Tech Data

Solution providers are being asked to change to cloud businesses as Tech Data emphasizes its ability to package and "normalize" the various components of cloud offerings in a way which smaller partners cannot; the company is seeking to do this through its TDCloud business.

Tech Data announced its partnership with Collab9 last week, and this brings the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution (HCS) to solution providers.

This move comes after the company began offering VMware vCloud hybrid cloud service to its partners earlier this month.

According to BlackBerry, its BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 mobile device management software will be now be made available through Tech Data.

This deal with distributor Tech Data comes following news that the company will become private due to a $4.7 billion deal with Fairfax Financial Holdings.

In the last few years, the former leader in mobile device hardware has had decreased earnings, flopped product releases and companywide layoffs.

Cloud applications from Tech Data have been strengthened as the company has teamed up with MessageOps; this means that 365 Command, a cloud-hosted enablement tool for Office 365, can be distributed.

365 Command is provided by Tech Data through its TDCloud business unit to VAR customers. MessageOps was acquired by Champion Solutions last November; the latter broadened the reach of its 365 Command to other VARs earlier in the year.