Dell To Buy SaaS Company Everdream

In picking up Everdream, Dell is buying a company that provides SaaS solutions for remote-service management in the desktop space. Once the deal closes, Everdream will roll into Dell's Global Services organization run by Senior Vice President Steve Schuckenbrock. A Dell spokesman said the Round Rock, Texas-based company would continue to provide Everdream's technology to managed service providers and resellers through its upcoming channel program, but that Dell would also deliver the products and technology directly.

"The planned Everdream acquisition is a significant step in Dell's next-generation offerings and provides Dell an expanded presence in the rapidly growing SaaS-enabled managed services market," Schuckenbruck said in a prepared statement. He praised Everdream for providing technology that helps customers and partners with managed service deployments.

Among its products are a Compliance Services suite, an Uptime Services Suite and an IT Support Services package, which the company bills as a comprehensive offering of remote, desktop management solutions.

Dell's acquisition of Everdream was announced just a week after the company said it would buy storage technology company EquilLogic for $1.4 billion, and just months after acquired MSP tools company Silverback. Earlier this week, Dell announced it had formally closed its acquisition of ASAP Software.

The acquisitions, in aggregate, are working to position Dell stronger in the entire managed services and virtualization arenas - - two of the hottest growth areas in the channel. Last week, Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell promised the EqualLogic deal would lead to continued sales through solution providers, while Dell would incorporate some of EqualLogic's technology into some Dell-branded storage products.

Dell executives say the company is working to announce a new, comprehensive channel program by year's end.

In the prepared statement, posted to Everdream's Web site, the two companies said "Everdream products will continue to be developed for and offered through channel partners, and will also serve as the foundation for future Dell service offerings."