Content, 5 things

5 Channel Partner Updates: Wednesday 17 January 2018

Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Wednesday, January 17, 2018.

Actually, there are 14 timely updates designed for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs), independent software vendors (ISVs), telco master agents and telco agents to sip on. Take a look…

14. IBM Earnings: IBM will reveal its latest quarterly earnings results on Thursday. Wall Street hopes the company's shift from traditional hardware, software and services toward growth markets like cloud, cognitive computing and security continues to accelerate. The company's year-over-year revenues fell 22 consecutive quarters until a November 2017 announcement, which appeared to show overall revenues stabilizing. Also, IBM is expected to consolidate all of its services businesses into a singular IBM Services brand. The move could trigger about 10,000 layoffs, according to chatter ahead of earnings.

13. Connectivity: TPx’s new Managed High-Speed Internet Access leverages telecom and cable provider relationships across the country. The goal: Deliver managed voice and data services to virtually any business location in the United States. The service offers symmetrical and asymmetrical bandwidth options that can be fine-tuned to meet specific budgetary and technical requirements, the company says. Bandwidths range from 1Mbps to 1Gbps and higher, where available. SD-WAN capabilities also are available.

Microsoft’s Gavriella Schuster
Microsoft's Gavriella Schuster

12. Microsoft Partner Strategy: Microsoft Corporate VP Gavriella Schuster is expected to share key partner updates on January 24. We'll be tuning in for details...

11. Distribution: Tech Data has unveiled a Global Lifecycle Management Services portfolio to help manage the entire technology product and customer lifecycle—from design, integration and installation to service, support and IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), the company says. Available globally and designed for both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and solution providers, the portfolio also features customer management solutions, including customer acquisition, enablement and revenue-growth services, such as contract renewals and software license compliance, Tech Data says.

10. Google Certification: Google has launched the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, which is designed to help students with no prior IT training get the experience needed for an entry-level job within eight to 12  months, TechRepublic notes.

Owen Taraniuk

9. Talent - Backup: Commvault VP of Asia Pacific and Japan Owen Taraniuk has shifted to Head of Worldwide Partnerships and Market Development, effective immediately. Taraniuk is responsible for leading the creation and execution of Commvault’s global go-to-market strategy and indirect partnerships. Related Move: Channel Chief Ralph Nimergood will shift to Taraniuk's Chief of Staff as well as lead the development of a new global shared services group within the Worldwide Partnerships & Market Development Group. Announcement Timing: Commvault is expected to announce quarterly results on January 24, according to Nasdaq. We'll be watching closely to see how the company is competing against fast-growth rivals like Veeam.

8. Telephony, ITSM & ServiceNow: InGenius, a computer telephony specialist, now integrates with the Now Platform. The result? ServiceNow's IT Service Management & Customer Service Management customers can integrate with Genesys PureEngage, the company says.

7. Talent - Monitoring & Management: Blue Medora has named Patrick Deane as the company's first full-time CFO, and Bill Cordero as VP of worldwide channels. Blue Medora develops IT monitoring integration solutions for major application performance, cloud and database management platforms.

6. Funding - SD-WANs: Bigleaf Networks, which offers a cloud-first SD-WAN service that optimizes Internet and Cloud performance, has closed an equity investment round of $4.9 million led by Menlo Park-based investor GoAhead Ventures. Other investors participating in the round included existing Bigleaf investors Oregon Angel Fund and Portland Seed Fund, as well as new investor Seattle Angel Fund. The financing will be used to scale Bigleaf’s sales and marketing efforts, operations, technology development, and global network expansion.

5. Funding -- Application Performance Management (APM): Nyansa, a provider of application performance management for internal networks, has raised $15 million in Series B funding led by Intel Capital.

4. Device as a Service: CompuCom has launched a Device as a Service (DaaS) offering, which combines hardware, managed services and device life cycle management into a single, fixed-cost service to help organizations lower total cost of ownership, increase user satisfaction and boost workplace productivity. We'll share more details soon.

3. MSP Platforms: The 20, an MSP business development group, has embraced QuoteWerks, a sales quoting and proposal tool for IT service providers. QuoteWerks, which typically competes against ConnectWise Sell, also is launching its first customer conference in February.

2. BDR Rumor: Rumor has it that another MSP-focused BDR (backup and disaster recovery) company is about to be acquired... Feel free to leak additional details to yours truly ([email protected]).

1. How Much Is Your Business Really Worth?: Find out by joining ChannelE2E’s webcast on Thursday (tomorrow). We’ll cover VAR, MSP & CSP valuations; key KPIs to help you increase your company valuation; and the Top 100 M&A deals of 2017. Guest speaker: Service Leadership Inc. CEO Paul Dippell. Register Now. 

Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.