If, like many of us, you didn’t get to sign off to attend VMware PEX in Vegas a few months ago, the upcoming changes to the Partner Competencies for Enterprise and Premier Solution Providers may not have come to your attention yet. Competency and certification changes come into force from 1st October 2012, with the revenue targets being enforced from 1st October 2013.
So, hot off the press we have highlighted the more poignant changes. Please be aware the details below are relevant to developing countries within the VMware SP Programme.
As we prepare to attend VMworld in Copenhagen next week, the recent Las Vegas event was the showcase for a number of important announcements. One presentation in particular which really caught the eye was a glimpse at technology the company is developing that will enable users to access Windows applications regardless of the type of device they are using or its operating system.
Office 365 was launched by Microsoft in late June, so it’s opportune to take a look at some of the initial industry feedback and opinions on this new cloud service.
But before we do so, let’s quickly establish exactly what Office 365 actually is. Essentially it’s an update of Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) and brings together Office, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online in an always-up-to-date cloud service, on a monthly subscription basis starting at £4 per user per month for small businesses. The Lync Online component is a combination of what were previously the Office Communications Online and Live Meeting services.
So apparently it’s not all about cloud computing and other emerging technologies. The focus for over 60% of businesses surveyed recently is firmly on integrating applications with desktop software such as Microsoft Office.
The majority (60%) of the respondents to the 2011 East of England Business Survey undertaken by Cambridge Online Systems said that they are looking to improve existing IT systems and processes in order to find efficiencies instead of buying new systems. This is primarily to deliver higher quality information to senior management to support better business decision-making.
EMC World 2011 took place in Las Vegas last week, and Paul Maritz, of VMware fame, delivered a key note covering how to decide which cloud solution to invest in. In his speech, he shows how cloud metrics help CIOs build a business case for their journey to the cloud thereby helping to decide which type of cloud to invest in.
