Comms Dealer

More than half of IT directors feel that their businesses are at the mercy of their wireless network according to a study by Damovo UK & Ireland.

As enterprise mobility has grown, many organisations have struggled to upgrade their wireless networks at the same pace as the proliferation of mobile devices, such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. Three-quarters of IT directors said that they expect their wireless networks to come under even more strain as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) becomes more commonplace.

"The wireless networks that most businesses have in place were not designed to support the sheer number of devices that are now connecting to them," said Russell Siverland-Bishop, Principal Consultant, Damovo UK & Ireland.

"With employees using more and more bandwidth-hungry services such as mobile video, the demand for wireless capacity has rocketed. As mobility continues to play a fundamental role in enabling businesses to operate efficiently, it's no surprise to see that many IT directors are growing increasingly concerned over the ability of their wireless networks to support the demands upon them."

With more people and devices now accessing corporate networks, security remains the number one on-going concern over wireless networks, as indicated by more than half (60%) of IT directors taking part in the research.

This is followed by concerns over coverage and performance (15%), and having sufficient bandwidth to support new devices and applications (13%). However, despite these concerns, nearly two-thirds of IT directors (65%) confessed that they take an ad-hoc approach to extending or upgrading their wireless networks; adding capacity as and when required, rather than adopting a long-term strategic approach to network planning. As a result, securing wireless networks, improving performance and troubleshooting problems can become an overly time-consuming activity.

"It's perhaps not surprising that nearly half (47%) of the IT directors surveyed admitted that they find wireless network management a burden," added Siverland-Bishop.

"Businesses cannot afford to remain on the back foot with this ad-hoc approach to network planning. The latest wireless management tools can help IT departments to create a better integrated and centralised platform for their networks. With this approach, they can maintain a secure and reliable wireless infrastructure to support their mobile workforce and keep the business up and running."

Doro has expanded its range of easy-to-use mobiles with the launch of the Doro PhoneEasy 621, described as a modern handset for people who want an attractive, high-quality easy mobile with camera.

This new clamshell model comes in two colours combinations - burgundy/white and black/graphite. It is presented in a two-tone matt finish and further builds on Doro's ergonomic design heritage.

The handset also sees Doro introduce an easy video camera, with the ability to send a video message for the first time - a function which specifically helps people capture and share their memories.

Chris Millington, Doro's UK and Ireland Managing Director, commented: "Our new feature phone provides an attractive handset option for those users who don't want a complicated device. It provides a high quality, easy-to-use camera with video capability - which is something our user research identified as a desirable function."

This new product introduction comes during a year when the company is set to launch its second smartphone. Millington added: "As a business we are actively developing our 'easy smart' propositions and continue to develop feature phones for all types of user. This model offers a fun and stylish option, with enhanced functions whilst remaining true to our easy focus."

A key feature in TalkTalk Group's Q1 FY2013/14 financial results is growing demand for its data and carrier services and a 28% growth year-on-year in data product revenues. TalkTalk Business installed 1,549 Ethernet and EFM lines during Q114 leading to an installed base at the end of the quarter of over 11,800 lines

Strategic partnerships were signed with Logicalis, Callway One and Imex extending the market reach of its data products; and the company's relationship with Hutchison 3G has expanded to include data deployment to 100 H3G stores, with a further 247 stores to be connected in H2.

TalkTalk Business continued to develop its direct channel including a data contract with the parcels and logistics business DX Group

Charles Bligh, Managing Director of TalkTalk Business said: "Businesses today face increasing and rapidly evolving demands that are shaped by a dynamic and competitive market. Companies need the scalability and speed to enable them to deliver on new ways of working and make the most of the opportunities available.

"It is against this backdrop that we are witnessing increased demand for our data and carrier services and we are proud to offer the UK's largest Ethernet enabled network. Our focus is on innovating to leverage our network capability across our portfolio and to deliver products that add genuine value in a modern business environment."

TalkTalk Group has also begun unbundling an additional 300 exchanges in FY14 as part of its commitment to bring value and services to businesses of all sizes across the UK.

Cisco's intent to acquire cybersecurity company Sourcefire for $2.7 billion has been welcomed by Steve Browell, CTO at Intrinsic Technology.

The deal boosts Cisco's network security business at a time when dependency on being connected and having access to data from any device has continued to grow exponentiall.

"Now, security has to be a fundamental part of the overall design, rather than simply being bolted on at the end. The rise in cyber crime and the increasing importance of ICT availability and information protection are making the market change.
 
"Cisco has responded to this, and with the acquisition of Sourcefire it adds a highly credible addition to its security portfolio. From our point of view as a Cisco Gold Partner, this bodes well for our business and customers as it will ensure security is an inherent part of the Cisco solutions we design, deploy and manage for our clients."

UKFast CEO Lawrence Jones has 'stepped up' to address the state of the graduate jobs market, recruiting 50 graduates this summer in the first stage of a new scheme.

Jones will invest £4.5 million over two years, offering starting salaries of £19,000, rising to £30,000 with bonuses, and providing a purpose-built training facility for the company's new recruits.

Jones said: "There's a market of talented, energetic people in Britain looking for a step up, a break. It's my duty as an entrepreneur with ambitions to expand massively, to give them the opportunity. It's a win-win."

Developing the UKFast Academy launched in 2011, the firm's latest recruitment project follows the appointment of Aaron Saxton as Director of Training.

Jones said: "Apprenticeship schemes don't fit for graduates - they come out of university with a £40,000+ debt and who is going to help them out? It is time for us business owners to stand tall and find a business model that helps them. I don't understand why businesses aren't doing this already.

"This is not an apprenticeship or a typical graduate scheme, it's a real training programme with real salaries and bonuses."

Jones believes the graduate scheme will allow the business to outperform its growth targets for 2013 of 25 per cent.

"We've looked at other cities for growth, but our heart lies in Manchester. Our business is growing so fast and we're going to be a breeding ground for the best brains in the industry."

Hampshire-based Avaya reseller Centrix has sponsored serial adventurer James Ketchell on his round-the-world cycle challenge which started on 30th June 2013 and will take in 18,000 miles over the next six months.

Ketchell, formerly an employee of distributors Avnet, spent 2010 rowing single-handedly across the Atlantic and then, in the following year, climbed Mount Everest.

For 2013 he decided that cycling 18,000 miles around the world in sixmonths would make for a good challenge. And Centrix was happy to be the technology partner for the trip, as well as seeing him off from Greenwich and doing the first 80-miles of the ride with him.

Richard Burbage, Sales & Marketing Director for Centrix, said: "I'm a keen cyclist myself, albeit a fair weather one, and one day I was cycling through the rural roads of Hampshire when I met James on his bike.

"He joined me for a few miles and we got chatting and he mentioned he'd summited Everest and rowed the Atlantic and he was now training for this 18,000 mile bike adventure.

"One thing lead to another and before the week was out we agreed to sponsor him and provide the relevant communications he needed to keep in touch around the world and to upload to his daily blog etc."

This wasn't just a simple case of lending him an iPhone or a SIM card but the relevant charging technology on the bike to allow him to cycle whilst charging his MacBook and iPhone and to ensure they'd work in all the continents and countries he'd be visiting.

"Our sponsorship also contributed to the money James needed to raise to pay for the accommodation and flights needed as he and his bike make their way around the world," added Burbage. "James is undertaking this challenge unsupported which I think, when you consider he's cycling upwards of 120 miles every day, is going to be very demanding and at times not without risks."

Pictured (from L-R): Richard Burbage, James Ketchell and Dave Everest.

HP's new platinum partners will be few in number, but will get extra resources and real investment from HP in terms of direction planning and HP people. The new level will be in place at the start of November, but obviously those partners making the jump are getting trained and committing over the next few months, says Kevin Matthews, UK&I Enterprise Group channels boss.

Last week's meeting of the gold partners was a chance to assess how many plan on becoming platinum; it looks like no more than a dozen in the UK&I area. It will be different across Europe, particularly in the CEE region where the approach must be different because of market conditions, but it all fits into the grand HP plan for standardisation globally. At the same time, the accreditations become fewer in number, and the partner programmes become the same across all parts of the portfolio.

The plan means partners selling more of the HP portfolio, particularly the platinums, who will offer everything from hardware to software, cloud to services, plus the all-important storage.

The mood among HP gold partners is positive and echoes the sentiment at the global partner conference earlier this year that HP is engaged again. The policies of simplicity of engagement, being profitable to work with and predictable in nature are coming through, he says. The soft rebates available to silver and gold partners continue, but the platinums can expect hard margin advantage.

The key is business planning, he suggests. "The setting of objectives and milestones means the partners have a real commitment, not just signing off on HP's suggestions." It means a commitment by HP to keeping the partners up-to-date on technologies and selling, with early feedback from its sales academies very positive, with measurable improvements in productivity.

HP is trying to establish the techniques that work for the particular partners in focus, and even directing their vertical market efforts, demanding more loyalty in return as it trains its won channel teams to be more effective.

The results will become apparent next year, but the move is certainly to concentrate on a smaller number of very high achieving partners and setting the bar for them much higher.

Sharedband has partnered with Kent-based VeloComms, enabling the communications provider to offers Sharedband's patented technology designed to improve the performance and resilience of Internet connections.

The Sharedband core software solution aggregates multiple Internet connections (DSL, cable, fibre, wireless) into a single high-performance connection that is flexible and scalable.
 
Sharedband provides a secure portal for channel reseller partners such as VeloComms to manage multiple customer accounts easily online. Once signed-in to the secure portal a reseller can see performance parameters for a variety of customer account activities related to the Sharedband bonded internet solution. This includes active and non-active status on bonded connections.
 
For VeloComms, Phil Davies, CEO stated: "I like the fact that Sharedband is a subscription service which generates ongoing incremental revenue for us. For our customers that need high-speed broadband it fills the gap between conventional DSL broadband and Ethernet which is still uneconomic for many of our SME customers."
 
Tim Burne, Chief Operations Officer for Sharedband, added: "Implementing Sharedband allows comms providers to offer further value-added products such as hosted applications, storage and SAAS solutions generating additional revenue streams."

Aiming to triple its base of cloud resellers GFI Software has introduced a new channel partner programme designed to equip resellers with the tools, incentives and support to drive cloud sales.

"Cloud solutions are an important opportunity for the channel that generates both healthy up-front revenues and recurring business," said Director of Channel Scott Hagenus.

"Our new cloud partner programme will deliver a three-figure increase in cloud resellers and help them to integrate GFI's cloud solutions alongside their existing physical product lines."

The programme runs until November and will focus each month on a different aspect of the GFI Cloud solution including patch management, antivirus, network and server monitoring, managing mobile workers, along with web and content filtering.

"The success our existing partners are having with GFI Cloud is a clear indicator that the channel community is key to the success of cloud solutions," added Hagenus.

Dutch telecoms group KPN is to sell its German unit to rival Telefonica Deutschland in a £4.2bn cash deal, and according to Emeka Obiodu, principal analyst in Ovum's telco strategy team, the only surprise in this announcement is the length Telefonica was prepared to go to strengthen its position in the German market.

"It has become glaringly obvious that the German market was becoming too much of a headache for the players," said Obiodu.

"So today's announcement is in line with expectations that consolidation was inevitable. Indeed, the deal reduces the number of players in Germany to three, in line with Ovum's prediction that three players in European markets seems to be the balance in order to ensure adequate market competition while retaining healthy profits for the players.

"As the third and fourth players, O2 and E-Plus did not have the scale to adequately compete in a market where ferocious price competition has led to declining revenues and profits for telcos. Indeed on Friday, Vodafone, the second largest player in the market, reported a 5.1% decline in quarterly revenues, lending credence to its decision to seek a remedy with the acquisition of Kabel Deutschland.

"And Vodafone's actions would have hastened today's decision as O2 and E-Plus risked falling even more behind. Without a deal, they would have been operating in a market where Vodafone has just strengthened, and Deutsche Telekom enjoys the advantage of being the mobile market leader and the owner of a high-speed fixed broadband network.

"Instead, this deal catapults the combined O2/E-Plus to be the mobile market leader in Germany with over 37% mobile market share (year end 2012). For Telefonica, it looks canny how it has struck a deal to become the largest telco in Brazil (through taking control of Vivo), the largest market in Latin America and now it is doing the same in Germany, the largest market in the EU. No wonder it was prepared to add another 5 billion euros to its already large debt pile."