Excerpt:

Cizmar thinks that value-added partners — those who integrate disparate services and applications, those who build applications, and those who support customers — will be more valuable than ever in a cloudy future. And that will be true whether the infrastructure provider of choice is Salesforce.com, Amazon.com, Microsoft, NetSuite, add-your-own-favorite-company here.

“Solution providers provide [domain] and technology implementation expertise. That will still be needed. Look at Salesforce.com or NetSuite. We are a tech company and we have a partner that implements our NetSuite solution,” he notes.

Michael’s Comments:

“I would say there’s room for another OS,” said Michael Cizmar, president of MC+A, a Chicago custom application development house that works with Google appliances and APIs as well as the iPhone and Windows Mobile. “There will be two platforms. One will be Microsoft, and one will be Android.”

“Android is very attractive to developers because they can use their skills,” Cizmar continued. “The iPhone
is still very closed and requires a special set of skills to develop for. The only reason you go there is because of consumer popularity.”

Read the whole article:
http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid96_gci1352617,00.html

Michael was interviewed by crn.com for an article posted today. CRN’s article covers the growing Google Partner channel and how it compares to Microsoft robust partner channel.

Keypoints

• Google believes their new reseller program for Google Apps Premier will put them on par with Microsoft, as a channel vendor
• Google has been open and willing to included partner feedback moving forward.
• As a Partner, MC+A has observed Googles williness to educate partners, and pass on leads.

The Quote:
“Google has been very helpful in educating the partner community and providing training, marketing and lead referrals,” Cizmar said. “We’ve encountered no channel conflict.”

As always, if you have any questions about Google, SharePoint or how we can help you more efficiently integrate those or other technologies for your business, contact us at sales@mcplusa.com.

 While a strong advocate for innovation, Michael believes that even in a “cloudy” world, there will still be a great need for solution companies who can add value by efficiently implementing new technologies across the enterprise.

According to Michael, those who prove their expertise by developing applications that make the cloud more efficient and productive, will continue to play a vital role in the technology world.  In addition, enterprise users win as talented developers are incented to showcase their abilities to an otherwise difficult to reach audience.   

As Michael notes, “If you have an application, and put it on the Google marketplace, you’re immediately exposed to 500,000 customers.”  With this type of opportunity for developers, and the resulting benefits to enterprise users, cloud computing – and innovative companies like MC+A – may be in the process of creating the perfect storm. 

Read the full interview here: 

http://channelmarker.blogs.techtarget.com/2008/06/12/the-impending-cloud/

http://searchitchannel.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid96_gci1276994,00.html

As always, if you have any questions about Google, SharePoint or how we can help you more efficiently integrate those or other technologies for your business, contact us at sales@mcplusa.com.

http://www.crn.com/small-business/200000993