SMB Nation Blog

Many of us remember when Intel launched its Intel Hybrid Cloud device and the Intel AppUp Small Business Software Service with much fanfare just about two years ago, with tons of promise. It was ahead of its time pioneering the “devices and services” paradigm so popular today. It was the “third-way” in the polarizing argument(s) asserted by on-premises extremists and Cloudies. Many MSPs that I know had signed up for the service, and had high hopes for what it could do for both themselves and their SMB end users. Intel even went ahead and put together a launch platform held at SMB Nation’s Fall Conference in 2011 to target its sweet spot of SMB MSPs who largely attend our events…from what I understand, they came in droves to check out this new game-changing cloud product.

(Pictured at right): Karl Palachuk, Founder and CEO, Small Biz Thoughts / Great Little Book Publishing Co., Inc., said he doesn't feel there is a correlation between the end of SBS and the end of the Intel server.

Sophos today announced the availability of Sophos UTM Connected, the latest version of its UTM solution. This release introduces expanded UTM managed endpoint protection with unique Web in Endpoint functionality, broader wireless coverage for large scale wireless deployments and higher performance networking.

Ooma said today that its small business phone system, Ooma Office, is now available for purchase at Staples stores nationwide and at Ooma.com. According to the company, Oooma Office is the first product developed by Ooma to address the needs of small businesses. Ooma Office delivers the advanced features and service quality that come with a big business phone service at a price point that is more affordable than other solutions.  

This morning, snom Technology announced that cloud-based VoIP services provider, Telinta, Inc., has developed an auto-provisioning system for the company’s 7xx and 8xx series of business phones. This type of provisioning is designed to streamline the process of adding a large number of snom phones to a network, particularly in a call center setting.

Desktone said today that it has extended its cloud-hosted desktop platform with a new on-premises, cloud-managed virtual desktop solution. The new offering resides at the customer site and is managed remotely by a Cloud Provider, giving enterprises and SMBs the flexibility to choose the cloud model that best suits their business: public, private, or hybrid. 

Digium has announced the general availability of the Digium Phone App Engine and Phone API Information Center for its IP phones. The Digium IP phones include an applications engine that uses a free and open API.  The JavaScript API allows developers to easily create custom phone apps that extend the power of Asterisk, an open source IP telephony software, and Switchvox, Digium’s Unified Communications solution, to the Digium IP phones.  These applications go far beyond simple XML pages and integrate custom business processes directly on the phone display.

One thing clients like is managed expectations. In that category, I’d give the 2013 ASCII Success Summit a big thumbs up. You can count on a quality venue, great catering, approximately 100 engaged attendees, and a wide range of industry solution sponsors. You will also find the event is lacking the hyperbole or ethical conflicts plaguing other IT tours resembling aggressive time-share seminars. All in all, ASCII remains relevant and energetic “after all these years” with Jerry K at the day-to-day helm.

Yesterday at Dell World 2012 in Austin, TX, Desktone, Inc. announced general availability of their multi-tenant unified platform that is able to run desktops and applications through the cloud. Desktone, Inc. will be presenting demonstrations of this platform this week at their Dell World 2012 booth in Austin, TX.

Today, snom technology AG announced that six of their UC edition VoIP phones have passed interoperability testing with Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Enterprise Voice. The interoperability was achieved through snom’s development of their Apollo firmware.

1. Black Friday Reveal Shifts in IT Preferences. Larry Walsh, Channelnomics
2. How ConnectWise (Really) Built Its Brand and Community. Joe Panettieri, MSPmentor
3. Why Microsoft Calls Windows Server 2012 a Cloud OS. Jeffrey Schwartx, Redmond Channel Partner
4. Forrester: Windows 8 Faces Roadblocks to Business Adoption. Kurt Mackie, Enterprise Group/1105 Media
5. MSPs Can't Escape M&A. Sandra Gittlen, ChannelPro SMB
6. VMware Lowers Deal Registration Minimum To Spark SMB Deals. Kevin McLaughlin, CRN
7. Microsoft finally Addresses Office 365 Outages, Promises Credits. Frank Gurnee, LooksCloudy
8. Works Sucks. Vlad Mazek, Vladville
9. Cloud-Based Services Passed the "Sandy" Test. Karl Palachuk, Small Biz Thoughts
10. The First Stage Of Grief. Susan Bradley, SBS Diva

SMB Nation announced today that it is heading into an exciting new direction planned for its 2013 Fall Conference. As noted during Chairman and Founder Harry Brelsford’s keynote speech this morning at the 2012 Fall Conference, SMB Nation has teamed with Redmond Channel Partner magazine (1105 Media; www.rcpmag.com) to create a balanced SMB conference with significant emphasis on the mid-sized (M) partner.

Right when I thought PBX was on its way out for mobile small businesses, 8x8 decides to go and shake things up. Right here in Austin at IT EXPO 2012, they announced a new version of Virtual Office Mobile for iOS. (Android support soon to follow.)

Though AppNeta bills itself as a cloud network performance management service, the company has positioned itself to compete against traditional RMM providers with its new MSP partner program. Specifically, AppNeta is highlight their relatively new “PathView Cloud” solution, which provides performance management information and analysis, including application-aware traffic flow analysis, remote pack capture analysis, device status and information, and more—all using SNMP.

nGenx has released a new cloud-hosted desktop-as-a-service solution called nFinity that rolls Office, Exchange, and QuickBooks into an SMB bundle. Why’s this newsworthy? Because almost every mainstream DaaS company out there focuses most of their attention on corporations, institutions, and other large customers. Or, at least, they act like they do, regardless of what they might say.

Quest Software today identified the seven most important things every organization needs to know about SharePoint 2013, and suggests a free tool that will allow migration to the SharePoint 2013 Preview environment. This environment will enable organizations to test drive the newest features in SharePoint 2013 before deciding to migrate.

This morning, Reflexion Networks announced that it is now offering education and certification programs through its solution provider network via EMRapproved. The Woburn, Mass.-based provider of cloud-based email security and compliance services will offer EMRapproved’s  4MedPro Online HIT University Training Program to all of its VAR partners to help broaden their understanding of healthcare IT compliance requirements and better-serve their healthcare clients. 

(Pictured, L-R): Kevin Donnelly, COO, EMRapproved; and Scott Barlow, VP Sales and Marketing, Reflexion.

Market research firm Infonetics Research released excerpts from its Cloud and CPE Managed Security Services report, which analyzes and forecasts the market for cloud- and customer premises equipment (CPE)–based security services delivered by service providers to small, medium, and large businesses.

SaaS application management company AppFirst has introduced a comprehensive new Partner Program designed for both Cloud and Solution Providers. The program offers a new, expanded free subscription available only via AppFirst partners and provides ongoing training and product support, enabling partners to deliver innovative solutions to their own customers.

Here we go again! As I do each week, I am really enjoying bringing our readers a quick round-up of the blog coverage I didn’t manage to get to during the week prior.

Regarding live events, Harrybbb attended the ASCII event road show stop in Chicago last week. Stay tuned for a wrap-up blog on the event this week. Next week, Harry will be traveling to Portland, Ore., for the Intel Solution Summit.  

D&H Distributing will conduct a free webcast for its reseller customers entitled “Windows 7 to Windows 8:  The Familiar Made Easier” on Wednesday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET.  The event will help VARs familiarize themselves with the differences between Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8, so they can capitalize on the Windows 8 opportunity and help their end-customers make a smooth transition.  Attendees have a chance to win prizes including a Grand Prize package of an Xbox 360 Kinect bundle with a copy of Windows 8 Professional, or one of five additional copies of Windows 8 Professional. 

Zetta.net, a provider of 3-in-1 online server backup solutions said that it has enhanced its partner program for both MSPs and VARs. The program provides participating partners with a significant competitive advantage in the data protection space, bringing the Zetta DataProtect three-in-one online backup solution to the channel with a simple and profitable MSP and VAR optimized delivery model.

So as the popular skit “Coffee Talk” skit goes on Saturday Night Live: “Apple’s iPhone 5…Discuss!” Remember when the main character in that skit, Linda Richmond, played by Mike Meyers, would use that catch-phrase? Well today I would like to discuss not only the Apple iPhone 5 (introduced with much fanfare last week), but also its new iOS 6 operating system available for download on Wednesday.

Boston-based Intronis, which provides cloud backup services said today that it has a new interim CEO. According to a press statement issued by the company this afternoon, Jay Bolgatz, Intronis VP of Engineering and Development will be serving as interim CEO. Bolgatz succeeds Kent Plunkett, who, according to Intronis, has left the company to pursue other opportunities. Plunkett will remain as an investor in the company.

GFI Software today said it has acquired a cloud-based multi-platform mobile device management solution from UK-based VizualMobile Ltd. According to GFI, the acquisition is expected to boost its mobile strategy as well as ability to offer a cloud-based mobile device management solution for MSPs.

Ingram Micro Inc. today announced its Ingram Micro SMB 500, which examines the success of top-performing, SMB-focused IT channel partners in the United States. Launched at the distributor’s 2012 “Turn the Tables” Fall SMB Invitational in Rancho Mirage, Calif., the program is a live case study featuring 500 of Ingram Micro’s fastest growing U.S. channel partners who are focused on servicing the nation’s smallest businesses with 250 or less employees.