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05/22/2007, 11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
Moderator:
Barbara Darrow, Industry Editor, CRN Magazine.
Speakers:
Lars Nordwall, Vice President of Worldwide Sales, SugarCRM, Inc.
Anthony Gold, VP & General Manager, Open Source Business, Unisys.
Anthony Roby, Partner, Accenture.
Ranga Rangachari, President & CEO, GroundWork Open Source.
Open source/Linux is gaining momentum in the mid-market because of the tangible business/technological benefits (lower cost, modular architecture, customization, etc.) But dig through the VARBusiness 500, and you will see extremely limited action from resellers selling Linux / open source to the midmarket. Why?
In August, the Institute of Partner Education and Development (a sister company to CRN Magazine) released the IT industry's first "Linux in the Channel" study (www.linuxinthechannel.com). The study shed some light on the subject polling more than 400 solution providers. The research provides insights on where the most successful Linux Solution Providers are focusing their investments and efforts that both established and aspiring Linux Solution Providers should factor into their business planning decisions.
In the 1st annual OSBC Open Source Channel Panel, hear from Linux/open source focused system integrators/solution providers what open source/Linux technologies they're most interested in evaluating/reselling, etc. Also, they'll weigh in on the "top 5" revenue opportunities for resellers in the open source/Linux channel.
Additionally, panelists will include open source/Linux vendors (GroundWork, SugarCRM) who have established US/global channel programs. They will share best practices surrounding setting up a successful channel program, keys to channel growth, as well as lessons learned that should be avoided by those companies considering a channel play.
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