Make Your Own StimulusThat money from Washington may be slow in arriving, and probably won't go to you, anyway. Whatever. Solution providers are adept at finding creative solutions for protecting their own businesses, as well as their client's. This week's CRN includes $1 trillion* in good advice. Continue reading "Make Your Own Stimulus" Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:03 AM, January 29, 2009 Our Emerging Vendors BlogWe've just launched "Emerging Vendors," a blog spotlighting up and coming companies with unique channel offerings for VARs. Larry Hooper explains: "The startups with good technology and a good business plan will make it through [the current downturn]. And, in these times, they need the channel more than ever. Some of those tier-two vendors, too, are getting channel religion, as they often do in times of trouble." The initial companies highlighted include Teneros, with business continuity and disaster recovery solutions; Tableau, offering business intelligence solutions to companies on a budget; and Vyatta, an open-source-focused networking vendor. More to come.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 12:46 PM, January 28, 2009 Creating Growth Opportunities In 2009Robert DeMarzo on the (significant) proportion of solution providers who are aiming at substantial growth this year: "These businesses' No. 1 priority from a go-to-market perspective is to target new markets with their existing solutions or expertise; second is to focus on new customer segments... The economy is going to force a great deal of M&A activity this year while opening the door for new solution providers who want to get into the business." That wass one highlight from this month's VARBusiness magazine, which includes our quarterly report The State of Technology, this time focused on peripherals sales; previews of the storage and chip businesses for this year, and a close-up look at CA, a vendor that's renewing its commitment to the channel with new software offerings. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:44 PM, January 23, 2009 Apply For The 2009 VARBusiness 500Solution providers, this is your day. Applications are now open for the VARBusiness 500, our annual ranking of the top solution providers, VARs and technology integrators in North America. Coming this May, the 500 is the industry's definitive list of the elite of the channel. Even if you don't pull in the revenue of an EDS or an Accenture, there are 498 other opportunities to showcase your organization. Applications are free, and open until February 12. Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:41 AM, January 21, 2009 President Obama: Hope and OpportunityHere's wishing the best to incoming President Barack Obama, and to peace and prosperity in the United States. But there's hard work ahead for all of us, starting with an economy in turmoil. Our Rick Whiting and Damon Poeter take a look at the developing economic stimulus plan and what it might mean for channel companies: "VARs could benefit directly from the stimulus package through contracts to provide computers and networking gear to schools or installing electronic medical record systems in physician offices and hospitals. But VARs should also benefit from increased demand for IT products and services from state and local government, highway construction companies, alternative energy developers and other direct beneficiaries of the massive infusion of spending." In a second report, Whiting outlines additional specific opportunities: "The package doubles the amount that small businesses can immediately write off for capital investments and purchasing new equipment. Posted by Joe Caponi at 11:52 AM, January 20, 2009 Microsoft Surprised People Want Windows 7It sounds like a headline from The Onion, but in this case it's true. Demand for the beta download of Windows 7 was so heavy the company had to take it offline Friday, retool the servers, and bring it back Saturday, without a previously-announced 2.5-million download limit. Forbes David Ewalt was at Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's CES keynote, discussing Windows 7, and noticed the absence of something: "What Ballmer didn't talk about was the 800-pound sickly gorilla in the room: Windows Vista, the company's current operating system, a piece of software so ill-received that the company has essentially changed its marketing message to 'It's not as awful as you think.'" In spite of that, or maybe because of it, Microsoft's next release, due at the end of the year, is highly anticipated. First reports: the Washington Post says the new OS is faster than Vista; InfoWorld finds things to complain about; but at CNet, they're big fans.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:22 PM, January 13, 2009 Last Week To Sign Up For Channel Chiefs, and Distribution ChiefsIn February, we'll recognize the top vendor Channel Chiefs and Distribution Chiefs in the industry, in our free directory in print and online. To nominate an executive, apply now: Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:28 AM, January 9, 2009 Our Mobile Site: m.crn.comIf you're on the go, and looking for the latest channel news, call up our mobile-friendly news page at http://m.crn.com. Our previous mobile url (wap.crn.com) will still work, but we've saved everyone a couple keystrokes. Let us know how the site works, and how you're accessing ChannelWeb.
Posted by Joe Caponi at 10:50 AM, January 8, 2009 Emerging Solar Power OpportunitiesAt Information Week, Cora Nucci looks at recent moves by Sharp, Toshiba and Meraki Wireless to grab a piece of the emerging solar power industry: "Photovoltaic panels aren't pretty and solar power isn't yet cheap. But Solar keeps plugging along in its chunky glasses and thick sweaters, inching ever closer to its full potential." Con you help customers integrate solar into their infrastructures? Or engage with clean energy startups? Sooner or later, only suckers will pay to buy someone else's electricity. Posted by Joe Caponi at 02:50 PM, January 7, 2009 Our 'Best of 2008' and 2009 Preview Slide ShowsIn the last few weeks we've posted a broad array of slide shows looking back at the best (and worst) of 2008, and anticipating what's to come this year. They include: 2008 News In Review The Top 25 Executives The 10 Funniest IT Industry Episodes The Top 10 Tech CEO Departures The 15 Key Channel Chief Departures The 10 Biggest Chip Stories 10 Biggest Networking Stories The 10 Biggest Storage Stories The 10 Biggest Security Stories Top 10 Tech Turkeys Top 10 Malware Attacks The 10 Most Memorable Tech Exec Statements The 10 Biggest Apple Stories The 10 Biggest Cisco Stories The 10 Biggest IBM Stories The 10 Biggest Dell Stories The 10 Biggest HP Stories The 10 Biggest Microsoft Stories Top Products The Most Innovative Products The 10 Coolest PC Components The 10 Coolest Open Source Products The 10 Coolest Netbooks The 10 Coolest Notebooks The 10 Coolest Smartphones The Top 10 iPhone Apps 20 Terrible Tech Holiday Gifts 12 Recommended Displays From 2008 Top Channel Books Predictions For 2009 10 Security Predictions For 2009 10 Storage Predictions For 2009 10 Chip Predictions For 2009 10 Microsoft Predictions For 2009 10 Networking Predictions For 2009 And a big thanks to our Caitlin Moriarty, who put most of these together. Enjoy! Posted by Joe Caponi at 05:21 PM, January 5, 2009 2009: Going MobileTravelling this past week, it was clear how much of our personal and business information, along with our day-to-day tools, are now in 'the cloud,' and how little it takes to access items there. Ed Moltzen has noticed as well: "Becoming mobile- and multi-media-ready, as the state of Web communication changes, could determine whether a business wins or loses in the market." Meanwhile InformationWeek reports that Google is on the lookout for new mobile ideas, while smartphones proliferate and netbooks flood the market. Make sure you take mobile into account among your technology choices. Happy New Year! Posted by Joe Caponi at 03:34 PM, January 2, 2009 |
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