We got a bit distracted this week by CA Inc.’s surprise buyout of Nimsoft for $350 million. Several other stories and deadlines slipped through he cracks. Here are seven managed services blog entries our team didn’t have time to write for the week ending March 12, 2010.
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Seven Managed Services Blogs MSPmentor Didn’t Write: March 12
Posted March 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Hardware as a Service: Hot or Hype?
Posted February 25th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Earlier this week in Miami, I got locked in a conversation about Hardware as a Service (HaaS) with a few skeptical MSPs. Their key question: Can you really turn a HaaS profit without taking on big financial risk? I’ve heard some successful anecdotes, but I’m deferring the question to two top MSPs and CharTec’s Alex Rogers. If you’d like to hear how they’re tackling HaaS, join our March 24 MSPmentor Live webcast. We’ll take your questions through the webcast discussion.
Former ConnectWise COO Joins Financial Services Specialist
Posted February 19th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Former ConnectWise Chief Operating Officer Santo Cannone (pictured) has joined Open Solutions Inc. as executive VP, group sales. Cannone says he wasn’t looking to leave ConnectWise, but a unique opportunity to move back into the financial services market proved too intriguing to turn down. Here are some details.
Retail Point of Sale Systems: Going HaaS?
Posted February 9th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Where is the hardware as a service (HaaS) market heading next? My best guess: The point of sale (POS) industry, where retailers want to focus on business rather than purchasing and owning point of sale devices. One recent deal, involving Island Pacific and First National Technology Solutions, offers some clues about how managed service providers are moving deeper into the retail market.
MSP Branding 101: Laptop Wraps
Posted February 8th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Question: If you’re a managed service provider that resells laptops and other hardware to your customer base, how do you promote your company brand over the hardware maker’s brand? The answer comes from MJ Shoer, president of Jenaly Technology Group, a managed service provider in New Hampshire.
ConnectWise Capital Invests in CharTec, HaaS
Posted February 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Investment money is starting to flow into the hardware as a service (HaaS) market. A prime example: ConnectWise Capital today announced a “joint venture” with CharTec — which specializes in hardware as a service. Financial details of the relationship were not disclosed. But here are some perspectives.
Level Platforms, CharTec: Partnering Up?
Posted January 28th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Call it an MSP industry mashup. CharTec, in addition to working more closely with ConnectWise, is also building a close relationship with Level Platforms, according to multiple sources familiar with the strategy. Do I have the exact details? Um, not really. But here’s some speculation.
Apple iPad Tablet: Yes, MSPs Need to Try It
Posted January 27th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Re-read the headline. I’m not suggesting that you need to buy the Apple iPad tablet. Nor am I saying your customers will buy the iPad. But yes, managed services providers (MSPs) need to try Apple’s iPad while closely monitoring the tablet market. Here’s why. And yes, it involves Hardware as a Service.
ConnectWise Capital: $20 Million to “Incubate Innovation”
Posted January 22nd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
ConnectWise around January 25 is expected to launch ConnectWise Capital — a $20 million initiative that seeks to “incubate innovation” across the IT channel. I’ve got a few dozen thoughts about the move, which will involve multiple companies. But let’s start with the news…
Seven Managed Services Blog Entries We Didn’t Write: Dec. 24
Posted December 24th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I must admit: I’m enjoying some silence right now. Email traffic is light. My phone isn’t ringing. It’s the perfect time to take a few minutes to tell you about the managed services blog entries we didn’t have a chance to write for the week ending Dec. 24, 2009. Here we go…
Everon Scores With Hardware as a Service
Posted December 23rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Everon Technology Services, a managed service provider that lands regularly on the Inc. 5000 and MSPmentor 100 lists, is starting to target the hardware as a service (HaaS) market. Everon’s HaaS move is important for at least two reasons. First, it leverages a relationship with CharTec. Second, Everon is savvy when it comes to marketing and end-customer education. So Everon’s efforts and learnings could help accelerate the HaaS industry. Here’s a bit more background.
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.
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…
Recession Beater: masterIT’s Best Year Ever
Posted October 20th, 2009 by Matthew Weinberger
At a time when roughly 10 percent of North American MSPs are falling off the map, masterIT is on pace to have its most profitable year ever, according to Chairman and CEO J. Michael Drake. As part of our ongoing look at MSPmentor 100 companies, here’s an update on masterIT’s evolving business — including a strategy that gives customers 90 days to get hooked on managed services.
CompTIA Breakaway: Managed Print Services Gain Spotlight
Posted August 3rd, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
I hesitate to call this “the year” of managed print services, but it certainly seems like vendors, industry associations and managed service providers are rallying around managed print services. The latest example comes from CompTIA Breakaway 2009, kicking off this week in Las Vagas.
Google Chrome OS and Managed Services
Posted July 8th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
If you’re not remotely managing Linux-type desktops and notebooks yet, I suspect you will be by 2010. The reason: Google plans to ship an open source operating system — called Chrome OS — for netbooks. And yes, I think your customers will start buying netbooks as part of hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) agreements.
Our Next Managed Services Webcast
Posted May 21st, 2009 by MSPMentor
Our next MSPmentor Live webcast, scheduled for June 10, focuses on Hardware at Your Service. We’ll welcome your managed services questions throughout the one-hour event. We’ll focus on the following mix of Technology and Business topics.
Vodcast: Hardware as a Service Tips for MSPs
Posted April 1st, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
During a quick video interview, masterIT CEO J. Michael Drake describes his company’s success blending managed services with hardware as a service (HaaS). Drake articulates why HaaS is more than leasing for laptops and desktops. And he offers practical tips for MSPs that want to move in a HaaS direction. The conversation was recorded at Autotask Community Live in Nashville, Tenn. Take a look.
Managed Print Services: Six Signs of Growth
Posted March 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
After several false starts, the managed print services (MPS) market seems to be reaching a tipping point. Skeptical? Consider these six signs of momentum from Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Ingram Micro, Photizo Group, The Utility Company and Xerox.
Hardware as a Service: $100 Netbooks
Posted February 27th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
In September 2008, I predicted broadband providers eventually would offer netbooks (those low-cost sub-notebooks) for free with monthly broadband service contracts. We’re rapidly marching in that direction. Check out former PC Week Editor John Dodge’s post about $100 netbooks that are part of broadband packages.
Managed Print Services Association (MPSA) Launching In April
Posted February 26th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Managed print services. To me, those three words represent both “opportunity” and “confusion.” As I’ve mentioned multiple times, I’m shocked by the lack of standards, hit-and-miss education and poor communications in the managed print services market. But a fledgling conference and a new association hope to move the managed print industry forward.
Financial Advice for Managed Service Providers…
Posted February 20th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
You’re a managed service provider. You’re trying to maximize cash flow. You need to better understand vendor financing options. You’re curious about hardware as a service (HaaS) but want to minimize your own financial risks. MSPmentor and The VAR Guy are preparing a special multi-part content series to help MSPs and VARs navigate financial challenges. But we need your help…
Recap: Managed Print Services Seminar
Posted February 19th, 2009 by Joe Panettieri
Frankly, I’ve been surprised (shocked?) by the slow/bumpy transition to managed print services. Companies like Xerox seem to start — then stop — their MSP education efforts. There’s no continuity. There’s no call to action. But then I read about a Synnex/PrintSolv event to help resellers become managed print services experts. And I realized: Managed print services are an unavoidable destiny.
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