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25 result(s) displayed for var (1 - 25 of 115):
The Sub-Agent Dilemma
Fresh off coming back from Microcorp's annual partner event (and 30th Anniversary party), I am reflecting on conversations with the partners. Some are wondering what vendors to look at. Who is real and who is not. Who will be...
The Sub-Agent Dilemma
Fresh off coming back from Microcorp's annual partner event (and 30th Anniversary party), I am reflecting on conversations with the partners. Some are wondering what vendors to look at. Who is real and who is not. Who will be...
Conversations with Clients
There are other areas of the business that you can help a prospect. Having a conversation about network is easy. Too easy. Too comfortable. Try something new. Mary Meeker's annual Internet Trends report was released this week. She makes...
Is Hosted PBX the Emperor's New Clothes?
Since 2004 when I started blogging, I have blogged about a hardware solution less than 2 dozen times - and not one product review. I have talked with OneAccess, a hardware company that was launching a new line of...
Is Hosted PBX the Emperor's New Clothes?
Since 2004 when I started blogging, I have blogged about a hardware solution less than 2 dozen times - and not one product review. I have talked with OneAccess, a hardware company that was launching a new line of...
What Channel Are You Watching?
One thing I have noticed: UCaaS sales overall are not accelerating. Gary Kim writes how it is becoming a commodity. The VoIP services market is up 5% to $73Bn in 2015, says IHS. Residential makes up 62% of that....
The Channel Target Cycle
In 2006, the shift in targeting went from anyone to a master agent model, where smaller agents rolled up into a larger master agent. The resources were allocated to the masters (and their sub-agents). In about 2008, the target...
Channel Strategy: A Quick Look
Often I hear from channel execs that Agents aren't the future because they aren't moving to selling cloud and managed services fast enough. It is always the MSPs and VARs that will be the partners of the future. Funny...
Lessons from the NGC15
At the NextGen Cloud Expo yesterday, Tony Hawk was the featured keynote. Not exactly a prized speaker, he did have interesting vignettes about his life. He kept doing the skate-boarding thing even when he was broke and making no...
The Monitoring Master Move
This week marks the second master agency that has decided to get into monitoring. It seems like a bold move to go from back office sales support to resemble a NOC (network operations center). In the case of Telarus,...
The Monitoring Master Move
This week marks the second master agency that has decided to get into monitoring. It seems like a bold move to go from back office sales support to resemble a NOC (network operations center). In the case of Telarus,...
Juniper is a Cable Pusher
Juniper Networks is now pushing its VAR partners into the cable channel, getting them to sell cable services. It is pitched as cable is the cable to connect to the cloud. [see webcast video here] Comcast Business was on...
Juniper is a Cable Pusher
Juniper Networks is now pushing its VAR partners into the cable channel, getting them to sell cable services. It is pitched as cable is the cable to connect to the cloud. [see webcast video here] Comcast Business was on...
Commissions by Common Core Math
I listened to a presentation recently that suggested that new telecom agencies are not opening up (or at least not faster than closings and mergers). I was skeptical until this weekend when I was doing referral checks. One MPLS...
What Business Model Should the VAR Examine?
So many keynotes (and channel strategists) have suggested that for channel partners to be successful going forward they would have to do 3 things: Perform R&D and develop some IP Build their own cloud services Go beyond brokerage to...
What Business Model Should the VAR Examine?
So many keynotes (and channel strategists) have suggested that for channel partners to be successful going forward they would have to do 3 things: Perform R&D and develop some IP Build their own cloud services Go beyond brokerage to...
A Short Chat with the VAR Advisor
Jack Knocke is the VAR Advisor, who assists channel leaders in bringing VARs into channel programs. He speaks with me today about VARs, the channel, and Agent-VAR partnerships. ...
There Are a Number of MSP Resources
It seems that MSPs (managed service providers) are the gold plated VAR (value added reseller). When VARs shift away from pushing boxes and the CAPEX business model to the monthly recurring, we-take-care-of-everything-for-a-monthly-fee model, they are deemed MSPs. (Some CLECs are...
Peter's View: The Channel Ecosystem
I read CRAIG'S VIEW: THE NEW CHANNEL ECOSYSTEM by Craig Schlagbaum, channel chief at Comcast. My response was too long for a LinkedIn discussion. Craig, you make the same points that I have heard since Tiffani Bova first spoke...
The Telecom INC5000
The 2014 INC5000 list is out - with 134 companies in telecom (including clients). VoIP Callis (now owned by C Spire) ($11M), Telesphere ($32M), Simple Signal ($11M), VoIP Innovations ($10M), Star2Star ($33M), iCore Networks ($46M, VoIP white label), Phone.com...
Agents May Not Like This
Verizon's re-launch of its channel (after quite a few starts and stops) came with a new channel chief, Janet Schijns. In an interview in CP magazine, she makes some points for the channel. The buying patterns are changing. So...
A Look at ShoreTel Numbers
The WSJ posted revenue numbers from Shoretel. I am taking a guess that these would be industry average or demonstrate what all PBX vendors are seeing. ( could be wrong.) "Recurring revenues, which consist of cloud monthly recurring revenues...
The UC Install Opprtunity
When I talk to UC provider (or Hosted VoIP providers) that sell nationally, the biggest challenge is the customer install. There are a couple of national installers including Endeavor. The feedback I hear is that the current choices are...
What's Missing in UC?
Why do people think UC is plug and play! Was Microsoft ever plug and play? The biggest hurdle to Hosted UC installs is a competent technician on-site. Heck, even for telecom installs, a competent tech would be helpful to...
Why Pivot?
In business, a pivot is a strategy change (especially in Lean Startup processes). When you look at brick-and-mortar companies like RadioShack, Sears/K-Mart, there have been strategy changes but not really what I would call a pivot - or even...
