Channel News Briefs: Week of Sept. 7

Westcon Boosts Cloud Practice With Verecloud Acquisition

Westcon Group, a value-added distributor, has acquired the assets of Verecloud, a developer of an advanced telecom carrier-grade channel distribution platform for cloud and services solutions. Westcon plans to incorporate Verecloud into its Cloud Solutions Practice, led by former Verecloud CEO John McCawley.

The platform will become the foundation of Westcon’s cloud digital distribution solution, designed to help VARs generate revenue from cloud-enabled services. The cloud and services distribution platform includes a cloud/service catalog of bundled and stand-alone offerings, solution bundling, multi-tier cloud syndication, white-label/reseller-branded Web stores, automated services delivery lifecycle, billing-as-a-service, and contract renewal/subscription management.

ANPI Releases Management Platform, Expands Partner Network

ANPI, a provider of hosted unified communications (UC) solutions, has unveiled a new customer lifecycle platform that provides complete visibility and process management from first quote to installation to customer care. The platform, called Atlas, consolidates order management, fulfillment, provisioning and customer care on a single platform, enabling everyone within the ANPI sales channels to track and monitor the entire sales, installation and service process for every ANPI Hosted UC customer.  

ANPI also announced several additions to its Premier Partner program. These include Converged Network Services Group (CNSG), a telecommunications consulting firm and master agent; Sandler Partners, a telecommunications master agency focused on delivering its agent partners with high-value offerings; and Intelisys, a technology services distributor. As part of the channel expansion, ANPI also named Tim Peterson business development director to help drive revenue-generating strategies with partners nationwide, the company said.

STORServer, CommVault Announce Road Show for Reseller Partners

STORServer and CommVault announced an eight-city U.S. road show, from Sept. 10 to Nov. 12, for new and existing reseller partners. Resellers and sales staff will receive training from each company’s executives on the features, functions and benefits of the STORServer Backup Appliances, powered by CommVault Simpana software. These include the BA640, BA641, EBA802, EBA1202 and EBA2202. These data management appliances provide resellers with hardware and software that is easy-to-quote, deploy and maintain, according to the company. Prospective resellers are invited to attend the show to learn more about the product offerings.

Global Velocity Launches Partner Program

Global Velocity, a developer of information-centric security (ICS) solutions, has launched its Securio Channel Partner Program, enabling resellers to help their customers detect and prevent data breaches, and meet compliance and governance requirements. Resellers can use the Securio platform to extend their cyber-security product and services offerings, which can open up new revenue streams by using the solution to perform vulnerability assessments and security audits, and to develop various managed service offerings.

Securio can be configured for the enterprise and the cloud. The partner program includes the launch of a partner portal, which provides specialized services, such as private training.

Hostway, Parallels Deliver Low-Cost Entry to IaaS Cloud Services

Parallels, a platform provider for cloud service delivery, and Hostway, a provider of cloud, managed and hybrid hosting services, have teamed up to provide channel partners with a low-cost entry into infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud services. Hostway has implemented Parallels Automation to support its syndicated IaaS and SaaS offerings, enabling resellers to deliver branded cloud services.

Parallels Automation powers a standardized Hostway reseller offering branded as Cloud Connex, to get new partners up and running quickly with a provisioning and billing platform that can handle a multi-tier channel ecosystem, said Hostway. Cloud Connex helps the company deliver turnkey services to resellers and reach an existing network of Parallels Automation partners with a syndicated offering.