January 10, 2011
Consumerization of IT: How Can VARs and MSPs Profit?
The VAR Guy
Dave Courbanou writes how partners can leverage on the tablet opportunity.
“Wrap services around devices: If there’s a channel-driven demand for a tablet, more than likely that demand is driven by a specific need the tablet addresses, and more than likely there are related services or apps a VAR or MSP can provide. It may be something the tablet already does, or it may be a custom app, but either way, it’s an opportunity. VARs and MSPs could integrate in the device everything from custom software (especially easy with Android) to e-mail services and back-end hosted solutions that bring the tablet into the workplace ecosystem. Even something as simple as a customized web portal can be useful if the site is designed with the tablet in mind. VARs and MSPs also can wrap regular old tech support around the devices to help out with configuration or troubleshooting.”
2011 to be a big year for Microsoft in ERP
ZD Net
Mary Jo Foley shares details about Microsoft’s upcoming Dynamics AX ERP product.
“Microsoft officials said on January 10 to expect a new version of its Dynamics AX ERP product (codenamed AX 6) to ship in the third calendar quarter of 2011. This means if Microsoft holds to its current plans, the company could end up releasing new versions of all four of its ERP products this year. Microsoft is expected to roll out the next version of its Dynamics GP offering – known officially as Dynamics GP 2010 R2 – in the first half of 2011.”
Hands-on: Motorola’s Atrix Android phone leads secret double life as a netbook
Ars Technica
Ryan Paul writes about Motorla’s new Atrix 4G smartphone.
“The device has extremely impressive hardware specifications and a strong feature set, but its most compelling characteristic is the ability to provide a desktop-like computing experience when it is docked in a unique netbook shell. The Atrix 4G handset uses NVIDIA’s dual-core Tegra 2 chipset, has 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, a 5MP rear camera with LED flash, a front-facing VGA camera, a fingerprint reader for secure unlocking, and a four-inch display with a resolution of 960×540-a nice boost over the usual WVGA resolution that is common in high-end smartphones.”