MSPmentor

Site upgrades. Software debugging. Santa. It’s been an intense week of fun and play at MSPmentor. Here’s a look at the seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Dec. 31, 2009:

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By now, you’ve likely read the top managed services blog entries from Q1, Q2 and Q3 of 2009. Now, let’s look at the stories and chatter that generated the most MSPmentor readership in Q4 2009…

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We’ve already covered the most widely read managed services blog entries from Q1 and Q2. Now, let’s take a look at what MSPmentor’s visitors were busy reading in Q3 2009…

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Zenith Infotech plans to host 124 U.S. Open Houses in the first quarter of 2010 — part of a push to promote managed services infrastructure and business continuity services to solutions providers targeting small and mid-size companies. Take a closer look and you’ll notice this is part of a larger trend that’s accelerating across the managed services market: Software companies hitting the road and holding face-to-face engagements, open houses and user group gatherings.

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So, what generated buzz on MSPmentor in 2009? Here’s a look at the individual blog entries that attracted the most readership for Q2 (April – June) 2009…

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So, what generated buzz on MSPmentor in 2009? Here’s a look at the individual blog entries that attracted the most readership for Q1 (January – March) 2009…

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Before you celebrate the New Year please do one thing: Register now for MSPmentor’s January 20, 2010 webcast. We’re shaking up the format a bit to ensure the content answers key questions for growth-oriented small, midsize and large MSPs. Here’s a quick look at what we’ll cover — plus, our guest speakers.

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Many pundits think Apple is set to launch some sort of Tablet computer — the so-called iPad, iSlate or iGuide — sometime in January or February 2010. At first glance, an Apple Tablet would target consumer applications. Still, there are hints Apple plans to push mobile devices deeper into vertical business markets like retail point of sale and health care. But will MSPs back the Apple products?

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I unwrapped an Amazon Kindle a few days ago. My kids are roaming our house with iPod Touches. My wife wants a new smart phone. The world is waiting for an Apple Tablet device. My key question: As more and more mobile IP devices link to the Net, will customers (particularly small businesses) really call on managed service providers for mobile IP device help?

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It started in 2007: New Mind Group, purveyors of managed services to SMBs in the greater Kalamazoo, Mich. area, began to run into severe scalability issues with traditional Microsoft Exchange installations. As businesses grew, so did their computing needs, but they didn’t have the money or facilities to grow proportionately. That’s when New Mind Group decided to help blaze a trail now being followed by the city of Los Angeles and go to Google Apps.

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I must admit: I’m enjoying some silence right now. Email traffic is light. My phone isn’t ringing. It’s the perfect time to take a few minutes to tell you about the managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Dec. 24, 2009. Here we go…

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I often ask MSPmentor readers what markets they’re going to enter next. Perhaps I should spend more time asking them what markets they plan to exit, and what products/services they plan to kill. The answers to those questions are pretty telling. Here’s why.

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Everon Technology Services, a managed service provider that lands regularly on the Inc. 5000 and MSPmentor 100 lists, is starting to target the hardware as a service (HaaS) market. Everon’s HaaS move is important for at least two reasons. First, it leverages a relationship with CharTec. Second, Everon is savvy when it comes to marketing and end-customer education. So Everon’s efforts and learnings could help accelerate the HaaS industry. Here’s a bit more background.

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Where is SaaS (software as a service) heading next? Go visit a local college campus — where more and more universities and education centers are embracing Google Apps. The latest example involves the University of Southern Mississippi. For MSPs that are still studying the SaaS game, Google’s moves in the education market are worth noting. Here’s why.

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Generally speaking, I avoid the temptation to write big “prediction” pieces as the New Year approaches. My crystal ball is as foggy as the next guy’s. And sometimes a list of predictions is nothing more than a lame attempt to gain more reader eyeballs. Still, I do have some strong opinions about where MSPs and technology companies should head in 2010. Here are some quick thoughts.

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Two ConnectWise customers say Hosted Server — recently rebranded as ConnectWise .net Cloud Server –  is down, and ConnectWise has sent emergency notification emails to both customers. Here’s some quick analysis but I’m being cautious here: I don’t know if this is a really small, isolated outage or something larger. Updated Dec. 22, 7:40 p.m. eastern: ConnectWise has restored the service. Here are the details.

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Forgive me if I’m looking a little black and blue today. Amy Katz and I spent much of Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 sorting through some web site challenges. So much for holiday cheer. It’s time to get down to business and sort through some managed server issues. Here’s the update…

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Intronis, an online backup specialist, is the latest company to plug into ConnectWise’s Professional Services Automation (PSA) platform. The move could give ConnectWise’s partner base easier access to the managed storage market. Here’s why.

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Most managed service providers (MSPs) know Rackspace as a potential hosting partner. But the Rackspace Cloud effort (formerly called Mosso) is worth watching, especially as MSPs evaluate their own SaaS and cloud strategies. The latest Rackspace move involves a partnership with FathomDB. And it could provide an alternative to Microsoft’s emerging Azure cloud. Here’s a look.

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A number of cloud-related companies have attracted investment from venture capital firms in recent weeks and doubtless many more are queuing up for funding as well.  So, just what are VCs looking for in an investment candidate?

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I’m in D.C. awaiting my flight home to New York. It’s my final business flight of the year. But before I board, here are seven managed services blog entries MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending Dec. 18, 2009.

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Cross partnering within the services sector is nothing particularly new. Systems integrators have a history of teaming up with similar firms to cover gaps in geographic areas or add skills in short supply. In some cases, the arrangements can be quite free flowing, with companies alternately partnering and competing with each other depending on the circumstances. In the 1990s, such dynamic arrangements were labeled “co-opetition,” a term the late Sam Albert, Ray Noorda and others helped popularize. Fast forward a couple of decades, and MSPs can be found putting their own stamp on service-to-service alliances. Unlike the blurry co-opetition link ups, the latest arrangements seen have clear lines of demarcation.

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As I mentioned yesterday, MSP-centric software companies are getting very cozy with peer groups (which typically include VARs and MSPs). Less than 24 hours after that blog post, Autotask has announced a relationship with 1nService, an international group of integrators that represent $1.5 billion in combined revenues. I’m on a flight at the moment (cleared for landing…) but will offer more perspectives later today.

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