It’s been about a week since I returned home from Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011. Now that I’ve had some time to digest what I heard and saw, I’ve come to a conclusion: Lync is rapidly emerging as Microsoft’s next killer platform for channel partners, including MSPs. Here’s why.
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Microsoft’s Next Killer Platform: All Roads Lead to Lync
Posted July 20th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
28 Insights From Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference
Posted July 13th, 2011 by The VAR Guy
Sure, The VAR Guy loves managed services providers. But The VAR Guy also enjoys timely gossip, chatter and insider dialog even more — including these 28 insights from Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, posted on The VAR Guy’s own website.
Microsoft Office 365 Cloud Billing Policy: An Update
Posted July 13th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
At Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11), the software giant has successfully communicated momentum on a number of fronts — everything from Windows Azure adoption to Windows 7 deployments. But there’s an elephant in the room for some MSPs. At times I’ve ignored it, minimized it and turn away from it. Still, there’s no denying that Microsoft’s cloud billing policies continue to annoy some very influential managed services providers (MSPs) here at WPC11.
Microsoft-Parallels Pact Targets Healthcare Partners
Posted July 13th, 2011 by John Moore
Microsoft and Parallels this week at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11) announced a two-year pact to offer a cloud automation bundle geared toward the health industry. Both companies contribute technology to the mix. Parallels Automation provides a system for delivering, managing and billing cloud services. Microsoft, meanwhile, will kick in Microsoft System Center, Exchange Server, SharePoint Server, Lync Server and Hyper-V. Here’s a closer look at the relationship.
Microsoft’s Next Moves for Windows Intune
Posted July 13th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Where is Windows Intune heading next? And where do managed services providers (MSPs) potentially fit into the conversation? MSPmentor found some answers at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11).
Microsoft Makes Cloud Pitch to Managed Services Providers
Posted July 11th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
What a difference a year makes. During Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010, incoming Channel Chief Jon Roskill conceded that he was still getting up to speed on the managed services market. Fast forward to this week’s WPC 2011 conference in Los Angeles, and Microsoft has rolled out the red carpet to selected managed services providers. Here’s the update.
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Meets Managed Services
Posted July 5th, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
When Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011 (WPC11) starts July 10 in Los Angeles, it’s safe to expect plenty of cloud computing buzz. But there will also be considerable managed services chatter. A case in point: ConnectWise will be on hand to describe recurring revenue business models to VARs and MSPs attending WPC11.
Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference Road Trip: Join Us
Posted July 1st, 2011 by The VAR Guy
It’s not quite the Wolfpack. But MSPmentor and The VAR Guy have a special offer for readers who are traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles for Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2011. Up to three readers are invited to join the ultimate road trip — driving down the California coastline on July 9 (Saturday) and July 10 (Sunday) — before arriving at Microsoft WPC 2011. Here are the details.
Microsoft Partners Move 1,000 Customers to Cloud Computing
Posted March 21st, 2011 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft’s top U.S. channel partners have moved more than 1,000 customers to cloud computing and BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite), MSPmentor has learned. The 1,000-customer milestone arrives at a critical time for cloud computing and the Microsoft Partner Network channel program. Here’s why.
Microsoft Cloud Channel Chief Set to Address MSPs
Posted September 1st, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Jon Roskill is Microsoft’s global channel chief. But check the Microsoft organization chart, and you’ll discover a cloud channel chief working closely with Roskill. Her name is Gretchen O’Hara, and she’s set to address a few hundred managed services providers (MSPs) during the N-able Partner Summit in October 2010. What message will O’Hara share with MSPs? Here are some potential clues.
Hybrid Cloud: Real Opportunity or Vendor Propaganda?
Posted August 3rd, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
The buzz is growing. More and more people are sending me news releases, pitches and story ideas related to The Hybrid Cloud. In theory, hybrid cloud solutions blend on-premises hardware and software with cloud- and SaaS-centric offerings. But is the hybrid cloud real — or is it something created by on-premise legacy vendors that don’t want to look like yesterday’s news? Here are some perspectives.
Microsoft: We Want Hosting Providers To Make Cloud Moves
Posted July 15th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Another dispatch from the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10): Microsoft is striving to help transform hosting providers and telecommunications providers into full-on IT service providers. The secret sauce, predictably, involves the cloud. But what are the implications for smaller MSPs and VARs? Here’s some perspective.
Microsoft Channel Chief Concedes: I Need to Learn About MSPs
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
It was a brief but revealing comment. During a press briefing at Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10) today, new Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill (pictured) described his views on VARs, distributors, integrators and other members on the channel partner ecosystem. Then, in an unsolicited comment, he added: “MSP… it’s a piece [of the channel] I need to learn more about.” Rather than being depressed by Roskill’s comment, I came away impressed. Here’s why.
Microsoft Channel Chief: Potential BPOS Marketplace?
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
A few minutes ago, I asked Microsoft Channel Chief Jon Roskill the following question: Can small VARs and MSPs really profit from basic BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) applications like SharePoint Online and Exchange Online? Or should those small partners begin to focus more on writing their own targeted cloud applications for Windows Azure? Roskill provided these perspectives.
Microsoft COO Claims Gains vs Google, VMware and Apple
Posted July 14th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft COO Kevin Turner this morning took aggressive shots at Apple, Oracle, Linux, VMware and Google — even painting Google as a Big Brother-type company that tries to say they’re not evil in their mission statement. Turner’s goal: Describe Microsoft as a company gaining market share — not losing market share. And Turner largely succeeded at that goal. MSPmentor’s sister site, The VAR Guy, has a recap and market share stats shared by Turner during Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10).
Managed Services: Level Platforms Partners With 3 Giants
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Within the remote monitoring and management (RMM) market, Level Platforms tends to be a quiet player with a loyal managed services partner base. But the company is making some serious noise this week. Specifically, Level Platforms has scored relationships with Intel, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard on emerging hardware, software and cloud computing projects. Each of those relationships is on display this week at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 (WPC10). Here are perspectives.
Intel Hybrid Cloud: First Five Partners Confirmed
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
There’s been considerable buzz about the Intel Hybrid Cloud in recent days. The project involves an on-premises, pay-as-you-go server that links to various cloud services. During a gathering this evening in Washington, D.C., Intel confirmed at least five of its initial Intel Hybrid Cloud integrated partners. Intel’s efforts arrive as Microsoft confirms its own cloud-enabled version of Windows Small Business Server (SBS), code-named Aurora. Here are the details.
Microsoft Online Services Gets Hosted BlackBerry Administration
Posted July 13th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
All eyes may be on the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference, but that doesn’t mean Microsoft Online Services can’t sneak in an announcement that the July 2010 update to their platform is now available. New to this release is enhanced administration for hosted BlackBerry customers. That’s an important step in Microsoft’s cloud strategy. Here’s why.
Managed Services Chatter At Microsoft Partner Conference
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft is in transition. And so is the Microsoft channel partner community. At Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10), there’s noticeably more managed services chatter this year compared to the 2009 conference. But are MSPs really here in full force? And is Microsoft fulfilling their needs? Here are some perspectives from Day 2 at the conference.
Windows Azure Appliance Targets Big Service Providers
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft is preparing a Windows Azure Appliance for large service providers and big hardware partners that want to offer customers private clouds. But the appliance is not designed for small MSPs to run within their own data centers. Instead, it sounds like small MSPs will need to partner up with big service providers and large integrators to potentially leverage the Windows Azure Appliance. Here’s why.
WPC10: Microsoft Demos Windows Intune for Managed Services
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
At Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10), Microsoft unveiled Windows Intune Beta 2, the latest test release of the company’s remote management platform. With Beta 2, MSPs can now more easily jump from one managed customer account to the next, Microsoft says, But will Microsoft make an aggressive managed services push with Windows Intune? Here are some perspectives.
Ballmer’s Cloud Computing Message to Channel Partners
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Joe Panettieri
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is set to take the stage in a few minutes at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10) in Washington, D.C. Roughly 14,000 attendees — including 9,500 channel partners — are at the event. Ballmer is expected to rally those partners around Microsoft’s All In cloud computing strategy, which includes Windows Azure, BPOS (Business Productivity Online Suite) and new offerings like Windows Intune. Update: MSPmentor’s sister site, The VAR Guy, has a recap of Ballmer’s keynote here. You’ll find complete Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference coverage at www.thevarguy.com/tag/wpc10 and www.mspmentor.net/tag/wpc10 throughout the week.
Fujitsu And Microsoft Teaming Up In The Cloud
Posted July 12th, 2010 by Matthew Weinberger
Is Japanese tech giant Fujitsu going to offer Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud platform within its data centers? A Dow Jones Newswires report came out suggesting just that. And yes, Microsoft and Fujitsu confirmed pieces of the story today during the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10). Here are the details.
