In-Depth Features


Seismic Changes

Ingram Micro leads Microsoft partners to recurring revenue streams by adding private-label hosted Exchange, SharePoint and CRM services to its Seismic SaaS offerings.

WPC: It's All About the Networking

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston is the channel's biggest networking opportunity of the year.

Go Vertical: A Guide for Partners

For many partners these days, the question isn't <i>whether </i>to develop vertical expertise. It's how to do it. Here's what you need to know to tap into these markets.

Paving the Path to Managed Services

By adding key Microsoft System Center Essentials capabilities to its N-central 6.5 multi-customer management solution, N-able is creating a single powerful console for both tools.

7 Ways to Win Your Customers' Trust

Channel leaders who have established themselves as trusted advisors tell how they made their clients' businesses their business.

2008 RCP Salary Survey: Partners See Bigger Bucks

A weakening economy might have been in the news for months now, but the results of <i>RCP</i>'s second annual salary survey show that a possible recession isn't yet hitting partners' pockets. In fact, on the whole, executives at partner companies are doing better than they did in 2007 -- and high demand for their skills may keep that trend going.

Take a Seat at WPC

Sure, schmoozing is a big part of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference. But to get the maximum benefit from the event, you need to do more than mingle. Here are our picks for a dozen-plus sessions that you won't want to miss.

MiSinformation

Internal Microsoft e-mails made public by the "Vista Capable" class-action lawsuit against the company reveal infighting, partner favoritism and a general sense of confusion -- none of which, it turns out, is all that unusual in the software industry.

Staying Afloat: 6 Tactics for Surviving the Downturn

As recession trickles through the economy, those in IT need to make sure operations remain ship-shape through it all. Here's a guide.

Hardware Trends: Faster. Smaller. Cooler.

Every type of hardware -- from chips to PCs to wireless LANs -- is evolving to support new enterprise demands for mobilization, virtualization and conservation.

SPLA: A New Way To License Software

In the era of Software+Services, Microsoft takes a different approach to software licensing than Web hosting companies and managed service providers. Microsoft's Michael van Dijken explains in the Q&A.

Green Is Good for Profits as Well as for the Planet

Microsoft and its partners are discovering that environmentally responsible computing isn't just a nice thing to do -- it's potentially lucrative, too.

P2P Power

Without official vendor backing, 100-plus partner companies have formed lively homegrown peer groups to support each other and kick-start their businesses.

Tech Sector Spotlight: UC

Major players busy broadening technology's appeal.

HP Thin Client Is Modestly Mobile

Though portable, the new device is targeted to office and home workers rather than to hard-core road warriors.

CA bolsters Recovery Management

Rev. 12 now sports centralized management, VMware support, self-service data recovery and more.

Microsoft's Upcoming Database Release An Expanding Database

SQL Server 2008 is adding functionality in all directions, opening new opportunity areas for partners. One area that isn't growing: the price tag.

Symantec Delivers Certified Backup and Recovery Apps

New offerings are first backup products with Windows Server 2008 certification from Microsoft.

Poring Over Microsoft's Interoperability Initiative

Microsoft is putting tens of thousands of pages of interoperability documents online. Its partners may need to find new ways to make peace with open source software.

Low Money Down: Open Value Licensing for SMBs

Microsoft's Open Value Subscription licensing plan essentially lets customers rent software rather than buy it, for substantially less money. Will small and midsize businesses take the bait?