What’s hot? I guess that depends on your definition of hot and, more importantly, your period of review. So, for the purposes of the discussion, it’s anything that’s made the industry sit up and take notice during the past 12 months. Here are my top picks in 500 words or less.
• Software as a Service (SaaS).
The hosted delivery of desktop software is back on the map after hitting a bump in the road with the dot-com crash. Increased bandwidth, improved network security and user comfort with doing business online have helped make SaaS an emerging opportunity for service providers and channels alike. The beauty of the model is pay-as-you-go economics, low or no maintenance and no IT expertise required, and access to leading and up-to-date applications. The model has been helped along by the viral success of Salesforce.com and now the availability of free hosted apps from the likes of Google. I expect next year we’ll really see greater movement here, particularly with regard to channel distribution. Several companies like Verio, nGenX, XO Communications, 19 Marketplace (MySaaS Online) and Perimeter Internetworking are looking for agents to help them sell SaaS into the small and medium business markets.
• Mobility.
Anything wireless made headlines this year. On the consumer side, Apple’s iPhone was the big news. Its interface is interesting, probably ground-breaking, but the more compelling developments are in the total enablement of the mobile business. Smartphones are the accessory of choice for most executives these days. The demand for more unwired capabilities only will grow. Ultramobile devices are starting to emerge to make interactive applications beyond e-mail a reality for the on-the-go worker. It’s not stopping there, 4G technologies with truly big bandwidth are going to transform the mobile executive experience. Agents and VARs turned wireless dealers have a leg up here with their existing customer bases. Becoming the mobility expert now will only pay dividends over time.
• Unified Communications.
Like SaaS, UC has been in the vernacular for what seems like forever, but 2007 saw real breakthroughs in bringing about the ultimate holistic user experience. Microsoft’s entry, while so late in the game, might be what it takes to push this concept to the user’s desktops — territory the software giant already dominates. The proliferation of the capability is exciting; the competitive landscape not so much. Microsoft’s entry not only competes with Cisco Systems Inc., but with all the emerging network-based offers from telephone companies. It’s going to be an interesting fight. Good news for partners is they all need you to help them go to market.
• SIP Trunking.
This may be an odd addition to such a short list, but I added it because the confusion/reticence about VoIP is rampant among end users and their channels — no kidding. Agents are holding back on hosted VoIP products for quality and implementation reasons. SIP trunking represents an easy VoIP sale wherein customers keep their existing gear and just save. It’s a nice fast-follower strategy for channel partners and their customers that want to take advantage of VoIP without the risks.
Let me know if I missed one? Managed services and Ethernet are two others I debated mentioning, but the hotness quotient is subjective. (Just ask Britney or Paris.) I’m sure they’ll make my list next year. What made yours? E-mail me at khenderson@vpico.com.
What’s hot? I guess that depends on your definition of hot and, more importantly, your period of review. So, for the purposes of the discussion, it’s anything that’s made the industry sit up and take notice during the past 12 months. Here are my top picks in 500 words or less.
Email this article
Add a comment
Printer version
Order reprints
RSS Feed
Bookmark article