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SP500: Predictions For 2013

By Steven Burke, Chad Berndtson, originally posted on CRN.com on Jan 03, 2013

What’s In Store For 2013?

From fast growth in bring your own device (BYOD) and big data market segments to continued consolidation in the channel, SP500 top executives see a new year filled with big opportunities and big challenges. Here are 2013 predictions from 16 of the best and brightest SP500 executives.

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State copier contract jams independent dealers

Originally posted in the LI Business News by David Winzelberg
Published: January 4, 2013

Just-unveiled state rules governing how public agencies buy millions of dollars worth of copiers and other office equipment could result in a windfall for a few firms and a store-shuttering drop in business for many independent dealers.

The previous state contract for purchasing copiers – in effect from June 2002 until it expired last month – allowed public agencies to choose from a dozen of the leading copier companies and do business with nearly 300 independent

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Dell Going Private? VARs Like Idea As Company’s Stock Jumps

By Scott Campbell, originally published on CRN.com on Monday January 14, 2013

Dell shares jumped 16 percent Monday after Bloomberg reported that the company has started talking buyout with private-equity firms.

The Round Rock, Texas-based vendor has had discussions with at least two firms, Bloomberg reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter. Discussions are preliminary and could fall apart because the firms may not be able to secure the financing, according to the article. Still, it was enough for Wall Street to send Dell’s stock skyrocketing.

Shares were

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Channel Gung-Ho Over Microsoft’s Dell Investment

By Scott Campbell, Steven Burke, CRN Originally posted on Jan. 22, 2013

It’s a game changer.

That’s what solution provider partners are calling a potential $3 billion Microsoft investment in a bid to take Dell private in a leveraged buyout.

Solution providers, in fact, say the potential investment could result in big sales and profit gains for them as they develop tighter, more strategic enterprise solutions relationships with the two industry giants.

Peter Estes, co-founder and president of Axis Business Solutions, one of Dell’s fastest growing partners headquartered in Portsmouth,

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HP Slams $24.4 Billion Dell Private Equity Deal

Originally posted by Steven Burke, CRN Feb 5, 2013

Hewlett-Packard Tuesday slammed Dell’s $24.4 billion private equity deal, charging that the “significant debt load” will hurt its rival’s ability to “invest in new products and services.”

“Dell has a very tough road ahead,” HP said in an unattributed statement sent to the press. “The company faces an extended period of uncertainty and transition that will not be good for its customers. And with a significant debt load, Dell’s ability to invest in new products and services will be extremely limited.

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Some Partners See Upside To Dell Going Private

Originally posted by Rick Whiting, on CRN Jan. 25, 2013

Will Dell’s reported plans to go private have an impact on the company’s legions of channel partners? A plurality doesn’t think it will — and a surprising number think it will actually have a positive impact on the computer maker’s channel business and strategy, according to an exclusive CRN survey.

The survey, conducted last week, polled nearly 200 solution providers. Should Dell succeed in going private, 47 percent of those surveyed do not foresee any impact on the vendor’s channel

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How 10 VARs Became Cloud Computing Superstars

Originally by Steven Burke, on CRN Feb. 08, 2013

Future Tech Enterprise

Being a cloud powerhouse means having the muscle to build state-of-the-art data centers. That’s a market segment where Future Tech is thriving with its iFortress managed service. Now Future Tech is stepping up to one of the toughest cloud challenges, providing customers with the technical expertise to move the old broadcast paradigm model into the digital age. Future Tech CEO Bob Venero says the secret to his company’s success is simply listening to customers and responding with superior

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10 Secrets To Making The Cloud Business Transformation

Originally by Steven Burke, CRN on Feb. 08, 2013

Listen To Your Customers

Sometimes the simple things are the hardest, such as listening to customers and responding with business solutions. Bob Venero, CEO of Future Tech Enterprise, Holbrook, N.Y., said that formula has worked for his company for for 27 years. “We listen to what our customers’ goals are for the next year, two years and even three and four years out and then adjust our business to help our customers meet those goals,” said Venero. “That is the foundation

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Dell CEO Personally Lobbies Partners On Private Equity Play

Originally posted on CRN.com by Steven Burke

Dell CEO Michael Dell wants to make sure there is no misunderstanding about what his company’s $24.4 billion private equity bid means to solution provider partners.

When Michael Goldstein, president and CEO of LAN Infotech, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Dell partner, expressed reservations about the deal in a Wall Street Journal story that hit the Web on Sunday night, Dell called him directly to address any and all concerns about the deal.

“Before his call I was worried about how it would affect

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HP Partners Cheer Lane’s Decision To Step Aside As Exec Chairman

Originally Posted By Steven Burke, CRN Apr. 04, 2013

Embattled Hewlett-Packard Executive Chairman Ray Lane has stepped aside in a move that is being hailed by the company’s solution provider partners as a much needed change for the HP board of directors.

HP Thursday in a statement said Lane is vacating his position as executive chairman but retaining his seat on the board.

Lane has come under fire for a number of miscues including his early support of Leo Apotheker — the highly-criticized former CEO of HP — and HP’s

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Channel Coup: Dell Lands Vitagliano In Bid To Boost SMB Partnerships

By Scott Campbell, CRN Fri. Apr. 12, 2013

Dell has significantly boosted its channel credibility with the addition of channel icon Frank Vitagliano, a 40-year industry veteran, to its management roster.

Vitagliano, who brings with him extensive relationships with a wide swath of networking, security and infrastructure solution providers, joins Dell on Monday as its vice president of channel sales, where he will oversee all regional (SMB) and specialty solution providers.

In March Vitagliano left his role as senior vice president of Americas Partners for Juniper after spending seven years

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GE Bets Big On EMC/VMware-Backed Pivotal Big Data Venture

By Steven Burke, CRN on April 24, 2013

General Electric, the diverse $150 billion conglomerate, has made a $105 million investment in Pivotal, the ambitious new EMC-VMware big data business venture that officially launches Wednesday.

San Mateo, Calif.-based Pivotal said the investment by GE is equivalent to a 10 percent stake, putting the value of Pivotal, which includes 1,400 employees from EMC and VMware along with the best and brightest big data technology from the two vendors, at just over $1 billion.

Pivotal and GE, Fairfield, Conn., also disclosed their

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