IBM just rolled out its first partner program specifically designed for managed service providers. That makes it a great time for Craig and James to catch up with IBM Ecosystem GM Kate Woolley to get not only the full scoop on the new program, but also the channel's AI opportunities with the company, its relationship with the hyperscalers, and more.

Low-Earth orbit satellite internet is becoming increasingly popular not only as a backup to fiber and other connectivity technology, but improvements in latency are making it the right option for some businesses, particularly in rural areas. Further consider that the future is bright for LEO satellites. Craig and James wanted to learn more about the technology's upside and how channel partners can add it to their portfolios, so we asked Ed Fox, CTO at MetTel, the aggregator that sources LEO connectivity.

James is back from his trip to the Telarus Partner Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. So it only makes sense that this edition of the Channel Futures podcast, Coffee with Craig and James, features a couple of highlights from the event: James' interviews with Telarus' chief marketing officer and the CEO of Adaptiv Networks, a Telarus partner. (There are some audio difficulties with the first interview. We encourage you to watch this podcast with subtitles at: https://vimeo.com/videos/999672145)

In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, Craig and James sit down with Fred Voccola, the outspoken CEO of Kaseya, the IT management software giant. The guys learn all about the success of the recently launched Kaseya 365 subscription service for MSPs and get some advice for managed service providers ahead of Voccola's appearance at the MSP Summit, brought to you by the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, Sept. 16-19, in Atlanta. You can register for that event here: https://themspsummit.com. We'll also recognize the top company in this year's MSP 501, and in a turnabout-is-fair-play moment, James challenges Craig to a history lesson vis-à-vis "This Is Your Life."

What does the future hold for channel partners who find themselves in a state of flux following Broadcom's acquisition of VMware? Craig and James welcome industry experts from Telarus and MSP KeyStone Solutions to offer their guidance. Plus, a preview of the 2024 MSP 501 list, some big industry-event content coming to the Channel Futures website, and a litany of seemingly random topics ranging from movies to soda pricing to grocery shopping.

Nerdio CEO Vadim Vladimirskiy joins Craig and James to talk desktop as a service and the direction his company is headed this year.

In this episode of the Channel Futures podcast, we talk to Channel Acuity's Cary Tengler and Onward Communications' Tricia Ward about the ramifications of ScanSource's announcement that it will start a customer-facing agency that works alongside Intelisys, its tech services distributor business.

The guys welcome esteemed channel analyst, Jay McBain of Canalys, now a colleague of Craig and James, to the podcast. He offers a great take on artificial intelligence in the channel, Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, and previews some of his many sessions at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

The latest Channel Futures podcast takes a deep dive into what you need to know for this year's MSP 501, the largest and most comprehensive survey of managed service providers worldwide. Debbie Kane with the Omdia Channel Research & Consulting Practice joins Craig and James to discuss reasons for applying, as well as changes to the 2024 application that make it easier to submit. Learn more about the application and apply here: https://www.channelfutures.com/about-msp-501

The Channel Futures podcast welcomes Amy Bailey and Kathryn Rose of the Channel Marketing Association. Plus, the latest editions to the Channel Partners Conference & Expo agenda. And the guys play a game of Family Feud. There's actually a tie-in! Go here to take the Channel Marketing Association's salary survey before it closes!: https://form.jotform.com/233326429723154

Craig and James sit down with Opkalla's Keith Hawley to learn more about the channel partner's business model, how to talk with customers about artificial intelligence, and much more. Plus, we preview some big changes to the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo, March 11-14, in Las Vegas.