MSPmentor

And so it begins: Dell has started promoting MessageOne as a cost-effective managed service for corporate email. But it’s unclear how, when or if managed service providers (MSPs) will be able to join Dell’s MessageOne party.

Read More >

Welcome to MSPmentor Live: Podcast edition. In this episode, I interview Dell’s Greg Davis, VP and GM, Americas Channel Program, about a range of issues (PartnerDirect, managed services, acquisitions, and plenty more). Tune in now…

• Episode #: 009 (August 27, 2008)
• Featured Guest: Greg Davis, VP and GM, Americas Channel Program, Dell Inc.
• Topics Covered: The podcast runs about 15 minutes and has four main sections:
  • 00:49: PartnerDirect: The story so far
  • 05:21: Global partner strategy
  • 07:29: Acquisitions: Sorting out Silverback, Everdream, MessageOne and EqualLogic
  • 13:01: What’s ahead for partners?
• Other Highlights: Davis describes how partners can contact him directly with questions; and he touches on new initiatives that will lower deal registration requirements to $25,000 (from the current minimum of $50,000); plus a push toward IT certifications for vertical markets (health care, federal government), MSPs and ISVs.

And check the MSPmentor Live: Podcast Center for additional weekly podcasts.

 

 MSPmentor Live: Podcast Featuring Dell Channel Chief Greg Davis [16:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Read More >

Apparently, managed service providers are developing a love-hate relationship with Dell. While some solutions providers worry about Dell’s intentions in the MSP market, other partners are pushing — aggressively — to have Dell executives included on our forthcoming MSPmentor 250 list.

Read More >

Sorry for being so “Dell-centric” on our Web sites today, but a conversation I had with Dell’s Channel VP Greg Davis has triggered multiple posts. The latest: Davis and Michael Menegay, Global Director of Dell Managed Services, today sent a jointly signed letter to managed service providers. The letter provides MSPs with an update on:

1. Dell’s Managed Services Partner Certification, with more details about plans for the Everdream platform
2. Dell’s own Managed Services for small business plans, with more details on Dell’s intention to test managed services with selected small businesses
3. Future communications. Dell is planning a Web seminar the week of April 21 to continue the conversation with partners.

Here is some analysis, along with a link to let you read the entire letter for yourself.

Read More >

Channel conflict. Trust. While some VARs and managed service providers continue to fret over those words, more than 6,200 solutions providers have joined Dell’s channel program since its official launch on December 5, according to Greg Davis, the company’s channel chief.

Read More >