It’s increasingly clear that managed service providers now need to support Apple Macintoshes, Mac OS and the iPhone.
I’m not suggesting that mass migrations from Windows to the Apple Mac are under way. But the latest anecdotal evidence suggests you’re leaving money on the table if Apple, Macs and iPhones aren’t part of your managed services portfolio. Read More >
Now that Apple has finally announced the next-generation iPhone (known as iPhone 3G0, it’s time for managed service providers to formulate a support strategy for the Apple device.
I’m not suggesting that the iPhone 3G will bury RIM BlackBerry or Windows-based smart phones. And don’t forget: Dozens of Google Android devices are just around the corner as well. But the iPhone 3G is for real, and MSPs can’t afford to ignore it.
During a conversation yesterday with Ken Vanderweel, director of product marketing for Nimsoft, we discussed the flood of Wintel (Windows on Intel) VARs moving into the managed services market. In my opinion that’s a good thing — and a bad thing.
I worry that many MSPs will repeat some of the mistakes they made during their days as break-fix specialists for Microsoft Windows. Don’t get me wrong: Microsoft has done a lot of good for the IT market. Windows NT, Exchange Server, SQL Server and other Microsoft platforms freed customers from expensive software that was locked to proprietary hardware. And those platforms created opportunities for VARs and independent software developers.
But I wonder if enough MSPs will push beyond their Microsoft roots, to develop simple, elegant and powerful online services. Or, stated more directly: Can MSPs apply Apple-like quality and polish to their online services?
It took nearly a year, but managed service providers are finally announcing clear strategies to support Apple’s iPhone with hosted email services. One prime example: SherWeb, an MSP that hosts Microsoft Exchange Server and BlackBerry Enterprise Server, says it plans to support iPhone synchronization with Exchange Server. It’s the first of many iPhone-related announcements MSPmentor expects to hear from MSPs in the next few months. Read More >
In the world of journalism, there’s an old saying: “Three’s a trend.” I thought of that truism this morning when I learned Tech Data plans to offer VMware to its resellers. Managed service providers should take note. In addition to Tech Data, at least two MSP platform providers are striving to help VARs more effectively manage virtualized servers.
You should expect a steady stream of virtualization-related MSP news over the next few weeks and months. Even though VMware sales recently fell short of Wall Street’s aggressive expectations, demand for virtualized servers and even desktops continues to grow rapidly. The virtualization craze has triggered new opportunities — and challenges — for MSPs and their customers. Read More >
Kaseya COO Tim McMullen just disclosed that the company’s managed services platform will soon support Apple’s Mac OS and Linux. McMullen made the comment during a Webcast a few moments ago. Kaseya’s commitment to Apple and Linux reinforces the fact that a small — but influential — piece of the SMB market has made the move to the Macintosh. Support for Mac OS should arrive in early 2008, with Linux support to follow shortly thereafter. I’ve got reason to celebrate: I’m typing this blog entry on my MacBook Pro during a business trip, and heading home to visit my Dell/Linux desktop PC tonight.
I have spent the past two days at CompTIA’s SMB Summit in Bonita Springs, Florida. Many of the discussions here involved managed services. Here are seven key themes at the event as they relate to running your business. Read More >
