Arrow Distributes Lenovo Enterprise Products
Following the transition of IBM’s System X server business to Lenovo, Arrow Electronics is now an authorized North American Lenovo distributor for System X and related products. The global IT technology distributor will continue to distribute System X, BladeCenter and Flex System blade servers and switches, System X-based Flex integrated systems, NeXtScale and iDataPlex servers and associated software, blade networking and maintenance operations.
The extended agreement also includes Lenovo’s ThinkServer rack servers, tower servers and enterprise storage product lines. Future offerings will include low-end storage and associated networking products.
Tech Data Launches Cloud-Focused Enablement Program
Tech Data introduced a new cloud-focused education and enablement program. The program will be offered as part of TDCloud Academy, the distributor’s tiered cloud education program for solution providers. The program offers customized education tracks focused on launching, expanding and maximizing cloud businesses, the company said.
Tech Data can help identify the best “education track” for solution providers through its custom Parner Evaluation Tool.
Veeam Selects Cloud Provider Partners
Veeam Software has announced Veeam Cloud Provider (VCP) launch partners for the Veeam Availability Suite v8, which will become generally available later this quarter. The select VCP partners will provide support for cloud backup via Veeam Cloud Connect, part of the new Veeam Availability Suite v8.
The new product provides customers with a fully integrated and secure way to move backups to an offsite repository managed by the service provider of their choice. This eliminates the up-front capital investment of their own offsite infrastructure, while service providers get a simple, powerful platform to deliver fast and secure backup to the cloud, said Veeam. Because Veeam Cloud Connect is simple to set up, any Veeam ProPartner can become a service provider and offer offsite backup repository services to their customers in less than 10 minutes, according to the company.
Brother Announces Printing Initiative for SMBs
Brother International announced a new printing initiative for small and midsized businesses (SMBs) through a new microsite and campaign, “Don’t Supersize, Optimize,” to help them reduce print costs and optimize productivity.
A new InfoTrends white paper highlights how office technology is underused and misallocated, which is increasing costs and reducing employee productivity. Brother is seeking to address this trend with a balanced deployment methodology that focuses on making devices available in closer proximity to workgroups.
The company also introduced a new partner program aimed at establishing strong relationships with resellers to provide right-sized solutions to the SMB market, while driving incentives and incremental sales to channel partners.
Tellwise Unveils Smart Messages for Channel Management
Tellwise, a buyer collaboration engine, has launched Smart Messages to help companies more efficiently manage and communicate with their VAR partners. Smart Messages is a dedicated and personalized environment that combines email and instant messages with social and analytics capabilities for the VAR that is also easy for the vendor to manage.
Smart Messages allows vendors to create an effective communication channel to the VAR in a simple approach, ensuring that channel partners have the information they need to close deals with the buyers, said Tellwise.
KeyedIn Names VP of Channel and Alliance Programs
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) specialist KeyedIn Solutions named Ari Schur vice president of channel and alliance programs. The company’s product portfolio includes KeyedIn Projects, a project management software offering; KeyedIn Manufacturing, a manufacturing execution system, and Konfigure, a new rapid application development platform, which is offered as a platform as a service (PaaS) to channel and alliance partners.
Schur will lead the company’s global partner network expansion and advance its strategic alliance revenue programs. Previously, Schur was with SAP, Microsoft, Born Consulting Services and Kronos Systems.
Ingram Micro Selects Data41 for VentureTech Network
Ingram Micro selected Data41, a technology solution provider, to join its VentureTech Network. The community is a national network of technology service providers that specialize in addressing the technology business needs of SMBs in the United States and Canada.
Members receive technical sales support, exclusive information and business development resources, credit and leasing programs, as well as access to a portfolio of customized technology solutions and services.
As part of the community, providers are able to expand their technical expertise and customer service offerings by partnering with other network members and IT vendors that complement their existing services and products, according to the companies.