Some solution providers are indifferent, and others say they're worried about whether smaller vendors will have the money necessary to support a strong channel business.

Larry Lansurd of Flagship Solutions Group is comfortable with the big vendors.

"I don't want to have to deal with so many vendors, and we need the big guys' money," he said.

However, it may be more likely that more large vendors separate business units before the trend dies down. Industry executives say they wouldn't be surprised to see Amazon split its Amazon Web Services unit from its e-commerce business. EMC is the subject of constant speculation about whether it will spin off its VMWare unit.

And while all this activity might cause havoc in the short-term, it really is a solid long-term strategy for vendors, and quite possibly a good thing for partners, said Myles Trachtenberg of consulting firm Pythian.

Partners, Trachtenberg said, are better off with more choice. Partners can look forward to fewer hurdles, and less bureaucracy when dealing with more focused, more responsive vendors.

Ideally, a vendor that splits into separate business units will offer partners the best characteristics of a large firm – like 24/7 service – while adopting some of the things that make smaller companies attractive, like the ability and willingness to form deep relationships.

"Partners go the extra mile to develop relationships," Trachtenberg said. "And one of the trade-offs of large organizations is that you can get lost in the mix. Smaller, or medium-size organizations are more responsive, more in touch."