Comms Dealer

BigTec UK, the data centre arm of distributor Exclusive, is to supply Nuage Networks from Nokia as part of its SDN solutions proposition.

The Nuage Networks SDN overlay helps large enterprises simplify network operations, deploy applications with more agility and adapt network services in a secure multi-vendor cloud environment, says the firm.

Big Tec UK will distribute the full Nuage Networks portfolio, which includes the Virtualised Services Platform (VSP), Virtualised Network Services (VNS) and Virtualised Services Assurance Platform (VSAP).

"The inconvenient truth about data centre virtualisation is just how tough it becomes to manage multiple hypervisors, multiple clouds and an explosion in the number of virtual endpoints," stated Jason Dance, MD for BigTec UK.

"With Nuage Networks SDN technology organisations no longer will find it prohibitively complicated to scale up and harness the true power of their underlying networks.

"Nuage Networks works in tandem with our other vendor technologies, particularly security and software defined WANs."

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has chosen NetApp to revamp its data infrastructure in collaboration with S3 Consulting.

ZSL owns London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo and runs conservation projects in more than 50 countries.

It runs a large number of applications that are central to its research and academic output as well as its daily operations, including ticketing and membership systems, all of which produce a significant mass of data.

Five years ago, ZSL adopted a network-attached storage model with NetApp. As the business evolved, ZSL was ready for a refresh to bring more storage capacity and faster speeds to support its growing organisational needs.

Through its partner S3 Consulting, ZSL upgraded to NetApp FAS2500 series hybrid storage arrays to provide an infrastructure that could cope with its growing data needs.

Nick Napier, Head of ICT at the Zoological Society of London, said: "We now have an intuitive platform that is easy to manage. The benefits of how and what we can now back up are a huge step up from our old solution, and we now have a fully future-proofed investment."

Elliot Howard, UK & Ireland Country Manager for NetApp, added: "The availability of data is vital to any business or research body, and for ZSL access to this data at any time means it is able to continue with vital research, while also maintaining a high quality of customer service in its zoos."

Robert Galt, CTO for S3 Consulting, stated: "ZSL recognised that as the demands of the business were growing it needed to make a change to how it delivered on storage and backup as part of their virtualised infrastructure."

Over 250 global channel partners converged on Unify's Partner Conference staged in Barcelona to hear the vendor's growth plans and also learn that that more than 50% of product sales are now conducted through partners.

Unify (acquired by Atos in November 2015) has witnessed its partner programme more than double in size to over 2,000 partners in more than 50 countries, along with 13 new distributors.

During the past year there has been a 30% increase in the number of partners completing certifications on the Unify portfolio, with more than 25% holding Master or Professional level certifications.

Additionally, in the six months since making Circuit certifications available over 370 partners have begun selling Circuit to their customers.

Jon Pritchard, CEO of Unify, said: "In Barcelona we shared how we continue to enhance our business to drive greater business to our partners."

The Chess Partner Services Conference 2016 staged at the Hilton in Northampton and attended by 150 partners proved to be a springboard event for a number of new products and initiatives.

The 'Back to the Future' themed conference had a particular focus on 'products of the future' and was the backdrop to the roll out of new commercials including a reduction in the cost of fixed lines, calls and data; and the introduction of three mobile airtime revenue share options.

The event included a keynote on the IoT, demos of the Chess Cloud PBX solution and the launch of Chess Insurance which enables partners to attach insurance to handsets at point of sale via an online portal.

Chess Partner Services MD John Pett stated. "This year's conference was a key milestone with the launch of new commercials, new products and the Elite Partner Programme.

"It was an opportunity to give our partners the recognition they deserve and illustrate what we aim to achieve in 2016."

The Elite Partner Programme enables partners who beat their previous quarter's performance to redeem points for prizes, including a trip to the Northern Lights or a weekend in Paris.

Chess Partner Services also launched a 30 day Never Beaten on Price Challenge.

Pictured going 'Back to the Future' is Chess CEO David Pollock and John Pett.

Mitel will be making a $15m payment against its existing credit facility following a period of strong cash generation.

This is Mitel's second voluntary debt payment this year, bringing the total debt repaid in 2016 to $40m.

"Consistent with our commitments to shareholders, we are taking cash generated during the March quarter in excess of our working capital requirements to make our second voluntary debt reduction payment in 2016," said Steve Spooner, Chief Financial Officer.

Mitel's results for the first quarter of 2016 for the period ending March 31, 2016 will be issued before the market opens on May 5th, 2016.

ShoreTel has enhanced its integration to Microsoft Skype for Business with a new plug-in that embeds telephony controls inside the Skype for Business client.

With ShoreTel Telephony for Microsoft users can dial contacts directly from the Skype for Business client, make conference calls, transfer calls, access their voicemail box, view and set presence information, and control all of their ShoreTel preferences such as call routing.

"We recognise that some ShoreTel customers will use Skype for Business, so this new plug-in provides ShoreTel telephony features inside that client," said Eugenia Corrales, vice president of product at ShoreTel.

Jason Evans, MD of Response Data Communications, a ShoreTel Circle of Excellence partner in the UK, noted: "For partners it enables us to deliver a voice platform that runs alongside the Skype for Business communications application."

Mitel has celebrated the winners of its annual EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year Awards with TalkTalk Business collecting the UK gong.

Jon Nowell, Head of Product Management, TalkTalk Business, stated. "We set out a few years ago to carefully build a cloud platform based on Mitel technology. Over the last 12 months, we've aggressively grown the platform with very little churn and have steep growth ambitions for the future."

Patrik Sorqvist, VP for Mitel Cloud Services, EMEA, said: "With this year's awards we're recognizing the providers who made great strides in cloud migrations and contributing towards the continued growth of Mitel's cloud business."

Other winners include Telia in Sweden; SPIE ICS in France; Sonera in Finland; Destiny in Belgium; Uno Telefoni in Denmark; and CallHosted in The Netherlands.
Mitel names winners of EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year awards

Mitel has celebrated the winners of its annual EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year Awards with TalkTalk Business collecting the UK gong.

Jon Nowell, Head of Product Management, TalkTalk Business, stated. "We set out a few years ago to carefully build a cloud platform based on Mitel technology. Over the last 12 months, we've aggressively grown the platform with very little churn and have steep growth ambitions for the future."

Patrik Sorqvist, VP for Mitel Cloud Services, EMEA, said: "With this year's awards we're recognizing the providers who made great strides in cloud migrations and contributing towards the continued growth of Mitel's cloud business."

Other winners include Telia in Sweden; SPIE ICS in France; Sonera in Finland; Destiny in Belgium; Uno Telefoni in Denmark; and CallHosted in The Netherlands.

US-listed CDW, which acquired UK-based Kelway last year, has now formally changed the UK operation's name to CDW. "The opportunities to deliver enhanced services and solutions stemming from this integration offer tremendous potential," said Phil Doye, founder, Kelway.

"Everything our customers value about their relationship with Kelway will strengthen as we become CDW."

To help introduce CDW to customers in the UK, the company will roll out a local marketing campaign with print, digital and out-of-home components, including taxi, rail and office signage.

EET Europarts has snapped up UK distie Chiltern IT, a family owned firm with 15 staff.

Chiltern IT MD Graham Nye said: "The impact of EET Europarts sales and distribution model in combination with the knowhow of Chiltern IT will create lots of synergies for our spare parts customers.

"Joining forces with EET Europarts and becoming part of a strong financial and administrative infrastructure is right for Chiltern IT."

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has launched a new finance programme to encourage sales of Juniper Networks equipment across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK, offering 0% financing until 31st December 2016 on qualifying purchases.

Martin Ardern, Head of ICT Finance Division at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, said: "Continued economic uncertainty means that some businesses are reluctant to make the investment in the latest network technology a top priority.

"Outdated equipment will, however, hold back a business and act as a real barrier to efficiency. Our 0% financing promotion will make investment in Juniper Networks products more manageable."