Recent Articles
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Linspire Helps VARs Custom Build Linux Desktops
Linspire has launched a service for its partners aimed at making it easier for resellers and white box builders to offer custom-built desktop Linux configurations. The Linux Build Service will speed the time for market for VARs offering Linux desktop configurations, according to Linspire. "With desktop Linux, more and more partners are asking for…
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SAAS Good for Resellers, Not so Good for SIs
A declining economy is likely to mean more traction for software as a service, particularly in vertical industries with the tightest budgets such as financial services. That’s according to John Loftus, executive vice president and managing director of the technology group at Safeguard Scientifics, a publicly-held investment firm that gives a leg up to growth-stage…
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Office Live a Threat to the SMB VAR
General talk about Microsoft’s Office Live offering has been floating around for about a year and a half now, and Microsoft has found some limited success in getting users to adopt the hosted service as their product of choice. Now, Microsoft has fired a shot across the bow of the small business VAR by offering up a…
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IDC Predicts Less IT Spending in `08
Global IT spending will decrease in the next 12 months as companies begin to feel the pinch of a slowing U.S. economy, according to new research from IDC. In a Feb. 11 report, the research firm found global IT spending will increase about 5 percent in 2008 and total about $1.38 trillion for the year.…
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Microsoft to Offer More Cost-Effective Site Licenses to SMBs
Microsoft is expanding its Open Value Licensing program in a way designed to make it more attractive for channel partners to sell site licenses to their SMB customers. The program previously only offered the more expensive perpetual software licenses. But on March 3 Microsoft will announce Open Value Subscription – a new option that enables…
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Managed Services `Gold Rush` Underway
The rush to offer managed services is well underway from the perspective of managed services platform reseller Do IT Smarter. Two years after introducing its "Instant MSP" program, a franchise-like approach that offers aspiring managed services providers training, mentoring and a platform for their services for an initial fee of $1,999, Do IT Smarter has…