MSPmentor

Another week has flown by. Missed deadlines. Dropped cell phone calls. Delayed video posts. Boy, I’m on a roll. Kidding aside, here are seven managed services blog entries that MSPmentor didn’t have time to write for the week ending March 19, 2010.

Read More >

It’s finally starting to happen: mid-size to large software companies are starting to acquire small (but fast-growing) MSP software providers. So far, the buyers include CA Inc., Citrix Systems and Quest Software. The big question: When will the really big IT titans — Microsoft, Cisco Systems, HP and others — open their wallets and get into the managed services software game? Here are some educated guesses.

Read More >

Some Australian managed services providers allegedly are in an “uproar” over Kaseya’s SaaS pricing vs. on-premise pricing. But take a closer look at the situation, and you’ll likely discover the SaaS “uproar” may actually involve an apples-to-oranges price comparison of tools that offer vastly different capabilities. Here’s some perspective.

Read More >

It was another typical week at MSPmentor, filled with planes, trains and automobiles. Before I catch a flight from San Francisco to New York, here are seven managed services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending March 5, 2010.

Read More >

The convergence of SaaS with managed services is on display at the Intermedia Partner Summit in Silicon Valley. A few minutes ago, MSPs started asking Intermedia if the company would integrate its hosted Exchange service with MSP-oriented tools. Intermedia said yes. In fact, some of the work is already complete. And more integrations are coming.

Read More >

The deadlines kept coming this week. We met most (but not all) of them. Plus, we’re still busy chasing some rather strategic news that will break within days. Here are some clues, plus seven managed services blog entries we didn’t write for the week ending February 19.

Read More >

Former ConnectWise Chief Operating Officer Santo Cannone (pictured) has joined Open Solutions Inc. as executive VP, group sales. Cannone says he wasn’t looking to leave ConnectWise, but a unique opportunity to move back into the financial services market proved too intriguing to turn down. Here are some details.

Read More >

The deal finally happened. ConnectWise Capital has invested in LabTech Software, a remote monitoring and management (RMM) software provider located in Toledo, Ohio. Official news is expected to surface in the next 24 hours or so. At first glance, it’s a relatively small deal. But I think the ConnectWise-LabTech relationship has key implications for the overall MSP software industry. Here’s why.

Read More >

Own Web Now (OWN) has launched a synchronization tool that apparently automates billing between ConnectWise and OWN’s cloud services for managed services providers (MSPs). According to OWN CEO Vlad Mazek, his company completed similar work for the Autotask platform in 2009. Here are some details about OWN’s synchronization tools for PSA (professional services automation) platforms.

Read More >

The old rumor is back. Some skeptics think Kaseya is taking more and more of its business direct. Kaseya CEO Gerald Blackie has written a blog to combat the rumor. In the piece, Blackie describes where Kaseya works with partners and where Kaseya expects to work directly with customers. So what’s the strategy? Here’s some perspective.

Read More >

In preparation for next week’s third-annual MSPmentor 100 report, I reached out to PEQ Services + Solutions President and CEO Jason Evans for an update on the company’s 2010 strategy. When we spoke earlier today about PEQ’s managed services growth, Evans offered several key insights — including three anecdotes that surprised me.

Read More >

Where did the top managed services providers find new customers in 2009? The surprising answer: Many of the best performing MSPs secured revenue in 2009 from target customers that had previously said no in 2008. Want more sales and business tips? Join our next MSPmentor live webcast, scheduled for February 10 at 2:00 p.m. eastern. Here’s what we’ll cover.

Read More >

Call it an MSP industry mashup. CharTec, in addition to working more closely with ConnectWise, is also building a close relationship with Level Platforms, according to multiple sources familiar with the strategy. Do I have the exact details? Um, not really. But here’s some speculation.

Read More >

A software market for MSP middleware seems to be emerging. From Rezitech to Directive Technology Integrators, managed services providers (MSPs) are writing middleware for PSA (professional services automation) platforms like Autotask and ConnectWise. Here’s a closer look at the trend.

Read More >

When ConnectWise announced ConnectWise Capital earlier today, some readers asked me two point-blank questions: First, where is ConnectWise getting the $20 million for ConnectWise Capital? Second, is it possible for a technology company to (A) launch a venture fund while (B) maintaining existing hardware and software partnerships? Here are some potential answers.

Read More >

The writing has been on the wall since early 2009. The traditional managed services software landscape — pioneered by several PSA (professional services automation) and RMM (remote monitoring and management) companies — is changing. Imminent moves by ConnectWise and Kaseya, in particular, offer clues about where we’re heading next.

Read More >

ConnectWise around January 25 is expected to launch ConnectWise Capital — a $20 million initiative that seeks to “incubate innovation” across the IT channel. I’ve got a few dozen thoughts about the move, which will involve multiple companies. But let’s start with the news…

Read More >

After studying the managed services market for most of 2009, Lenovo is pulling back the curtain on a software partner strategy. It starts today with a Lenovo-Kaseya relationship, but Lenovo’s efforts will expand to include a range of RMM (remote monitoring and management) and PSA (professional services automation) partners. In my mind, today marks the start of PC vendors getting serious about managed services. Here’s why.

Read More >

Zenith Infotech has introduced a Certified Partner Reseller (CPR) program to help managed services providers and VARs recruit new business customers. Here’s a quick overview of the effort — which also provides some clues about Zenith Infotech’s private cloud strategy.

Read More >

If only we had two extra hours per day… The extra time would certainly help us to keep pace with the managed services market. Here are seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have time to write for the week ending January 15, 2010.

Read More >

LegalCloud isn’t your typical managed services provider. The Sausalito, Calif.-based company is targeting the legal vertical with a range of cloud, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), backup and disaster recovery services. I met CEO Mark Hadfield on January 15, and he shared portions of LegalCloud’s business plan with me. Here’s a look at his strategy.

Read More >

I must concede: Each time Spiceworks issues a press release with big deployment claims, I raise a skeptical eye. The company makes free, advertising-driven remote monitoring and management software for MSPs and IT managers. To Spiceworks’ credit, the company isn’t shy about answering my questions. In a FastChat video interview, Spiceworks co-founder Jay Hallberg (pictured) explains the company’s business model, MSP focus and march toward profitability. Take a look.

Read More >

IP communications provider Global Crossing has tapped Juniper Networks to help in its effort to provide a more robust managed services offering. Here are the details.

Read More >