Networking

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  SignalWire Appoints Startup Channel Guru Ezra Hookano As Channel Chief: Exclusive

  by Gina Narcisi

  ‘I‘ve been really lucky to work for some fast-growing companies that have started with an almost 100 percent channel focus in the beginning and have made VARs an awful lot of money … The approach here will be exclusively channel, as quickly as possible,’ Ezra Hookano, SignalWire’s new channel leader, tells CRN.

• Cambium Networks’ Enterprise Pivot Is Paving The Way For Channel Momentum

  by Gina Narcisi

  Since acquiring Xirrus last year, Cambium Networks has pushed further into the enterprise and is opening the door for brand-new partner opportunities around IoT, remote and outdoor connectivity along the way, executives told CRN.

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  Zoom Video Cuts Direct Sales, Goes Partner-Only In China

  by Gina Narcisi

  Cloud videoconferencing provider Zoom, which has come under fire for its connection with China recently, is ending direct sales support in the country and users based in China must buy video services through local Zoom partners.

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  Cisco Acquires Modcam To Boost Meraki‘s Machine-Learning Game

  by Gina Narcisi

  Cisco bought Swedish video analytics specialist Modcam and is working the firm‘s technology into its Meraki smart camera line to help end users gain more value from the data they collect.

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  Juniper’s AI-Powered SD-WAN And How It’s ‘Putting Its Money Where Its Mouth Is’ With Mist

  by Gina Narcisi

  Jeff Aaron, VP enterprise marketing for Juniper, talked about why enterprises need AI for troubleshooting complicated networks thanks to the onslaught of new home workers and how competing SD-WAN vendors are ‘cutting and pasting’ in functionality that Juniper already has.

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  ‘Home Is Where The WAN Is’: Juniper Intros WAN Assurance Service

  by Gina Narcisi

  The new WAN Assurance Service and Mist Systems‘ Marvis-powered VNA conversational interface are tying together Juniper’s “Self-Driving Network” strategy, especially as enterprises shift off the campus and into the home office.

• AT&T: 5G, Fiber Focus Will Anchor Carrier In The Wake Of COVID-19 Fallout

  by Gina Narcisi

  The carrier‘s brand-new CEO, John Stankey, says that despite the fiscal impact of COVID-19, which will continue to be felt for the rest of the year, AT&T is prioritizing high-speed fiber and broadband, 5G and the creation of meaningful content to drive growth.

• Aryaka, Check Point Team Up On Managed SD-WAN, Security As A Service

  by Gina Narcisi

  In the midst of SD-WAN market consolidation, Aryaka announced its partnering with security leader Check Point to create managed SD-WAN and security as a service offerings.

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  LogMeIn Launches UC Hardware Bundles, Opens Up LastPass To MSPs

  by Gina Narcisi

  LogMeIn has launched hardware and software bundles for its GoToRoom video offering with the help of four video vendors. The firm is also making its identity and access management offering, LastPass, available through MSPs.

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  Masergy SD-WAN Portfolio Expanded As Firm Backs Service Via Aggressive New SLA

  by Gina Narcisi

  Masergy‘s SD-WAN portfolio just got more flexible with the launch of a co-managed offering and the firm is backing its powerful SD-WAN solution with an 100 percent guaranteed uptime SD-WAN SLA.

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  Masergy Launches Zenith Partner Program To Attack SD-WAN Sales: Exclusive

  by Gina Narcisi

  ‘The Zenith program is about re-establishing Masergy‘s commitment in the channel and getting deeper and more proactive with our partners—getting them more swings at bat,” Masergy’s new channel chief, Jim Glackin, tells CRN.

• Intermedia Fortifies Microsoft Business Via New Navisite Partnership

  by Gina Narcisi

  Intermedia is now providing Office 365 services to tens of thousands of new customers through a newly forged partnership with cloud service provider Navisite.

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  Counterfeit Cisco Gear Can Be Avoided By Banking On The Channel, Cisco Says

  by Gina Narcisi

  A new report identified counterfeit versions of popular Cisco Catalyst switches, but working with partners and the shift toward software will help combat the issue of fake Cisco gear, according to one longtime Cisco partner. ‘

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  HPE Aruba-Silver Peak Deal ‘Erodes’ Cisco’s Networking Market Grip

  by Steven Burke

  ‘This lets HPE play in the SD-WAN market with some really exciting software defined networking technology,’ says CPP Associates Director of Professional Services Michael Maher. ‘Ultimately it further erodes Cisco’s hold on the market because HPE is going to be able to bring a more competitive solution to customers that are starving for alternatives.’

• CCaaS Provider UJET Debuts First Channel Program: Exclusive

  by Gina Narcisi

  ‘For partners, the CCaaS market was growing before COVID and the only thing we've seen since then is an acceleration -- it's boom time,’ UJET tells CRN.