MicroScope articles from August 2006

MicroScope archives from August 2006

Summer cleaning bug grips major vendors.
August 7, 2006... Perhaps it is the spring cleaning bug delayed, but there is something about the summer that encourages vendors to dust down their terms and conditions and tinker with the way they work with distributors and resellers. Over the past few...

Agenda.(calendar)(Calendar)
August 7, 2006... September 4-6 September Storage Networking World Europe 2006 Congress Centre, Messe Frankfurt? Web: www.snweurope.com Tel: 01252 875203 E-mail: fred.monsone@ a3communications.co.uk 7 September SAP World Tour UK '06 The ICC, Birmingham...

Podcasting's dirty secret.(pornography)(Column)
August 7, 2006... A truly great man, Angry of Mayfair by name, once seethed memorably that "I hate pornography - I haven't even got a pornograph!" His words came back to me the other day as I found myself researching the phenomena of podnography. Actually, a...

Tenders.(Public notice)
August 7, 2006... 134840, Tender Invitation UK-Bury St Edmunds: catalogue software The supply of a catalogue management system. 117681, Tender Invitation UK-Ripley: document management An electronic document management system. 120798, Tender...

Five Minute Interview.(Interview)(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... What is the best and/or worst advice you have received and from whom? The best advice I ever received was: "The more people you speak to, the more opportunities you find. The more opportunities you find, the more business you close." The worst:...

Wireless connection for all.
August 7, 2006... The networking market is evolving so quickly that it is difficult to keep track of what products are for enterprises and those that are for consumers these days. The technology is in demand by all due to broadband and greater computer...

All change.
August 7, 2006... Change was in the air at Microsoft's annual Worldwide Partner conference in Boston in mid-July, as the company announced a series of initiatives it is implementing as it moves to change the face of its business. Alongside the much-expected...

Is your e-mail secure?
August 7, 2006... Is your e-mail secure? How would you feel if your payslip arrived on a postcard, or even in an unsealed envelope? Would you send confidential details about unpublished accounts, staff assessments, or crucial proposals in a see-through...

AMD to brush up on service and support.
August 7, 2006... The commercial stable image platform (CSIP) will be rolled out to AMD's mass channel next month once the chip manufacturer has made improvements to service and support for all components offered in the initiative. Launched in September...

Perfect buying time.(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... The advantages of being a private company, with lower compliance costs and less pressure on financial quarters, was one of the attractions for WatchGuard in its acceptance of a bid from Francisco Partners. The deal between the UTM...

Security is key consideration when switching to a VoIP network.
August 7, 2006... Resellers operating in the voice sector need to develop security skills or partner with those that have relevantwith expertise as the voice and data networks combine. As businesses consider VoIP adoption, the need to ensure the phone...

Fire destroys archives.
August 7, 2006... The dangers of archiving data off-site without an alternative alternative back- up have been highlighted by a fire at back- up and business continuity specialist Iron Mountain's archive facility. Resellers have long been urged to offer...

Ex-directors arrested on back-dating charges.
August 7, 2006... With the storage industry increasingly driven by compliance and regulation issues as a sales tool, SAN-switch vendor Brocade suffered humiliation after its former chief executive and financial director were charged by the US Securities and...

Doing dealers damage.
August 7, 2006... Cisco partners have warned that recent changes to the vendor's public sector partner programme (PSPP) have gentrified the channel and will fail to encourage the growth of small businesses affiliated with the company. Over the past three...

Credit insurance crunch time for eBuyer and Euler.
August 7, 2006... A pivotal meeting between credit insurer Euler Hermes and eBuyer has been scheduled for today (7 August) and unless the on-line reseller can provide up-to-date management and company accounts, all remaining cover could be pulled. Last...

Tech Data is poor performer.(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... All is not well within Tech Data's EMEA operation after the chairman at the distributor blamed the performance in the region and tough market conditions for its shortfall in second quarter revenue and profit forecasts. The broadliner had...

SWsoft sparks competition.
August 7, 2006... As UK customer demand for server virtualisation increases, new entrants to the vendor community are arriving on the scene, with the channel being viewed as the ideal route to market. This week marked the arrival of the latest entrant to...

Pushing financial help for SMEs.
August 7, 2006... Timing is crucial in terms of cracking the SME market with accountancy software, with most businesses looking to buy in the first three months of setting up. There is also a chance to tempt customers away from ageing ledger-based systems,...

Rising popularity for unauthorised supply.
August 7, 2006... At the beginning of the year, Hardware.com declined an audit from Cisco and rescinded its accredited partner status, leading to concerns that the benefits of accreditation were outweighed by the profits made dealing in the unauthorised channel...

Hosted software the next step for Swyx channel partners.
August 7, 2006... Software-based IP telephony vendor Swyx plans to change the business models of channel partners still further and will appoint a data-focused distribution partner in the UK by the end of the year. The Germany-based vendor, which specialises...

BIOS buy will bring long-term benefits for all.(Business Integrated Operating Systems)(Associated Network Solutions )(Brief article)
August 7, 2006... As revealed by MicroScope last week, Associated Network Solutions (ANS) has spent an undisclosed sum on the acquisition of Cisco premier partner and security specialist Business Integrated Operating Systems (BIOS). The deal will bring in...

Privacy guaranteed.
August 7, 2006... Years ago in a previous life at a publishing company the screens were green and they all had anti-glare covers that were really useful - until you stabbed your finger at a story on screen and dented it. In those days, the filters were to...

LCDs are hot property.
August 7, 2006... Q: What is the current state of the monitor market? A: The UK monitor market is undergoing its third major transition. The CRT ruled the monitor market for a long time but was replaced by 15in, 17in and more recently 19in LCDs. Now the third...

A touch of hard drive magic.
August 7, 2006... Other than cables, if there is one product that is hard to review it is the humble laptop hard drive. That is not because there isn't much to be said about it but because it should be a case of a reseller choosing a solid product, putting...

Five Minute Interview.(Interview)
August 14, 2006... What is the best/worst advice you have received and from whom? Whoever told me to "never give up" wanted their head looking at. Sometimes you should know when you're beat and slink away like you never even wanted it. Other than that, my mother...

Agenda.
August 14, 2006... September 4-6 September Storage Networking World Europe 2006 Congress Centre, Messe Frankfurt? Web: www.snweurope.com Tel: 01252 875203 E-mail: fred.monsone@ a3communications.co.uk 7 September SAP World Tour UK '06 The ICC, Birmingham...

Storage simplicity for SMEs.
August 14, 2006... One of the biggest challenges for anyone responsible for data storage is visualising the information and controlling where it resides and back?up procedures. The good old days of just throwing more tin at the problem are gone, with the...

Computer market sees red, but notebooks remain in the pink.
August 14, 2006... Historically, the summer month of June has always been one of the weaker PC months in the UK, writes Philipp Wagner. In June 2006, the total PC market volume went into the red, with nine per cent year-on-year volume decline. The seasonal...

A flashy accessory.
August 14, 2006... The flash storage device has undergone continuous evolution, leading to a huge rise in capacity, vastly improved security and a shift away from the standard key fob design. Things are set to change once again with an innovative little twist...

Tenders.
August 14, 2006... 152708, Tender Invitation UK-London: computers Provision of laptop and desktop PCs. 147362, Tender Invitation UK-London: internet network Hosted web analytics services. 146147, Tender Invitation UK-Hengoed: media delivery The...

Confidence in convergence.(Telephony Technology)
August 14, 2006... Convergence - Regaining the Faith Is the adoptiontake-up of voice and data convergence little more than an example of fashion winning out over function? Too many organisations have invested in expensive new networks simply to run IP...

Plug-in contact tool.(Orange Communications Inc.)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... One of the things that can set your teeth on edge when you leave the comfort of the office is the question of how to communicate with the outside world. There are various tools available, most of which involve investing in an expensive...

Energetic discussions.
August 14, 2006... ENERGETIC DISCUSSIONS The Institute of Directors (IoD) recently ran a lively one-day London conference in London on energy policy. And nNot on when to switching off the desktop off when leaving the office -- although energy efficiency came into...

Stockpiles reach new heights.
August 14, 2006... Weak demand for PCs has caused inventory levels to build to the size of a small mountain which analysts believe will be hard to wash through this year, potentially dampening tier one adoption of next-generation processors. Resellers are...

Apple enters the Intel fold.
August 14, 2006... At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last week, CEO Steve Jobs announced the completion of the vendor's move to the Intel platform with the release of its Intel-based Mac Pro and XServe ranges. He boasted the company had managed to...

Security company subject of IBM acquisition rumour.
August 14, 2006... MessageLabs is being mooted as the next managed security provider to be acquired in the ongoing wave of consolidation. The current industry trend has already seen SurfControl buy BlackSpider and Microsoft take over Frontbridge, and IBM is...

Websense chooses partner to address SMEs.
August 14, 2006... Websense has signalled its intent to attack the SME market with the addition of distributor e92plus to focus on the sector. e92plus last week joined InTechnology and Computerlinks in Websense's distribution channel and was chosen to...

Lessons to learn.
August 14, 2006... System builders are furious over Intel supply constraints on next-generation desktop and server CPUs and are being forced to buy through brokers at a premium as the education sector refreshes IT systems in preparation for the new academic year....

Sphinx pulls out of running for distribution contract.(Sphinx Ltd.)(SurfControl Inc.)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... SurfControl's search for a full distributor has been criticised as Sphinx pulled out of the bidding because the security vendor's terms and conditions offered no advantage. Sphinx and one other distributor were vying for the vendor's first...

Elonex proceeds into administration.
August 14, 2006... At a creditors meeting in London, suppliers have voted in accord with Deloitte & Touche to proceed with the administration of Elonex Plc. Last month, Deloitte called a creditors meeting for 8 August after selling off parts of the business,...

Brocade snaps up McDATA.
August 14, 2006... Consolidation in the storage space continued at pace last week when Brocade unveiled plans for a $100m (?52.5m) takeover of McDATA. The year so far has been full of acquisitions, with Sun Microsystems buying StorageTek in April, ADIC...

Western Digital distributor count reaches seven.
August 14, 2006... Western Digital is in the process of has appointinged Hammer as its seventh UK distributor to work alongside Ideal Hardware in the enterprise space. The hard driveHD vendor currently works with broadliners Ingram Micro and Computer 2000,...

UTM take-up stifled by ageing platforms.(Unified Threat Management)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... Despite its rapid maturity as a technology, unified threat management (UTM) take-up is still lagging with 80 per cent of customers on old platforms. UTM has gone from a buzzword to a high growth product sector over the last 12 months, but...

TPM hits back at rivals following Cisco criticism.
August 14, 2006... Comms-care has responded to criticism from rivals over its business model, stating that its premier partner status is the nearest match for a company of its size and that less than a third of its business comes through maintenance on the...

Micro-P plays SMART.
August 14, 2006... Xerox UK appears to be winning a power struggle against senior European management over the shape of its distribution channel and despite early indications, Micro-P may continue working with the vendor. As revealed last week, channel...

Fibernet sale on the cards.(Fibernet Group PLC)(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... Fibernet, the Cisco and Huawei specialist systems integrator, confirmed last week that it is in discussions over the potential sale of the company. In a statement to investors Fibernet said: "[We] can confirm that we have received an...

Indirect still Citrix choice.
August 14, 2006... Citrix Systems has been quick to reassure its partners that it will not take its Subscription Advantage (SA) renewal business direct in the UK after reports revealed that is the case stateside. SA is a 12-month contract that entitles...

FAST claws back record fees.
August 14, 2006... July saw the Federation Against Software Theft (FAST) recover ?1.4m in unpaid software licences for members of the software industry - a record for the organisation. Given that the total amount recovered in the past six years is ?7.3m,...

Phoenix partner programme reborn with eye on MS skills.
August 14, 2006... Phoenix IT Services is to re-focus its channel partner programme on convergence and Microsoft skills following the recent departure of channel head Paul Salliss after just 18 months in the role (see MicroScope, 26 June). The change in tack...

Virtual vendor debuts comms distribution deal.(Brief article)
August 14, 2006... With margins in IT distribution at wafer-thin levels it takes brave men to venture into the UK IT distribution business, but ex-EquIP and Data Connectivity founders Neil Ledger and Ian Morris have started up a business focused on start-ups. ...

Money maze.
August 14, 2006... Tiewed from this side of the Irish Sea, the UK's continuing failure to compl There was a time during the dot com boom whenthat just the mention of IT would result in shares in any business being snapped up for extortionate prices. But since...

Five Minute Interview.(Interview)(Brief article)
August 21, 2006... What is the thing most people do not know about you? I used to sell vibratorsenvironmental test equipment for testing products - missiles. What temptation can you not resist? Chocolate, sweets, women. Which bit of technology would...

Quick as a flash.(Brief article)
August 21, 2006... In a news article a couple of weeks ago MicroScope pointed out that the world of accounting software has changed considerably, providing number-crunching users with massive time savings. One of those companies quoted, which is currently...

Inkjet sales continue journey along steep downward path.
August 21, 2006... A substantial increase in the year-on-year decline in the inkjet market was experienced in June, with total unit sales down 20 per cent on the same month last year, writes Neil Frackiewicz. It comes as no surprise to see that the A4 market...

The road to profit.
August 21, 2006... In February, Canalys reported that overall European mobile navigation software shipments in the fourth quarter 2005 reached nearly 2.8 million units, an increase of 47 per cent in comparison with the third quarter. With only ten per cent of all...

Exceeding the speed limit made easy.(WinFast SOL evaluated)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
August 21, 2006... It's time for a bit of system builder bread and butter - a motherboard review in the shape of a WinFast SOL series board from Foxconn. Before we even get into the specs and compatibility list, the image of a speedometer being pushed to the...

Geared up for iPod extras.
August 21, 2006... Forget for the moment Apple's problems about restating accounts and recent articles raising concerns that the company would struggle if CEO Steve Jobs ever left, and instead concentrate on the proven success of the iPod. Apple has managed...

Inside OutA small target.(small businesses )
August 21, 2006... Ever since I started working in IT (and that was some time ago), the small business market has had a reputation similar to King Solomon's Mines -- full of gold, but impossible to find. Tapping into this market is difficult for a number of...

Ready for change.(Digital audio players)
August 21, 2006... REVERSE CHARGE HMRC recently ran a series of seminars to outline how the proposed introduction of reverse charge would work. Most businesses will be affected by these changes. While suppliers will be in the technology sector, most...

HP dealers demand pricing consistency.
August 21, 2006... UK resellers want consistent regional pricing from Hewlett-Packard on high-end servers after being undercut by the vendor's direct salesforce in other parts of Europe, carving up large multiple-territory contracts. After winning deals with...

Joint venture targets greater economies of scale.
August 21, 2006... In a nod to the shrinking system builder channel Gigabyte and ASUStek have formed a joint venture (JV) to generate greater economies of scale in the motherboard and VGA card markets. As part of the agreement, Gigabyte will transfer the...

HSBC vulnerability highlights internet trading risks.
August 21, 2006... The furore surrounding the vulnerability of HSBC's on-line banking service to attack has raised awareness of the risks associated with business via the internet but SME attacks still go unnoticed. Last week, Cardiff University researchers...

Directive headache for data.(Markets in Financial Instruments Directive)(Investment Service Directive)
August 21, 2006... EU legislation replacing the Investment Service Directive (ISD) will come into force next year, providing a framework to which financial services organisations must adhere and creating a potential data storage nightmare. The Markets in...

Bell to carry Overland's SME tapes.
August 21, 2006... Bell Microproducts is close to signing with Overland to promote the ARCvault range of tape libraries aimed at SMEs, extending the companies' existing relationship in the US to Europe. This is the first vendor to join Bell since the...

InTechnology could make Avnet wish list.
August 21, 2006... Avnet has outlined its acquisition strategy after it was mooted as a suitor for InTechnology's UK storage distribution operation, but Magirus has also emerged as a potential acquirer. MicroScope revealed interest was mounting in...

InTechnology contract with Websense in jeopardy.
August 21, 2006... The distribution agreement between InTechnology and Websense is in doubt following the distributor's decision to team up with the vendor's main competitor. Last week, InTechnology was named SurfControl's first full distributor after Sphinx...

Oracle consults SMEs.
August 21, 2006... Hot on the heals of an SME distribution agreement with Ingram Micro, Oracle has been talking up its credentials in the sector. With its heritage in the high-end and its use of direct sales Oracle has widely been viewed with scepticism when...

Scalable gives voice to secure convergence.(Scalable Networks )(Brief article)
August 21, 2006... Forming a niche for itself in the small but growing ABC (anything but Cisco) side of the networking market, systems integrator Scalable Networks is pushing a new corporate message of secure convergence. While the security aspects behind a...