Opinion


Microsoft Faces Major IaaS Battle Even with Windows Azure Revamp

A crowded field of IaaS providers that includes heavyweights Google, Amazon and HP will give Microsoft's new and improved public cloud a run for its money.

Don't Worry, the Cloud Won't Kill the Channel -- Just Change It

Doomsayers are blaming cloud computing for the theoretical demise of the channel, but from Howard's point of view, it's all FUD.

What About Windows RT?

Windows 8 has taken the lion's share of the spotlight, but Windows RT still has big implications for Microsoft partners.

Microsoft: Still Crazy After All These Years

Some people might look at the "new" Microsoft and say it's less personal, more corporate. Those people would be wrong.

Can Microsoft Cloud Partners Compete with Windows Azure?

Microsoft's recent cloud moves threaten to push providers away from Redmond and toward virtualization juggernaut VMware.

What Microsoft's About-Face on Office 365 Billing Means

Despite snubbing its OEMs with the Surface, Microsoft's decision to allow direct billing with Office 365 shows that Redmond still has its partners' back.

Why Microsoft's Services Partners Need To Specialize

In addition to competing against other Microsoft partners and other software vendors' partners, there's now the possibility of competition with the mothership.

Channel Execs on Partners: 'They're Not All Going To Make It'

A recent CompTIA survey reveals some juicy insights into what's bugging channel executives about their partner ecosystems.

A Conversation with Microsoft's Channel Chief: BYOD, Cloud and Shifting Partner Roles

What does Microsoft's Jon Roskill think is driving the most profound change in the partner channel?

Playing Games with Sales

Sales contests are a great way to encourage high performance among sales teams while keeping it light. Here are some tips for setting up a sales contest.

Amazon Prowls for Partners, Launches Marketplace

Not always seen as the most partner-friendly cloud provider, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is taking key steps to reverse that perception.

WPC 2012 Session Agenda: Heavy on the Cloud

If the initial session list is any indication, Microsoft is stacking its forthcoming Worldwide Partner Conference with lots of Windows Azure, Office 365 and Dynamics CRM content. But its staple products will get their turns in the spotlight, too.

Using MindManager To Organize Client Projects

There's only one "thought-processor" tool that has helped me develop perhaps thousands of different kinds of projects.

Cloud Portability: Here Are Your (Non-Microsoft) Options

From Cloud Foundry to OpenStack, more vendors are promising portability to customers who don't want to be tied to Microsoft's cloud.

Microsoft's Small Business Competency Gets Real

At long last, small business-focused partners will have their own competency in the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) next month.

How 'Cloud' Isn't Helping the Cloud

What changes with the cloud is very simple. Instead of just hardware and software, we now integrate hardware, software and services. So why don't many partner companies believe in it?

Now Is the Time To Become an IT Services Company

In the new technology marketplace, it's the buyers -- not the sellers -- who have the power. And buyers are increasingly focused on intangibles.

Partnering for Survival: Strength in Numbers for Microsoft Partners

It might be a tired cliche but it also happens to be true: You can't -- and you probably don't want to even try -- to be all things to all people.

Cloud Pricing: Amazon, Google and Microsoft Race to the Bottom

As cloud computing gets more competitive, market leaders and newcomers will continue to push pricing downward.

Memo to Microsoft: Allow a Cleaner Hosted Desktop

An important licensing battle between Microsoft and gaming company OnLive over an app that gives users remote access to a Windows 7 desktop exposes a fault line running through Microsoft's products, business models and its hosting partners.