CRN

April, 2007

Original article at web site

50 Emerging Vendors You Should Know

Solution providers take note: These up-and-coming vendors have some hot technology and want to work with the channel...

They have far superior technology, more robust margins and uncompromising technical support. They are the CRN Emerging Tech Dynamos and they're reshaping the information technology industry, solution providers say, by handily beating established vendors in head-to-head product, margin, technical support and field engagement comparisons.

It's not even close. Solution providers say the Emerging Tech Dynamos are blowing away the big boys on all those fronts and more. And they are doing it in greater numbers. This year's class is made up of 163 players, up from only 75 last year. And the percentage of solution providers adding emerging vendors is on the rise, with 72 percent of solution providers polled by CRN adding an emerging vendor this year, up from 57 percent last year. To top it off, solution providers see these Emerging Tech Dynamos delivering a greater share of their profits as they look out over the next five years.

The popularity of emerging vendors highlights a growing trend in the SMB market: It is the solution provider's brand that carries the most weight. The emerging vendors recognize that power and are battling hard to win solution providers' hearts, minds—and selling power.

Acronis

Burlington, Mass.

Technology Sector: Storage

Description of product line: Acronis has a suite of recovery and disk partitioning products that are built on the company's core disk imaging technology...