Comms Dealer

Wayne Martin's GCI Telecom Group has achieved a hat-trick of accreditations from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

GCI's attention to delivering quality service has been recognised this time for both Quality Management (ISO 9001: 2008) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001: 2004). The latest certification complements GCI's earlier accreditation for Information Security and Information Security Management (ISO 27001: 2005) awarded to its privately-owned data centres in January. GCI has also extended the scope of its 27001 certification to include its regional offices.

According to GCI, certification to these standards ensures that customers can be confident that their chosen service provider has conformed to the standards set out by an international body. It recognises provision of a quality, secure and environmentally friendly service, whilst allowing the service provider to continually assess and improve their business functions and offerings.

Upon receiving the formal certification, Alan Astley, Accreditation Manager for GCI, commented: "Obtaining the ISO accreditation is a positive testament to GCI's on-going commitment to continuous improvements in our service delivery".

GCI says it has now turned its attention to accreditation for ISO/IEC 20000-1: 2011, an Information Technology service management system standard, which focuses on all aspects of service provision, including design, implementation and service improvement.

Nokia has announced the UK availability of the Nokia Lumia 625 smartphone claiming affordable 4G connectivity through a large 4.7" screen.

Running Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 625 provides leading personalisation with changeable Live Tiles that update direct to the home screen, whilst the People Hub makes it easy to stay connected with friends, colleagues and family. There's also Xbox Live, Microsoft Office integration and 7GB of online SkyDrive storage that add to the 8GB of in built memory, and SD memory card support of up to 64GB.

The 625 also offers the choice of five semi-transparent changeable shells in orange, bright green, yellow, white and black.

"The Nokia Lumia 625 combines high end innovation and experiences with a stunning 4.7" screen and 4G connectivity, to bring high speed entertainment to new audiences on a budget." said Conor Pierce, Nokia's VP UK and Ireland. "It's a fantastic blend of affordability and performance. In short, it's the product that the UK 4G market has been waiting for."

New innovations on the device include a range of integrated camera applications like Nokia Smart Camera, which allows users to capture the perfect shot every time, and Nokia Cinemagraph, which transforms pictures into living memories.

Dee Kaul, Director of Terminals for Vodafone UK and Ireland said, "The Nokia Lumia 625 will make a great and highly affordable 4G addition to Vodafone's range of Windows Phones."

Nicola Shenton, Head Of Devices, EE said, "4G is incredibly important for the future of mobile in the UK.With the new Lumia 625, Nokia is helping to bring even more affordable, quality 4G devices to the market which will ensure 4G experiences are available to a broader audience."

Graham Stapleton, CEO of Carphone Warehouse UK said: "Nokia is leading the 4G device portfolio already with a number of innovative middle and high end devices. With the Nokia Lumia 625 we see them move to an even more affordable price point with a 4.7" Super sensitive Display, optimised for viewing media on the go. This will be the most affordable 4G smartphone in our range at launch."

Nokia says the Lumia 625 will be indicatively priced at around £21 per month on contract and £179 on Pay As You Go, it will be available in the UK through O2, Vodafone, EE, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4u from Wednesday the 28th of August.

As I peer through the blur left by our anniversary party, it's time to reflect on how we started our business in 2003. Back then the telecoms sector was cautiously leading the way out of a burst dotcom bubble. Coming from IT recruitment, we were told we were quite mad, as "the last few years had been awful" and "even if it picks up, it'll never be as good again". Undaunted, we set upon our mission to create a fully focussed telecoms recruitment specialist; no IT division, no vending machine salesmen, no local temps, UK only, simply 100% comms people.

We stuck to our guns and starting with the mobile and CPS market, we fed the comms industry's appetite for field sales people to flog new connections. We placed 500 people in just three years. The number crunching was paramount; endless interviewing, supply agreements and tight volume pricing. Clients could hire on one interview and more often if they just fancied the look of the person sitting opposite.

In those days the job boards thought they ruled the market forever. They said recruitment agencies were dinosaurs, set for extinction by a meteorite of technology growing larger in the sky. Since then we broadened into all aspects of data, wireless, sales, management, billings and now with 1576 placements under our belt, it didn't quite work out as the naysayers planned.

Recruitment agencies are alive and well. Whilst we evolved, the jobsites re-spawned their online formula, fragmenting their market share into 3000 pieces in the UK. Lacking a real human touch, they didn't build loyalty. Today they fight over a mercurial candidate supply, as social networking and human interaction has taken back control of recruitment. Whether it's a candidate sitting opposite you, or the client in your Dem Suite, I'm pleased to say that People Still Buy People after all.

As technology only gives temporary advantage until competitors get it too, the quality and service expectation of clients is always rising. When you've got every tech gizmo going, the only way to set yourself apart is with the people who tell your story.

So it's no accident today that 60% of UK businesses want to recruit new staff and new skills. After an incredible 1.6million cv docs that went through our server, distilled into 60,000 real comms people on our CRM, we don't use jobsites much now. They have little new to tell us anymore. Our power is our resources, our people, the knowledge, and the contacts we have built up in, and about, the business. Sound familiar? Of course it does... because this describes your company too...

In 2013 'Power to the people!' rules again.

Leeds based comms solutions provider Nexus Telecommunications has ramped up its marketing team by promoting Ruth Panton to Marketing and Administration Manager.

Panton, who has worked in television and public relations, joined Nexus two years ago as PA to COO Rob Sims.

Panton commented: "I am very excited about the changes and developments that I have witnessed to date at Nexus and feel the opportunity has now arisen for me to increasingly put my marketing experience into practice as we work towards creating a new brand image for the company, from both an internal and external point of view."

COO Rob Sims said: "Ruth's contribution to the business has been fantastic. She has brought creativity, discipline and process to our marketing activity and I am confident her drive and enthusiasm will take the business even further in the coming months."

UK hosted IP specialist HIPCOM has been sold to American UC software giant BroadSoft for an undisclosed sum.

In a press statement BroadSoft said the majority of Hipcom's employees will join its growing team focused on managing its cloud operations across Europe, but chairman Allan Murdoch confirmed that he has left the business with immediate effect.

Murdoch told Comms Dealer the BroadSoft offer came out of the blue and was too good to turn down: "Hipcom are the number one platform in the UK for hosted services and we have built something very special, but we were made an offer we could not refuse. BroadSoft is the perfect acquirer for us. When they approached us with an offer I thought it made perfect sense.

"This is good news for Hipcom resellers and good news for the whole UK reseller market. Our current resellers now effectively go up one tier in the distribution chain by receiving direct supply from BroadSoft. The Hipcom team will still be working with them going forward.

"Continuity was key to this acquisition. One of the things BroadSoft appreciated about Hipcom is the way we did things, the way we delivered the service and the support we give our partners."

Murdoch believes Hipcom's relationship with BT was also key to the acquisition deal.

"Hipcom has very successfully provided a service to BT and has helped them penetrate the hosted market faster than they would have been able to do themselves. I think BroadSoft see that as a particular model they can use in other European markets as it will help incumbent telcos in other countries get to market quickly."

He is also confident resellers will now have an enhanced go to market proposition under the BroadSoft brand: "Resellers will now be in a better position to address UC opportunities. This deal brings BroadSoft closer to the coal face in terms of the recognising some of the drivers the resellers are looking for."

HIPCOM currently provides innovative Unified Communications services based on BroadSoft's BroadWorks® software to a broad customer base.

Scott Hoffpauir, chief technology officer, BroadSoft commented: "We believe the global opportunity for our BroadCloud PBX capabilities is very significant and it was critical we find a team with extensive cloud technology and infrastructure management experience for our expanding U.K. and European operations.

"With the addition of HIPCOM and their experienced management team, we are confident we have the depth of knowledge in place to quickly take full advantage of our growth opportunities for BroadCloud PBX throughout Europe."

BroadSoft anticipates the acquisition will add approximately $500,000 in revenue to its estimated third quarter 2013 results and approximately $1.6 million in revenue to its estimated full year 2013 results. The acquisition is expected be non-dilutive to estimated third quarter 2013 and full year 2013 non-GAAP EPS.

Software solution specialist LucidCX has announced the provision of its advanced device support solution to Bullitt Group's new Cat B25 and B15 ruggedised devices.

LucidCX's Field Fix solution includes interactive three dimensional models, full free roam device simulators with search facilities and troubleshooter scenarios, with a Unified Agent Desktop allowing Customer Service Agents to send query resolutions to Cat phone end users as an HTML5 file.

David Hinc, Non-Executive Director at LucidCX commented: "Following the launch of the Cat B15 ruggedised water and dustproof Android SmartPhone at MWC Barcelona, Bullitt Group wanted a comprehensive, effective device support and repair avoidance solution that would be the core infrastructure for their Customer Support call centre as well as offering easy to access device resolutions via their website that encouraged self-help and self-learning.

"We are delighted to be working with the Bullitt Group in delivering our software in multiple languages to support their meteoric sales success around the globe."

ANS Group founder and Chairman Scott Fletcher has been lined up to motivate young business people at an entrepreneurs festival organised by the UK Government's Department of Trade and Investment.

Fletcher, who is 39, will address budding entrepreneurs from around the world about the most effective way to start a business. The event, which takes place in Manchester's Conference Centre between September 4th and 6th, is aimed at recent graduates who aim to be successful in business.

ANS Group now has a £50 million turnover and Manchester-born Fletcher has recently championed more young people to get involved in business. ANS currently employs 12 apprentices and plans to employ a further 32 in the next few months. This year will also see the official launch of the ANS Academy which will provide opportunities for young people in Manchester to begin a career in the IT industry.

"Being a panel member at the entrepreneur festival is a perfect opportunity to emphasise the importance of encouraging young, ambitious people to get into business. I aim to inspire people who think about excelling in this uncertain economic climate," said Fletcher.

The Festival is open to recent graduates or final year BA/BSc level, Masters or Research degree students at, universities in the UK and elsewhere in the world.
See www.entrepreneursfestival.ukti.gov.uk.

Annodata has appointed Antony Vigar as Southern Corporate Sales Director for ICT. Vigar joins Annodata from Vodafone where he spent two years as Sector Head of UK Strategic Accounts. Prior to this, Vigar spent seven years with Azzuri Communications in a number of increasingly senior roles including, Director of ICT and subsequently, Head of Specialist Solutions.

He is targeted with accelerating the growth of ICT business in the south and integrating the UC proposition into Annodata's existing core functions. Vigar commented: "The Annodata ICT portfolio is already market leading in terms of the suppliers, solutions and customers it unites. This, combined with the strategic placement of key industry aficionado's, place Annodata very strongly given the market appetite for the significant benefits Unified Communications platforms can deliver."

Alongside Vigar, Mark Valentine has joined Annodata as Commercial Manager, responsible for portfolio development and the management of strategic partnerships. The fast expanding business communications provider has also appointed Jon Norris as ICT solutions specialist.

Mike Mason, MD of Annodata's UC business, commented: "We've invested significantly in this team, which builds on the success of our current ICT and enterprise mobility business. We see the new team as a key component for our continued business growth as we extend our portfolio and capabilities into our existing and prospective clients."

JustGiving, the world's leading online fundraising platform, has boosted customer service levels through deployment of a cloud telephony solution from cloud contact centre vendor NewVoiceMedia.

The company is live on 'ContactWorld for Service' an easy-to-use, true cloud CRM solution which is providing a fast and personalised response and improved overall service and satisfaction levels.

JustGiving now has full visibility of its entire contact centre operation through in-depth reporting, which offers the business complete control over its customer experience. Moreover, it can access a full suite of tools including call recording, interactive voice response (IVR) and automatic call distribution.

As ContactWorld for Service is based in the cloud, the company can now be much more responsive and flexible to changes in demand, since all agents need is a phone, computer and internet connection, enabling them to work anywhere at any time.

Katy Stokes, IT Service Manager at JustGiving, commented: "We aim to give our users the best possible experience when giving online, so being able to recognise callers and deliver a personalised service is invaluable. Providing excellent customer support is so important to us, and with ContactWorld we are handling calls more efficiently and improving the satisfaction of our service users."

Jonathan Gale, CEO of NewVoiceMedia, added: "We're excited to have JustGiving on board and be helping them deliver customer service excellence to thousands of worthwhile charities and the fundraisers supporting them. It's great to hear how much value ContactWorld is bringing to the business - agents are more empowered and customers are benefitting from a first-class personalised experience, now and in the future".

UK food industry giant The Yearsley Group has deployed a Fibre Ethernet solution from Zen Internet to securely share information and applications between offices and remote workers.

The Fibre Ethernet solution has allowed Yearsley to embrace IP-based voice and video calls, together with remote training and resulted in vast improvements in performance and productivity for the company, particularly at remote sites that connect into the Data Centre.

Systems now connect to the network at over twice the original speed, and the improved connectivity has allowed for a greater degree of collaboration between teams. Yearsley's internal and remote employees now work together more efficiently, while the in-house IT Helpdesk and Programming and Development teams can now effectively manage the whole estate.

The new solution has also given Yearsley the confidence to invest in new online technologies, further enhancing its business capabilities and providing even greater cost savings. The combination of IP VPN and Microsoft Lync are helping Yearsley work more efficiently between sites and with customers and trading partners.