Pick up today’s paper and you’ll see a stunning contrast between Intel and the broader economy. As economic indicators continue to weaken, Intel has announced record quarterly revenue — providing some welcome news to managed service providers and other IT-centric businesses.
Check out these dramatic quotes about economic conditions vs. Intel’s performance, from USA Today:
Quick observation: Over the next few weeks it’s safe to expect managed service platform providers to voice support for Intel’s Centrino 2 processors for notebooks.
Level Platforms has already hit the news wires with a press release, and rivals will surely follow. (Update 7/17: I originally overlooked similar news from N-able regarding Centrino 2 and vPro.)
Many platform providers promote their support of Intel’s vPro technology, which allows MSPs to more easily remotely manage PCs and notebooks.
Update 7/17: If you’re an MSP platform provider that supports vPro and Centrino 2, feel free to post a comment below alerting our readers.
MSP Alliance President Charles Weaver spent some time telling me about the organization’s new accreditation program during a conference last month. Sounds like the program is gaining some traction.
So far, eight vendors have received the accreditation, including Asigra, Dell/SilverBack, Do IT Smarter, Intel, LiveCargo, N-able, Untangle and XRoads Networks, according to Web Host Industry News. Roughly 50 vendors are on track to receive the accreditation by the close of 2007, Weaver told WHIN. So what’s the upside for managed service providers? The accreditation appears to offer four clear benefits to MSPs and their customers. Read More >
The buzz is loud here at the MSP Alliance conference in San Jose. Up-and-coming MSP platform providers are inking partnerships with each other, and networking with more than 200 VARs and integrators. Clearly, the MSP ecosystem is maturing rapidly. Still, big vendors like Cisco Systems and Symantec are noticeably absent from this small but growing event. Looking ahead, those big players would be wise to follow the leads of Dell and Intel into the MSP market. Read More >
I’m in San Jose for the MSP Alliance Fall Managed Services Conference. It’s my first time at an MSP Alliance event. And frankly, I’m not sure what to see. But I do expect to hear about five key trends at the event. Here’s the rundown.
