MSPmentor

The market for hosted Exchange Server services is getting pretty darn crowded. The latest entrant is Tech Data Corp., which has signed a partnership with USA.NET to offer hosted Exchange Server, SharePoint and BlackBerry services to VARs and solutions providers.

Tech Data follows rival distributor Ingram Micro — and a growing list of managed service providers — into the hosted Microsoft applications market. Plus, Microsoft itself is expected to launch its Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) within the next few weeks.

Here’s how the competitive landscape for hosted Microsoft applications is shaping up.

Read More >

Intermedia, which specializes in software as a service (SaaS) and collaboration solutions, has launched a managed service provider (MSP) partner program. The program was announced at the MSPAlliance’s Managed Services Summit in Chicago, hosted by organization president Charles Weaver (pictured).

Intermedia is among a growing list of companies that are hosting Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint for managed service providers. And attendees who are at the Managed Services Summit say SaaS is a big theme at the event. But there are some unique twists to Intermedia’s strategy. Read More >

At the ConnectWise Partner Summit in Orlando, Fla., vendors continue to connect the dots between disparate managed services systems. For example:

• I hear Ingram Micro Seismic Help Desk will soon integrate with ConnectWise’s professional services automation (PSA) software.
• MX Logic today will introduce a free tool that will MSPs generate monthly security reports for customers. The tool integrates with ConnectWise.
• Sources say Level Platforms will demonstrate some sort of integration with Zenith Infotech’s business continuity solution.

MSPs that depend on multiple managed services tools will welcome those efforts.

Still, there is a bigger at story here: MSP software providers are cooperating and competing to  determine which company will become the Microsoft Windows of managed services. Skeptical? Here’s my reasoning.

Read More >

At the ConnectWise Partner Summit in Orlando, Fla., managed service providers  are buzzing about a range of topics. Amid growing US economic concerns, many managed service providers here are striving to focus on marketing, sales and emerging partnerships. However, there’s no doubt that the economy is starting to impact MSPs. Here’s why.

Read More >

When the ConnectWise Partner Summit kicks off this week in Orlando, Fla., I’ll be sitting down with managed service providers and vendors to gather their observations. Roughly 700 MSPs are expected to attend the event. Here are five key trends I expect to track at the conference. Read More >

As a $17.95 billion value-added distributor, Avnet Inc. could certainly throw its weight around in the managed services market. But instead of hyping Avnet’s OneTech managed services strategy, CEO Roy Vallee (pictured) expresses cautious optimism.

In an interview with MSPmentor, Vallee concedes it’s too early to say where the managed services market will take Avnet.

Here’s more perspective from Vallee.

Read More >

In part 1, I described how you can line up vendor money to pay for your branding efforts. Here in part 2, I explore a specific case study: In late 2007, Trailhead Technologies Inc. was a managed services provider without a clear brand — and without Web site.

Trailhead turned to local marketing agencies for help, but the agencies didn’t understand Trailhead’s business and the concept of managed services, according to company president Erik Johnson. In December 2007, Trailhead began to find some branding answers during an Ingram Micro Seismic conference in Dallas.

Here’s how the branding story played out, and some key lessons for other MSPs to consider. Read More >

I spoke with Avnet Technology Solutions on August 20 to get more details about their expanded OneTech Managed Services initiative, which the company announced earlier this week.

I’ve been trying to sort out how Avnet’s strategy differs from Ingram Micro Seismic, Tech Data VARChoice and Synnex. Here are some general observations. Read More >