Here we go again! As I do each week, I am really enjoying bringing our readers a quick round-up of the blog coverage I didn’t manage to get to during the week prior. We have been pretty busy around here at SMB Nation in gearing up for our SMB 150 Awards, and our Spring Conference. We also, celebrated the one-month anniversary of Cloud Nation, a new platform introduced to help VARs, MSPs and SMBs create and successfully grow cloud practices. A reminder that voting has been extended to Feb. 22 for the 3rd Annual SMB Nation 150 Awards; go to www.SMB150.com, to vote for all of your industry favorites…
Also note that this year’s Spring Conference will be held May 3-5, 2013, at the Microsoft Redmond Campus. For more information, and to register, go to: http://spring.smbnation.com/.
As for other live industry events, Harrybbb will be out and about attending Zenith InfoTech’s exclusive, educational seminar called “MSP to CSP – a Practical Roadmap.” It will be conducted by Richard Reiffer a professional cloud expert and owner of Global Cloud Consultants, and will be held in Seattle this Tuesday from 9am to 3pm. According to Zenith Infotech, the workshop to provide a real-world, practical approach to becoming a successful Cloud Service Provider.
As you get through your busy Monday, please still take some time to peruse a few snippets of information that we didn’t get a chance to bring you last week….let us also know if there was something we might have missed, which is not mentioned in this entry…because as you know…we love news!
1.) CMIT Solutions Adds Two New Positions in Marketing, Product Development: CMIT Solutions last week said it appointed Lindsey Wohrer as the organization’s director of marketing communications and Mike Celayeta as the director of product development.
In her new role as the director of marketing communications, Wohrer will work closely with CMIT Solution’s team of marketers and digital specialists to spearhead the development, coordination, and implementation of marketing and public relations initiatives. She will oversee the creation and execution of all printed materials and online collateral, as well as all media relations and social media initiatives.
As the director of product development, Celayeta will lead the CMIT Solutions support and development team in conducting market research, expanding CMIT’s product and service offering, ensuring service delivery, and refining back office infrastructure.
Exceeding 2012 growth goals, the new hires join CMIT as the brand expands to top-tier U.S. markets in places such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Southern California. Thus far in 2012, 17 new franchise owners have opened offices. And, revenues in 2011 and 2012, from October (2011) through September (2012), are up 32 percent on average at offices open more than two years.
2.) Birch Payment Plus Designed to Address SMB Start-Up Needs: Birch Communications launched a new program, called Birch Payment Plus, designed exclusively to address the needs of new startup companies, or credit-challenged business customers.
Birch Payment Plus is a custom-tailored program offered to prospective customers who, following a credit check, do not meet the normal Birch credit requirements. Whether it is because a customer has a new business with no “track record” yet established, or due to past payment history, the new Birch Payment Plus program should meet their needs. Business customers may establish service with Birch following a small upfront payment, and then an automated monthly payment process is established using a credit card. After six months of good payment history the account achieves regular account status with Birch. In addition, there is no minimum credit score required.
3.) Zultys Mobile Communicator brings Wi-Fi Enabled feature to Android Devices: Zultys last week released its Zultys Mobile Communicator 2.0, currently available to download from the Google Play Store.
Zultys Mobile Communicator 2.0 brings the built-in SIP softphone function to the Android platform among many other great improvements. The softphone feature, available over Wi-Fi connection, enables cost savings to businesses everywhere by greatly reducing phone charges while increasing productivity by providing employees with essential tools.
The Zultys Mobile Communicators application, also available for iPhone™, iPad and BlackBerry, provides remote and mobile employees with the same Unified Communication benefits as their in office colleagues. Zultys Mobile Communicator allows mobile workers to access their company’s phone directory, view co-workers availability, and even send secure chat messages directly from the application, along with a myriad of other innovative features. Zultys Mobile Communicator provides users all the means of staying in touch with their colleagues from their mobile device.
4.) Level Platforms Voted Best RMM Vendor in Canada: Level Platforms was voted Winner – Best Remote Monitoring and Management in the 6th Annual Reseller Choice Awards. With over 16,000 votes cast, the Reseller Choice Awards are the most comprehensive IT channel survey in Canada.
The Reseller Choice Awards is the most recent award that Level Platforms has won based on independent end-user nominations and voting.
5.) ScanSource Communications Named Polycom North America Disty of the Year: ScanSource Communications was named North America Distributor of the Year by Polycom. ScanSource Communications received the award at TEAM Polycom 2013, the manufacturer’s annual sales and partner conference, in recognition of its significant impact in growing Polycom’s presence in North America. ScanSource Communications has been recognized by Polycom for its strong partnership for a record tenth year in a row.
The annual TEAM Polycom Partner Awards showcase partners who exhibited outstanding sales performance in 2012 in each of the major partner categories and for excellence in innovation, industry focus, customer services, and integration.
