MSPmentor

Why do so many managed service provides spend so much time looking in the rear view mirror? That question popped into my head while moderating a session at the N-able Partner Summit last week.

Quite a few summit attendees told me they’re concerned about Microsoft, Dell, Google, Amazon and other big vendors offering software as a service (SaaS) directly to their customers.

Perhaps I’m naive. But shouldn’t MSPs be looking ahead and stepping on the gas, rather than looking back and worrying about big vendor competition?

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When I got off a flight Tuesday evening, an email from Nicholas Vossburg, CEO of TechAssist, a managed service provider, awaited me. Vossburg wanted to chat a bit about Google Chrome — the search engine giant’s new Web browser.

If you’re a managed service provider, don’t view Chrome in a vacuum. It’s more than an alternative to Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari and Firefox (the popular open source browser). Chrome is part of a bigger Google strategy involving software as a service (SaaS), cloud computing and mobility. Read More >

So, you’re a managed service provider or VAR who’s striving to understand Google Apps — the search giant’s on-demand software development platform.

Yes, Google is now reaching out to MSPs, IT consultants and integrators. This video, forwarded to The VAR Guy (our guest blogger) by Virus Woman (a.k.a. Crisantos Hajibrahim), describes Google’s SaaS strategy for MSPs and channel partners.

So, are you willing to build applications based on Google Apps? Before you answer, consider the following thoughts. Read More >

If you want to see how Microsoft and Google are competing in the software as a service (SaaS) market, head back to college. As I’ve written here a few times, Hofstra University, the University of Phoenix and several other large colleges have embraced Google Apps to manage student email, alumni email and collaboration. Now, Microsoft is taking steps to more actively promote its rival offering: Live@edu hosted applications.

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Microsoft is preparing an “application streaming” initiative, in an effort to more effectively position Microsoft Office against Google Apps, according to ComputerWorld. Anyone who thinks this is nothing more than a commodity software war needs to think again.

While Google has lined up major colleges to standardize on Google Apps, Microsoft is quietly pushing cable companies to embrace its software as a service (SaaS) product portfolio. Here’s the scoop. Read More >

A few weeks ago I noted that Salesforce.com plans to make a major announcement on April 14. I wasn’t sure what the news was, but there are growing indications that it includes Salesforce.com gaining closer hooks to Google Apps. If true, this could be a defining moment for the software as a service industry. Read More >