Channel Brief: AI PCs Gain Momentum; Submit Your MSP for Public Cloud, Vertical Market Honors

Welcome to Tuesday! Jessica C. Davis here. I’m filling in for Sharon Florentine this week, bringing you the Channel Brief every day. Today we’re looking at the rate of AI-capable PC shipments, a look at a potential sale of Trend Micro, a couple of acquisitions, and Canalys’ most recent addition to its incredible catalog of useful lists.

But before we get to that, have you submitted your MSP to be ranked on ChannelE2E’s ranked lists of Top Vertical Market MSPs and Top Public Cloud MSPs? You are running out of time to do so. These specialty lists showcase your company’s specialties. When you are listed we’ll also provide you with a digital icon to showcase the honor on your company’s home page.

Submit your MSP today here:

Today’s Tech, Channel and MSP News

1. AI PCs' Momentum - Are you seeing customer interest in AI-capable PCs? New Canalys data shows that 8.8 million of these devices shipped in Q2. These are defined as desktops and notebooks that include a chipset or block for dedicated AI workloads such as NPUs. Shipments of AI-capable PCs represented 14% of all PCs shipped in the quarter. With all major processor vendors’ AI-capable PC roadmaps now well underway, the stage is set for a significant ramp-up in device availability and end-user adoption in the second half of 2024 and beyond. 

2. Trend Micro for Sale? - CRN Australia is reporting that cybersecurity firm Trend Micro is exploring a sale after attracting buyout interest. The report last week cites sources familiar with the process. Trend Micro is reportedly working with investment bankers to solicit interest from potential buyers, which include private equity firms, CRN Australia reports.

3. Disti Deal - Hybrid distributor ScanSource, Inc. is acquiring Resourcive, a technology advisor. Resourcive delivers strategic IT sourcing solutions to the mid-market and enterprise, advising clients on value creation strategies that are enabled by technology. With the acquisition of Resourcive, ScanSource is creating a new Channel Advisory business to be a platform for the channel model of the future.

4. MSP Deal - MSP collective and operator-led platform company Blue Alliance has acquired Total Networks, an established managed services provider in Phoenix, Arizona. For Total Networks, the partnership provides access to specialized expertise, rare technical resources and built-in national reach to support its customers' expansion goals, the companies said. Blue Alliance is backed by Prairie Capital.

5. Find Your People - Looking for a peer group to help your managed service business reach the next stage? Canalys has released a list of peer groups and communities for the channel ecosystem. And while peer group participation is increasing, membership is still under 1%, Canalys reports. Here’s the Canalys list.

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