Channel Pro - February 2008

FROM THE PUBLISHER

FEB

VOLUME 2 NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2008

EDITORIAL OFFICES

EH Publishing, Inc.
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Framingham, MA 01701
508-663-1500 ph
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www.ChannelProOnline.com

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

It’s February, and because it’s 2008, it’s a leap year—a pre-

cious gift of time in a 366-day year. That’s like reaching

into a pocket of a coat you haven’t worn in a while and

finding $100. But what do you do with it? Put it in the

bank? Treat it as a bonus meant to be spent on an indulgence?

That’s a tough call for many of us.

Between juggling work and family commitments, a little extra time can go a long way too. But like that found money, you have to decide how to spend it. Do you use the day to work on an overdue project? Hole up in your office and collect your financials for the tax man? Slip out of town for a long weekend with friends or family?

Unfortunately, the decision to spend the extra time on business matters usually carries the day. So it seems fitting that our cover story this month spotlights the growing number of business applications designed specifically for mobile devices. To find out what some independent software vendors have come up with to help your customers make the most of their time away from the office, turn to “Business Apps on the Go” by Megan Santosus. These mobile applications can not only help your clients recapture some down time, but they can increase your opportunities for new revenues as you expand the solutions in your high-tech toolbox.

In the article “Not-So-Dangerous Liaisons,” Senior Contributing Editor Rich Freeman reports that the fears some channel pros have about partnering with their peers are wholly unfounded. In fact, many IT professionals say that working with other companies

with complementary skills and a reach into different geographic markets enables them to offer more complete solutions to their customers that positively impact their bottom lines. It also gives them the extra hands they need to provide timely service and ensure customer loyalty.

Tom Anderson, the author of our Peer-to-Peer profile this month, certainly knows the value of time—and the value of partnering. As a one-man IT shop, he must juggle running his business and having a life. His suggestions for you? “Get involved with your IT community … Be open-minded and don’t feel threatened.”

That’s good advice for us all. Have a great month—and make the most of your extra day!

Warm regards,

EDITORIAL

Editor and Publisher

Michael Siggins — msiggins@ehpub.com

Managing Editor

Cecilia Galvin — cgalvin@ehpub.com

Senior Consulting Editor

Rich Freeman — cpeditor@ehpub.com

Copy Editor

Colleen Frye

Contributing Writers

Tom Anderson, Rachel Cericola, John Danielowich
James Gaskin, Samuel Greengard, Carolyn Heinze
Megan Santosus, Arlen Schweiger, Martin Sinderman
Joanne Sujansky, Jeff Volpe

Art Director David Waugh

Contributing Artists

Roger Ball, Webb Chappell, Elwood Smith Advisory Board

John Ball, Microsoft Corp.
Robert Danese, NASBA
Todd C. Garrigues, Intel Americas
Dean Madsen, Amazon Consulting
Dan Schwab, D&H Distributing

CORPORATE

President

Kenneth D. Moyes — kmoyes@ehpub.com Vice President

David Hanchette — dhanchette@ehpub.com
Vice President, Marketing
Christine Ayers — cayers@ehpub.com
Director of Circulation
Elizabeth Crews — ecrews@ehpub.com
Director of Research