All of microscope.co.uk contenthttp://www.microscope.co.uk/01/01/1900 00:00:00The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT business management and technology, hardware, software, storage and distibution news, research, reviews and special reportshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/07/07/2008 16:29:12http://www.microscope.co.uk/login/01/01/1900 00:00:00The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/04/07/2008 11:44:27The latest Technology and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with hardware, software, storage and security news, research, reviews and special reportshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/04/03/2008 23:28:36Microscope Breaking Newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/breaking-news/30/06/2008 20:53:03Microscope Distributor Newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/31/01/2008 12:47:19Microscope Reseller Newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/31/01/2008 12:52:00Microscope Vendor Newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/31/01/2008 12:54:15Microscope Hardwarehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/31/01/2008 13:51:42Microscope Softwarehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/31/01/2008 14:05:17Microscope Network and Communicationshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/31/01/2008 14:08:21Microscope Storagehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/31/01/2008 14:11:24Microscope Securityhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/31/01/2008 14:14:57The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Business management and technology news and articles on laws, regulations, credit and finance, selling, sales management, marketing and supplier relationshipshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/04/03/2008 23:31:56Microscope Laws & Regulationshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/laws-regulations/01/02/2008 09:30:30Microscope Supplier Relationshipshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/supplier-relationships/01/02/2008 09:37:48Microscope Managing Your Sales Forcehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/01/02/2008 09:46:00Microscope Marketinghttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/marketing/01/02/2008 09:58:21Microscope Credit & Financehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/credit-finance/01/02/2008 10:06:04Microscope Future of the Channelhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/future-of-channel/01/02/2008 10:25:47Microscope Selling to End Usershttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/selling-end-users/01/02/2008 10:38:00The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/04/03/2008 23:35:21The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/31/01/2008 12:58:17The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/research/31/01/2008 13:38:40The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/product-articles/31/01/2008 13:47:49The continuing expansion of Google has seen the internet giant move into the security market through its acquisition of Postini, with business as usual the message to the channel.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/google-security-boost/08/01/2008 16:11:03Microscope Search Results Pagehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/search/04/03/2008 23:37:46The latest IT and Channel news from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/sitemap/24/01/2008 10:52:18The Cisco channel has voiced concerns that equipment is being stolen to order by organised gangshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/criminals-target-cisco-kit/18/01/2008 11:13:57Eight resellers have won a three-year tender to supply 650 higher education institutions with Microsoft Select and Campus licensing deals at discounted rates, shutting out the rest of the channel. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/resellers-win-education-deal/18/01/2008 11:24:34Dell has broken its silence on the appointment of Andy Dow as the first channel director for the UK and Ireland in more than a decade and welcomed him into the fold. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/dow-joins-dell/18/01/2008 11:42:16There have been a lot of words about the impact of Web 2.0 on the channel and leading the way in trying to commercialise the debate is Cisco.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-pioneers-web-20/18/01/2008 11:46:55Security and storage specialists have been handed a gift with the high-profile data loss by HMRC causing panic among child benefit recipients and putting information management firmly in the spotlight.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/data-loss-boon-to-resellers/18/01/2008 11:51:42The first Glaswegian scalp in the month-long campaign running in the city against anti-piracy has produced another payout for the Business Software Alliance (BSA).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/bsa-stings-glasgow-firm/18/01/2008 12:01:32Microsoft has stepped up its intention to be more closely associated with system-oriented architecture (SOA).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/microsoft-talks-up-soa-moves/18/01/2008 12:15:19Red Hat has appointed a channel manager to build relationships with partners in the UK for JBoss middleware software, a year after it bought the company for $350m. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/red-hat-seeks-jboss-partners/18/01/2008 12:24:10The networking channel has welcomed a growing movement to build confidence in unified comms (UC) skills among resellers, with some arguing for closer co-operation between vendors and value-added distributors.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/uc-firms-forge-ties/18/01/2008 12:50:12A fire that halted production of lithium-ion batteries at a factory in the Far East has resulted in supply chain delays to notebook shipments that will continue into the important run up to Christmas and possibly into the New Year. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/factory-blaze-hits-supply-chain/18/01/2008 12:54:34After a number of setbacks AMD is trying to sweeten local partners by giving them early access to the platform codenamed Spider, the first joint development to come out of its acquisition of GPU vendor ATI.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/amd-woos-resellers/18/01/2008 12:58:01The increasing movement of security to provide productivity tools continues to get resellers a foot in the door at an SME level, but it could also be an enterprise pitch.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/productivity-route-to-enterprise-clients/18/01/2008 14:33:28Magirus is preparing to launch a web-based support portal next month, which it says will enable resellers and their customers to track the progress of service calls and make it easier for partners to deliver SLAs to users.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/magirus-plans-web-support/18/01/2008 14:36:44ISCSI vendors have seized on Dell’s purchase of Equalogic as a sign that the technology is now validated.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/dell-iscsi-buy-validates-technology/18/01/2008 14:44:05There are increasing numbers of customers that are going home after a hard working day wondering whether or not they have done the right thing with their data.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/fuss-free-data-archiving/18/01/2008 14:56:42One of the nightmares for customers that contemplated Vista upgrades was the idea of rolling out updates to numerous desktops.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/painless-updates/18/01/2008 15:01:07The need for remote management is only going to increase, with larger numbers of people opting to take advantage of flexible working.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/remote-backup/18/01/2008 15:06:14Although there are numerous arguments in the security world about exactly what defines the gateway, with remote working now widening the routes into data, there is no argument that dismisses the need for some protection.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/gateway-to-peace-of-mind/18/01/2008 15:15:53Keeping track of staff that are coming and going, and charging by the hour for their work can be a nightmare for even the most organised managers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/enhanced-clocking-off-system/18/01/2008 15:19:09Dell plans to hit the ground running in the retail space next year by partnering with hypermarket giant Carrefour across Europe and is expected to sign a deal with Tesco in the UK. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/dell-set-for-tesco-deal/18/01/2008 15:30:10The channel is frequently advised by vendors to charge for deliveries as part of its valued services to customers and that may now become more prevalent as continually rising fuel prices hit profits. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/channel-urged-to-charge-for-delivery/18/01/2008 15:35:47A war of words has broken out between Fortinet and NOXS after the security vendor faced criticism for its stocking policies and in turn accused the departing distributor of losing its specialist credentials. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/fortinet-and-noxs-fall-out/18/01/2008 15:55:02Vulnerabilities around VoIP have been highlighted as one of the major threats next year as cyber criminals target routes into company networks.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/criminals-target-voip/18/01/2008 16:04:56The Chancellor will consider alternatives to the near doubling of capital gains tax that would inevitably stifle investment and innovation should it come into effect next April as planned. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/chancellor-considers-tax-reprieve/18/01/2008 16:09:39Novell has moved to calm reseller fears that it is undermining its commitment to grow indirect business by shaking up its partner marketing team.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/novell-reassures-resellers/18/01/2008 16:13:17Hard on the heels of initiatives launched by Oracle and Microsoft to help start-up companies Sun Microsystems is taking the wraps off its efforts to promote the entrepreneurial spirit.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/sun-assists-start-ups/18/01/2008 16:16:58Jim McDonnell, the head of Hewlett-Packard’s global partner network, will move today to lead the worldwide enterprise servers and storage team (ESS) at the vendor. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/new-role-for-mcdonnell/18/01/2008 16:21:48Partners are playing a pivotal role in Microsoft’s efforts to counter the shift to Linux and open source software and bring customers back into the fold because of their expertise in providing support and advice on issues such as licensing. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/microsoft-strikes-back/18/01/2008 16:25:37Oracle is making an eBook available to members of its partner network via its dealer portal.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/oracle-launches-ebook/18/01/2008 16:28:41The channel has warned networking vendor Avaya it will need to assess prospective partners very carefully when it recruits a distributor in the near future.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/avaya-talks-spark-speculation/18/01/2008 16:33:18Microsoft Gold Partner Eurodata Systems has been named as the first to be certified for a unified communications (UC) initiative from Mitel.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/eurodata-in-mitel-pilot/18/01/2008 16:36:13The printer market limped through the historically quietest quarter of the year, with summer holidays taking their toll on unit sales and some vendors taking a hit on shipments following the move to withdraw from the low end. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/q3-printer-sales-slow/18/01/2008 16:44:23Paul Hunter has been named as the UK and Ireland commercial category director for Hewlett-Packard’s personal systems group following the departure of Tim Schelling back to the Netherlands. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/hunter-replaces-schelling/18/01/2008 16:48:16With the latest high-profile data leak of the HMRC’s missing data discs illustrating the need for greater security, more focus will inevitably shift to encryption.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/data-leak-highlights-flaws/18/01/2008 16:52:57The consolidation in the security market continues apace with the merger of Webroot and hosted security specialist Email Systems.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/consolidation-crosses-atlantic/18/01/2008 16:57:18Services and software are expected to contribute the majority of incremental revenue in the storage market over the next five years as hardware sales are expected to be relatively lacklustre. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/services-and-software-drive-growth/18/01/2008 17:02:13Overland Storage is beefing up its UK channel sales team, adding several partner account managers in preparation for 11 product launches next year and a reseller recruitment drive. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/overland-expands-team/18/01/2008 17:05:32Over the years there have been several attempts to come up with products that fit into the gap between PDA and full-blown laptop.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/bridging-the-gap/21/01/2008 10:20:38One of the growth areas in recent years has been security, particularly the idea of linking CCTVs to the network so that the digital images can be stored and accessed on a system open to all.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/solving-the-security-jigsaw/21/01/2008 10:32:15There cannot be many customers that are not struggling to cope with their growing data, and looking for a way of getting more capacity without causing major disruption.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/flexible-network-storage/21/01/2008 10:31:34Dell is to minimise channel conflict by calibrating EMEA pricing, neutralising compensation for direct and indirect sales and launching a deal registration scheme but resellers have sought assurances that these initiatives will be policed by the vendor. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/dell-aims-to-cut-conflict/21/01/2008 10:37:48A report by environmental charity Global Action Plan (GAP) has revealed a worrying level of ignorance among UK IT departments about the amount of energy their estate consumes. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/carbon-footprint-ignorance/21/01/2008 10:49:55Cisco’s SMB partners have complained that a lack of clear instruction on SMARTnet is hampering their ability to sign off on contracts.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-confuses-partners/21/01/2008 10:53:35The global IT market is going to slow next year, with any impact of the US credit crisis expected to hit the hardware sector first.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/slowdown-predicted/21/01/2008 11:00:10Negative feedback from customers and resellers has forced Microsoft to axe the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) tool from Vista in the new operating system’s first major service pack (SP1).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/microsoft-axes-anti-piracy-tool/21/01/2008 11:05:02Intel is hosting a software solution stack that allows resellers to provide remote managed services to SMEs from a central point, that will be paid for on a monthly basis, with a commission passed to the partner.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/intel-trials-saas/21/01/2008 11:09:23Broadband and services distributor DMSL has signed a deal to market a range of software as a service (SaaS) applications to SMEs through its fixITlocal network of resellers and expects to announce agreements with a number of other vendors in the near future. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/saas-deal-targets-smes/21/01/2008 11:14:11Sun is looking to increase its support for start-ups that will lean on its technology and take advantage of its business advice.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/sun-helps-uk-start-ups/21/01/2008 11:22:293com resellers across EMEA will be offered a 6 per cent discount on networking kit sold into the public sector under an initiative announced last week by the vendor aimed at growing its share of business in the state sector.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/3com-offers-discount/21/01/2008 11:28:10Nortel is hoping that its co-marketing bureau will make it quicker for its partners to capitalise on revenue opportunities and cover the costs of any joint exercises undertaken by the channel.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/nortel-marketing-push/21/01/2008 11:32:55Computer 2000 has launched an online build-to-order system for Hewlett-Packard servers and storage designed to raise the competition with Dell, but resellers want faster delivery times than the ten working days quoted. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/c2000-custom-server-debut/21/01/2008 11:37:46Despite the credit crunch in the US and similar ripples in the UK economy, the early signs for retailers this Christmas are positive if the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) is to be believed. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/sales-defy-gloomy-forecast/21/01/2008 11:42:03One of the alternatives for firms concerned about users breaking security policy could be to choose a locked-down smart client.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/alternative-security-solution/21/01/2008 11:48:44Reseller perceptions that authentication is a complex and expensive enterprise sell are going to be challenged, with the technology increasingly being aimed at the SME arena.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/authentication-for-smes/21/01/2008 11:56:02We started 2007 with de-duplication a curiosity and ended the year with it present on virtually every disk-to-disk backup and reference data storage product. Data Domain and Diligent, Avamar, Sepaton and FalconStor have all made great progress. Still, it’s rapidly going to become ‘so last year’. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/green-is-the-theme/21/01/2008 12:01:51With the march towards the end of the year well on its way, it is a good time to look back at the fourth quarter to cast an eye over the reviews that have stood out in the last few months.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/best-reviews-of-q4-2007/21/01/2008 12:08:55Resellers should be braced for a year of economic uncertainty as the effects of the collapse in the sub-prime market and credit crunch continue to reverberate around the world.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/insolvencies-to-rise/21/01/2008 12:20:47Microsoft has ended the year indicating there is little chance of it showing goodwill to counterfeiters as it notched up another High Court settlement and issued writs against auction sellers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/victory-for-microsoft/21/01/2008 12:33:09Following Dell’s public decision to work directly with resellers, distributors and some analysts have questioned whether the vendor can hit the ground running by removing an important layer of the supply chain. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/doubts-over-dell-logistics/21/01/2008 12:41:50Acquisition-hungry storage services provider Xploite is in discussions with a number of potential suitors, which may lead to a sale earlier than the owners originally planned. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/xploite-in-sales-talks/21/01/2008 14:16:40AMD has promised channel partners that the quad-core Opteron server chip will be bug-free early next year, following a disastrous three months since launch, during which glitches have resulted in the flow of supply being close to standstill.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/bug-disrupts-amd-supply/21/01/2008 14:22:19The responsibility of running checks to ensure new accounts are not involved in a VAT fraud scam is piling the pressure on resellers, which are having to undertake lengthy scrutiny of fresh customers to ensure it is safe to trade with them.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/vat-checks-burden-resellers/21/01/2008 14:26:29Microsoft has finished the year with some indications that the channel is going to be supported by several product launches that should push customers in the direction of hosted services and virtualisation.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/microsoft-adds-hosted-lines/21/01/2008 14:40:39Avaya has increased its share of the European enterprise voice market in the third quarter, displacing Franco-American rival Alcatel-Lucent from its market-leading position.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/avaya-takes-top-spot/21/01/2008 14:46:53The mobile WiMAX market is set to leap to around 80 million subscribers worldwide by 2013, driven by growing demand from the so-called ‘millennial’ demographic.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/mobile-wimax-set-for-growth/21/01/2008 14:53:34As Dell begins the process of building channel account teams across EMEA, rivals have pointed towards their investments in partnering and warned resellers of the dangers in working with the company.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/dell-rivals-warn-vars/21/01/2008 15:00:06Blade server sales rose in the third quarter, but analysts and vendors expect the raft of recently launched systems engineered for SMEs to significantly ramp volumes in 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/smes-to-drive-blade-sales/21/01/2008 15:14:52Ahead of a revamped channel programme to be launched next year, Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) is building its notebook portfolio with a number of PCs aimed at the mid-market, which it had not sufficiently targeted.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/fsc-targets-mid-market/21/01/2008 15:19:33There are a couple of weeks of this year left, but already, thoughts in the industry have turned to concentrating on what will be the areas for resellers to focus on in 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/threats-set-to-increase/21/01/2008 15:26:52EMC has slashed entry-level NAS and SAN prices by 25 per cent, allowing resellers to compete effectively without having to apply for special pricing — which often took days and deterred some SME customers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/emc-slashes-prices/21/01/2008 15:32:35Distributors are waiting with bated breath for confirmation that they feature in EqualLogic’s plans, following parent Dell stating recently that its own logistics capability meant it could deal directly with resellers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/equallogic-contracts-in-doubt/21/01/2008 15:39:55The year has been a busy one in terms of reviews and the highlights below demonstrate that all sides of the industry were producing quality products.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/reviews-of-2007/21/01/2008 15:47:45A former employee at UK system builder Rock Group has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to swindling £200,000 from the company to fund his gambling debts. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/system-builder-jailed/21/01/2008 15:59:41Those fighting software piracy are braced for more activity as customers look for cheap deals.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/surge-in-piracy-expected/21/01/2008 16:07:31The standing of Teksys is looking more secure after private equity backers bought the entire business with the intention of using the less-than-certain economic climate to consolidate. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/teksys-finds-buyers/21/01/2008 16:16:23Work on BT’s 21CN project — the upgrade of Britain’s phone infrastructure to an end-to-end IP-based network — is going slower than planned.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/bt-upgrade-delayed/21/01/2008 16:26:12The chances of a reversal in the fortunes of Vista have received a major blow with Becta advising schools not to upgrade to the operating system.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/schools-urged-to-avoid-vista/21/01/2008 16:31:53Networking vendor Aruba is to start chasing the higher education vertical in 2008 after a report last year damned it for being “invisible” in the sector.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/aruba-eyes-education/21/01/2008 16:35:22If there were a couple of areas that dominated the software landscape last year, aside from the hype around Vista, it was software as a service (SaaS) and the chase for the SME market.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/saas-gains-momentum/21/01/2008 16:49:38The networking sector appears to be insulated from the economic slowdown spreading across the IT industry, but there have been warnings that although the network has made itself an indispensable business tool, nothing can be taken for granted going into 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/technology-must-prove-itself/21/01/2008 16:56:01It was a sluggish end to 2007 for some in the retail PC sector and economic uncertainty may impact consumer spending this year but corporate refresh cycles coming online could counter that slowdown. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/year-end-pc-sales-slow/21/01/2008 17:02:49The high profile cases of government data loss continue to provide joke material for comedians and chances for politicians to score points off each other. But the continuing concern about data leakage will be one of the main areas resellers can focus on this year.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/data-loss-provides-focus/21/01/2008 17:08:33Preparing for storage Armageddon? Nicholas Carr thinks you should be, because computing-as-we-know-it is in the process of vanishing.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/big-switch-or-small-beer/21/01/2008 17:14:49At the start of last year there were weighty expectations for Microsoft’s Vista operating system and hopes that the wave of enthusiasm would filter through to consumers and provide a surge in upgrading.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/research/hot-topics-in-2008/21/01/2008 17:20:03IBM is to radically overhaul the way it operates in the SME market and next month will introduce a reward scheme to pay resellers higher rebates for securing new accounts.The Pay For Contribution scheme will recognise resellers that invest in sales and pre-sales skills to win business in the sector. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/ibm-plans-reward-scheme/21/01/2008 17:25:24Government spending on technology will rise nine per cent this year to £3bn but resellers should note that improving business processes and bolstering security are top of public sector IT managers’ priorities. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/government-spend-to-rise/21/01/2008 17:33:04Nottingham-based education specialist Ramesys has played down the departure of more than half the board in three months and insisted it is business as usual. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/board-members-quit-ramesys/22/01/2008 10:19:11Cisco has stepped up the security around its certification exams to eradicate cheating, making it a condition that digital photos and digital signatures are to be taken before tests are sat.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-steps-up-exam-security/22/01/2008 10:24:06ProCurve’s recently appointed UK country manager, Darryl Brick, has given assurances to the channel that the future ownership of the company is secure.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/no-favours-for-procurve/22/01/2008 10:29:16Graduates and school leavers have been demonstrating less resistance towards careers in the IT sector as increasing numbers sign up for training courses.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/surge-in-it-training/22/01/2008 10:34:26The cost of dealing in pirated software has been highlighted with a prison sentence looming for an online auctioneer who resold versions of specialist CAD software at a fraction of its value.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/software-pirate-faces-jail/22/01/2008 10:39:24The ranks of security companies offering a hosted model have been bolstered with the move by anti-virus specialist Kaspersky Lab to take the wraps off its service.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/hosted-security-launch/22/01/2008 10:46:04Middleware specialist BEA Systems has opted to switch to a two-tier model in Europe, mimicking its indirect strategy in the US.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/bea-opts-for-two-tiers/22/01/2008 10:59:34Despite a generally strong year in the IT sector last year, there were worrying signs that the software and services sector was not in a solid financial state.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/small-vendors-over-optimistic/22/01/2008 11:11:06Another Cisco Gold Partner has fallen under the spell of an acquisitive suitor as security-focused managed services provider s2s was picked up for an undisclosed sum by Bailey Teswaine, the IT division of building services specialist NG Bailey.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/cisco-partner-is-sold/22/01/2008 11:14:30Avaya’s freshly appointed vice-president of EMEA channels, Mark Mitchell, has promised to continue the comms kit vendor’s focus on becoming easier to partner with during 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/avaya-vp-to-address-issues/22/01/2008 11:18:31SME VoIP provider Gradwell.com has signed up with Tiscali Business Services to push the adoption of voice-ready broadband and unbundled phone services to SMEs.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/gradwell-signs-tiscali-deal/22/01/2008 11:20:56Lenovo has promised that its consumer PCs will be on the shelves of UK retailers before the year is out following claims from partners that the boxes were originally due for launch in April. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/lenovo-delays-launch/22/01/2008 11:25:48The idea of convergence between opposite sides of the same sector has been a market trend over the past few years, but so far has not been too evident in the security space.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/markets-to-converge/22/01/2008 11:28:42Almost every week surveys come out highlighting the issues that vendors want resellers to focus on with customers. Most surveys reinforce a picture of an anxious market that is dangerously ignorant of the threats posed to data.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/firms-ignorant-of-threats/22/01/2008 11:31:07Consolidation at disk array level is forcing major storage vendors to reconsider more scalable options that industry observers predict will replace monolithic systems in the not-too-distant future. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/clustering-influences-future/22/01/2008 11:43:07Dell has paid an undisclosed sum for UK server and storage consultancy The Networked Storage Company (TNWSC) and plans to offer its services globally. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/global-plans-for-dell-buy/22/01/2008 11:45:54It is one thing to sell a digital camera, but it is quite another helping a customer to get the most out of the purchase.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/smart-digital-photo-tools/22/01/2008 11:50:06Laptop bags have come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years and are now a far cry from the clunky freebies you got with mobiles in the past.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/a-stylish-alternative/22/01/2008 11:52:28These days you don’t see too many people harking on about broadband, with most of us just signing up to services as a norm.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/delivering-broadband-control/22/01/2008 11:55:04Resellers are up in arms at Microsoft’s decision to terminate the Outsourcer Agreement, forcing them to hand details of customers wanting to buy Select licensing agreements to large account resellers (LARs).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/anger-at-lars-move/22/01/2008 12:06:27Assembling a channel team was always going to be relatively straightforward for Dell but now Andy Dow, its recently appointed channel director for the UK and Ireland, has the tough job of convincing resellers the firm can be their vendor partner of choice. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/dell-to-woo-resellers/22/01/2008 12:14:47Hewlett-Packard is to reduce partner marketing funds based on revenues and increase discretionary payments linked to the share of its products in a reseller’s portfolio, return on marketing investment and quality of plans.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/hp-reallocates-funds/22/01/2008 12:25:47Many small businesses are being shut out of Government contracts because of the cost and complexity of a tendering process which favours larger companies. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/supplier-relationships/public-sector-shuts-out-small-firms/22/01/2008 12:47:23While welcomed from an environmental standpoint, the latest green networking initiative may be flawed, according to those in the channel that have looked at the sales pitch.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/scepticism-over-green-scheme/22/01/2008 12:51:13Sun Microsystems’ Sun Partner Advantage (SPA) programme is being extended to appeal more to software developers, by allowing them to reach top-level accreditations and accrue higher rebates without selling hardware.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/sun-separates-software/22/01/2008 12:54:13The case of a Cornish roofer that had a sideline selling forged anatomical software on eBay has illustrated the frustration the industry has with auction sites.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/auction-sites-urged-to-act/22/01/2008 12:59:38Software vendors have launched a number of initiatives to ensure the future is bright and the channel is strong enough to take advantage.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/vendors-invest-in-future/22/01/2008 13:21:44The channel has appealed to unified communications (UC) vendors to adopt a more banded view of the technology in the face of growing complexity.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/rift-in-uc-development/22/01/2008 14:34:58The impact of consolidation and virtualisation on the growth of x86 sales has yet to be felt acutely as enterprises moved to quad core systems more quickly than expected last quarter, helping to keep the market buoyant.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/quad-core-shift-buoys-sales/22/01/2008 16:40:01The outbreak of phishing attacks on MySpace has put social networking sites firmly on the security radar.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/web-2-spectre-flags-fraud-risk/22/01/2008 16:49:04Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) and Dell have jointly upset the small business storage applecart — HDS by raising the bar, Dell by buying its way in big time. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/dell-challenges-emc/22/01/2008 16:59:26If the look and design of technology is something that matters to your customers then the Sony Vaio XVGNSZ61VN is going to get some welcome attention.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/looks-good-inside-and-out/22/01/2008 17:25:57Microscope Awards for Hardware, Software, SME's, Networking Security, Storage and many other categories in the IT Channel Industryhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/awards/04/03/2008 22:36:13The latest IT and Channel Reports from Microscope.co.uk, Stay ahead with IT Channel News, hardware, software, storage, distibutor and vendor newshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/special-reports/30/01/2008 10:10:15Simon Briault, a spokesman from the Federation of Small Businesses voices an opinionhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/small-businesses-and-skills/01/02/2008 11:12:53Mark MacGregor, CEO of Connect, has some advice for resellershttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/tackling-skills-shortage/01/02/2008 11:19:35Tony Stroud, general manager of Remploy e-cycle promotes the benefits of recyclinghttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/laws-regulations/making-recycling-pay/11/02/2008 11:09:49Exclusive MicroScope research reveals channel hopes and fears about the futurehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/resellers-and-the-future/11/02/2008 10:54:15Vanessa Wilson, business development director of Planet Group, calls for more communication in the channelhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/vendor-and-resellers-communication/11/02/2008 10:49:59Peter Austin, general manager of Siemens Financial Services, recommends asset financehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/credit-finance/when-it-comes-to-the-crunch/11/02/2008 10:59:23PC manufacturers Acer and Lenovo are preparing significant changes to senior management in the UKhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/acer-lenovo-changes/04/02/2008 11:45:51High court judge rules that patent appeals should be allowedhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/patent-decision-made/04/02/2008 12:56:15Mention of hosted software makes the headlines after IBM's Lotusphere eventhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/services-saas-challenge/04/02/2008 15:07:35Cisco responds to customer pressure by launching the CCDE networking design certificationhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-networking-certification/04/02/2008 15:16:32While unit sales growth on network switches remains healthy, the overall rate is beginning to slowhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/switch-sales-slow/04/02/2008 15:55:05Hewlett-Packard has announced its first thin client products after the acquisition of market specialist Neoware last year and revealed that it plans to bring together the two vendors’ channels in the second half of the yearhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/hp-thin-client/04/02/2008 16:05:27Tech companies are increasingly being targeted by fraudsters, and resellers are no exceptionhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/fight-against-fraud/04/02/2008 17:08:59EMC and HP have upset the applecart with flash SSD products and opened the door to widespread adoption of flashhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/flash-ssd-products/04/02/2008 17:18:58With this year starting off with such a focus on the economy, there could not be a better time for resellers to promote a product like the service from Yeigohttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/free-mobile-calls/06/02/2008 14:24:45The NetOp Remote Control provides everything needed for the service and support of a range of disparate computershttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/easy-remote-management/04/02/2008 17:52:57Microscope Media Centrehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/mediacentre/05/02/2008 16:13:36Open source specialist announces first EMEA partner eventhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/red-hat-conference/11/02/2008 10:44:05The skills crisis in the industry could cost the UK economy billions if more people cannot be found to fill the gaps.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/uk-skills-gap-could-cost-billions/06/02/2008 11:24:48Networking kit vendor ZyXEL has rolled out a programme to help the UK’s independent technology retailers keep their heads above water in an increasingly competitive age.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/initiative-for-independents/06/02/2008 11:32:48No longer the sole preserve of savvy teenagers, Web 2.0 can now offer genuine business benefits, but how can the channel help customers to understand its potential and make it work for them?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/selling-end-users/leading-the-way-through-web-2/06/02/2008 11:46:04If you were to stick your finger in the air to judge which way the wind was blowing on major technologies, you could guarantee it was heading for videoconferencing.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/virtual-meetings-from-the-desktop/06/02/2008 11:50:52Cisco partners have hit back at complaints from customers that they lack sufficient unified communications (UC) skills and are slowing adoption.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-partners-under-fire/06/02/2008 12:11:01Lenovo will enter the volume server market inside 12 months after signing a licensing agreement with IBM to manufacture one and two-way rack and tower systems. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/lenovo-signs-ibm-server-deal/06/02/2008 12:13:50The channel has been warned that a growing number of white-label hosted network services solutions could create an unsustainable bubble.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/voip-bubble-could-burst/06/02/2008 12:18:22Several major manufacturers have made, or are planning to make, changes to senior management in the UK before the year gets started in earnest. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/changes-at-the-top/06/02/2008 12:29:58In the new age of Web 2.0, businesses need to keep a tighter grip on security and corporate policies or risk heavy fines, according to Logicalis, which has acquired specialist governance vendor Iconium.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/governance-to-enter-mainstream/06/02/2008 12:35:59The UK’s much-vaunted credentials as an entreprenuerial economy have come under fire from research that claims the growth prospects for small businesses are diminishing and that estimates on the numbers of SMEs are wrong.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/future-of-channel/forum-questions-sme-statistics/06/02/2008 12:47:13A 10 per cent reduction in software piracy could contribute a hefty £1bn and 13,000 jobs to the UK economy.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/hidden-costs-of-piracy/06/02/2008 12:53:55IBM has raised its ambitions in the SME software arena after taking the wraps off several initatives to seize a slice of the Software as a Service (SaaS) market.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/ibm-targets-smes-with-saas/06/02/2008 12:57:00The open source community and vendors promoting software-as-a-service (SaaS) will present a serious threat to software giants embedded in local Government as IT managers scrutinise budgets.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/open-source-threat-as-costs-rise/06/02/2008 13:00:35Sun’s $1bn acquisition of MySQL has been described as “validating” the open source model.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/mysql-buy-validates-model/06/02/2008 13:48:08When HP ProCurve’s UK country manager, Jon Weatherall, hit the road at the tail end of July 2007, some in the channel rushed to paint his departure as the end of an era. But six months later, and with his successor now installed in the hot seat, ProCurve has maintained a steady course. Business has remained good, boosted by a series of product releases.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/brick-to-build-solid-procurve/06/02/2008 13:52:18Troubled networking giant Alcatel-Lucent has made some internal changes to its senior management after appointing its networks operations head, Andy Williams, as services business president. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/alcatel-lucent-shuffles-team/06/02/2008 13:55:34Application traffic management software vendor Zeus Technology has signed an OEM partnership agreement with Dublin-based AdaptiveMobile to sell its ZXTM software as part of Adaptive’s technology package for large mobile telcos.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/zeus-partners-adaptivemobile/06/02/2008 13:57:58The EMEA PC market grew 12.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2007 compared with the year earlier, as notebook sales helped to offset a lacklustre performance in the desktop form factor. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/notebooks-drive-pc-growth/06/02/2008 14:01:08The channel has been handed a gift with yet another loss of confidential data, this time from a Ministry of Defence laptop.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/data-leak-puts-focus-on-encryption/06/02/2008 14:05:41Websense has dusted down its channel strategy following the completion of its merger with SurfControl, retaining the complete line-up of distributors used by both vendors.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/websense-retains-distributors/06/02/2008 14:08:27In one of the more off-the-wall predictions for the storage market in 2008, IDC believes customers will increasingly demand partial hardware replacements to cut costs and up the ante on green initiatives. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/partial-refreshes-to-increase/06/02/2008 14:18:16An era of unmanned data centres is drawing nearer as environmental and economic factors drive users towards a world where the technology takes the strain. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/lights-out-data-centres-to-grow/06/02/2008 14:22:54Technology becomes accepted into the mainstream so much more quickly than it ever used to, with home users embracing anything that will make their lives easier.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/simple-secured-wireless/06/02/2008 14:35:35When you first hear the words ‘big red box’ you might automatically think of storage in the sense of something brightly coloured you put your belongings in.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/more-than-storage/06/02/2008 14:34:21Registerhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/register/11/02/2008 10:04:41InTechnology has defended its channel model after resellers accused it of “cutting partners out of the loop”.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/intechnology-rebate-anger/11/02/2008 11:44:27Those operating in the networking channel can put aside fears of a recession and concentrate on enjoying a decade of financial security because of the deployment of next generation networks (NGNs).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/vendors-talk-up-next-gen-networks/11/02/2008 11:53:25The decision by Apple to open a store in Glasgow has sealed the fate of the consumer operation a few streets away run by Scottish Mac reseller Scotsys.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/apple-runs-reseller-out-of-town/11/02/2008 12:04:50Simon Ognall, managing director at Fleet-based reseller Teksys has left the company by mutual consent a month after the business was sold to serial entrepreneurs Alan Watkins and Kevin Lewis. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/breaking-news/ognall-quits-teksys/13/05/2008 12:15:26Those concerned about cardholder not present fraud have been warned to remain vigilant despite the prospect of figures indicating that the problem is moving into other markets.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/warning-over-cnp-minefield/11/02/2008 12:16:37The result of the Business Software Alliance campaign in Glasgow has been to expose continuing levels of apathy towards the question of illegal software.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/firms-still-apathetic-over-piracy/11/02/2008 12:27:30If there was a theme to the markets last week it was around the areas of telecoms and networking, with both BT and Cisco reporting figures. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/bleak-winter-for-conglomerates/11/02/2008 12:33:03The future of unified communications (UC) will be tied to the growing popularity of software as a service (SaaS) as more hosted offerings combine IP PBX, UC and conferencing facilities to run alongside applications.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/uc-growth-linked-to-saas/11/02/2008 12:47:26Microsoft’s move to acquire Yahoo has been seen as a straightforward attempt to catch up on ground lost to Google. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/microsoft-plays-catch-up-with-google/11/02/2008 12:56:32Following recent criticisms from Cisco customers that key partners have failed to install functioning networks and unified comms packages (MicroScope 28 January), service providers have voiced the view that responsibility for training rests within the channel, as opposed to the vendor community. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/service-providers-fill-installation-shortfall/11/02/2008 14:08:57The accidental cutting of three submarine fibre cables in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, which provided internet services across the region, has had an impact on outsourced operations that service UK customers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/cut-cables-disrupt-business/22/04/2008 10:48:46For the first time notebooks outsold desktops in the UK last year and with vendors focusing more on the mobile platform, the gap will continue to widen in certain sectors in 2008, analysts have predicted. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/notebook-sales-outstrip-desktops/11/02/2008 14:15:50Resellers wondering what a managed security service might look like have been given food for thought by Postini’s decision to slash the price of its hosted services.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/postini-slashes-hosted-services-price/11/02/2008 14:29:18Concerns about end point security continue to cause sleepless nights among corporates facing the pressure to allow greater access to remote services.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/end-point-security-fears/11/02/2008 14:32:41The continued growth of storage installations in mid-sized organisations is a time bomb set to explode in the near future unless businesses consolidate infrastructures to drive efficiencies. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/runaway-capacity-headache/11/02/2008 14:36:08Magirus has extended its trading relationship with FalconStor from mainland Europe to the UK and believes the uncertain economic climate could increase storage virtualisation adoption as companies look to consolidate. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/economy-to-boost-virtualisation/11/02/2008 14:38:55The mobile communications channel is no longer separate from the IT channel, but what does this growing market mean for resellers and distributors?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/selling-end-users/connecting-to-a-diverse-market/11/02/2008 14:48:03Computer bags have almost reached the point where they are the universal choice for anyone not wanting a sports bag or a handbag.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/intelligent-laptop-case/11/02/2008 14:56:22As we come to the end of the deep box that held a number of products from Level1, it is time to look at the PoE AP Access Point.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/flexible-wireless-access/11/02/2008 14:55:26Cisco SMB resellers are still losing substantial sums of money on misplaced or duplicated SMARTnet support contracts six months after the system was refreshed. In spite of repeated calls from the channel to simplify the quotation process, the networking giant again stands accused of failing to heed its partners’ concerns.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-smartnet-woes/21/02/2008 14:30:05Cisco consumer arm Linksys among those hit by declining ASPshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/80211n-price-cuts/07/03/2008 15:04:50Resellers have voiced concerns that Hewlett-Packard is extending its direct sales aspirations beyond the corporate desktop market and into the server space, particularly on the blade platform. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/hp-undercuts-partners/11/03/2008 10:57:41Cisco has reacted to channel criticisms of its SMARTnet quote system that were highlighted in MicroScope and moved to fix problems that have been the bugbear of resellers.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-reacts-to-smartnet-critics/11/03/2008 11:01:39The channel account management and field sales teams should be in place at Dell by the end of this month and the UK partner director believes resellers are chomping at the bit to get started. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/dell-awaits-hungry-resellers/11/03/2008 11:04:56A number of suitors have made advances to the owner of Evesham Technology a week after it was put up for sale but some channel sources believe the brand has been tarnished since its administration. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/suitors-line-up-for-evesham/11/03/2008 11:24:18In a move with implications for resellers and PC vendors in the worldwide channel, a California judge last week ruled that Microsoft was open to a class-action lawsuit over its Vista-compatible marketing campaign.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/microsoft-faces-vista-lawsuit/11/03/2008 11:32:07The trend to expand the virtualisation user base was given a shot in the arm after VMware unveiled OEM agreements with a number of server vendors.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/vmware-reveals-oem-deals/11/03/2008 11:52:12PC makers are seeking alternative routes of supply for LCDs after a fire at a Lite-On factory in the Far East effectively shut down the majority of production lines at its OEM plant.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/fire-hits-lcd-supply/11/03/2008 11:55:53The increasing amount of data swilling around company servers and desktops plus demands to use it to take decisions is shifting the goal posts of the high-performance computing (HPC) market.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/apps-key-to-hpc-growth/11/03/2008 12:00:48Companies offering CRM systems are aiming to cash in on recent difficulties experienced by Sage with its ACT! product in the US.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/us-settlement-spurs-sage-rivals/11/03/2008 12:03:49The withdrawal of the joint $2.2bn bid for 16 per cent of 3Com by Chinese networking vendor Huawei and VC firm Bain Capital does not mean the deal is off.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/3com-bidders-move-to-ease-concerns/11/03/2008 12:10:01Analysts have downgraded their forecasts for the UK PC market as corporate desktop customers delay refreshes due to concerns over the less than certain economic outlook and the instability of the Vista OS.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/desktop-sales-to-falter/11/03/2008 12:14:25http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/riverbed-fortinet-tie-up-criticised/11/03/2008 12:20:07The government should raise the bar on data security by introducing legislation to force full disclosure of data breaches, according to a security expert.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/call-for-compulsory-disclosure-of-leaks/11/03/2008 12:28:55There are various questions vexing my mind at the moment. What’s best, unified storage or point products? Is it better to have a unified storage product line or point products? Are resellers better off with a NetApp or an EMC?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/no-clear-winner-in-storage-race/11/03/2008 12:34:58One of the great things about hindsight is that it allows you to boast of being right all along when it was often more luck than skill.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/product-articles/how-blu-ray-won-the-battle/11/03/2008 12:44:47The chief executive at the Fayrewood Group has confirmed that six parties have expressed an interest in buying its subsidiary Interface Solutions but none had yet proposed the right price. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/avnet-leads-as-interface-suitors-line-up/11/03/2008 12:54:26Lenovo has kicked off an aggressive margin promotion on ThinkPad notebooks to drive sales in the SME market and aims to recruit up to 150 additional partners. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/lenovo-ups-thinkpad-margins/11/03/2008 13:59:03The buy-and-build strategy employed by Bytes Technology Group in the Xerox concessionaire market has continued with Halifax-based Planflow Systems the third acquisition in two years and there is no plan to stop. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/bytes-forges-ahead-with-xerox-buys/11/03/2008 14:05:55In seven days Bell Micro could be delisted from the Nasdaq if it fails to regain compliance with the market’s filing requirements but the distributor has played down the impact of such an outcome. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/bell-micro-faces-delisting/11/03/2008 14:09:41The decision by Microsoft to extend its hosted services model into the SME space has been met with a mixed response from the channel.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/doubts-as-microsoft-extends-hosted-services/11/03/2008 14:14:29Peter Halls, executive director at KCOM-owned Affiniti, is to step down at the end of the month after 17 years with the firm, formerly known as Omnetica. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/halls-quits-affiniti/11/03/2008 14:17:47As part of Foundry’s push into the enterprise switching sector, the firm has unveiled a technology alliance programme to allow its customers to implement multi-vendor, interoperable networks.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/foundry-opens-way-for-mixed-networks/11/03/2008 14:21:43The battle for the small market has not gone away, with SAP the latest to bolster staffing levels in a bid to keep its channel partners focused on winning market share.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/sap-to-fight-for-sme-market-share/11/03/2008 14:26:06The future for the networking world looks brighter than it has done for years but some resellers will not enjoy the benefits.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/box-sellers-fail-with-complex-opportunity/11/03/2008 14:31:47Major carriers have been “mis-selling” IPT networks and failing to provide a quality service, leaving customers having to make changes to make their infrastructure robust, according to research from comms infrastructure and IP-network services provider SAS Group.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/ipt-carriers-mis-selling/11/03/2008 14:42:19Resellers have called on Dell to enable them to offer next-day delivery, particularly on servers and options, so they can compete more effectively with rival vendors’ channels. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/dell-urged-to-allow-next-day-delivery/11/03/2008 14:46:44The conundrum that is channel programmes appears to have been solved by Check Point, which has eased its partners through a transition to a value-based model.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/check-point-rewards-value/11/03/2008 14:51:38As encryption becomes more mainstream and heads towards the status of a commodity product, the issue of how customers manage their encryption keys is expected to provide a value added opportunity for channel partners.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/encryption-management-opportunities/11/03/2008 14:54:17Shifting dynamics in the server market following the trend of customers consolidating and virtualising their environments saw server sales fall last year but average sales prices rose, according to analyst IDC. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/server-sales-dip/11/03/2008 15:04:37NetApp could rejig its distribution channel under a rebranding exercise in an attempt to raise the profile of the StoreVault range aimed at small businesses. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/netapp-to-rebrand-products/11/03/2008 15:07:12One of the parts of the technology world that tends to be forgotten by almost everyone other than those directly involved is the storage peripherals market.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/cure-all-for-data-transfer/11/03/2008 15:14:44Horizon Technology Group has confirmed it has been approached by a potential acquirer that may buy the entire UK distribution and Irish integrator businesses. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/acquisition-talks-boost-horizon-shares/28/03/2008 10:24:53Ahead of the April 1 deadline for compliance with Cisco’s Shared Support programme, the vendor has claimed migration to the new Ts&Cs has been “relatively pain-free”.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-migration-pain-free/28/03/2008 10:29:18Outsourcing giant Capita has offered to buy AIM-listed Computerland for 270 pence per share, amounting to a £28.9m acquisition. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/capita-bids-for-computerland/28/03/2008 10:36:28Mystery surrounds security vendor GSEC1 after its sister firm ITAC fell into administration last week.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/mystery-surrounds-gsec1/28/03/2008 10:40:03Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC) has shelved the Elite accreditation in favour of a pan-European scheme it said will boost channel marketing funds but will require entry-level partners to sell more to achieve it. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/fsc-to-police-accreditation/28/03/2008 10:47:57Annual figures from the banking payments association have revealed a significant increase in cardholder-not-present (CNP) fraud.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/cnp-fraud-rises/28/03/2008 10:53:58Hopes that the chancellor would scrap forthcoming changes to capital gains tax have been dashed after Alistair Darling stuck to his guns in the budget.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/smes-dismayed-over-cgt-changes/28/03/2008 11:01:00Citrix has broadened the channel for the XenServer product it acquired with the purchase of XenSource in August last year by making it available to three more distributors. The firm is seeking to attract more resellers with a web-based programme of technical and sales training. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/citrix-channel-grows/28/03/2008 11:04:42Alcatel-Lucent business partners look set to benefit from a partnership signed between its main convergence distributor, Sphinx, and integrator and Alcatel-Lucent Premium Business Partner Redbridge, which will allow them to enlist technical assistance when selling into new business areas.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/sphinx-boost-for-alcatel-lucent-channel/28/03/2008 11:07:48Further margin cuts on routers seem inevitable after Context SalesWatch Distribution data for the UK market in January showed a decline in average selling prices on 802.11n-based equipment.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/router-margins-to-shrink/28/03/2008 11:10:19A year after streamlining its partner base, network infrastructure provider Colt Telecommunications is to increase its channel commitment.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/colt-seeks-vars/28/03/2008 11:13:02A rationalisation exercise to address over-distribution in the UK has seen AMD end its agreement with Computer 2000, its least performing partner in the region.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/amd-ends-c2000-deal/28/03/2008 11:16:51It is now more than a year since legislation was introduced to curb the dumping of electrical waste, but widespread confusion continues to pose a security threat.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/pcs-dumped-with-sensitive-data/28/03/2008 11:20:02Web filtering specialist Bloxx is to expand its channel to take advantage of continued unrest following the Websense and SurfControl tie-up.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/bloxx-seeks-partners/28/03/2008 11:22:44Storage resellers looking for research that will back up their anecdotal evidence that customers are facing greater problems will draw considerable comfort from EMC’s latest thoughts on the subject.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/bright-future-for-storage/28/03/2008 11:28:19Bell Micro has secured a deal with Parallels to add server and desktop virtualisation to its portfolio.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/bell-micro-signs-virtualisation-deal/28/03/2008 11:31:53At almost 5 million units, the overall size of the consumer printing market in 2007 remained flat on 2006 in terms of volume sales. However the year was characterised by significant price erosion across all the major sectors, meaning that the market value declined by 13 per cent to around £280m. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/research/printer-market-loses-value/28/03/2008 11:38:28Acquisitive Sage partner TSG has called a temporary halt to its expansion programme but has hinted that it could bring out the cheque book again in the summer.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/tsg-halts-acquisitions/28/03/2008 12:23:06The first service pack for Microsoft’s Windows Vista was released last week but partners remain divided over whether it will accelerate adoption of the operating system. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/vista-patch-gets-mixed-response/28/03/2008 14:13:26Sales of Hewlett-Packard from Computacenter fell last year in the UK, France and Germany according to group results for 2007 but the drop in sales was felt acutely in the trade arm, not the reseller business. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/distribution-landscape-tough-for-ccd/28/03/2008 14:19:06The additional pricing support resellers have received from Dell has been stopped as the vendor seeks to encourage trade customers to sign up to the Partner Direct channel scheme. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/dell-drops-price-support/28/03/2008 14:22:14RSA has overhauled its partner programme, lowering general discounts and raising rebates for new business but some have complained this could drive resellers to rival vendors. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/rsa-to-revamp-programme/28/03/2008 14:32:48Westcon Security, formerly known as NOXS, will receive a cash injection after its parent, networking and comms distributor Westcon Group, increased its European banking facility by €45m (£35m).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/westcon-invests-in-security-wing/28/03/2008 14:40:34Unified threat management (UTM) appliance solutions continued to gain ground on the firewall/VPN and intrusion detection (IDS) sectors particularly towards the end of last year according to IDC security data. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/utm-gains-ground/28/03/2008 14:48:47An increasing number of customers are buying into services orientated architecture (SOA).http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/smes-take-up-soa/28/03/2008 15:01:36Novell has used its annual BrainShare user conference to make a number of announcements. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/novell-rings-changes/28/03/2008 15:04:57Business communications vendor Avaya has insisted its partners have nothing to fear after it unveiled what it claims is the industry’s most affordable unified comms (UC) software systems, designed to be priced at under £49 per desk.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/avaya-reveals-affordable-unified-comms/28/03/2008 15:21:53The growing hosted VoIP market is driving resellers to rethink their sales strategies, with many that had been selling VoIP on cost-savings being edged out of the market by some aggressive pricing from BT.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/bt-price-cuts-squeeze-voip-resellers/28/03/2008 15:25:20Senior management at Samsung Electronics are preparing to expand the company’s horizons beyond commercial IT markets into the ultra price-sensitive public sector and the plan is to do it with partners. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/samsung-to-target-public-sector/28/03/2008 15:29:01Midwich has launched a specialist division to cater for high-end audio-visual technology, which it claimed would have been in danger of faltering without a greater degree of market-making activities. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/midwich-to-sell-high-end-av/28/03/2008 15:32:17An incoming company is bright eyed and bushy tailed at one end of the tape market, while another at the opposite end is almost at its wits end as it struggles to avoid bankruptcy. What is going on?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/could-a-recession-be-the-answer/28/03/2008 15:39:42One of the best products of the past few years has to be the iPod and the smart piece of design has spawned numerous equally innovative products.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/smooth-performance/28/03/2008 15:43:38It really is a case of using is believing with wireless mice because it is only after you have tried one that you understand the freedom and much more relaxed experience it provides.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/wireless-mice-keep-on-running/28/03/2008 15:51:08A definite chasm exists between chief information security officers' (CISOs') priorities and their responsibilities according to a new survey from Forrester.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/ciso-have-right-objectives-but-wrong-focus/28/03/2008 15:59:41Resellers say mandatory marketing service inappropriate to enterprise campaignshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/hp-partners-scheme/03/04/2008 10:59:14Mystery surrounds collapse of distributor and reseller hybrid.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/itac-sacks-staff/02/04/2008 12:24:10Issues resolved over Ramesys's mis-selling of Microsoft software licences.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/ramesys-lessons-learnt/02/04/2008 12:51:21Reputation of device rather than identity of person could help prevent fraudhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/cutting-cnp-fraud/02/04/2008 13:06:18Cash flow problems could drag resellers into the credit crisis.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/resllers-cash-warning/02/04/2008 14:03:56Ofcom pulled into row over BT tariffshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/carphone-attacks-bt/02/04/2008 14:23:29Wait-and-see policy for Vista in schools raises concernshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/vista-delay-fears/02/04/2008 14:37:20Only a handful of resellers are engaged in ASP and SaaS activity in Europe.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/resellers-left-trailing/02/04/2008 14:53:13Analysts mull over state of the market ahead of EMEA summit.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/hosted-services-push/02/04/2008 15:03:57Aim to cut printing costs in public sector.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/ogc-introduces-managed-services/02/04/2008 15:21:16Dell in negotiations with high-street brand.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/dell-in-negotiation/02/04/2008 15:38:08EC clamps down on carousel fraudhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/fighting-vat-fraud/02/04/2008 15:47:47Marketing support that vendors give to resellers needs correcting.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/resellers-and-the-future/vendor-marketing-evolution/02/04/2008 16:05:15More data is generated about a person than by a person, but who controls it?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/reducing-data-generation/02/04/2008 16:18:28Sudden surge of activity seen in flash storage.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/storage-market-frenzy/02/04/2008 16:46:06Commoditisation has hit the low end of security but diversity elsewhere will maintain profits.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/security/shifting-security-software/02/04/2008 16:57:36Keeping control over access to the businesshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/controguard-monitors-access/02/04/2008 17:45:33F-Secure works with Windows for SME securityhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/f-secure-helps-smes/03/04/2008 12:36:29Computer Conservation Society celebrates Acornhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/acorn-event-recalls/03/04/2008 10:38:00Diskeeper solves disk performance issueshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/invisitasking-makes-for/03/04/2008 12:33:40Server 2008 will create demand for other serviceshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/opportunities-with-server/03/04/2008 12:14:58Hot topic at Infosec will be encryptionhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/opportunities-with-server/data-leakage-agenda/03/04/2008 12:30:30Roadmap for HP thin clients to be outlined this summer.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/hp-to-rationalise/03/04/2008 12:52:13Mixed views on how well Server 2008 will sellhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/server-sales-potential/03/04/2008 13:13:30Round up of the best recent offerings in the storage arenahttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/blu-ray-in-ascendant/03/04/2008 14:06:44On-Communications unveils partner programmehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/fixed-wireless-firm-debuts/03/04/2008 14:39:04Motorola tells partners not to worry over imminent break-uphttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/motorola-addresses-concerns/03/04/2008 15:00:12When employees leave, you don't want them to take your company information to a rival business.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/laws-regulations/protect-your-firm/03/04/2008 15:57:30While the margins on accounting software can be notoriously low, savvy resellers can cash in on the opportunity to offer add-on services such as e-commerce and CRM.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/generating-attractive-return/03/04/2008 16:20:23Enterprises are looking to embrace CRM in 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/time-for-crm/03/04/2008 16:43:34A unified threat management approach to security can deliver a green advantage.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/future-of-channel/simplifying-security/03/04/2008 17:00:40Mud-slinging between Greeks and Turks on Web 2.0 sitehttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/anclent-enmities/03/04/2008 17:12:36Business optimism lies in the east, not in Americahttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/future-of-channel/uk-looks-east/03/04/2008 17:22:55The UPS community has struggled in the past to get reseller engagement, but that is changing. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/future-of-channel/delivering-power/03/04/2008 17:48:10Influence of the internet is changing concept of launches.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/staggered-product-launches/04/04/2008 10:37:28Cisco resellers to be rewarded for pushing SONAhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/cisco-unveils-plans/04/04/2008 10:45:29Rankhour struggles with cash flow problemshttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/breaking-news/rankhour-causes-jitters/13/05/2008 12:16:23Former head of Ravelle Group absconds after £3.25m fraud.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/police-hunt-reseller/04/04/2008 12:52:30Banks demanding greater credit insurance as credit brokers turn resellers away.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/credit-crisis-bites/04/04/2008 14:05:18a look at the new products to be seen at Infosecurity 2008.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/infosecurity-europe-preview/04/04/2008 14:49:19Site to tag photos uses mass labourhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/magic-web-truth/04/04/2008 15:00:24Banks put squeeze on good as well as bad businesses.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/squeeze-on-profitable/04/04/2008 15:18:28De-duplication relies on an expert understanding of the core technologies.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/storage/de-duplication-boosts-performance/04/04/2008 15:47:20Affordable SSL VPNs increase options for businesses on the move.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/key-for-remote/04/04/2008 16:03:02PC vendors left scrabbling to secure supplies of laptop batteries.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/fire-in-korea/04/04/2008 16:13:30Australian firm in talks as consolidation runs apace in telecoms sector.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/distributor-sells-comms/04/04/2008 16:23:25Resellers pay the price for CNP fraud.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/laws-regulations/largest-uk-robbery/04/04/2008 16:49:39How long before mobile phones become computers?http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/mobile-computing-leap/04/04/2008 17:05:58There is continued industry talk identifying Avnet as the distributor that recently approached enterprise player Horizon Technology Group to kickstart negotiations that could lead to the sale of the business. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/distributor-news/avnet-tipped-as-horizon-suitor/09/04/2008 10:21:16The future of Tottenham Court Road retailer and etailer Rankhour was looking less than certain last week amid claims it was struggling to pay suppliers and was close to being forced to call in the receivers. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/uncertain-future-for-rankhour/09/04/2008 10:25:27Predicted to become the focus of a “huge global skills migration” for IT security staff, the Middle East is poaching significant numbers of qualified workers from South America, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe, but is so far struggling to win over many in the west. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/middle-east-brain-drain-bypasses-uk/09/04/2008 10:32:07Tinglobal, parent company of refurbished kit provider tindirect, has acquired fellow second-hand specialist Powercore International in a move that provides it with a European presence.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/european-presence-for-tinglobal/09/04/2008 10:36:30The long-awaited changes to Avaya’s distribution line-up have broadly been welcomed but insiders believe the firm’s largest distributor, Westcon, should be concerned.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/avaya-reveals-distribution-changes/09/04/2008 10:41:22As Irish network and IT integrator Calyx commits to continuing its buy-and-build expansion policy, some commentators have suggested the industry is turning into a buyer’s market in the face of the reported slowdown.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/reseller-news/slowdown-nurtures-consolidation/09/04/2008 10:45:49Cisco is to reward resellers that drive its service-orientated network architecture (SONA) in server farms. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/news/vendor-news/cisco-to-reward-server-farm-drive/09/04/2008 10:56:49The influence of the internet is changing the timetable of large software releases, forcing vendors to brief resellers at a much earlier stage.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/software/staggered-launches-to-become-common/09/04/2008 11:01:54Motorola has assured its business partners they have nothing to fear from the imminent break-up of the communications giant. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/motorola-addresses-concerns-over-split/09/04/2008 11:05:45Fixed-wireless access provider On-Communications has unveiled a partner programme for its guaranteed bandwidth, symmetrical broadband service.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/network-communications/firm-debuts-partner-project/09/04/2008 11:08:53Microsoft’s OEM partners will be hoping that Windows Server 2008 provides a welcome boost to server sales, but resellers do not foresee a customer stampede, especially in light of the difficulties some had with Vista. http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/server-sales-boost-from-windows-2008/09/04/2008 11:14:37The roadmap for Hewlett-Packard’s thin clients will be outlined in the summer. Sources expect it to rationalise distributors, having inherited two additional partners from the acquisition of Neoware.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/technology/hardware/hp-expected-to-rationalise-client-distributors/09/04/2008 11:18:19When the first ISPs started offering services to customers, , their biggest headache was maintaining the large banks of modems used to allow customer access.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/selling-end-users/visibility-is-vital/09/04/2008 11:34:39Advances in software functionality mean now is the time for organisations to look again at the strategic deployment of CRMhttp://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/managing-business/managing-sales-force/second-chance-for-crm/09/04/2008 11:38:58The first quarter of the year ended with an old-fashioned feel, with several high-profile product launches that recall the good old days of the 1990s.http://www.microscope.co.uk/welcome/tech-trader/reviews/an-eventful-first-quarter/09/04/2008 11:43:23