Channel Beat: Michael Dell Urges Solution Providers To 'Get Into The Container Game'

HP is kicking its Device-as-a-Service offensive into high gear with three new formal plans aimed at accelerating the adoption of multiyear device deals.

The new plans -- Simplified, Enhanced and Premium – include "proactive" analytics and management and even a new artificial intelligence-based Solution Recommendation tool aimed at preventing downtime and increasing worker productivity.

Bill Avey, general manager and global head of personal systems said one of the benefits of the Device-as-a-Service model is the ability for customers to change devices upward or downward based on whether a worker changes jobs or faces new application challenges.

All three plans include proactive management and analytics from an HP-developed Device-as-a-Service analytics platform, but as customers move higher up the stack, there will be more proactive management functionality.

Tech Data's headquarters and eBusiness tools are back up and running following the devastation from Hurricane Irma.

The distributor's website is once again operational with an announcement that Tech Data is now transacting through all order sources. According to a company spokesperson, Tech Data's systems came back Tuesday night after extensive work with local utility companies, power companies, and network providers. The distributor's dual data centers never went down during Hurricane Irma and were running on generators since the storm hit, according to the spokesman. The data centers came back online once service was restored.

The company said it is quickly working with its channel partners to quickly process any outstanding backlog.

Fresh off the introduction of Pivotal Container Service, Dell Technologies Chairman, President and CEO Michael Dell is urging solution providers to get into the container game by tapping into a large and eager pool of VMware customers.

In an exclusive interview with CRN, Dell said Pivotal Container Service, which is the result of a partnership between Pivotal, VMware and Google, is a natural for existing VMware customers and an obvious opportunity for solution providers.

At the annual VMWorld conference in Las Vegas late last month, VMware and Pivotal – two members of the Dell Technologies family of "strategically aligned businesses" – introduced the Pivotal Container Service along with Google Cloud.

Dell said large, long-time VMware partners would be "crazy" to miss the opportunity presented by Pivotal Container Service, and emphasized that integrating the service is crucial to staying "relevant in the future."