CompTIA Blog

Welcome to the first installment of the “Channel-Lands,” a weekly review of the top news stories, trends and events in the channel. Each week, I’ll comb through the leading channel and technology publication websites for the big and significant stories you may have missed while servicing your customers and building profitable businesses. I welcome your suggestions for stories and issues that should be included in “Channel-Lands.”Google Can’t Catch the WaveSeveral channel pubs noted the demise of ...

The Breakaway announcements just keep coming – all new tools and applications to help the IT channel increase business and launch into new markets.  Check out our latest round-up of Breakaway news:The Enterprise Mobility Solutions division of Motorola Inc. (Booth #504) added to its mobile computing portfolio with the ES400 global Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA). The ES400’s integrated voice and data capabilities empower mobile professionals with the information and interaction they need to tr ...

The Breakaway announcements just keep coming – all new tools and applications to help the IT channel increase business and launch into new markets.  Check out our latest round-up of Breakaway news:The Enterprise Mobility Solutions division of Motorola Inc. (Booth #504) added to its mobile computing portfolio with the ES400 global Enterprise Digital Assistant (EDA). The ES400’s integrated voice and data capabilities empower mobile professionals with the information and interaction they need to tr ...

Every couple of years a new focus seems to envelop the channel, with managed services and cloud computing getting a majority of the buzz until earlier in 2010. Healthcare IT is all the rage in the industry and, like the two previously mentioned topics, there’s a real business opportunity behind it.  When President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February of 2009, it set the wheels in motion. Approximately $17 billion was set aside as incentive payments to en ...

Each August during Breakaway, the CompTIA Educational Foundation presents its Creating Futures Awards to IT and philanthropic leaders. These leaders have gone above and beyond to support Creating Futures which provides free IT training and certification opportunities to populations who have historically been under-represented in the IT workforce, including U.S. military veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, minorities, at-risk youth and dislocated workers. This year, we’re honoring: Ri ...

Looks like creativity and IT go hand in hand.  We asked you to submit your three-minute videos for our PitchIT contest for Breakaway, showcasing the best new products and businesses in the IT channel.  Your videos were creative and entertaining, but most importantly, you showed us that you can sell IT. Our top eight finalists based on vote count (note, we took away votes received repeatedly from the same IP address as we talked about in our voting scandal post) are…drum roll, please:Coolest New ...

At last the mighty task is done;Resplendent in the western sunThe Bridge looms mountain high;Its titan piers grip ocean floor,Its great steel arms link shore with shore,Its towers pierce the sky. These words were penned in 1937 upon completion of the Golden Gate Bridge by chief engineer Joseph Straus. The poem captures both the vision and grandeur of this modern marvel; considered one of the finest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century. What is most remarkable about the bridge is th ...

Our Breakaway show floor is teaming with special offers and new product launches for the IT channel.  Check out our latest daily round-up of who and what to see next week in San Antonio.This year the current U.S. capital gains tax rate is due to expire on 12/31/2010. Most observers in the merger and acquisition industry are estimating that business owners will have to forfeit an additional 5-10 percent of their business equity if a sale of their business does not complete by the end of the year. ...

This past week there was a lot of coverage of cybersecurity measures and their effect on government agencies as well as the private sector. Recent estimates valued the material impact of cybercrime on top U.S. organizations at $171 million dollars annually.  Meanwhile, various federal departments and agencies are starting to mobilize their efforts on cybersecurity.  In addition to cybersecurity threats, health IT is an important issue that has been gaining the attention of inside the b ...

Policymakers and the military are continuing their focus on cybersecurity, with the military stepping up hiring, nations acknowledging the threat of cybersecurity and HHS working to strengthen security around online medical records.  Meanwhile, DowJones VentureSource has announced an upswing in VC investments.  The stories below highlight key policy news from the week of July 19.Military Stepping Up Cybersecurity Hiring – The Air Force has granted hiring officials special authority to use a stre ...

 “May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future,” remains one of my favorite quotes of all time. The author is unknown, but it truly summarizes the wishes of most 12 year olds. While I’m still waiting for my own personal jet pack to be delivered, new and  innovative technologies are introduced to the masses each and every day. Imagine running into a time traveler from 1970, visiting  the local electronics store for the first time in 2010. There are a host of things he wouldn’t recogn ...

Submitted by guest blogger MJ ShoerIn the book Drive by Daniel Pink, the author includes a fantastic chapter on Purpose in Chapter 6.  I somewhat struggled with the differentiation of Motivation 2.0 and Motivation 3.0 up to this chapter, but Pink’s correlation of purpose to these really brought things into clarity for me.  Simply stated, Motivation 3.0 brings to the table to concept that today’s professional is looking for much more than a lucrative paycheck to feel valued as a person and an emp ...

Those who enjoy baseball know that the game is as much about information and strategy as it is about skill. The most arcane player statistics are assembled and used to help managers make crucial decisions throughout a game. Picture a right handed starting pitcher facing a right handed batter in the eighth inning, with two runners on base and one out. Both managers will analyze the situation and consult a myriad of statistics before sending instructions to their team that could make the differenc ...

 At Breakaway, you’ll know you’ll learn new tips and make new connections to improve your business.  But hey folks, it’s summer time – time to kick back and party.  We’re planning a full-on Texas party for you, hoedown style.We’ll transport you to the Knibbe Ranch on Tuesday, August 10th.  Air-conditioned buses will depart at 6:30 p.m. for a 20-25 minute ride.  We’ll also outfit you with cowboy hats and bandannas, but wear your own jeans and boots.  Once at the ranch: Watch an authentic, profess ...

Submitted by guest blogger John MehrmannDaniel Pink drives right to the heart of what matters with his latest book, DRIVE. He cites numerous case studies, historical references, and clinical examples to demonstrate the intrinsic and practical pursuit of excellence. The examples are fascinating, but one need look no further than his or her own work environment to immediately recognize the simple truths illuminated in his work.In the chapter on Mastery, Daniel Pink clearly conveys the value of mot ...