Five IT Companies That Came To Win This Week

Dimension Data Rides Wave Of Renewed IT Spending

The IT channel is hoping Dimension Data is like a reverse canary in a coal mine for IT spending. In its fiscal 2010 report this week, Dimension Data saw earnings jump 8.2 percent and revenue rise 19.4 percent year-on-year. Not too shabby given the still-sluggish IT spending outlook.

Dimension Data's systems integration business did particularly well, with revenue growing by 14.9 percent to $3.89 billion and operating profit jumping 31.8 percent to $183 million. Data center, virtualization, video and collaboration solutions are hitting on all cylinders at the moment.

"We have a very strong enterprise client base. That market rebounded. Global pharma, financial markets all rebounded. We saw growth across all lines of business, including data center, security, managed services … and we saw growth across all market segments," Jere Brown, CEO of Dimension Data Americas, told CRN this week.

Verizon, Microsoft Join To Push Cloud Into SMBs

Verizon and Microsoft are both investing heavily in cloud computing, and this week the companies teamed up to drive cloud and SaaS further into the SMB mainstream. Verizon is now selling SMBs a bundle that includes Verizon's IP networking and mobility components and Microsoft's Online Services, which includes the BPOS suite.

Microsoft will host the Online Services in its cloud and Verizon will offer it to customers over its network while also serving as a "one throat to choke" for communications and collaboration services and monthly billing. Expect more collaboration of this sort between two giants that have pinned their futures on the next generation of IT infrastructure.

Dell Gets Into End-Point Encryption Game

Dell entered the end-point encryption market this week by unveiling an offering that secures data on desktop and notebook PCs, tablet devices, external hard drives and a host of other end-point devices.

The product, called Dell Data Protection Encryption, is a file-based encryption offering that can help companies meet regulatory requirements for locking down data. It comes in a small-business version that's locally managed and an enterprise version that includes central management and a remote management console.

Dell developed the product in conjunction with partner Credant Technologies and plans to preinstall it on Latitude notebooks, OptiPlex desktops and Precision mobile and desktop workstations. Encryption software vendors might not be happy about it, but Dell is taking a stab at what is quickly becoming an important, lucrative market.

Juniper Enters WLAN Space With Trapeze Buy

Juniper pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire Trapeze Networks, officially marking its entry to the crowded wireless LAN market. The all-cash deal -- valued at $152 million --- puts Juniper smack dab in the midst of a competitive landscape that includes Aruba Networks, Meru Networks, Ruckus Wireless, Aerohive and others, not to mention larger networking behemoths like Cisco, Motorola and HP.

Still, there's still plenty of unconquered territory in the WLAN space, which is why Juniper decided to go forward with its largest acquisition since 2005.

Twitter Going For The Gusto In New VC Round

Twitter may be planning to take its business to the next level by seeking a new round of venture capital funding. Techcrunch reported this week that the social networking firm is seeking additional funding to augment the $160 million it has raised to date, and that a number of investors are eagerly jockeying for position to be part of the new round.

With an expected valuation of $3 billion, Twitter is sitting in the proverbial catbird's seat. In fact, Twitter's future is so bright that sunglasses may be required.