crn

HP CEO Whitman To Partners: 'We've Got Our Swagger Back'

System — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:05:47 +0000

In her first address to HP channel partners, Meg Whitman says all the right things, pledges return to stability, and garners applause for vowing a return to normalcy.

A View From The Channel

Michelle Jones — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:42:26 +0000

http://blog.seeburger.com/?p=1146

My last post addressed the need for software vendors and channel partners to adapt to changing market conditions, industry regulations, technology landscapes and ever-shifting customer requirements. My take of “adapt or be left behind” has proven true. In the few short months since that post we’ve seen significant acquisition activity among vendors (and between partners of vendors), endless debate/discussion regarding the risks and opportunities of social business, growth on all fronts “cloud” and massive attention to the resulting privacy implications.

So what does this mean? It means that focus is more important today than ever before. Before hopping on the latest buzzword bandwagon, companies should look at their core competencies- be it technology, consulting, services- and determine how to leverage the new forces at play to make them the best they can be. Most importantly, keep your compass pointed to customer value. In my opinion, all roads must lead there.

I am in no way suggesting businesses do not innovate- innovation is key to the success of any company working with technology. It does, however, mean do not get distracted by the next shiny thing that emerges for it may prove to be fad vs. future.

Do you homework and remember, your customers and partners chose to do business with you for a reason. Validate their choice of you as their trusted partner with constant innovation, investment, improvement and modernization of what you do best. Then exploit new technologies and methods of deployment, strengthen relationships via all channels possible and never forget the end game- customer value.

Customer Value- For Companies Large and Small

In my experience, enterprise companies get a lot of attention from software vendors. Financial flexibility enables then to buy the best technology (even if it is often never fully deployed), perhaps benefit from a dedicated strategic sales rep, sustain long and costly implementations, etc. These accounts are critically important and sometimes overshadow the smaller, but equally critical, community of midsized companies who must content with the same strategic drivers as their larger enterprise competitors.

Midsize companies with the same business process flows as large enterprises share the need for efficiency, visibility, and better information to support effective decision-making. Advanced B2B integration and Managed File Transfer offer midsize companies a unique competitive advantage.

At SEEBURGER, we understand this. The SEEBURGER Business Integration Suite, used by both mid-sized and enterprise customers, helps customers achieve maximum B2B integration and optimize business operations. Partners that serve the mid-market play a key role in delivering on our commitment of customer value for this important market segment.

In 2011 we announced the successful expansion of our partner program. I am very pleased to share that, as a result, all SEEBURGER business with companies generating revenues of less than $500 million annually is delivered through partners, eliminating channel conflict and driving major revenue opportunities for channel partners serving the SMB market.

SEEBURGER partners are more productive today than ever. Supported by what I consider the world’s most solid B2B/MFT solutions, a team of SEEBURGER professionals committed to their success and a company that understands the real meaning of partnership, they consistently help customers derive maximum value from their ERP, MFT and business integration investments.

In the coming weeks you’ll see some exciting news and announcements about our partner program. I am eager to share what this means for our customers, existing partners and those who plan to join the SEEBURGER partner network (little teaser, yes!) I invite you to follow us on Twitter (@seeburgernews), join our group on LinkedIn and follow our blog to learn more about SEEBURGER and our partners and to stay up to date on the latest Business Integration news. As always, feel free to dm me via twitter (@mas_jones) or email me directly at m.jones@seeburger.com. Your comments and feedback are most welcome.

Features that should be available in social networking website

synapseindia — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 09:16:33 +0000

We have recently developed a social networking website for one of our client, and have included a number of features in it. A details case study of developing the social nwetworking site can be viewed here - http://www.synapseindia.com/case-study-details.php/18

Please share your views on additional features that could have been added which we missed out.

CRN 2012 Project Applications

Joe Caponi — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:26:20 +0000

Here, you'll find opportunities to be included in CRN's 2012 directories, rankings and awards programs for solution providers, vendors and distributors. Specific details on deadlines and entry requirements will be available as each project opens for entries.

Open Now

Solution Provider 500 - the former VAR 500 - our annual list of the largest solution providers in North America, ranked by their solution provider revenue.

Coming Up

Emerging Vendors - new companies with solution provider programs.

Women of the Channel - honoring women leaders in technology.

Closed for 2012

Partner Program Guide - complete directory of vendor partner programs.

Distributor Programs - distributor partner programs.

Channel Chiefs - the people driving vendor partner programs.

Tech Elite 250 - our listing of VARs with premier industry certifications

2012 Editorial Calendar

And if you're comfortable with knowing information about the future, the 2012 CRN Editorial Calendar is available now.

Webroot Kills E-mail Security Service, Plans End-Point Offensive

System — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:45:35 +0000

Security vendor Webroot is poised to notify partners of a major strategic shift in its product line.

Sonian Buys Webroot E-mail Archiving Business

System — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:38:12 +0000

Webroot, which is exiting the e-mail security market, has sold its archiving business to partner Sonian, which expects to add 1,000 customers as a result of the transaction.

Details Surface On HP's Gen8 Xeon E5-Based ProLiant Servers

System — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:54:26 +0000

The new ProLiant G8 servers, which could be officially introduced as early as next week, are slated to include blade, rackmount, tower and small-form-factor models.

HP Execs: iPad Is Not Secure Enough For Enterprises

System — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:15:09 +0000

Windows 8 tablets are not expected to arrive until the latter part of the year, but HP CEO Meg Whitman and PSG chief Todd Bradley are touting security as a key advantage.

Hard-Drive Shortage Hits More Enterprise Drive Shipments

System — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:47 +0000

Updates from major storage vendors and solution providers offer clearer picture of the impact of last year's Thailand floods

Silver Peak CEO Sees Validation In WAN Op Industry Notices

System — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:04:36 +0000

Silver Peak Systems is riding a wave of good notices following its bump-up to the Leaders category of Gartner's Magic Quadrant for WAN optimization.

How to Upgrade a Hard Disk Drive -- Without Crashing the System

System — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:42:27 +0000

How to Upgrade a Hard Disk Drive -- Without Crashing the System
http://www.crn.com/news/channel-programs/60403842/how-to-upgrade-a-hard-disk-drive-without-crashing-the-system.htm

A TechBuilder Recipe showing white-box builders how to upgrade hard disk drives without crashing the system.

Digium Expands Into IP Phones

System — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:53:55 +0000

Open source telephony specialist Digium is coming to market with its first-ever built-and-branded IP phones.

IBM Boosts Its Mobile Software Lineup With Acquisition

System — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:45:55 +0000

Worklight tools help businesses develop, manage and secure applications for smartphones and tablet computers

Can Research In Motion make a comeback?

RobWright — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:38:07 +0000

We've been discussing RIM quite a bit here in the CRN office lately, which has us wondering -- can RIM make a comeback or is the company acquisition fodder at this point? Is the BlackBerry brand still strong enough in the commercial space? Or has the company lost too much share to Apple and Android phones?

Happy Birthday Williams Web Solutions

Robert Williams — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:50:44 +0000

We have just celebrated 5 years of service. We also have redesigned our website. Visit us at www.WilliamsWebSolutions.net and I look forward hearing your feedback.

A VAR's Tale: I Stopped Selling Microsoft And Lived To Tell About It

System — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:33:27 +0000

OnePointSync executives initially were nervous that many customers would be reluctant to switch from a Microsoft-based solution, but that hasn't been the case, they said.

First Look: IBM Docs Takes on Google and Microsoft

System — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:56:39 +0000

IBM Docs slips into the Armonk, N.Y.-based computer giant's growing collaboration lineup, but is it enough to take on its toughest rivals?

Amazon Storage Gateway Bridges Cloud, On-Premise Data

System — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:59:50 +0000

Amazon Web Services has launched the AWS Storage Gateway, a cloud storage service that links on-premise and cloud data for disaster recovery.

Nokia’s Lumia 900 Smartphone To Be A Big Win For Microsoft, Analysts Say

System — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:13:18 +0000

Analysts are predicting Microsoft will see significant growth from Nokia's upcoming Lumia 900 smartphone -- perhaps even more than Nokia itself.

Windows 8 + Metro Apps + Windows Store = Resellers and Distributors Cut Out

Michael2000 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:13:31 +0000

I just read that the Windows 8 Metro Apps will only be able to be downloaded and installed from the Windows Store. Users will not be able to install them any other way.

As a reseller, that sounds like a death knell for reseller software sales. Sure, the Windows Classic programs will still be out there for a while, but the trend will be to move away from them, just like DOS and Win16. Perhaps this is one reason Microsoft made 2012 the last year they would be at the reseller oriented Consumer Electronics Show. What's the point of promoting an ecosystem to resellers that they can't participate in?

It's sad that the very people, the resellers, who made Microsoft so successful, are being cut out of future software markets by Microsoft. What are VARs suppose to do, when customers say "I want you to sell us a new PC with X,Y,Z software installed and ready to go."?

This move will be bad for the wholesale distributors, too, and frankly, I do not think it will be good for Microsoft either. Their army of resellers pushing their software, and that of other developers will evaporate. Who's going to promote Windows 8 if it puts them out of business?

New Facebook Phishing Attack Found

System — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:49:28 +0000

Kaspersky Lab reports that the latest phishing scam tries to trick Facebook account holders into revealing their credit card numbers.

VMware Co-Founder Greene Joins Google's Board Of Directors

System — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:53:03 +0000

VMware co-founder, who was ousted as president and CEO of the company in 2008, has landed a board of directors position at Google.

Cisco Exit: Global Marketing Director Takes CMO Post At Virtustream

System — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:25:49 +0000

Another week, another Cisco executive exit: a well-known marketing director heads to cloud provisioning startup Virtustream.

Flash Array Maker Nimbus Data Intros First Formal Channel Program

System — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:49:07 +0000

Nimbus Data is looking to attract solution providers with skills specific to Flash memory-based storage arrays with the unveiling of its first channel program.

OnLive Uses Cloud To Give iPad The Windows Treatment

System — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:13:03 +0000

Gaming player OnLive will launch the OnLive Desktop apps that enables Windows applications, including Office, to be used on the Apple iPad.

HP, Microsoft Forge Four-Year Cloud Pact

System — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:59:20 +0000

HP, Microsoft Forge Four-Year Cloud Pact
http://www.crn.com/news/cloud/232300179/hp-microsoft-forge-four-year-cloud-pact.htm

HP Enterprise Services and Microsoft have teamed up in a cloud partnership in which the pair will offer joint public and private cloud solutions and HP will resell Microsoft Office 365.

New Links For Hot Topics

Joe Caponi — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:36:20 +0000

As you may have noticed, we've changed our forums from our old community site to the new Forums.CRN.com. All our our groups, blogs and discussions are here, but may be a little difficult to track down. Here are some of the most important links from my Hot Topics blog:

News

Fun

Test Your Channel Smarts Each Month

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for PR and Vendor Folks

Or, just poke around in My Discussions

Acquisition Expands Optimal Solutions' Business Analytics Services

System — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:11:45 +0000

Optimal Solutions, among SAP's biggest North American channel partners, acquired The Glenture Group and its business planning and consolidation expertise.

Brocade Acquisition Bid Rumors Goose Stock Price

System — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:16:25 +0000

Brocade is entertaining buyout bids from a number of private equity companies, according to Reuters.

Acer, Lenovo Vie For Piece Of The Cloud

System — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:01:33 +0000

http://www.crn.com/news/cloud/232301483/acer-lenovo-vie-for-piece-of-the-cloud.htm