of the iPhone 5. It’s also cutting its fourth quarter iPad orders by 25 percent. Is there something besides the obvious at play here?
Jenne Sees Convergence in Video Conferencing (0) September 12, 2011 The niche distributor reports increasing demand for video conferencing technology. What’s surprising is where this demand is coming from: small businesses through telephony and audio/video reseller channels.
Channel Convergence is Real (0) July 18, 2011 Audio/visual and telephony channel conferences are attracting thousands of solution providers and IT vendors who see the potential of converged IT departments that handle everything from data networking to digital display. The IT channel needs to recognize that convergence of all things IP-based is real.
iPhone Gets Tailor-Made Antivirus App (0) July 13, 2011 French 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.
Logitech Morphs from Keyboards to UComm (0) June 27, 2011 The peripherals vendor is trying to change the way the world views it as a supplier of keyboards and web camera to a platform and enabler of unified communications. Its and partnership with Jabra is just the first step. Will the channel be able to see beyond the wireless mouse?
Video Conferencing Finally Gets Hot (2) June 9, 2011 Vu Telepresence claims taking a chunk of the U.S. video conferencing market. This, plus moves by Polycom and Microsoft and the potential of a new upstart, could signal that video has finally arrived in the channel.
Google Chromebook: The Channel Outlook (0) May 12, 2011 Google is clearly gunning for Microsoft’s vaunted Windows cash-cow with partner-built laptops powered by low-cost, easy to use, Web-integrated operating system. It may also take a dent out of Apple’s PC business, in the process. Here are a few thoughts about Google’s disruptive ambitions and what they mean to the channel.
Microsoft, Partners will Win with Skype (0) May 11, 2011 Microsoft is shelling out $8.5 billion to acquire online communications company Skype and its global community of 650 million users. There are many reasons for this expensive acquisition, but stickiness with customers for all of Microsoft’s products is the ultimate justification. And that will eventually help Microsoft partners.
Cisco VAR Gets Prison Time for Warranty Fraud (0) May 6, 2011 Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the owner of a Md. hardware reseller, will spend the next seven years behind bars for defrauding Cisco of $27 million in networking equipment. Here’s how he did it, and why it will hurt law-abiding solution providers.
7 Top Services Delivered Via Network Connections (1) April 1, 2011 While many MSPs strive to be all things IT to their clients, the reality is that customers’ comfort level with handing the IT reins to an outsider can vary from task to task and business to business. So what managed services are getting the most attention? Here are 7 top services delivered over the network.
AT&T Buying T-Mobile is a Big Deal (0) March 22, 2011 The $39 billion mega-deal will create the U.S.’s largest wireless network. While most observers are looking at the consolidation of wireless carriers, perhaps the channel should focus on the changing dynamic of carriers and service providers.
Why CharTec’s Agent Sales Deal Makes Sense (0) March 18, 2011 The hardware-as-a-service vendor is looking to leverage a large network of telephony agents to augment and increase sales of its managed service providers. The deal, designed with little conflict, could pave the way for future intra-channel collaboration.
Conflicting Channel Structures, Capabilities Hinder IT and Telephony Convergence (0) March 16, 2011 IT solution providers are increasingly offering voice services to customers. Telephony agents are also offering IT services with increasing regularity. But partnering with carriers isn’t as easy as with IT vendors, and that could hinder true convergence of these two channels.
Report: Managed Telecom a $237B Opportunity (3) March 11, 2011 The 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.
ShoreTel Aims for Growth through Focus, Disties (0) January 18, 2011 ShoreTel is gearing up for anticipated growth in VoIP and unified communications growth, particularly among midsized companies, by adopting a two-tier distribution channel strategy in the U.S. Under the hood of this strategy are some interesting nuggets for how the IP telephony company – and potentially other vendors – will approach the channel in the future.
Battle for Mobility Heads to Court (0) October 4, 2010 On 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.
Fear and Loving in Telecom Channel (0) September 28, 2010 Somewhere on the other side of the hill that flanks the IT channel reside our cousins – those strange people in the tribe known as the “telecom channel.” Oh, they are an exotic people, indeed, with all kinds of crazy notions of bandwidth, circuits and telephony services. But there are strange trends brewing in their camp – the rising adoption of cloud computing, collaboration and data networking services. And these trends are eroding the divide between the two channels.