MSPmentor will host its final managed services webcast of the year this Wednesday, Dec. 9. Our guests are former MSP Gary Pica and ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. Our format: Six business tips in one hour — plus non-stop questions from our attendees. Here’s how to join the webcast.
Managed Services Webcast: Ask the Experts
Posted December 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
MSPmentor will host its final managed services webcast on Dec. 9. Our guests are former MSP Gary Pica and ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini. Our format: Six business tips in one hour — plus non-stop questions from our attendees. Here’s how to join the webcast.
Seven Managed Services Blog Entries We Didn’t Have A Chance to Write: Nov. 25
Posted November 25th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
In the U.S., this is a short work week for many readers because of the Thanksgiving Holiday (Nov. 25). We’ll continue to update MSPmentor daily for our international readers. But in the meantime — for U.S. readers who are unplugging soon — here are seven managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the business week ending Nov. 25.
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.
ConnectWise Partner Summit: Six Managed Services Videos
Posted November 9th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the ConnectWise Partner Summit, MSPmentor sat down with a range of managed services experts. In the following MSPmentor FastChat videos, we covered such topics as hardware as a service (HaaS), MSP-to-MSP collaboration, sales and business development, online marketing for MSPs and email security. Here are six FastChat videos with a range of MSP industry experts…
Hosted ConnectWise Restored
Posted October 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
As of 10:30 a.m. eastern on Oct. 28, ConnectWise has restored service to 198 partners impacted by a Hosted ConnectWise outage, according to CEO Arnie Bellini. MSPmentor posted chatter about the outage on Oct. 27. Readers weighed in and Bellini posted an apology. So, what’s next?
ConnectWise and Autotask: Evaluating Acquisitions (And Each Other?)
Posted September 15th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and Autotask CEO Bob Godgart are scouring the software market for potential acquisitions. And each CEO says they’d consider buying the other company. To be clear: I think this is more talk than action. But the talk provides clues about where the MSP and PSA (professional services automation) markets are heading. Here’s the scoop and some analysis for managed service providers.
CoreConnex Exits PSA Industry; Transitions ConnexIT MSPs to ConnectWise
Posted September 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
CoreConnex is getting out of the PSA (professional services automation) business, but the company doesn’t want to leave managed services providers (MSPs) and VARs stranded. The company has developed a strategy to transition PSA customers to ConnectWise. Here’s the scoop — and the bigger story about managed services industry consolidation.
Managed Service Providers Demand Firefox Support
Posted August 4th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
While the managed services market continues to converge with SaaS (software as a service) and cloud computing, I’m increasingly hearing from readers who have a far more basic request: They want all of their managed services platforms to support the three major browsers: Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari — with Google Chrome also popping up on some request lists.
Managed Services Revenue: The Good (And the Bad)
Posted July 29th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Take a look at recent financial data points from CA Inc., Nimsoft and Siemens Enterprise Communications Group (SEN Group). You’ll notice an emerging trend: It’s hip to disclose recurring revenue and managed services revenue information. The reason: Wall Street and financial watchers consider the recurring revenue model a sign of business stability. Plus, there’s a need to rise above the MSP industry noise, where the mainstream press and some of the high-tech press continue to foolishly hype managed services as recession proof. Here’s some perspective…
Managed Services: HoundDog Acquired, Who’s Next?
Posted July 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When GFI Software today announced plans to acquire HoundDog Technology Ltd. — a SaaS-driven remote monitoring and management company — my first question was an obvious one: Who’s next? Is consolidation about to accelerate in the managed services market? Why or why not? Here are some initial thoughts… including some whispers involving Hewlett-Packard and venture capitalists.
ConnectWise CEO Discloses 2009 Revenue Estimate
Posted July 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During a wide ranging conversation at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09), ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini revealed to me a simple but dramatic mission for his company. Plus, Bellini pulled back the curtain a bit more on ConnectWise’s anticipated revenues and profits for 2009. Here are the details.
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference: Where are the MSPs?
Posted July 14th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC09) remains among the largest vendor-driven IT gatherings in the world. But there’s surprisingly little conversation about managed services here. I suspect that could change today (Tuesday) and Wednesday as Microsoft begins to talk even more about Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) and Windows Azure (the Windows-driven cloud service). But ultimately, there are some bigger trends worth nothing here at the conference. Take a look.
Apple Store Inspires ConnectWise Executives
Posted June 2nd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Where do you go for inspiration? Before you answer, consider the situation at ConnectWise. Roughly two months ago, ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and COO Santo Cannone shared an “ah-ha” moment at an Apple Store in Tampa, Fla. As customers visited the Apple Genius Bar and interacted with Apple representatives, Bellini and Cannone discussed where to take ConnectWise next.
Coming Soon From MSPmentor
Posted May 29th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The Kaseya Connect User Conference dominated my time this week. But there is additional news from across the managed services market that we still need to cover. Here are six key topics you’ll be hearing more about on MSPmentor real soon…
Skyping for Managed Services Dollars
Posted May 28th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During the Kaseya Connect User Conference, ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini and former managed service provider Gary Pica are walking attendees through some best practices for lead generation and sales. Bellini’s tip of the day: Put Skype on notebooks and let salespeople work where they need to work.
Beware the Hosting Hype Cycle
Posted May 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Frequent MSPmentor readers know I talk and blog about the Managed Services Hype Cycle (based on Gartner’s own Technology Hype Cycle chart). All technologies go through a maturity curve (a cycle of sorts) that involves a bit of pain (or lots of pain) for customers and MSPs. Now, some folks are starting to talk about a Hosting Hype Cycle. And it’s an important discussion.
Microsoft’s BPOS: Partner Opportunities Ahead
Posted April 29th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
When it comes to understanding Microsoft’s SaaS (software as a service) strategy, there are only four letters managed service providers need to know: BPOS, short for Business Productivity Online Suite. Most of Microsoft’s major SaaS applications fit under the BPOS umbrella, and the software giant has started evangelizing BPOS opportunities to MSPs. Now, the big question: Is BPOS a real opportunity for channel partners?
PSA Software: Standard Operating Procedure?
Posted April 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
The stat of the day: During the HTG 2009 Summit and Q2 peer group meeting in Dallas, virtually all of the 300-plus attending solutions providers indicated that they’re using PSA (professional services automation) software.
Managed Services Software Mergers: Who Will Fire the First Shot?
Posted April 10th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Picture this: You compete in an emerging, fast-growth software market. The highly fragmented industry is filled with multiple, successful software companies. Most of the companies are relatively small and privately held. Suddenly, industry growth rates slow a bit amid the recession. So, what happens next? Mergers and acquisitions. That’s the scenario facing the managed services software market. Here’s where I think we’re heading next.
First Look: ConnectWise TV, Plus Competition With Autotask
Posted April 6th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Talk about going to extremes. MSPmentor started last week at the Autotask Community Live conference, and we ended the week touring ConnectWise, and participating in a ConnectWise TV segment recording. Publicly, Autotask and ConnectWise are fierce rivals and extreme opposites in the professional services automation (PSA) market. But privately, there are actually some similarities between the two companies. Skeptical? Read on.
ConnectWise TV: The ESPN of IT?
Posted March 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
ConnectWise CEO Arnie Bellini remains colorful and outspoken. And soon Bellini will be able to prove it — each time he appears on his own IP-based television network. ConnectWise is building a broadcast studio and within a month or so plans to launch ConnectWise TV — which Bellini affectionately calls “the ESPN of IT.” Here’s the scoop.
Professor of Managed Services?
Posted January 21st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Gary Pica (pictured), a veteran of mindSHIFT Technologies, is making the leap from managed service provider to industry educator. And he’s not alone. As more executives successfully embrace managed services, they’re finding time to launch businesses or consulting gigs that educate the MSP masses.
Get Started: Visit our new 
