Comms Dealer

The changing face of the European software industry is fully reflected in the content of the European Software & Solutions Summit 2015, according to organiser IT Europa.

The nature of the software industry has changed considerably over the last couple of years as the growth of Software-as-a-Service, the impact of mobile working, cloud-based apps supplied through service providers, new rapid development models and the constant need for security has broadened and changed its focus, believes John Garratt, content director of the event.

"We found, particularly towards the end of this year, that software companies were not thinking of themselves in terms of names like ISV or developer," he said. "They were getting closer to their customers and thinking more in terms of their own expertise in a particular industry, vertical market or technology.

As the cloud increasingly dominates delivery and new channels emerge, the need to produce effective business solutions rapidly and to securely link business data to mobile devices opens up the market to those who can move quickly and effectively in partnership with leading players.

Under the overall theme of 'Beyond the Cloud - Creating competitive advantage by driving Digitalised Business', the European Software & Solutions Summit 2015, which incorporates the European ISV Convention, will explore the new business concepts, models and structures enabled by this new digitalised world and the role the software company, ISV, Solution Provider and application developer play in their development.

The digitalisation of enterprises of all sizes has offered organisations and businesses the chance to use their knowledge and information to create new business processes, profit streams and reach new customers and markets.

Now in its eighth year, The European Software & Solutions Summit 2015 builds on previous Conventions and will feature presentations from leading industry speakers and analysts to examine emerging trends in software and solution development.

The conference sessions:
Open Session 1
Digital Business - a connected world of opportunities:
This session will explore what is meant by the digitalisation of business and how the connected worlds it creates through interfaces and the Internet of Things, is changing the nature of business applications and solutions and examine the implications of this for application developers and solution providers.

Open Session 2
IT Investment - the rules of the game are changing:
This session will explore what digital business means to organisations and how software companies, ISVs, solution providers and application developers will have to rethink how they engage with their customers and partner with other organisations to define and create 'game-changing' solutions.

Open Session 3
Everything as a service (XaaS) - delivering innovation:
These new requirements are fuelling the growing demand for an 'Everything as a Service' IT and business model. This session will explore how this takes us beyond just selling cloud, PaaS and IaaS solutions to a more comprehensive customer experience model.

Open Session 4
Stepping into the digital world of the 21st century:
The final session will explore how software and solution providers can best embrace the concept of digitalised business to maximise business opportunities. New skills and partnerships will be needed and new 'go to market' strategies developed.

The European Software & Solutions Summit 2015 will take place at the Lancaster London Hotel, London, on 25 March 2015. ISVs, solution providers and developers wishing to attend the convention and vendors, distributors or service providers interested in sponsorship opportunities can find further information at www.eusss.com or www.isvconvention.com

Yealink IP handsets have been rated interoperable with MyPhones.com's Altos hosted telephony platform.

All models in the Yealink T4 series of IP handsets are now compatible with Altos and can be supplied provisioned by MyPhones.com's distribution partner ProVu Communications.

Dr Stuart Marsden, MD of MyPhones.com, said: "ProVu Communications' fulfilment and zero-touch provisioning service means that the handsets can be shipped direct to site, provisioned and ready to operate with Altos."

Comms providers seeking to maximise on the growing Ethernet market, fuelled by increasing demand for enterprise connectivity and the boom in data traffic, should look to the East according to analyst Frost & Sullivan.

While the UK, Germany and France constitute the three largest markets, the less mature Eastern European economies will exhibit the fastest growth rates for Ethernet services. Uptake is expected to rise further as the adoption of cloud services escalates in the region.

F&S analysis has revealed that the wholesale Ethernet services market earned $2.73 billion in 2013 and could reach $5.16 billion by 2018. Meanwhile, retail market revenues stood at $3.10 billion in 2013 and are projected to hit $5.63 billion in 2018.

"Ethernet service deployments are on the rise as reliability and flexibility benefits make the technology ideal to power private cloud networks," commented Frost & Sullivan Information & Communication Technologies Research Analyst Shuba Ramkumar.

In a note of caution Tamkumar added: "With fierce competition making customer acquisition and retention difficult, it is important for providers to improve their economies of scale in order to increase profits and push ahead of competitors. Focusing on switched Ethernet services, acquiring regional competition, and offering converged services will help vendors consolidate their position."

Following a weighty investment of £1m and approximately 60,000 man hours ploughed into Union Street Technologies' aBILLity billing system during 2014 the channel can expect some 'ground breaking' developments next year, according to MD Tony Cook.

"We consistently invest in product development," he stated. "The investment will continue with further significant announcements to follow."

Nimans has joined the growing list of SuperConnected Cities authorised suppliers, enabling it to help resellers target their customers and get competitive quotes that potentially save thousands of pounds on install costs.

The Government has committed £150 million for the SuperConnected Cities programme, which is managed by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), a unit within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

"The initiative provides financial support of up to £3,000 for Superfast Internet connectivity to small and medium businesses," explained Mark Curtis-Wood, Head of Nimans' Network Services.

"The Government scheme to provide UK residents and businesses with access to the best broadband speeds available is good news for everyone - and will have a positive impact on our industry and the economy in general.

"They want to achieve a transformation in our broadband access, with everyone in the UK able to access broadband speeds of at least 2 megabits per second (Mbps) and 95% of the UK receiving far greater speeds (at least 24Mbps) by 2017."

Debbie Robertson has joined cloud technology company 8x8 Solutions as Marketing Director.

Her previous roles include Global Marketing Director at managed communications provider Easynet, UK Marketing Director at Avaya and Head of Media Communications at BT.

Robertson commented: "This role gives me a fantastic opportunity to work in a fast growing company developing innovative technology. 8x8 is moving forward at an exciting rate and I'm looking forward to being part of this growth."

Kevin Scott-Cowell, Chief Executive Officer of 8x8 Solutions, added: "It's an exciting time for the company and Debbie's expertise will be vital to our continued fast growth in the UK."

This year 8x8 Solutions has increased its UK workforce by 30% to 60 and opened a new office in London.

The firm is part of NASDAQ-listed 8x8 which services more than 40,000 business customers globally.

Resellers gained insights into a new link-up between Nimans and Ideal Networks during an open day staged at the distributor's Manchester HQ.

Delegates had direct access to Ideal and Nimans infrastructure specialists who explained the importance of testing cable termination and installation and the different methods available.

Demonstrations of the latest test equipment - including the LanTEK II LAN cable certifiers, SignalTEK CT Data Cable transmission testers and VDV II Data Voice and Video verifiers - tested parameters for Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6A installations.

A prize draw, free gifts with selected purchases and special offers and discounts were also available, along with information on a range of finance options available from Nimans' leasing team.

BCS Global Networks has acquired America-based Video Guidance and the enlarged company links BCS Global's capabilities in Europe, Canada and Asia with Video Guidance's in North America.

Video Guidance will become a wholly owned subsidiary of BCS Global and will retain its name and brand in the US.

"Video Guidance shares our mission of bringing visual communications to every boardroom, desktop and mobile device, and to make visual collaboration an easy-to-use business productivity tool for any enterprise across the globe," said Clive Sawkins, who will continue to serve as CEO of the merged company, BCS Global.

"Video Guidance fits our sales, operations and culture like a glove. This combination will help us extend our geographic reach into America, while bringing new, ever-changing technologies to a worldwide market place."

Michael Werch, President and CEO of Video Guidance, will continue to lead the sales and operations in North America.

"Today's technologies have brought unimaginable changes to our way of life, and the number of communication options available on virtually any kind of device is growing exponentially," said Werch.

"Video conferencing has revolutionised the way people connect and as a result, businesses and organisations are making visual communications a strategic priority.

"This merger strengthens our North America footprint and gives Video Guidance a dedicated worldwide network management and operational systems to continue to position and grow our cloud-service offering."

The combined company will have more than 115 employees in offices throughout North America, UK, Europe and Asia.

essensys has collected the BCA Trade Supplier of the Year Award for the third time since 2011.

The winners were named at the annual BCA Industry Awards Gala Dinner on 28th of November at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London.

The awards recognise best practices in the flexible workspace sector and are based on nominations from customers, before being evaluated by a panel of independent judges.

Each nomination must be backed by examples of the level of ongoing support being received and whether the service provided has given the centre additional revenue opportunities.

Mark Furness, CEO and Founder of essensys, commented: "essensys scored a fantastic hat-trick at this year's BCA Awards. The whole essensys team is thrilled, proud and immensely grateful to our customers who have nominated us to win this award.

"Winning three Trade Supplier of the Year Awards in such a short amount of time feels like an outstanding achievement. There is no better testament to our ongoing dedication and commitment to delivering service excellence and real business value than receiving this accolade. It is truly marvellous to see this tremendous validation from our customers."

Most businesses seeking to upgrade their communications infrastructure prefer to deal with a local company that has a fixed line they can call.

Research commissioned by East Sussex based comms provider Cellular Solutions has revealed that the majority of people that influence telecoms buying decisions in their business prefer dealing with local companies for their workplace technology needs.

And tellingly, 69% of decision makers interviewed by pollster Populus said they feel better working with a company that has a fixed line they can call.

The research also underlined the growing attraction of cloud communications with 60% of respondents believing that the recent revolution in hosted solutions can give smaller companies the benefit of technologies and facilities previously only available to larger companies.

Furthermore, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) demands continue to grow at a pace, with only 17% pf people questioned opting to split mobile communications between personal and professional dedicated devices.

Commenting on the survey, Cellular Solutions Managing Director Damian Mottram said:" We're in a fast moving world with technology changing all of the time.

"The services and systems that we are providing for our customers suggest that the way we use both mobile and fixed line telephones is more fluid than ever before.

"Our experience, and also the findings of this first report in our ongoing research programme also suggest that the lines between work and private expectations of telecoms are more blurred than ever before."?