Channel Strategies for the CIOVMware partners didn’t seem too perturbed that the virtualization giant started charging for once-free Solution Enablement Toolkits, especially since they can get brownie points for working with the SETs.
Adrian Jones became an International Man of Mystery last month after quietly leaving Hewlett-Packard for parts unknown. Next stop Oracle? And IBM top gun Sam Palmisano got all gung ho on Watson.
Take a look at the top Channel Marker blogs for February 2011.
1: VMware partners head south
VMware partners will now have to pay for Solution Enablement Toolkits that had been free. The news leaked just before they headed down to Orlando for VMware Partner Exchange. Most seemed to think the cost of SETs will be more than offset by more and better sales. Plus, it’s harder to get upset when you’re headed for sunny Florida.
2: Whither Adrian Jones?
When the news broke that Adrian Jones resigned his post at Hewlett-Packard, HP VARs wanted to know where he was headed. Many felt he was bound for Oracle to re-join his old pal (and former HP CEO) Mark Hurd. Should Oracle decide
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to rebuild the Sun hardware channel, Jones would be a natural fit, although no one is really
convinced that is part of Oracle’s grand plan.
3: IBM’s Palmisano returns fire, touts Watson
While unleashing some thinly veiled comments toward competitors, IBM Chairman Sam Palmisano also talked up Watson, the self-teaching IBM computer, and why it has a future beyond Jeopardy. Watson may be useful in medical applications, Palmisano told attendees of the IBM PartnerWorld Leadership Conference. Palmisano also advised VARs to put money toward specific skill sets to differentiate themselves.
4: VMware launches Sales Rewards Club at Partner Exchange
Among the new channel perks and programs that VMware laid out for partners, at Partner Exchange, the VMware Sales Rewards Club made the most noise. VMware partners will now earn points for sales and training that will translate into individual prizes. Renewal business will now be included in the quarterly rebate program.
5: Microsoft server and tools group gets Nadella as chief
Microsoft tapped Satya Nadella to fill Bob Muglia’s shoes as president of its important server tools group. That group owns the critical Windows Server, SQL Server and Visual Basic franchises, and also drives Microsoft's cloud strategy, so this will be a highly scrutinized position.
Check out the Top Channel Marker blogs for January 2011.