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.

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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.

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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 >

Avnet Technology Solutions (ATS) is expanding its OneTech Managed Services initiative. At the New Frontiers Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo., ATS unveiled a “new family of remote monitoring and management services, enabling its value-added reseller partners to expand their service offerings.” Here’s a bit more info. Read More >

The MSPAlliance, working with Varilease, has launched a leasing program for its managed service provider (MSP) membership. Here’s a bit more on the MSPAlliance’s leasing program, along with other MSP industry leasing options. Read More >

Avnet Technology Solutions and Hewlett-Packard are promoting managed storage services into midsize businesses. The partnership, expected to be announced later today, involves HP’s Electronic Vaulting Services — which feature off-site data backup and recovery services for a monthly fee.

Avnet’s partnership with HP is the latest example of distributors polishing their managed services strategies.

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I just spoke with Joe Quaglia, senior VP of US marketing for Tech Data Corp. Quaglia heads up Tech Data’s managed services strategy — known as VARChoice. The conversation gave me a better feel for Tech Data’s business plan in the MSP space, especially as it relates to Ingram Micro’s Seismic strategy.

I’m not here to say one strategy is better than the other. But as VARs and managed service providers evaluate potential distribution partners, here are some of the key messages and strategies I’m hearing from Tech Data and Ingram Micro, respectively.

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