cloud computing

A Fun Chat with VAR Dynamics

February 1, 2012

It started out coincidentally as VAR Dynamics CEO, Tony Francisco, was on my plane this morning. And he just recently moved from Silicon Valley to Tampa Bay, where I live. He is working with Gazelle Labs and spoke at BarCamp Tampa Bay, which is an un-conference I co-organize for the last 4 years. I had to go to Miami Beach to talk to him though.

Posted in VAR, agents, apps, backup, channel, cloud computing, compliance, msp, saas

End Caps

January 21, 2012

This was the week that we learned that online protesting can work -- if enough people get involved and if you get the support of some powerhouse websites like Google and Wikipedia. It looks like SOPA was dropped and the vote on PIPA was delayed. (It is still alive due to Democrat lawmakers who are beholden to Hollywood like Florida Senator Bill Nelson. If he knew how to turn on his laptop by himself I could understand it, but come on!)

We don't really need any more copyright laws.

Posted in TCA, agents, backup, channel, cloud computing, colocation, commissions, data center, politics, saas, vc

Savvis Changes Comp Plan

January 10, 2012

I just received confirmation that channel compensation for hosting under CenturyLink will no longer be residual. Savvis, which is owned by CenturyLink, took over management of the Qwest Cyber Centers.

At a time when cloud providers want agents selling, data center companies - Equinix/Switch&Data, InterNAP, now Savvis - has changed up the game on agents at a time when agents are trying to adjust to the whole cloud ecosystem. It just doesn't make sense.

From a purely CFO perspective, sure, that commission line item on the balance sheet keeps increasing because agents keep selling stuff and, by golly, they still want to get paid for it three or more years later. Really? Selfish b@stards.

Posted in agents, channel, cloud computing, colocation, commissions, data center

Agents Have to Transform in 2012 (or So I'm Told)

December 28, 2011

It seems that the channel execs - including master agents - are betting on VAR's to be the salvation for sales in the future. I can see a piece of that perspective. The tradition agent is transactional and slow to adopt new services. The VAR's are used to selling solutions - or so the view goes.

One thing that VAR's like is control.

Posted in CLEC, VAR, agents, channel, cloud computing

Are You Going to ITEXPO?

December 28, 2011

It's just about a month away from ITEXPO East 2012 that starts January 29, 2012. The Lowes Hotel is already sold out in Miami Beach.

I am moderating 4 sessions this time. Here they are:

2/1/2012 @ 11:00-11:45am - TRACK: Customer Engagement -- "Social Media Channel Integration"

2/1/2012 @ 2:30-3:15pm - TRACK: Next Gen Service Provider -- "Educating the Channel with Industry Standard Certifications"

2/3/2012 @ 9:00-9:45am - TRACK: Customer Engagement -- "Does Your Business Have a Social Media Strategy?"

At 4GWE on Friday the 3rd at Noon, I will be moderating "Wireless Access Open For Business" where we will be discussing fixed wireless as a last mile access choice. Then we will have an open discussion, kind of an Un-Conference.

You can register for ITEXPO or MSP World or Cloud Comm Summit for $99 until 12/31/11. You can register for 4GWE here.

Posted in FCC, agents, cloud computing, conferences, expo, social network, wimax, wireless

11 Top Stories in Telecom in 2011

December 15, 2011

Here's my take on the Top 11 stories in telecom of 2011.

1. Shane McNamara being named VP of the Indirect Channel at XO. It was a shock pick for many in the industry.

2. TNCI Bankruptcy! I understand that the reseller model has been taking a huge beating in the last 3 years, but when you start off hawking "Agent Equity", you need to be better fudiciary stewarts than this.

3. WIND-PAETEC merger - I just didn't see that one coming.

Posted in CLEC, PBX, TCA, agents, channel, cloud computing, jobs, mergers, xo

3 Things to Watch for in The Channel in 2012

November 21, 2011

2011 has yielded some surprising momentum for the Channel. With the cable industry, cloud providers and so many other companies making more commitments to the Channel. I think that there are 3 things we need to watch for in The Channel in 2012.

In 2012, we will see more M&A. Credit is cheap. Companies are sitting on cash.

Posted in agents, broadband, cableco, channel, cloud computing, commissions, mergers

What Will You Be Selling in 2012?

November 16, 2011

Most channel executives will tell you that the 2 biggest products for 2012 will be MPLS and SIP. It makes sense since the PSTN is being phased out as the telecom infrastructure turns to an all-IP network. It also makes sense that not all traffic can travel (safely, securely or timely) on the Internet, so MPLS becomes the WAN solution for control and privacy.

Ethernet will be the product of choice. No more T1. Everyone is going to want an Ethernet hand-off at 10MB, 100MB or a GigE.

Posted in CLEC, agents, broadband, cellular, channel, cloud computing, ethernet, mpls, privacy, security, sip trunking, voip

So Who is Going to Buy XO?

November 3, 2011

I got asked this question again today: Who is going to buy XO? I think we can almost all agree that Carl Icahn would like to sell his company.

XO had 2010 revenue of $1.5 billion, only $8 million more than 2009. So that's flat. XO just laid off 400 employees - probably to make the numbers look better.

Who would buy them?

WIND just received approval to acquire PAETEC, so that takes 2 names out of the running.

Level3 didn't win Paetec and just grabbed Global Crossing, but I could see L3 making a pitch to Icahn, because it would be revenue for L3 and a good portion of it is VoIP revenue.

Posted in CLEC, cloud computing, fiber, mergers, telco, voip, xo

EarthLink Buys Some Synergy

November 1, 2011

EarthLink is buying two divisions from Synergy Global Solutions: its IT Solution Center, a 24-7 help desk and network operations center, and its cloud-hosted application business, according to Buffalo News.

EarthLink gets relationships with about 120 VAR's that laready sell the Solution Center and hosted application services. That's probably as valuable as the NOC itself.

"In addition to the Solution Center, EarthLink is acquiring Synergy's cloud-based application service which provides end-to-end hosted IT capabilities for the environmental services vertical market. This service already utilizes the EarthLink Cloud framework for hosting its cloud-based application service and features SuccessWare21® software." [marketwatch]

The fastest path to Cloud and Managed Services is via acquisitions, so expect more of them. If the company has a NOC or data center, contracted customers, and a channel (VARs or Agents selling services), it means gold.

CLEC, ILEC and some cable companies are realizing that just selling pipe isn't going to be enough.

Posted in CLEC, VAR, apps, channel, cloud computing, data center, mergers, msp

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