When Cisco Systems (CSCO) delivered relatively strong Q2 2012 financial results earlier today, the numbers revealed the networking giant has successfully cut costs while restoring top-line revenue and net income growth. Listen closely and you may even hear CEO John Chambers suggest Cisco is taking share from rival Juniper Networks (JNPR) in the service provider market. Here’s the chatter.
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Cisco Taking Service Provider Market Share vs. Juniper?
Posted February 8th, 2012 by Joe Panettieri
Managed Services Executives Jump to Alert Logic, VirtuOz
Posted January 11th, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
Managed services executives continue to make career moves. Two examples: Managed services veteran Greg Carver has joined VirtuOz as senior VP of global services. Also, Chris Noell has joined Alert Logic as VP of product management.
Help Wanted: MSP Engineers, Business Development Reps
Posted January 3rd, 2012 by Nicholas Mukhar
The MSPmentor Job Board has begun 2012 in style with several new positions for professional engineers, technicians and sales representatives in the managed services market. The Holiday lull in the workplace is coming to an end and MSPs are on the hunt for talented employees who can help them flourish in 2012. That may mean you…
Managed Services Acquisition: Presidio Buys INX Inc.
Posted November 3rd, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
Presidio Networked Solutions, a managed services provider, has acquired INX Inc., a fellow managed service provider. Presidio will bulk up its staff to over 1,800 IT pros throughout approximately 50 offices across the U.S.
Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: Aug. 19
Posted August 19th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Some small news over at Hewlett-Packard this week (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) occupied most of our blog team efforts for the past 24 hours. So what else was going on this week? Here are seven managed IT services blog entries the MSPmentor team didn’t have time to write for the week ending Aug. 19, 2011.
BBH Solutions Shifts Customer Call Centers Into the Cloud
Posted August 1st, 2011 by Nicholas Mukhar
BBH Solutions Inc., a managed service provider in New York, has started to shift customers’ call centers in a cloud computing environment. BBH doesn’t mention customers by name, but the latest project involved moved a national call center’s voice and data applications into the BBH cloud environment. The move is part of BBH’s effort to position itself as a top provider of cloud hosted voice, data, and video applications in the region.
Amid Layoffs, Cisco Continues Cloud And Managed Services Push
Posted July 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
As layoffs approach at Cisco Systems Inc., the networking giant today announced some Worldwide Partner Organization changes. But multiple sources say Cisco’s Cloud Partner Program and managed services efforts will continue to march forward. Here’s the update.
Managed Print Services: HP, Xerox Say Acquisitions Will Bolster MSPs
Posted May 26th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
A managed print services feeding frenzy has started. The latest examples: Xerox Corp. has acquired NewField IT and Hewlett-Packard has acquired Printelligent. Xerox has publicly stated its commitment to VARs and MSPs in the managed print market. And in a wise move, HP is now taking similar channel-centric steps with its managed print services efforts. Here’s why.
Cisco Still Evaluating Umi TelePresence Channel Strategy
Posted April 15th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
When Cisco killed the Flip video camera and repositioned the consumer Umi TelePresence product family earlier this week, I openly wondered if Umi would finally target the SMB TelePresence marketplace. So far, Cisco isn’t offering any firm answers — though a spokeswoman re-affirms Umi will ultimately be available through service providers. Here’s the update.
Cisco: Repositions Umi Consumer Telepresence for MSPs & SMB?
Posted April 12th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
This was a painful but necessary day at Cisco Systems, which shut down its Flip video camera business and apparently repositioned the Umi consumer telepresence solution for the SMB market. It sounds like Umi will now compete with Vu TelePresence, LifeSize and other SMB-type telepresence solutions for MSPs. We never like to hear about job losses in the IT industry, but here’s why Cisco’s moves made sense.
MSPs: Rolling Out Managed Unified Communications, VoIP?
Posted March 8th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
For many managed services providers (MSPs), proactively monitoring PCs and servers is old news. Looking ahead, it seems like a growing number of MSPs are expanding their focus to managed unified communications and maybe even hosted PBX services. And companies like Cisco Systems, Intermedia, N-able, NetEnrich, Parallels and Tigerpaw Software are more than happy to accelerate the trend. Here’s the update — including the latest move by NetEnrich CEO Raju Chekuri (pictured).
Is Cisco Signaling a Government IT Spending Slowdown?
Posted November 17th, 2010 by John Moore
Cisco Systems last week disappointed investors with a dismal Q2 sales forecast. Among the factors the company cited: a decline in public sector business. In prepared remarks, Cisco CEO John Chambers said orders from state governments dropped 48 percent from Q4 to Q1. He noted that the challenges associated with public sector spending will “be with us for a couple of quarters.” It’s unclear how many IT firms — and public sector-focused MSPs — also experience this public sector downturn. But the environment is certainly difficult.
Time for MSPs to Manage VoIP Networks
Posted November 16th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
In recent weeks, MSPmentor has heard from numerous managed services providers that are taking a closer look at the VoIP market. Not by coincidence, N-able is partnering up with Mitel to promote customized VoIP monitoring services designed for MSPs. This could be the start of a larger a trend as rumors involving Cisco’s managed VoIP strategy continue to circulate. Here’s the update.
Managed Video Services Gain Critical Mass
Posted September 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Glowpoint and Equinix are partnering up to promote managed video services to carriers across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions. The move arrives as giants like Cisco Systems and video upstarts like Burstpoint Networks and Vu Technologies attempt to work more closely with managed services providers. Here are the details.
Reality Check: Managed Services Revenues at Telecom Vendors
Posted August 24th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Here’s a rather interesting prediction: At major telecom equipment vendors, managed services revenues and professional services dollars will overtake traditional infrastructure sales within the next seven years, predicts Heavy Reading, the research division of Light Reading. Is the prediction accurate? It may not matter. The broader trend is clear: As telecom companies increasingly promote managed services, SMB solutions providers will need to keep pace. Here’s why.
CompTIA Breakaway: Seven Managed Services Highlights, Day 2
Posted August 11th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
I’m set to moderate a channel chief panel hear at CompTIA Breakaway this morning. But before I unplug to participate in the panel, here are seven managed services trends, news tips and industry chatter that I heard during Day 2 of CompTIA Breakaway here in San Antonio, Texas.
Cisco Systems and Verizon Business Leap Into Cloud Together
Posted June 10th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
During the Ingram Micro Cloud Summit on June 7, a managed services provider (MSP) asked guest speakers why big telcos had yet to make cloud and managed services moves. My reply: Watch for major initiatives involving Cisco Systems and Verizon Business. Fast forward a few days, and the Cisco-Verizon cloud moves are coming into focus. Here are details.
Cisco Says Goodbye to Hewlett-Packard
Posted February 18th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Breaking news: According to a blog entry and video post from Cisco Channel Chief Keith Goodwin, Cisco “recently notified HP that we will not renew its System Integrator contract when it expires on April 30, 2010.” Translation: Cisco and HP are now full-time rivals. You’ll find complete details over on MSPmentor’s sister site, TheVARguy.com.
Cisco Makes Infrastructure as a Service Move
Posted January 25th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
After overhauling its managed services partner program in 2009, Cisco Systems is pushing into another new area: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The networking giant says it now has an IaaS offering for service providers that want to tackle computing-on-demand, network-on-demand and storage-on-demand. Here are some details.
Cisco’s Managed Services Program: Gaining Momentum?
Posted January 21st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
It’s not a tidal wave yet, but a growing number of managed service providers are diving into Cisco Systems’ partner program. The latest example involves MegaPath Inc. earning Managed Services Master Certification from Cisco. Here’s the bigger story.
Seven Managed Services Blog Entries We Didn’t Have Time to Write: Nov. 13
Posted November 13th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Cisco Partner Velocity event in Paris has wrapped up, and I’ll be flying back to New York on Nov. 15. In the meantime, here are seven managed services blog entries our staff didn’t have time to write for the week ending Nov. 13.
Add-on Managed Service: WAN Optimization
Posted August 10th, 2009 by John Moore
Managed service providers (MSPs) looking to extend their reach may find a ripe niche in managed WAN optimization. Here are some observations.
Do Small Businesses Understand Cloud Computing?
Posted February 4th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Roughly two-thirds of small businesses have never heard of cloud hosting, according to a survey conducted by Rackspace. Frankly, I think the data is a bit misleading. And James Urquhart, market manager for Cisco’s Data Center 3.0 strategy, has a few opinions on the survey as well. Here are some perspectives.
