Good morning, channel partners. Here are five technology news updates, insights, chatter, and plenty more to start your day for Tuesday, August 23 2016.
Actually, there are 18 entries for VARs, managed services providers (MSPs), cloud services providers (CSPs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) and telco master agents and telco agents to sip on. Take a look…
18. IT Services Acquisition: Accenture has acquired Redcore, a security services provider based in Melbourne, Australia. Redcore has roughly 130 employees, and specializes in IT projects for banks and government clientele.
17. Cuba IT Services: AT&T has signed a deal with Cuba's main telecom company -- Empresa De Telecomunicaiones De Cuba (ETECSA) -- to offer roaming cellular services in the country. T-mobile, Sprint and Verizon have similar deals in place, ZDNet reports.
16. Stating the Obvious: New Target CIO Mike McNamara says he will focus on the retailer's digital and in-store shopping experience and modernizing Target's supply chain. Just about every retail company on the planet is focused on those priorities. The differentiator? Who executes best...
15. Microsoft Scheduling Acquisition: Scheduling truck rolls and other types of appointments could get easier for VARs and MSPs. The reason: Microsoft has acquired Genee -- a "smart" scheduling app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help coordinate meetings and gatherings. Genee works with Outlook, Office 365 and Google Apps for Work -- though we're wondering if the Google support will continue under Microsoft's ownership...
14. Encryption: Virtru has raised $29 million and attracted 4,000 customers. We'll share more thoughts on the encryption market really, really soon...
13. PSA Software: Plumbline Consulting has launched Progressus Software -- a PSA and ERP solution that leverages Microsoft Dynamics. The software adds accounting and advanced project management capabilities to financial management and basic project management functionalities of Microsoft Dynamics.
12. Google Bolsters Android Security: Android 7.0 is officially here, according to Google, with better security, improved management capabilities and increased user control.
11. IT Justice: Finally Served?: Former Comverse Technology CEO Jacob "Kobi Alexander has agreed to return to the U.S. from Namibia and will plead guilty to backdating the software company's stock options, ending a 10-year criminal case, TechnologyLaw 360 reported.
10. Ex-Cons And Careers: The Small Business Administration (SBA) has partnered with W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Justine Petersen to launch a $2.1 million entrepreneurship training and microloans program. The effort will support previously incarcerated citizens -- particularly parents located in Detroit, MI; Chicago, IL; Louisville, KY and St. Louis, MO.
Continue to page 2 for items 9 through 1. Seriously, it's safe to proceed to the next page. And boy does it load fast. Even on mobile.
9. IT Services Lawsuit: Telecom Asset Management has won a lawsuit vs. FiberLight, and will be awarded roughly $17 million in commissions. TAM earned the commissions based on helping FiberLight win roughly $300 million worth of Verizon contracts, a judge has ruled.
8. Partner Programs: Recent milestones and moves include...
- Lantronix, a networking company that's increasingly focused on smart IoT and M2M solutions, has launched the Lantronix SmartAdvantage. The program provides discounts, incentives and tools to resellers and VARS when they register a qualified deal for the Lantronix SLC 8000 or other Lantronix IT management solutions.
- Palo Alto Networks has hired Riverbed veteran Dave Peranich as channel chief, taking on the official title of executive vice president, worldwide sales. Mark Anderson has been promoted to president with responsibility for the company's sales, go-to-market strategy, customer support, and business development, reporting to Mark McLaughlin, chairman and CEO.
- Quest, a technology management company, has achieved platinum status in the Veeam Cloud & Service Provider Program (VCSP). No doubt, Veeam's partner program continues to grow -- but we get the sense that quite a few business continuity software providers will counter the company next week at VMworld... Stay tuned for more details.
- SmartFile, a secure enterprise file management and sharing platform, has hired Tyler Snetselaar as the director of strategic alliances and channel partnerships. He's set to expand the company's working relationships with systems integrators, VARs and MSPs.
