Comms Dealer

Slough is to become the UK's first Wireless Gigabit and Smart City with fibre-fed wireless connectivity and Smart City solutions delivered to Slough residents and businesses following an agreement between Slough Borough Council and Angie Networks, part of Angie Communications International.

"Slough is strategically placed as a leading business hub here in the UK," said Bob Snowden, CEO UK, Angie. "We are working with Slough and partners to bring the latest smart city technology to the area.

"Angie will finance the entire project, ensuring that Slough will have all the benefits and none of the financial or operational risks."

Angie has signed up Colt and Zayo to build fibre infrastructure deeper into all Slough neighbourhoods off their existing infrastructure. The connectivity for the last hundred feet and into homes and business will be done through wireless technology.

This ultra-densification of fibre and wireless in the entire city will result in fibre-fed wireless Gigabit services in and around homes and businesses.

Slough will be the first area in the UK to benefit from this kind of next-generation communications infrastructure.

Once installed, these 5G-primed fibre-fed networks will revolutionise the way people go about their business.

Neal Lachman, Group CEO of Angie Communications International, stated: "With the likes of Zayo and Colt and several others already or coming on board as partners, we plan to emulate the Slough models, principles and modus operandi worldwide."

Software-based UC solution firm 3CX has unwrapped its latest release, Version 15, which boasts more features, higher security, a modern look and easier integration with more applications.

With v15, ongoing maintenance has been reduced to almost nothing, claimed the company. Many aspects of running a PBX have been automated, avoiding the need to move to a public cloud service.

Companies can retain full control of their phone system - on premise or in the cloud. Security, backup and restore, update management and failover are automatically managed by 3CX.

3CX's inbuilt security has also been notched up, while the client and management console interface have been made more user friendly.

The company has also expanded its integration by supporting more applications out of the box and by adding a scriptable interface that makes it easy to integrate with any CRM, Contact Centre, Outbound call centre solution.

3CX v15 has been optimised to run on mini PCs with SSD drives and Windows license included.

Provider of driver behaviour and fleet management solutions GreenRoad Technologies is looking to partner with telecoms suppliers for its mobile offering.

The announcement follows the launch of GreenRoad Mobile, a mobile application that acts as a 'coach in the cab', warning drivers in real-time when they stray from a safe, smooth driving style.

GreenRoad Technologies believes that its mobile service will give telecoms resellers a value added proposition.

GreenRoad Mobile monitors 150 vehicle movements, detecting risky manoeuvres such as harsh braking, sudden acceleration, sharp cornering and swerving.

All drivers need to do is to download and run the GreenRoad app on their smartphone or tablet then place the mobile device in the cockpit of the vehicle.

As well as giving feedback in cab, GreenRoad analyses data and compiles easy to read reports on driving performance for fleet managers

Chris Horbowyj, GreenRoad's UK Director of Sales, said: "GreenRoad Mobile works on smartphones and tablets so it makes sense to offer it through telecoms resellers because it will be an added value proposition for them.

"By expanding their portfolios to include GreenRoad telecoms resellers will be able to give their customers the opportunity to join in this revolution in telematics, a portable driver behaviour solution that delivers long-term change."

BT and Daisy Group have agreed a new six year £70m cloud communications partnership, giving Daisy and its customers access to BT's Wholesale Hosted Centrex (WHC) platform.

The platform delivers UC services and cloud call recording, HD voice services, call analytics and web collaboration; and uses the Broadsoft plug-in which supports applications from the Microsoft 365 suite such as Skype for Business.

Daisy's services will be migrated to BT Wholesale's cloud platform over the next 18 months.

Gerry McQuade, CEO of BT Wholesale and Ventures, said: "Many businesses are now hosting their communication services using cloud technology to make them accessible to all, using any fixed or mobile device, at any time, wherever they might be.

"We believe the rapid pace of change will continue over the coming years, and we're looking forward to helping both Daisy and BT customers reap the benefits that change will bring."

Neil Muller, CEO of Daisy Group, added: "This collaboration with BT ensures that we are at the forefront of providing the latest in cloud solutions, increasing customers' levels of capability and confidence as they continue to manage the relentlessness of technological change.

"I am proud of Daisy's relationship with BT and this is an opportunity to enhance our capability."

The deal also allows Daisy Group to re-sell BT's platform services to Daisy Wholesale partners and through Daisy Retail direct.

Daisy Group currently has over 60,000 customers and 1,500 resellers in this segment.

Adept Telecom's full year results to the end of March 2016 show revenues up 31% to £28.9m and EBITDA UP 34% to £6.15m. This is the 13th consecutive year of rising EBITDA.

Ian Fishwick, Chief Executive, said: "It has been a good year with EBITDA once again rising faster than revenue. Over the last two years we have transformed the business and with the acquisition of Comms Group post year-end, 47% of our revenues are now from managed services.

"We are increasingly providing complex Unified Communications solutions that don't just connect desk phones with tablets and smart phones. We are also integrating our UC solutions with Wi-Fi, SIP and a range of customer management systems. We work with almost all of the major networks in the UK to provide resilient solutions up to 10Gb."

Exertis has extended its Smart Tech range of products. The distributor's categories include energy and lighting, monitoring and security, safety and comfort. And Exertis is tackling the compatibility issue by helping retailers to range products that work with one another.

Rod Slater, Exertis head of Smart Tech, said: "With so many new products on the market, consumers need to be aware of which products are compatible with one another to make the most of the smart technology products that can add security, save on energy costs or enhance the décor and comfort of a home.

"Interoperability is a key selling point and retailers will gain increased customer satisfaction and sales by helping their customers understand and overcome this issue."

CityFibre has lodged an appeal with the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal in relation to regulations set out by Ofcom in its 2016 Business Connectivity Market Review.

Mark Collins, Director of Strategy and Public Affairs at CityFibre, commented: "As a major investor in the UK telecom infrastructure market, working to transform digital connectivity across the country, we need to ensure that CityFibre and other fibre optic infrastructure builders can invest against the background of a fair and balanced regulatory regime.

"We believe Ofcom is implementing poor and inconsistent regulation, and we have a duty to robustly contest its decisions and policies in the normal course of business, especially where they conflict with stimulating long-term investment in the critical digital infrastructure which the UK so badly needs."

DMSL has reported a positive response to BT's recent announcement of plans to accelerate the roll-out of ultrafast services, with broadband sales reaching record heights in June.

BT's Openreach division has stated its ambition to deliver ultrafast broadband speeds to 12 million premises by 2020, using a mixture of G.fast and Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology.

The details of BT's ultrafast vision for the UK have spurred the channel into action and resulted in a significant uplift in activity, says John Carter, Managing Director of DMSL.

"There is no question that the SMB market is excited and interested in BT's ultrafast services and that's boosted the level of enquiries coming into us and our partners. We achieved record sales of BT broadband last month and we will now be looking to build on that momentum."

ALE, operating under the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise brand, has unveiled the latest update of Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch Suite for SMB, featuring the OmniPCX Office RCE release 10.3 converged communication server that offers a simplified user experience, new voice communications capabilities on additional phones, said the firm.

The release also delivers business continuity via SIP Network evolutions, additional trunk standards compliance and enhanced security.

The OmniPCX Office RCE now integrates an embedded hospitality solution dedicated to hotel-specific needs. With the Native Front Desk feature, the communication system is fully integrated within the Hotel Application and can support up to 200 guest rooms.

ALE said this solution is also appropriate for use in clinics, retirement homes, student resident halls and other similar business environments.

Magnetic North has appointed Enda Kenneally as Vice President of Sales and Business Development.

Her past roles include UK MD of Mitel and most recently she was responsible for Avaya's global BT partnership, the vendor's second biggest global revenue stream.

David Cottingham, Senior Vice President, West Corporation, said: "This is an exciting time for Magnetic North. The market opportunity for our cloud-based platform is huge and the timing couldn't be better to welcome Enda to the team. She is a seasoned player and well respected individual with a track record of success. I have no doubt she will help to drive further success for the business.