Pedro Pereira

One of the hottest attractions at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas isn’t a product but rather a color. Green. A multitude of companies is stressing green features in their products, from solar backpacks and docking stations to a new type of more efficient silicon. The show itself is working to reduce […]

Being a solution provider in the dynamic IT channel is tough enough, and it becomes especially so as you try to wrap your mind around new trends such as software as a service. The fundamental question about this new software delivery model revolves around whether it poses a threat or creates an opportunity for solution […]

Alan McDonald was just happy to see the sky on Thursday. The president of Allconnected, a solution provider in Simi Valley, Calif., had been driving around to attend to business when he realized that for the first time in days the haze from the devastating Southern California wildfires had given way to some blue. It […]

It occurred to me recently that I havent heard any dire prognostications about the state of channel business for quite a while. Last year at this time, quiet-but-persistent prophecies of an impending economic slowdown, which could have affected the IT channel, were making the rounds. In hushed tones, some event uttered the “R” word—”recession”—saying it […]

Tech Data over the years has played the role of laggard as other large distributors have rushed to adapt to changing market pressures and the evolution of technology. Its an approach that often has paid off for the worlds second largest IT distributor, but dont think it will remain de rigueur. CEO Bob Dutkowsky said […]

A former SilverBack Technologies top executive said the companys planned acquisition by Dell bodes well for the channel. It wouldnt make sense for Dell to acquire SilverBack only to turn around and chuck the network of channel partners it has worked so hard to build, he said. Jim Hare, who was worldwide vice president of […]

It was only a matter of time. Sooner or later one of the managed services platform vendors that have gotten so much attention in the last couple of years was going to be acquired. Now its happening. SilverBack Technologies, based in Billerica, Mass., is the winner of this particular race. The surprise in this development […]

Since vendors spend a fair amount of time trying to copy each other, why not copy some worthy channel programs? Typically what vendors end up doing when taking cues from competitors on how to reach their channel partners is recreate a lot of bad habits. As a result, programs and communications meant to improve the […]

Level Platforms and Microsoft have teamed up to better integrate their remote management tools, making it easier for solution providers to take advantage of Microsofts technology. As a result, Level Platforms channel partners now can access the capabilities of Microsofts System Center Essentials from Level Platforms central management console. The two companies are announcing the […]

When I lived in Plymouth, Mass., I used to react with perverse amusement when I saw tourists with license plates from as far as Montana and Florida visit the famed Plymouth Rock. A first-time visitors reaction inevitably went something like this: “Thats it!? Thats Plymouth Rock!? We drove all the way from [insert faraway locale] […]