As managed services providers (MSPs) consider outsourced help desk options, here’s a new spin on the conversation: There’s a new 24 x 7 help desk for service providers that focuses on Asterisk — the increasingly popular IP PBX platform. Here’s the background for MSPs that are pushing into VoIP and unified communications, but may need some extra support.
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24×7 Global Asterisk Help Desk: Will MSPs Call for VoIP Help?
Posted February 3rd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
7 Ways to Break the Rules… And Succeed as an SMB
Posted February 2nd, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Nine Lives Media Inc. (MSPmentor’s parent) recently turned three years old. I don’t know the exact date we incorporated. We were in stealth mode in Q4 2007 (you can still see the raw MSPmentor beta site here). Both MSPmentor and The VAR Guy came online in January 2008. And we’ve been sprinting forward ever since. But we don’t always play by the rules. In fact, here are seven ways we broke the rules to (apparently) achieve success as a small business.
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.
Podcast: Fonality’s CEO on Asterisk, IP PBXes And Cloud Services
Posted January 29th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I interviewed Fonality CEO Chris Lyman for a podcast originally posted on TheVARguy.com. Our discussion offers managed service providers a high-level overview of Fonality’s IP PBX strategy. We touch on such topics as Asterisk, open source, and hybrid-hosted services that combine on-premise solutions with cloud services.
Tech Data, Fonality Ink Hosted Unified Communications Deal
Posted January 12th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
In a deal between Tech Data and Fonality, multiple managed services trends are converging with one another. The business relationship, expected to be announced today, will involve a blend of open source software, software as a service (SaaS) and unified communications. For managed service providers, the Tech Data-Fonality relationship provides further evidence that open source and SaaS will play a key role in the next-generation IT channel.
Open Source SaaS Finally Connecting With Managed Services
Posted September 4th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
I’ve been hyping the convergence of open source, software as a service (SaaS) and managed service providers (MSPs) in recent months. But I have to admit, it has been difficult to find MSPs that actually run a large mix of open source SaaS systems. That all changed tonight at the MSP Revolution conference, when I met John Truitt, president of Kalleo Technologies.
Managed VoIP Services Shifting to Open Source
Posted June 24th, 2008 by Joe Panettieri
If you’re a managed service provider mulling your VoIP options, keep this in mind: A growing number of customers — especially in Europe — are embracing IP phone systems that leverage open source and Asterisk. In fact, the European market for open source VoIP is growing 70 percent annually, according to one market researcher. Here’s the scoop.
