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Distributors Embrace Software as a Service
Posted January 15th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Distributors spent 2007 telling me about their managed services strategies. Now, they’re back — this time, telling me about their software as a service (SaaS) strategies. It’s the latest example of SaaS and managed services converging with each other. Skeptical? Check out the latest news from Avnet, which is launching a SaaS initiative in the email and groupware sector.
Avnet Technology Solutions has launched OneTech Hosted Exchange Services, which allows VARs to offer managed email services to their customers. The service, according to an Avnet release, includes hosted mailboxes, secure mail delivery, compliance, filtering and oversight, message archiving, message availability, mobile device support, and anti-spam and anti-virus protection. The system also features audit trails to ensure corporate compliance.
SaaS And Managed Services: Friends or Foes?
Posted January 14th, 2008 by Peter Sandiford
SaaS (software as a service) and managed services are often mentioned in the same breath as though they were part of some collective goodness, but for many MSPs they have actually been more like mortal enemies.
NetSuite Already Sour?
Posted January 14th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Talk about a short honeymoon on Wall Street. When NetSuite, the software-as-a-service (SaaS) darling, went public a few weeks ago the stock skyrocketed. Now, Citi is telling investors to sell the stock. So what’s behind Citi’s recommendation?
Managed Services Meet Retail Customers
Posted January 14th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
The retail sector is converging with the managed services sector this week. At the National Retail Federation show in New York, a savvy solutions provider has launched a managed broadband service that promises to modernize retail IT infrastructure. Here’s a look at the solution, and the managed service provider (MSP) behind it.
Software as a Service: An Economic Life Raft?
Posted January 11th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Can software as a service (SaaS) and managed services keep you afloat during a sinking economy? That continues to be the buzz on Wall Street and across the blogosphere. I’m not predicting a recession — I’ve always been a glass-half-full type of guy — and I also don’t want to hype SaaS and managed services as a cure-all for economic wounds. With all of those caveats in mind, I do believe solutions providers should focus on SaaS, managed services and open source as their three cornerstones in 2008. Here’s why.
WiMAX Specialist Jumps Into Managed Storage
Posted January 10th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Broadband providers continue to push into the managed services sector. The latest example: NextPhase Wireless, which intends to roll out WiMAX networks across the 48 contiguous US states, is now launching online backup services for businesses of all sizes.
Add Video Surveillance to Your Managed Services Portfolio
Posted January 10th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Last fall I predicted that video surveillance would emerge as a hot managed service in 2008. Two pieces of anecdotal information are now backing up my prediction.
Managed Expenses Meet Managed Services
Posted January 10th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
As many of our readers know, MSPmentor’s owner (Nine Lives Media Inc.) likes to outsource as many functions as possible. Just yesterday, our team was talking about managing and coordinating monthly expense reports. By the time I got back to my office, I had a message in my inbox about BT launching a Web Expenses tool for small businesses. Seems like Software as a Service (SaaS) continues to converge with managed services — which is good news for small businesses.
Tech Data Offers Managed Print Services
Posted January 9th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
I’ve got to admit, I was a bit skeptical about managed print services in mid-2007. Are managed service providers really interested? Do customers truly understand hardware as a service? After watching and reporting on this market over the past six months, I think managed print services are for real, with heavy hitters like Tech Data and Xerox aggressively promoting managed hardware services.
Chasing Your New Career
Posted January 9th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Ready to make a career move into managed services or software as a service? Earlier this week I mentioned that perhaps it’s time to add a job board to this site. But somebody beat me to the punch. Check out the new job boards over on THINKstrategies.com, run by Jeff Kaplan. You’ll find complete info in the “Latest News” section.
Autotask In A Hiring Mood
Posted January 7th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Recession. Inflation. Rising unemployment. While many Americans worry about broad economic issues, certain sectors of the managed services space appear to remain red hot. A case in point: Autotask is seeking to expand its workforce by about 30 percent to 40 percent this year — while doubling its engineering staff along the way, according to an email exchange with CEO Bob Godgart (pictured).
Managed Service Providers Target Consumers
Posted January 6th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
And you thought managed services were just for business. Guess again. Several companies are promoting managed IT services at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, paving the way for MSPs to push beyond their corporate heritage. Here are two prime examples:
Untangle Signs Up 60 Managed Service Providers
Posted January 4th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Imaging melding open source, security, managed services and a channel program into a single company. At first glance, that’s a pretty compelling strategy. But plenty of open source companies have fallen on their faces when they tried to build channel programs.
Watching Dell 24×7
Posted January 3rd, 2008 by The VAR Guy
The VAR Guy just awoke from an extended nap, which started sometime before Christmas. While he waits for his new Web site to launch — at www.thevarguy.com (update: it’s live now) — he decided to jump onto MSPmentor.net.
MSPs: Buy, Sell or Fold?
Posted January 3rd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Instead of kicking back and relaxing for the holidays, managed service providers and integrators continue to discuss mergers, acquisitions and other potential business combinations. Two deals were announced on Jan. 2, and more are coming.
New Year, New Site
Posted January 2nd, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
Welcome to the new and (vastly) improved MSPmentor. When we began beta testing this site, we promised to gather reader feedback and implement a complete site design by January 2008. Well here we are, one business day into the new year. And the new MSPmentor is live. Still, there’s little time for us to celebrate. Here’s where we’re going next.
Take a look at our 