MSPmentor

Microsoft is preparing an “application streaming” initiative, in an effort to more effectively position Microsoft Office against Google Apps, according to ComputerWorld. Anyone who thinks this is nothing more than a commodity software war needs to think again.

While Google has lined up major colleges to standardize on Google Apps, Microsoft is quietly pushing cable companies to embrace its software as a service (SaaS) product portfolio. Here’s the scoop. Read More >

When it comes to Dell’s partner communications, subtle statements — and non-statements — count for a lot. On the one hand, Dell has worked overtime to tell VARs and managed service providers how to participate in the company’s growing partner program. Kudos. But on the other hand, Dell is potentially sabotaging its own partner program with some of its software as a service (SaaS) press materials.

A prime example: Check out the press release announcing Dell has completed its $155 million buyout of MessageOne, a SaaS specialist. It plays up the small business managed services/SaaS angle (smart) but makes zero mention of Dell’s partners (not smart). Here’s the deal.

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Do IT Smarter is doing it. Ingram Micro Seismic is doing it. The Utility Company is doing it. And now NetEnrich is doing it. I’m referring to the increasingly popular “Master MSP” business model, where VARs leverage software as a service (SaaS), and a third-party partner hosts and coordinates the VAR’s managed services platforms.

Here’s the latest example, involving NetEnrich offering Level Platforms as a service to solutions providers.

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Welcome to MSPmentor Live: Podcast edition.

• Episode Date: April 24, 2008
• Featured Guest: Bob Cagnazzi, CEO, Bluewater Communications Group, one of North America’s fastest-growing solutions providers.
• Topics Covered: Bluewater’s decision to build out its own network operation center (NOC), plus the convergence of unified communications with managed services. Bonus content describes how the iPhone will integrate with unified networks.
• Listen Now: Check the MSPmentor Podcast Center for our conversation with Cagnazzi, along with previous MSPmentor Live: Podcast editions.

During a recent shuttle flight, I noticed a fantastic example of managed services marketing. A company called “Got Vmail” placed this in-flight advertisement on airplane snack trays:

Essentially, Got Vmail is reaching a captive audience with a compelling message: For just $9.95, smart entrepreneurs can try a virtual phone system that makes a small business appear all grown up.

There’s only one thing I don’t like about the ads: Got Vmail’s name can easily be misinterpreted as Go TV mail.

Nirvanix, a company that claims to be the “premier Cloud Storage platform provider,” hopes to rain all over Amazon.com’s Simple Storage Service (S3). Like many managed storage providers, Nirvanix is trying to simultaneously counter Amazon.com while also cashing in on publicity around the S3 network. Read More >

Software as a service (SaaS) remains a hot topic on Wall Street, especially as Salesforce.com shares hit an all-time high. The company recently announced a partnership with Google, and there’s speculation on TechCrunch.com that the search giant and the on-demand software company may get even cozier together.

Sun made a major software as a service (SaaS) announcement today involving the Solaris operating system. But I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. There’s a high probability, I believe, that Sun will rapidly expand its SaaS efforts to include the MySQL database (near term) and potentially Ubuntu Linux (long term). Here’s why managed service providers should care. Read More >