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BlueTie: Another Approach to Hosted Email for MSPs
Posted July 19th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
BlueTie has a similar pitch as other hosted email providers: reduce IT infrastructure costs, provide webmail, and improve efficiency with collaboration tools. But BlueTie says that their real differentiation is in the channel. The company claims margins of 50% or more plus free unlimited basic mailboxes for BlueTie partners. Here’s the scoop.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: July 16
Posted July 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
I’m switching gears from Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10) to HostingCon, which starts July 19 in Austin, Texas. But before I catch my next flight, here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending July 16, 2010.
Apple iPhone 4 Press Conference: 1pm Eastern
Posted July 16th, 2010 by The VAR Guy
In case you were holding your iPhone 4 the wrong way and didn’t receive the email alert, Apple is set to hold a press conference at 1:00 p.m. eastern/10:00 a.m. Pacific today (July 16). Most pundits think Apple will address the iPhone 4 antenna issue. MSPmentor’s sister site, The VAR Guy, will provide a complete recap and perspectives following the webcast.
Streamcore Pursues Service Providers
Posted July 16th, 2010 by John Moore
Streamcore has been mostly targeting enterprises with its appliances for managing application and communication delivery over wide-area networks. But the company is now doing more work with service providers, particularly those involved in the cloud. Here’s the company’s pitch, and the implications for MSPs.
Behind Kaseya’s Small and Midsize Enterprise Push
Posted July 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Kaseya this week launched a Small/Medium Enterprise Edition of its IT management software. Several readers reached out to me, asking if the new SMEE offering means Kaseya plans to sell directly into small businesses. I reached out to Kaseya Executive VP Jim Alves for comment. He said Kaseya’s channel strategy remains unchanged. Here are Alves’ thoughts, plus some more perspectives.
Morphlabs Raises $5.5M In Series B Funding
Posted July 16th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
ePals To Provide NYC Grade Schools With Microsoft-Powered Hosted Messaging
Posted July 16th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Self-described “education technology company” ePals has announced a landmark deal with the New York City Department of Education (DOE) to provide Microsoft Live@edu-powered e-mail to the city’s 2 million or so students and parents for the next five years. Here’s the scoop.
Microsoft: We Want Hosting Providers To Make Cloud Moves
Posted July 15th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Another dispatch from the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10): Microsoft is striving to help transform hosting providers and telecommunications providers into full-on IT service providers. The secret sauce, predictably, involves the cloud. But what are the implications for smaller MSPs and VARs? Here’s some perspective.
Kaseya Preparing July SaaS Moves?
Posted July 15th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
During the Kaseya Connect User Conference in June, CEO Gerald Blackie mentioned that Kaseya’s SaaS efforts appeared on track to launch around July 1. We’ll, we’re in mid-July and I just realized I hadn’t received an update from Kaseya. But the grapevine is talking and it sounds like Kaseya will make some SaaS news soon. Here are some best guesses.
Nimble Storage Launches Converged Storage And Backup
Posted July 15th, 2010 by Dave Courbanou
Nimble Storage, which has developed “converged storage and backup solutions,” is releasing the Nimble CS-series, designed to be a converged disaster recovery backup storage solution. Nimble caught our attention because their founders are from NetApp and Data Domain. So what makes Nimble’s first and new offering unique? Here are some early details…
Amazon S3 Gains Better Support For Less Redundancy
Posted July 15th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Back in May, I mentioned Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) decision to offer an option for less redundancy on their Amazon S3 storage cloud. I found the move perplexing. Well, Amazon S3 now gets enhanced Reduced Redundancy Storage (RRS) support, but it leaves me even more confused who it’s for. Here’s the scoop.
HostingCon: 7 Trends for Managed Services Providers
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
When HostingCon starts July 19 in Austin, Texas, I’ll be a first-time attendee. But even before HostingCon starts, I’m hearing buzz from managed services providers (MSPs) and managed hosting providers. Here are seven MSP-oriented trends that I expect to surface at the conference.
Microsoft Channel Chief Concedes: I Need to Learn About MSPs
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
It was a brief but revealing comment. During a press briefing at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10) today, new Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill (pictured) described his views on VARs, distributors, integrators and other members on the channel partner ecosystem. Then, in an unsolicited comment, he added: “MSP… it’s a piece [of the channel] I need to learn more about.” Rather than being depressed by Roskill’s comment, I came away impressed. Here’s why.
Microsoft Channel Chief: Potential BPOS Marketplace?
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
A few minutes ago, I asked Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill the following question: Can small VARs and MSPs really profit from basic BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) applications like SharePoint Online and Exchange Online? Or should those small partners begin to focus more on writing their own targeted cloud applications for Windows Azure? Roskill provided these perspectives.
Communications Archiving Emerges As MSP Opportunity
Posted July 14th, 2010 by John Moore
An organization’s data retention requirements encompasses not only e-mail but other forms of electronic communication such as IM and social media. MSPs may find opportunities here in the expanding scope of compliance duties. Here’s why.
Microsoft COO Claims Gains vs Google, VMware and Apple
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft COO Kevin Turner this morning took aggressive shots at Apple, Oracle, Linux, VMware and Google — even painting Google as a Big Brother-type company that tries to say they’re not evil in their mission statement. Turner’s goal: Describe Microsoft as a company gaining market share — not losing market share. And Turner largely succeeded at that goal. MSPmentor’s sister site, The VAR Guy, has a recap and market share stats shared by Turner during Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10).
Google Apps Admins Get More Mobile Device Control
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Earlier this year, Google Apps added support for smartphone security policies. Now they’ve taken the next step and giving Google Apps administrators even more control over mobile devices with deeper policy settings. Here’s the scoop.
Managed Services: Level Platforms Partners With 3 Giants
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Within the remote monitoring and management (RMM) market, Level Platforms tends to be a quiet player with a loyal managed services partner base. But the company is making some serious noise this week. Specifically, Level Platforms has scored relationships with Intel, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard on emerging hardware, software and cloud computing projects. Each of those relationships is on display this week at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10). Here are perspectives.
Intel Hybrid Cloud: First Five Partners Confirmed
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
There’s been considerable buzz about the Intel Hybrid Cloud in recent days. The project involves an on-premises, pay-as-you-go server that links to various cloud services. During a gathering this evening in Washington, D.C., Intel confirmed at least five of its initial Intel Hybrid Cloud integrated partners. Intel’s efforts arrive as Microsoft confirms its own cloud-enabled version of Windows Small Business Server (SBS), code-named Aurora. Here are the details.
Managed Security: GFI Software Acquires Sunbelt Software
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Consolidation continues in the managed services software market. The latest example involves GFI Software acquiring Sunbelt Software’s VIPRE security software. GFI plans to merge VIPRE technology into GFI’s email security and web security solutions group. Here’s why MSPs should care.
GroundWork Open Source Launches Certification Sweepstakes
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
GroundWork Open Source, which develops management and monitoring solutions for the IT channel, has announced a sweepstakes they say is designed to help their partners expand their business. Just buy a GroundWork Enterprise QuickStart package, and you’ll be entered to win $4,500 towards getting certified with organizations like the Linux Foundation or JBoss. Here’s the scoop.
Microsoft Online Services Gets Hosted BlackBerry Administration
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
All eyes may be on the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, but that doesn’t mean Microsoft Online Services can’t sneak in an announcement that the July 2010 update to their platform is now available. New to this release is enhanced administration for hosted BlackBerry customers. That’s an important step in Microsoft’s cloud strategy. Here’s why.
Managed Services Chatter At Microsoft Partner Conference
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft is in transition. And so is the Microsoft channel partner community. At Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10), there’s noticeably more managed services chatter this year compared to the 2009 conference. But are MSPs really here in full force? And is Microsoft fulfilling their needs? Here are some perspectives from Day 2 at the conference.
