Comms Dealer

Tech Data Europe is creating a complete Microsoft cloud ecosystem that will enable partners to deliver the Microsoft's entire software stack, along with complementary solutions, through a single, integrated management platform.

All of Microsoft's cloud-based solutions, including Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), are available through the Tech Data Cloud Solution Store, powered by the company's StreamOne platform, as part of the Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) program.

This means resellers, VARs and MSPs can offer the full range of Microsoft solutions alongside complementary offerings through a single portal, and also make use of the monitoring and billing capabilities of Tech Data's platform to manage their customer accounts.

"Microsoft solutions are widely used in most end user organisations and many customers now want to use those applications in the cloud, so it's important that resellers can support the entire stack," said Reza Honarmand, vice president, Cloud, Europe at Tech Data.

"In addition, customers need efficient ways to manage and integrate applications and ensure their data is properly backed-up, safe and secure. Through our Cloud Solution Store, Tech Data is providing not only the complete Microsoft suite under the CSP program, but also a whole range of complementary solutions and services that will enable VARs and MSPs to add value to the services they offer and enhance their long-term business prospects."

Unify Business Solutions has scooped a £1.7m deal to eradicate mobile phones from Danish prisons.

Working with Kriminalforsorgen, the organisation responsible for all the prisons in Denmark, Unify Business Solutions will help to reduce criminal activity and increase safety to the public, the prison and its staff.

Unify was chosen ahead of five other international telecoms specialists and will supply its mobile detection system - UMDS (Unify Mobile Detection/Denial System) - which detects mobile phones, provides live alerts for prison staff and then blocks the phones so that inmates do not have unlawful access.

"We are ecstatic to be working on this project and to extend our portfolio of international contracts into Denmark," said Adam Esposito, co-director of Unify Business Solutions.

"This will create more jobs for the area and is a great opportunity for us to showcase our detection products that we have developed in Sheffield."

The use of illicit mobile phones in prisons around the world has become an increasing problem. In Denmark alone an average of 1,900 mobiles are confiscated a year, and there is no limit to how creative the inmates' friends are in their attempts to smuggle them in.

Phones are sometimes stored inside balls which are thrown into the prison grounds and picked up during recreation time, as well as being stored in grocery deliveries, books, clothing and shoes.

Unify Sales Manager, Keith Bean, commented: "Kriminalforsorgen recognises how this piece of technology can help it run an efficient prison service, increase security and reduce criminal activity where mobile phones are used to bring in illegal contraband."

Bamboo Technology Group has gained two key ISO certifications - ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013. It has also retained its Investors in People certification for the 12th year in a row.

The certifications form part of the company's transformation and growth strategy which included a review and streamlining of all internal and customer-facing processes, the launch of new service offerings such as Wholesale M2M data, investment in new and enhanced tools (including data monitoring and auto-barring), and establishing new supplier relationships such as the Service Provider agreement with Vodafone UK.

"We are proud to add these two major ISO certifications to our business accreditations," said Lorrin White, MD, Bamboo.

"We have spent the last 18-24 months further investing in our people, processes and systems as part of our ambitious transformation and growth strategy.

"Bamboo's staff have worked hard to drive the business forward to achieve our ISO status, so it is only fitting that this coincided with the renewal of our Investors in People accreditation for the 12th year in a row."

The appointment of Kevin Matthews (pictured) by Exertis to the newly created role of Enterprise Sales Director signifies the distributor's growing interest and investment in bigger business. He reports to Sales and Commercial Director UK&I Phil Brown.

Matthews moves from Fujitsu where he was UK Sales Director for the Technology Products Group responsible for implementing a new sales strategy and consolidating the number of distribution partners.

Before joining Fujitsu Matthews spent 16 years at Hewlett-Packard, ultimately leading its enterprise channel business and accelerating the sale of HP enterprise products via successful initiatives and strong customer engagement.

"Kevin has extensive sales experience in the channel particularly in the enterprise sector and has built strong business relationships with major accounts," said Brown.

Matthews added: "My responsibilities include driving engagement with key value added resellers, ensuring that sales opportunities are maximised with the Exertis' growing enterprise portfolio."

Openreach has appointed Sir Brendan Barber and Edward Astle as independent members of a newly formed Board to oversee strategy, investment and service delivery.

Barber was formerly General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and current chair of Acas, while Astle is a former Board member of National Grid.

The newcomers attended the inaugural meeting of the Openreach Board on 31st January 2017, chaired by Mike McTighe who was appointed independent Chairman of Openreach in December 2016.

A fourth independent non-executive is due to be announced with a specific focus on customer service.

McTighe said: "I understand that customers sometimes feel let down by Openreach because we haven't always delivered the service they expect or that we hope to provide.

"We have made a lot of progress since Clive Selley joined as CEO a year ago - for example on halving the number of missed appointments, making our fibre network available to millions more people and accelerating our plan to introduce a new generation of ultrafast technology.

"But we need to do more to re-build trust and credibility. This will be the Board's focus."

Clive Selley, Openreach Chief Executive; Clare Sadlier, Openreach Chief Finance Officer; and Simon Lowth, BT Group Finance Director will also join the Openreach Board.

Openreach will also establish committees to help boost operational standards. In particular, a new Openreach Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (OBARCC) will hold the business to account and regularly hear representations from customers, as well as conducting an annual review of Openreach compliance and publish its findings.

Spitfire formally welcomed new supplier partner Virgin Media Business at its annual channel partner conference staged in Westminster.

Other talking points on the day included developments in FTTC Ethernet and FTTP Broadband, SIP trunks, on-net connectivity to AWS and Microsoft and telephony compliance regulations.
 
Spitfire used the occasion to demonstrate a new web ordering system allowing authorised partners to place orders online quickly and simply.

Breakout sessions following the main presentations gave partners the opportunity to see demonstrations of Spitfire's SIP Communicator hosted telephony service and the 3CX v15 telephony platform. Staff were also on hand to discuss MPLS networks and Virgin Media Business services.

Nick Goodenough, Partner Service Manager, commented: "We were pleased to welcome a very large section of our 400 channel partners to our annual conference.

"The event allowed us to brief partners on the important developments we have planned for our voice and data services in 2017. We were also able to introduce colleagues from Virgin Media Business who outlined the benefits of Virgin's national fibre network. The event always provides partners with an excellent opportunity to network with their peers."

A competition launched by BT invites new ideas from SMEs aimed at better securing the UK's infrastructure, public sector and business data.

'BT SME Award 2017: Securing the Nation' will give SMEs the chance to showcase their new technology and product ideas within three award categories: Cyber Security; Data collection, mining and analytics; and Digital Innovation.

The winning entrants are expected to demonstrate how their new ideas will address key challenges in securing data for businesses and public sector organisations.

Shortlisted finalists will be invited to the BT Tower in London on the 4th of April to pitch their ideas to a Dragons' Den style judging panel of experts spanning security, innovation, defence and other public services.

Among the panel will be CEO of BT Security, Mark Hughes; BT's MD of Research & Innovation, Tim Whitley; Met Police Detective Superintendent, Caroline Barker; and Technical Director of the National Cyber Security Centre, Ian Levy.

There is a total prize pot of £30,000 across all three categories.

Ben Gummer, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, said: "Small and medium-sized businesses make a huge contribution to our economy and account for over 99% of all private sector businesses. Entrepreneurs, risk-takers, family businesses and start-ups have created more than 2.7 million jobs and launched almost a million new businesses since 2010.

"But there is more we can do - which is why the Government is committed to spending £1 in every £3 with small businesses by 2020. By doing so, we will harness the knowledge, skills and experience of our SMEs and use them to improve our public services."

TalkTalk chief exec Dido Harding is to stand down in May after seven years in the job, paving the way for the return of company founder Sir Charles Dunstone who moves into the position of Executive Chairman when he leaves the Chair of Dixons Carphone role on 1st May.

It is reported that Baroness Harding will be replaced by MD Tristia Harrison. 

In October the company was fined £400k for glitches in website security.

ShoreTel's global expansion campaign is accelerating with the UK launch of ShoreTel Connect CLOUD and ShoreTel Connect Contact Center for CLOUD solutions. The UK data centre is production ready and the launch follows the introduction of cloud-based solutions as a partner managed service in the UK in 2015.

The move also signifies a big step forward in the vendor's transition from a maker of products to a globally focused software and services business.

ShoreTel Connect CLOUD has been available to US customers for 15 months and, according to Don Joos (pictured), president and CEO, the time is right to expand into more theatres.

"This geographical expansion better positions us to serve the needs of global customers of all types and sizes, while helping to drive cloud growth in EMEA," said Joos. "Our channel is ready and excited to offer Connect CLOUD to their customers."

ShoreTel can now provide UC ready-made 'as-a-service' with 'clear and simple' customer pricing, enabling a wider range of businesses of all sizes to benefit from voice, video, mobile, conferencing, messaging and contact centre communication services.

These new UC cloud services are sold through ShoreTel cloud partners who can also offer their customers a range of professional services for more complex environments.

Adrian Hipkiss, EMEA VP and MD of ShoreTel, added: "Our aim is to make cloud-based unified communications simple for customers with a no risk pathway to cloud-based purely on their requirements and needs.

"This may include some elements that are not yet suited to a cloud-only approach. ShoreTel remains committed to providing choice and flexibility, so ShoreTel Connect CLOUD and ShoreTel Connect Contact Center for CLOUD are welcome additions to support a wider range of customer communication requirements.

"The ShoreTel Connect client app makes collaboration simple and consistent across various deployment types. With one click, users can easily escalate a conversation from an IM to a call, to an online meeting, and then to a web desk-top share and video.

"Browser-based, the app allows seamless collaboration among internal teams, while also enabling external users to engage and collaborate in the same experience without the need for plug-ins, multiple application windows, passwords or complex set-up."

Proofpoint has named Nik Churchley as its new Director of EMEA Channel Sales. He has held similar roles at FireEye, Verisign and RSA Security with a particular focus on security and networking across cloud and managed service environments.

In his new role, Churchley will lead Proofpoint's relationships with partners, distributors and vendor organisations across Europe and the Middle East, with an emphasis on new business sales within the region.

Proofpoint specialises in protecting organisations against email, social and mobile threats. 

The company claims more than 3,000 enterprise customers including many of the world's largest companies, with over 100 million end users.