MSPmentor

Corporate Network Services, Inc., an MSPmentor 100 company, set a rather lofty business goal two years ago. Specifically, CNS wanted to double its revenues within five years. Marching toward that goal, CNS has expanded its Mac support capabilities, pushed deeper into the government vertical and focused aggressively on application development services and managed services.

Read More >

More than 700 people — mostly managed services providers and VARs — are registered to attend next week’s Autotask Community Live conference (May 22-24, Miami, Fla.). There will be a flood of news announcements. But what’s really going on behind the curtains? And what key questions should attendees be asking? Here are 10 trends, themes and potential news nuggets that MSPmentor will pursue at the conference.

Read More >

Our next MSPmentor Live Webcast is TODAY (Wednesday, May 18) at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Guest speakers Matt Nachtrab (CEO, LabTech Software) and Kevin Gibson (CTO, Atlanta Technology Force), will describe five ways you can lift your recurring revenues using RMM (remote monitoring and management) software. The tips will also apply to break-fix resellers who are looking for some ways to start generating recurring revenues. Nachtrab and Gibson have real-world examples to help explain their tips. And they’ve agreed to answer your questions throughout the webcast. Register now to join us today. The webcast is sponsored by LabTech. Bonus: Also, don’t miss our June 8 webcast, titled Managed Video and Collaboration Services: 3 Steps to Profits. Thanks in advance for joining us.

Read More >

Quosal, the product quoting tool for VARs and MSPs, has surfaced in Apple’s App Store for the iPad. The touch-enabled mobile app debuts two weeks after ConnectWise Capital invested in Quosal. Among those who are impressed: Tim Brewer,  general manager for Western Australia at Anittel, a major managed services provider in the land down under.

Read More >

At first glance, NIU Solutions is a roll-up, formed through the acquisitions of  Pasporte, Ipitomi Solutions, Telinet LTD and Evolution Voice and Data LTD. The resulting company had more than 200 employees and 4,000 IT customers in the U.K. But just under a year ago NIU Solutions noticed the market was sharply shifting toward cloud computing and fully managed service solutions. So NIU made a decision to shift with the ebb and flow of the IT sector, focusing instead on 200 core customers. Here’s how.

Read More >

CharTec, the hardware as a service (HaaS) specialist, is partnering with Reflexion Networks, an email security and anti-spam specialist. The relationship gives CharTec partners special discounts and early access to Reflexion’s latest hosted security services. Here’s a bit more about the relationship.

Read More >

For the second time in recent months, PlumChoice, Inc. has made an acquisition within the managed services market. The latest deal involves PlumChoice buying Tific AB, a Swedish provider of IT automation and help desk tools for managed services providers (MSPs) and corporate IT departments. PlumChoice will combine its remote management platform with Tific’s self-healing IT tools.

Read More >

Roughly 500 channel partners are attending Lenovo Accelerate: Channel Partner Forum here in Las Vegas. Most of the  dialog involves Lenovo’s channel partner program. But there are plenty of managed services discussions here, too. In particular keep a close eye on Absolute Software and Computrace, Intel, LANDesk and Lenovo’s own ThinkVantage software. Here’s why.

Read More >

Meet Green Olive Tree, a Norfolk, Va.-based managed service provider. The company is comprised of three members: Owner Jon Berry and two part-time assistants. Yet Green Olive Tree uses Paessler‘s PRTG networking monitoring software to support SMB customers in Belgium, Brazil, Greece, Israel and the UK. Green Olive Tree’s goal: Evolve from a straight web-hosting service company to a full remote service management firm.

Read More >

Free and paid WiFi hotspots continue to proliferate in coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, public settings and businesses. So how can service providers better manage and maybe even monetize all of those hotspots? PowerCloud Systems thinks it has the answer. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company has launched  CloudCommand Hotspot Edition. The company claims CloudCommand Hotspot reduces the cost and complexity of providing WiFi guest access for a wide range of businesses. True believers include Amicus Data (a boutique managed services provider) and Amer Networks (an international OEM).

Read More >

Waterloo Managed Software Services USA Inc. (WatServ), which specializes in hosted Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, has partnered with Online Tech to gain more data center capacity for its U.S. and Canadian customers. The partnership involves two Michigan Data Centers operated by Online Tech. The relationship shows how SaaS providers and managed hosting providers continue to march forward even as Microsoft continues to extend its own Dynamics clouds business.

Read More >

Our next MSPmentor Live Webcast is this Wed., May 18 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Guest speakers Matt Nachtrab (CEO, LabTech Software) and Kevin Gibson (CTO, Atlanta Technology Force), will describe five ways you can lift your recurring revenues using RMM (remote monitoring and management) software. The tips will also apply to break-fix resellers who are looking for some ways to start generating recurring revenues. I had a lengthy talk with Nachtrab and Gibson last week. They’ve got real-world examples to help explain their tips. And they’ve agreed to answer attendee questions throughout the webcast. Register now to join us this Wednesday. The webcast is sponsored by LabTech. Bonus: Also, don’t miss our June 8 webcast, titled Managed Video and Collaboration Services: 3 Steps to Profits. Thanks in advance for joining us.

Read More >

Greetings from Las Vegas. Starting May 16, I’ll shift my focus to Lenovo Accelerate 2011: Channel Partner Forum, held here at the Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort. In the meantime here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending May 13, 2011.

Read More >

The history of Enterprise Software is riddled with examples of organizations never having realized the value of purchased solutions given the high-cost and complexity of the “integration hurdle.” Based on past experiences and today’s environment, MSPs and businesses want enterprise software solutions that can be made operational quickly, without dependence on lengthy integration or implementation projects. Even if this requires forgoing some of the advanced functionality promised by the more complicated solutions.

Read More >

The challenge: How can managed services providers (MSPs) continually show their business value and IT expertise to end-customers? One potential answer comes from Azaleos Corp., which has launched the Azaleos ViewX CIO Dashboard. The dashboard, available to end-customers, tracks the health of unified communications and other IT services that Azaleos manages.

Read More >

Managed services providers (MSPs) use everything from Google Adwords to Kutenda for their online marketing programs. But marketing experts like Robin Robins continue to promote direct mail strategies as well. Fortunately, a range of companies have designed direct mail templates to help small business owners — including MSPs — with their marketing efforts. One recent example: Postcard Services has designed a marketing campaign platform for small businesses.

Read More >

Instead of outsourcing IT departments to distant countries, a growing number of U.S. organizations are pursuing so-called nearshore outsourcing. Companies like Softtek and HfS Research are working hard to explain the trend.“It’s all about working collaboratively in support of managed services,” said Softtek CEO Beni Lopez. “It’s cheaper to outsource your IT services to India than it is to outsource it to Mexico in terms of wages. But nearshore is cheaper than offshore because it cuts down things like the time zone difference, travel time and the amount of overhead.”

Read More >

G Data Software AG, an anti-virus and anti-maleware company in the UK, is launching a North America channel partner program. The move comes as some U.S. security companies pursue mergers and acquisitions. Here’s the update.

Read More >

Initially, the Google Chromebooks for Business announcement from earlier today sounded like Google was set to alienate some channel partners. But now, updated statements suggest Google will allow partners to play a role in the new Chromebooks for Business strategy — which marries hardware, cloud software and support into a flat monthly fee. The big remaining question: Will managed services providers (MSPs) be able to remotely manage Chromebooks for Business devices? Here’s some analysis and speculation.

Read More >

Google on June 15 will launch Chromebook for Business, a complete hardware and software as a service that will cost users $28 per device per month. Google announced the Chromebook for Business strategy this morning at the Google I/O conference in San Francisco. If the service works as advertised, Chromebook for Business could be a potential landmark move that disrupts traditional PC and notebook markets. Here are the potential implications for managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs.

Read More >

The mobile device management (MDM) trend continues to gain momentum. The latest example: :Honeywell International has released two new applications to improve mobility for customers, resellers and other partners. The offerings are called Microsoft Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 and Remote Mastermind. Here’s some background on each development.

Read More >

Lateral Data, which provides e-discovery software, plans to double the size of its managed services provider channel this year. The company’s Viewpoint software spans the main components of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model, which provides guidelines and standards that aim to boost the quality and reduce the cost of e-discovery. Here are the details…

Read More >

A couple of years ago, WAN optimization began making a bigger splash among managed services providers. The thinking was, WAN optimization offered MSPs a chance to branch out from providing WAN links and managed routers. Since then, the market — and MSP opportunity — has continued to evolve. In 2010, vendors rolled out WAN optimization as a virtual appliance rather than a hardware device, providing another deployment option for MSPs. Channel programs began to emerge. Now, a series of announcements have moved WAN optimization into a brighter  spotlight…

Read More >