Telecom Reseller / Technology Reseller News

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Communication AI, vCons, CPaaS, CCaaS, UCaaS, Mobility, Security. Reporting on how the world communicates.

  1. 18H AGO

    Defense Unicorns speed up the US military Modernization process for software deployments.

    Rob Slaughter Rob Slaughter, CEO and co-founder of Defense Unicorns, discusses the modernization of the Department of War and the company’s role in facilitating technology integration with Don Witt of the Channel Daily News, a TR publication. Rob and Don comment on the modernization focusing on technology advancements and AI applications. They discussed how the nature of warfare has changed, transitioning from traditional systems to autonomous drones and other advanced technologies. Rob explained that the rapid pace of technological development means that outdated capabilities are no longer acceptable in modern conflicts. Don then asks Rob Slaughter about their platform solution UDS. Rob explains that UDS enables faster integration of modern software and AI solutions into military systems. Rob explained that UDS can integrate with both legacy and modern systems, significantly reducing the time needed for technology deployment compared to traditional methods. They discussed the challenges of deploying technology to the government and how Defense Unicorns helps streamline the process, making it easier for companies to contribute to national defense. This holds true for enterprise software as well. About: Defense Unicorns was created by people who knew firsthand how desperately the people protecting our world needed software that could move as fast as the threat. At the time it was impossible. They imagined a solution that could update in minutes, be CVE-free as a baseline, and thrive in air-gapped and edge environments. And then they built it. Defense Unicorns was officially founded, building on their deep experience delivering software in air-gapped, mission-critical environments. After helping stand up Platform One and Big Bang, the team began aligning real-world services work with product R&D—starting with Zarf, an air-gap-native delivery tool. This product-led approach, grounded in the needs of mission operators, drove early growth. For more information go to: https://defenseunicorns.com

    9 min

  2. 21H AGO · VIDEO

    Allstate Protection Plans Survey Finds Longer Upgrade Cycles, Battery Priorities, and a Recycling Confidence Gap, Podcast

    Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Roger Brown, Vice President of Mobile North America at Allstate Protection Plans, to discuss new consumer research examining how Americans think about smartphone upgrades, trade-ins, and sustainability—and what it means for carriers and the broader mobile ecosystem. Allstate Protection Plans, a division of Allstate, works globally with carriers and retailers to provide device protection, upgrade, and second-life solutions for smartphones and other connected devices. Brown shared findings from a recent survey of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers. The first major takeaway: upgrade cycles continue to lengthen. Consumers are keeping their smartphones longer, driven by higher device prices, extended financing terms, and slower perceived innovation. The second key finding was that practicality now outweighs novelty. For the first time, battery performance ranked as the most important feature—above price or camera improvements—signaling that dependability now trumps incremental feature upgrades. A third headline centered on sustainability. While more than half of consumers say environmental impact matters, only about 20% actually recycle their old phones, and just 16% purchase refurbished devices. Brown noted that lingering concerns about personal data security remain a barrier, even though industry safeguards are strong. “There’s still a lack of confidence,” he explained, particularly around handing over devices containing personal photos, financial data, and contacts. The survey also has strategic implications for carriers. Longer device life cycles improve retention but make customer acquisition more difficult and expensive. As Brown observed, simply offering the latest device is no longer enough to differentiate. Instead, carriers are exploring bundled and subscription-style offerings—combining connectivity, device access, and protection into a single monthly solution—to simplify the consumer experience and create stronger value propositions. Building confidence in refurbished devices by backing them with warranties comparable to new products may also help close the sustainability gap. Ultimately, Brown emphasized that flexibility is key. Consumers have different upgrade appetites, and solutions must allow them to upgrade, repair, protect, or recycle on their own terms. The full survey and additional information about Allstate Protection Plans are available through the Allstate website. Visit https://www.squaretrade.com/

  3. FEB 19 · VIDEO

    Decodo’s Kotryna Ragaisyte on Digital Squatting, Brand Protection, and Staying Ahead of Online Scams, Podcast

    Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, interviewed Kotryna Ragaisyte, Head of Content & Brand at Decodo, to spotlight a growing threat many businesses underestimate: digital squatting—fraudsters registering lookalike domains to impersonate brands, steal customers, and damage reputations. Ragaisyte explained that Decodo (formerly Smartproxy) is a web data collection infrastructure provider offering proxy and scraping solutions—“the backbone of the businesses that need publicly available data” for functions like price comparison and information gathering. Her team encountered digital squatting firsthand when attackers registered a country-code domain using their former brand name, forcing them to confront how difficult it can be to shut down impersonators even when you discover the scam quickly. The business impact, she said, is immediate and severe: reputational harm from fraudulent “service,” negative reviews, lost revenue, and significant legal and operational costs. “It impacts the whole business,” Ragaisyte noted, adding that fighting squatters becomes a cross-team crisis involving legal, marketing, customer support, and security—not a problem any one department can solve alone. Ragaisyte tied the surge in squatting to the post-COVID acceleration of online commerce and habit-driven clicking behavior—warning that top search placement doesn’t guarantee legitimacy. She outlined why legal remedies can help but aren’t a silver bullet: disputes may require proof of bad faith, can take a long time, must often be handled case-by-case, and don’t stop future registrations. Her advice emphasized proactive defense—broad trademark coverage, building a robust domain portfolio beyond “.com” (including misspellings and country-code domains), and maintaining monitoring and internal readiness. Finally, she stressed that response requires disciplined evidence gathering, fast coordination with registrars/hosting providers and legal counsel, and transparent customer communication. Rather than hoping the issue will “go away,” Ragaisyte urged brands to clearly publish official domains and warn customers across email and social channels so scams don’t define the narrative. Visit https://decodo.com/

  4. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    California Telecom: Modernizing the MSP Stack with NetVerge, Podcast

    At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Jim Gurol, CEO of California Telecom, joined Doug Green to discuss NetVerge, a modern software platform designed to address a persistent challenge for MSPs: SaaS sprawl and operational inefficiency. NetVerge was born from Gurol’s own experience running an MSP. Faced with juggling multiple ticketing systems, monitoring tools, and documentation platforms, his team found themselves “swivel chairing” between applications that didn’t integrate cleanly. Rather than accept outdated workflows, they built their own platform from the ground up. “We wanted to build something from scratch, from the ground up, from our pain,” Gurol explained, emphasizing that NetVerge evolved directly from real-world MSP feedback. The platform consolidates core MSP functions into a modern, AI-enabled environment. Its ticketing interface resembles real-time chat, allowing technicians to collaborate through mentions and threaded conversations rather than traditional form-heavy systems. NetVerge also incorporates AI workflow agents that assist with troubleshooting, pen testing, and other operational tasks. MSPs can even design their own AI agents to automate repetitive processes—helping firms scale without proportionally increasing headcount. Gurol believes this practitioner-driven design is a key differentiator. “We live it,” he said, noting that firsthand MSP experience informs how the platform handles alert management, ticket flow, and day-to-day operational realities. For MSPs looking to reduce tool fragmentation, modernize workflows, and deploy AI in practical ways, NetVerge aims to offer a unified alternative. Visit https://californiatelecom.com/

    4 min

  5. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    One Global Business Financing: Structuring the MSP Journey from Growth to Exit, Podcast

    At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Ty Richardson, CEO of One Global Business Financing Corporation, joined Doug Green to discuss one of the most consequential realities facing MSP owners: at some point, you will either acquire—or be acquired. Richardson outlined how today’s M&A environment has expanded beyond large “behemoth” firms, enabling even $1–$5 million MSPs to pursue viable exit strategies or strategic acquisitions. One Global Business Financing Corporation operates as a capital advisor and intermediary, working between MSPs and a broad network of lenders, private credit firms, family offices, SBA providers, and private equity sources. “We do the work so that you don’t have to,” Richardson explained. Rather than forcing MSPs to navigate banks and paperwork alone, his firm evaluates financial positioning, collects documentation, surveys more than 6,000 capital providers, and returns with structured options tailored to the owner’s goals—whether that means a line of credit, equipment financing, a term loan, real estate acquisition, or full M&A funding. Richardson emphasized that financing strategy begins years before a sale. MSPs planning an exit in three to five years must structure recurring revenue, strengthen contracts, build leadership teams, and maintain solid financial reporting. “If you are structuring yourself for a sale, the one thing you should be thinking about is how do I make this easy for a buyer to qualify?” he said. That preparation can significantly impact valuation and buyer confidence. The conversation also highlighted alternative deal structures, including partial acquisitions, staged buyouts, and SBA-backed transactions for smaller firms. Richardson noted that many MSPs initially assume they simply “need a loan,” when in reality more tax-efficient or strategically structured financing solutions may exist. The firm often works in consultation with tax professionals and legal advisors to optimize long-term positioning. Finally, Richardson advised MSP owners to begin networking early if a sale is on the horizon. By cultivating relationships over several years, owners may find qualified buyers privately—avoiding the noise and unqualified interest that often comes with broadly marketing a business for sale. Visit https://oneglobalfinancing.com/

    11 min

  6. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    Jon Arnold Reflects on AI, Fraud, and the Evolving Identity of ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Podcast

    At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Jon Arnold, Principal of J Arnold & Associates, joined Doug Green to share his perspective on the event’s evolution, the growing dominance of AI in conference programming, and the escalating fraud challenges facing the communications industry. A long-time analyst and contributor, Arnold participated in four sessions during the show, primarily focused on cybersecurity, mobile communications, and fraud mitigation. Arnold noted that while ITEXPO continues to feature its traditional telecom and MSP programming, AI now permeates nearly every track—from agentic AI discussions to vertical-focused sub-events. At the same time, he observed a visible shift on the show floor, with fewer hardware vendors and more companies centered on cybersecurity and risk mitigation. “There’s a steadiness to this show that I kind of like year after year,” Arnold said, while acknowledging that the exhibitor footprint and attendee mix are evolving. Across his moderated sessions, a central theme emerged: fraud is accelerating, and AI is amplifying the challenge. Topics included branded calling, RCS, KYC/Know Your Customer frameworks, and the persistent vulnerabilities within mobile networks. Arnold emphasized that fraud has become a multi-layered ecosystem problem. “Before AI, the bad guys were maybe half a step ahead. With AI, they’re three or four steps ahead,” he observed, highlighting how rapidly attackers are leveraging automation and generative tools. A standout moment for Arnold was a presentation by ethical hacker Jesse “Hackajack” Tuttle, who illustrated the pervasiveness of fraud from a former attacker’s perspective. The session reinforced the need for stronger regulatory frameworks, greater carrier coordination, and increased industry urgency around consumer protection. As the communications industry balances innovation with risk, Arnold’s takeaway was clear: the fraud problem is worse than many assume, and solving it will require deeper collaboration across the ecosystem. Visit https://www.jarnoldassociates.com/

  7. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    Snom Showcases Enterprise-Grade DECT Mobility and Global Manufacturing Strength at MSP Expo, Podcast

    At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Simon Bradbrook, Senior Sales Engineer BSG at Snom, joined Doug Green to discuss why hardware reliability, mobility, and voice infrastructure still matter in a cloud-first world. Snom, a member of the Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA), was one of the original IP phone manufacturers, launching one of the first commercially available IP phones in 2001. Today, Snom operates under the global manufacturing strength of VTech, one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers, with additional portfolio depth through the acquisition of Gigaset. Bradbrook highlighted Snom’s wireless DECT solutions as a major differentiator for MSPs. Unlike Wi-Fi-based voice devices, DECT was purpose-built for voice communication, providing secure, encrypted, and highly reliable connectivity—especially critical in healthcare, assisted living, and large campus environments. “When I need to make an emergency call, I want to rely on a product that’s actually going to complete that call,” Bradbrook noted, underscoring the importance of dependable voice in mission-critical settings. The Snom M900 multi-cell DECT system, which was used live during MSP Expo for staff communications, supports use cases ranging from hospitals and retirement facilities to warehouses. Features such as encrypted voice channels and optional accelerometer-based emergency alerts—capable of detecting a fall and automatically triggering assistance—expand the value proposition for MSPs serving vertical markets with safety and compliance requirements, including HIPAA-sensitive environments. Through VTech’s global manufacturing footprint and distribution network, Snom is able to offer a three-year advanced replacement warranty. If a hardware issue is confirmed, a replacement unit is shipped immediately—without waiting for return processing—providing operational continuity for MSP partners and their customers. For MSPs seeking to expand beyond standard desk phones into scalable mobility and enterprise-grade wireless solutions, Snom and Gigaset offer complementary portfolios designed to fit environments from SMB retail to large enterprise campuses. Visit https://www.snomamericas.com/

  8. FEB 13 · VIDEO

    Trustifi Strengthens Email Security Against AI-Driven Phishing Threats, Podcast

    At ITEXPO / MSP EXPO, Zack Schwartz, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Trustifi, joined Doug Green to discuss a critical but often overlooked reality: while AI dominates headlines, email remains the primary attack vector for cybercrime. Trustifi delivers a full-suite email security platform purpose-built for MSPs, enabling easy deployment, centralized management, and advanced protection against next-generation AI-driven phishing attacks. Schwartz emphasized that over 91% of cyberattacks still originate from inbound email—and the sophistication of those attacks has grown dramatically with AI tools. “Cyber criminals are leveraging AI to create extremely nuanced attacks,” he explained. Trustifi addresses this by combining high-efficacy inbound phishing detection with innovative AI-driven training tools. One standout feature allows MSPs to convert a real phishing attack into customized security awareness training, generating targeted video content based on an incident that actually occurred within a customer’s environment. A key differentiator is Trustifi’s “journal-only mode,” which allows MSPs to deploy the platform without interrupting live email flow. The system produces a full report showing how Trustifi would have responded to threats, creating what Schwartz described as a powerful “aha moment” for customers. According to Trustifi, this approach converts over 80% of opportunities and requires only minutes to set up—at no cost to the partner or end client. Beyond inbound threats, Trustifi also addresses outbound risk and compliance requirements, including HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, and broader data loss prevention (DLP) concerns. Many organizations underestimate how much sensitive information leaves their network via email. “It’s a big issue of not knowing what you don’t know,” Schwartz said, highlighting how classification and encryption tools expose hidden vulnerabilities. With no minimum requirements, free NFR licenses for MSPs, and strong momentum away from legacy email gateways, Trustifi is positioning itself as a high-margin opportunity within the channel. The message to MSPs: start internally, see the exposure firsthand, and then extend protection across your customer base. Visit https://trustifi.com/

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4.9
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Communication AI, vCons, CPaaS, CCaaS, UCaaS, Mobility, Security. Reporting on how the world communicates.

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