Comms Dealer

Tollring has won a three year contract to provide BT with call analytics products on the telco's Wholesale Hosted Centrex (WHC) platform.

The cloud-based iCall Suite will be deployed to customers on the WHC 2.0 version of the platform from June 2016, offering resellers a call reporting and analytics solution that provides historical reporting and trends, along with live events such as user presence, queue statistics, agent status and call answer times via customisable wallboards.

Steve Best, MD for BT Wholesale Products, said: "BT Wholesale resellers will be able to build high value call analytics and wallboard products into their WHC 2.0 offering which will help differentiate their proposition, increase their competitiveness and help drive new recurring revenues."

Tollring MD Tony Martino added: "iCall Suite offers security, scalability and flexibility which will complement BT Wholesale's multi-channel route to market."

Tollring is an approved BroadSoft Interop Partner and with a product roadmap aligned to BroadSoft's own development strategy, its products and services are continuously tested and proven on the BroadWorks platform.

Pictured: Oli Barker, Head of IP and UC at BT Wholesale with Tony Martino

The finalists for the European IT & Software Excellence Awards 2016 (www.iteawards.com) have been announced by IT Europa.

A total of 86 companies from 21 European countries have made the finals.

The winners will be announced at the European IT & Software Excellence 2016 Awards Dinner at the Lancaster London Hotel, on 14th April 2016.

Now in their 8th year, this year's European IT & Software Excellence Awards attracted over 400 entries from more than 31 countries.

The awards are given for IT solutions that get to the heart of customer issues, delivering better business, a clearer understanding of data, and more efficient and profitable outcomes.

The judges, with many decades of experience of IT industry involvement between them, have arrived at a list of finalists that they believe truly reflects both the strength of Europe's IT industry and some of the changes in the direction occurring within it.

John Garratt, Editor of IT Europa, who heads the judges' panel, said: "This year has seen more entries than ever, and an even wider spread of project types - from mobility, security and management to software-as-a-service packages for key vertical markets, and from data-driven systems using the new power of analytics to others which effectively replace costly old systems with new and far more efficient apps, increasingly driven in the cloud.

"The result is the best-ever advertisement for the capabilities of European IT, and we could not help but be impressed by the skills on display and the effort that has gone into effective IT delivery."

The award winners will be announced on April 14th at a gala dinner and awards ceremony following the day-long European Software and Solutions Summit 2016 (www.eusss.com) where director-level representatives of leading ISVs and Solution Providers will meet with hardware, software and service organisations to discuss some of the changes impacting the sector and to develop business relationships.

The finalists:
Solution Provider categories

SME Solution of the Year
Lanteria
123 Insight Limited
JETCAM international s.a.rl.
The NAV People
Schnell Solution Limited
Hardware Group
Utilize Plc

Enterprise Solution of the Year
Onyx Group
Würth Industrie Service GmbH & Co. KG
Green Fields Technology
Sprint Innovations?BearingPoint Software Solutions
Cleverbridge

Datacentre Solution of the Year
Brightsolid
Parallels Remote Application Server
DARZ GmbH

Vertical Solution of the Year
Comms365
Sequel Business Solutions Ltd
ASPEKT
Unicorn Systems a.s.
ContentGuru
Cegid

Public Sector and Utilities Solution of the Year
INSOFT development & consulting (nominated twice)
4net Technologies Ltd
Schnell Solutions Limited
SIVECO Romania
Azeus Convene
Arcus Global

Managed Service Solution of the Year
Utilize Plc
Databarracks
Informed Solutions
TIG
SCC
Six Degrees Group
Zenzero

Connected/Mobility Solution of the Year
Unicorn Systems a.s.
VMware Airwatch
SoftServe

Storage/Information Management Solution of the Year
Azues Convene
Nexenta
Tech Mahindra Ltd

Big Data, IoT or Analytics Solution of the Year
Accanto Systems
SoftServe
Tech Mahindra Ltd
LogicNow
Bell Integrator

Security Solution of the Year
Pirean
Webroot
Lava Group
Lieberman Software

Customer Experience/Management Solution of the Year
Ciklum
Azeus Convene
Arcus Global
Tech Mahindra Ltd

ISV Categories:
Information & Document Management Solution of the Year
CCube Solutions
ICB-InterConsult Bulgaria Ltd
SIVECO Romania
Pendigo
IBA Group

Big Data, IoT or Analytics Solution of the Year
Intuitive Business Intelligence
Information Builders
ExtraHop
LIFE IS HARD
PanIntelligence

Connected/Mobility Application Solution of the Year
Qualsys
VMware AirWatch
LIFE IS HARD
RingCentral
Arkessa
?Vertical Market Solution of the Year
SAS Global Communications Ltd
PureNet
Bell Integrator?Haulmont Technology
Fulcrum Worldwide

Government/Utilities Solution of the Year
Fincore Ltd
INSOFT Development & Consulting
GMO GlobalSign Ltd
Arcus Global

SaaS Solution of the Year
MitreFinch Ltd
itDesign GmbH
PureClarity
BroadSign International, LLC
Azeus Convene
Arcus Global

Software Innovation Solution of the Year
Fookes Software
INSOFT Development & Consulting
Escape Motions
StorageCraft Technology
General Solutions Steiner
BigHand
PureClarity
Supplier Categories

Channel Programme of the Year
Plan.com
NaviSite Europe
PanIntelligence
Kaspersky
EMC

Connected Technologies Provider of the Year
Arkessa
Schnell Solutions Limited
SAS
Huawei

Finance/Support Services Provider of the Year
Bluestone Leasing
Knight Corporate Finance
BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions

Security Vendor of the Year
Webroot
Kaspersky
AVG Business
Fortinet

Distributor of the Year
Exclusive Networks
Wick Hill
InfoQuest Technologies

Service Provider of the Year
Interoute
Musala Soft
Utilize Plc

Software Vendor of the Year
PanIntelligence
StorageCraft Technology
Bruxlab
Cegid

Technology Provider of the Year
Toshiba
ShoreTel
EMC

CityFibre's rolling campaign convoy across the UK's major cities is gathering pace following the company's acquisition of KCOM's network (excluding the Hull and east Yorkshire areas), giving it 21 additional metro footprints that are now being prioritised and prepared for launch as new CityFibre Gigabit Cities.

In the line up for a pure fibre alternative to the incumbent are Milton Keynes, Manchester, Leicester, Sheffield, Northampton and Nottingham with more city opportunities in the pipeline.

CityFibre's mission is to team up with like-minded launch partners in each city.

"Bristol was the first of the acquired KCOM network-based cities to be launched as a new Gigabit City in partnership with Triangle Networks," commented CityFibre's Commercial Director Rob Hamlin.

"We're now looking to replicate a similar city launch partner model across other acquired cities.

"An ideal launch partner is typically a mature service provider with a good reputation and established customer base in or near the project city.

"Knowledge of the local market is important and the provider should also have marketing resource that is available to work with the CityFibre team week-by-week. A strong, established sales engine is also key."

Hamlin explained that CityFibre will help its launch partners to map existing assets/customers plus potential new customers to the relevant pure fibre city network.

This information will then be used to help drive upgrade, retention and run heavyweight acquisition marketing campaigns alongside the partner.

According to Hamlin, CityFibre's launch partners have a rare opportunity to take fresh products to market and attract new customer types by leveraging the media attention and sales leads that result from targeted, joint local marketing campaigns with CityFibre.

"It's about innovating and accelerating our launch partners' business growth," he added.

Paul Anslow, MD of Triangle Networks, stated: "By becoming CityFibre's launch partner in Bristol we've effectively been given the opportunity to not only sell something fresh and innovative directly to businesses, but also to become a wholesale aggregator for other business CPs in our area. We're already working with many of our local competitors for example.

"CityFibre understands the importance of a local presence and gives us and our customers an alternative to the previous incumbent-only option."

Channel Telecom MD Clifford Norton has called for greater industry collaboration to tackle toll fraud, but his personal crusade has so far fallen on deaf ears.

"I have tried to get the industry to talk to each other," he said. "I have even invited some of the larger companies to discuss this in an open forum.

"Out of the 20 asked two responded. I have reported it to all the official bodies and even provided proof of certain people and companies actually committing the fraud. The police are far too busy and the regulatory bodies have little or no power. The industry's response to these issues is poor.

"The only real way to get the industry heard would be to get a good group of telecom companies together and lobby our concerns to the Government. This would of course need to be backed by various politicians."

Chris Harding, SIP Encrypt Product Specialist, Firstcom Europe, also wants more collaboration in the channel to address fraud but he believes there is potential for conflict due to confusion over who along the supply chain bears the financial responsibility when toll fraud occurs.

"As we are all ultimately on the same side, the industry could consider a policy where once toll fraud has been proven then the charges are not passed on, meaning that the revenue stream never reaches the perpetrator," stated Harding.

"A complete industry fix would be for the major carriers to not pay their international bill for fraudulent use. This would close down the services overnight. More often than not anti-fraud measures are aimed at the symptom rather than the cause. One way of getting rid of premium rate number scams would be to scrap revenue generating numbers altogether so there is no profit to be had."

Unless the authorities can become more effective at catching the perpetrators of fraud, the only option is to ensure it becomes ever less profitable, believes Ben O'Leary, Revenue Assurance Manager, Gamma.

"Steps such as communicating within the industry about monitoring techniques and stopping the flow of funds will be important over the next five years," he said. "The EU regulatory roaming data cap is a useful model and addresses the same basic problem, cutting off unwanted traffic.

"To address fraud, a similar regulatory requirement could be that all networks must offer the ability to bar any services at an agreed industry-wide threshold on an opt-out basis."

Tony Martino, Managing Director, Tollring, observed: "In other areas of the market such collaboration exists to strengthen protection against computer viruses and bad credit, for example," he stated.

The appointment of Clive Sawkins as Non Executive Director at TM Solutions signals a ramping up of the company's growth ambitions.

Sawkins is currently CEO of BCS Global Networks and brings wide industry experience including a background in emerging technology such as building public and private cloud solutions. 

His previous roles include senior positions at Cisco Systems where he was responsible for UC, telepresence and video collaboration; Avaya where he was Vice President UK&I; Unisys and Nortel Networks.

Sawkins is also President of the OVCC, a global industry body focused on video and unified collaboration. 

TM Solutions Director Duncan Wilkinson said: "We are delighted to have someone of Clive's calibre joining the board and assisting with our growth strategy."

The countdown to Twin Town Challenge 2016 has begun as organiser and STL MD Brendon Cross reveals that just four places remain up for grabs in the 100 car rally in aid of charity SpecialEffect.

The Challenge takes place on 27th-30th May and will see 100 cars costing less than £500 drive from Witney to its twin town of Le Touquet and back via Silverstone and Croix en Ternois, including a street party with live bands, a civic reception on the beach and a money can't buy auction.

"Twin Town Challenge 2014 raised £130,000 with 50 cars, so this year we are taking 100 cars and hope to raise £250,000," stated Cross. "Not only is it a great weekend but, as one of the participants in 2014 said to me, it was the best fun they'd ever had raising money for charity and the best networking event too."

SpecialEffect uses technology to enhance the quality of life of people with physical disabilities by adapting games consoles and using eye gaze technology to help children and adults to play computer games.

The money raised by Twin Town Challenge 2014 has enabled SpecialEffect to establish a games room for young people to visit and to take on more specialist staff to meet the growing demand for support and services.

This month Witney MP and Prime Minister David Cameron officially opened the Games Room alongside Cross and SpecialEffect founder Dr Mick Donegan (pictured above).

Cameron told Donegan: "You are making an enormous difference to lots of people and I will do anything I can to help. It is also bringing together the things I am passionate about, because it shows business can be a force for social and economic good."

Cross added: "I am so proud of all the people who took part in Twin Town 14 and gave so generously while enjoying such a fun weekend in a £500 car." 

Click here to find out more or to book a team

Brokerage firm Traderight has become the first financial organisation to implement VIA Trade, the cloud-based telephony and trader voice system.

Launched by VIA and Speakerbus in January, VIA Trade is a communications solution that removes the need for an on-site traditional telephony network, freeing up space across the trading room floor.

VIA Trade has been successfully deployed in the company's office in Chelmsford servicing a team of traders.

VIA Trade combines VIA's cloud-based infrastructure with the Speakerbus iTurret (the dealerboard).

Traderight has also installed VIA Voice across its office in Central London, as well as to the company's remote workers.

Steven Blois, IT Manager, Traderight, said: "When we heard that VIA was teaming up with Speakerbus to develop a trader voice system we quickly took the decision to combine all communications across the business in order to increase the connectivity and productivity of our team.

"We now have in place an innovative, dependable and secure solution that offers full integration between office telephony and trading dealerboards."

Alex Tebbs, Director, VIA, ADDED: "VIA Trade is a communications platform for those companies working across capital markets, commodity trading, hedge funds or brokerage sectors.

"The cloud-based solution is resilient and incorporates voice and data recording to ensure our clients remain FCA complaint at all times."

Content Guru's multi-channel outbound customer engagement application, storm CONTACT:OUTBOUND, boasts new features such as automated and live agent dialling and fully integrated campaign support across SMS, IM, email and social media, enabling organisations to deliver outbound services on any scale.  
   
CONTACT:OUTBOUND is a component of the multi-channel Cloud Contact Centre Suite.

Administrators can provision campaigns through the secure, web-based storm administration interface, selecting agent groups, data sources, pacing profiles and multi-channel options.

storm then automatically delivers the campaign, mass broadcasting personalised multi-channel messages at specified times, while also assigning agents to automatically contact customers.

For agents, all interactions take place in a blended inbound and outbound environment within the DTA (Desktop Task Assistant). 

Agents can handle multi-channel inbound enquiries and then be automatically connected to an outbound call when they are available, which is closely monitored by storm in real time.

Using predictive dialler logic, these storm generated outbound calls are only connected to live agents if they are successful, increasing efficiencies as agents no longer have to waste time dealing with unanswered calls and answerphones, and are instead better able to deliver multi-channel support.

Administrators can also set business rules to ensure that outbound dialling rates are synchronized with agent availability and that abandoned calls are kept within regulatory Ofcom limits.

OUTBOUND also leverages storm's database, DATA MANAGEMENT, for campaign delivery.

Mush Rahman, Project Management Team Leader for Content Guru, commented: "Organisations are under more pressure than ever to meet heightened consumer expectations. Being reactive is no longer an option, businesses must proactively engage with consumers, who are becoming increasingly wary of standard dialler campaigns and less receptive to legacy call centre methods.

"It is now more important than ever that organisations deploy contact centre solutions that align with these changes in consumer receptiveness to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty as well as strengthen their brand image.

"Demands are increasing for convenient interactions and tailored content. OUTBOUND's multi-channel and intelligent routing capabilities empower organisations to manage mass outbound campaigns in a more personalised, streamlined and dynamic way that complies with industry standards and consumer expectations, while also boosting agent productivity, morale and overall contact centre efficiency."

North east UC specialist ITPS has been appointed to G-Cloud 7 in two categories, infrastructure-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service.

Garry Sheriff, MD, said: "Bidding for public sector contracts was previously a long and drawn out process that put off a lot of SMEs and smaller companies from pitching for work. It also saw public sector bodies spend a lot of time and effort whittling suppliers down to a shortlist.

"Public sector bodies looking for cloud IT services can now go straight to the list to find pre-approved suppliers like ourselves, and have the reassurance that we have the expertise and track record for the job.

"It's a very cost-effective, efficient way for the public sector to buy ICT services, and helps SMEs access a huge potential market.

"We were confident we could meet the criteria for inclusion on the approved list of government suppliers, so it is great news to have received the official stamp of quality on our expertise."

CensorNet has acquired Danish multi-factor authentication vendor SMS PASSCODE.

CensorNet will integrate SMS PASSCODE's adaptive multi-factor authentication technology into its cloud-based Unified Security Solution, which brings together email and web security.

"This gives us the full range of security solutions," CensorNet CEO Ed Macnair tells IT Europa.

"The fast growing security business and its channels need to offer comprehensive tools, especially covering the area of applications.

"Most organisations have no idea what applications are being used and how their data is being accessed. A multi-faceted security solution to see all - email, web and apps is what is required.

"Our vision is to provide organisations with a single pane of glass that gives them visibility and control of web, cloud applications and email.

"With weak or stolen passwords still being the major source of network breaches integrating SMS PASSCODE's authentication capability to our solution was a no brainer."