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Over 250 global channel partners converged on Unify's Partner Conference staged in Barcelona to hear the vendor's growth plans and also learn that that more than 50% of product sales are now conducted through partners.

Unify (acquired by Atos in November 2015) has witnessed its partner programme more than double in size to over 2,000 partners in more than 50 countries, along with 13 new distributors.

During the past year there has been a 30% increase in the number of partners completing certifications on the Unify portfolio, with more than 25% holding Master or Professional level certifications.

Additionally, in the six months since making Circuit certifications available over 370 partners have begun selling Circuit to their customers.

Jon Pritchard, CEO of Unify, said: "In Barcelona we shared how we continue to enhance our business to drive greater business to our partners."

The Chess Partner Services Conference 2016 staged at the Hilton in Northampton and attended by 150 partners proved to be a springboard event for a number of new products and initiatives.

The 'Back to the Future' themed conference had a particular focus on 'products of the future' and was the backdrop to the roll out of new commercials including a reduction in the cost of fixed lines, calls and data; and the introduction of three mobile airtime revenue share options.

The event included a keynote on the IoT, demos of the Chess Cloud PBX solution and the launch of Chess Insurance which enables partners to attach insurance to handsets at point of sale via an online portal.

Chess Partner Services MD John Pett stated. "This year's conference was a key milestone with the launch of new commercials, new products and the Elite Partner Programme.

"It was an opportunity to give our partners the recognition they deserve and illustrate what we aim to achieve in 2016."

The Elite Partner Programme enables partners who beat their previous quarter's performance to redeem points for prizes, including a trip to the Northern Lights or a weekend in Paris.

Chess Partner Services also launched a 30 day Never Beaten on Price Challenge.

Pictured going 'Back to the Future' is Chess CEO David Pollock and John Pett.

Mitel will be making a $15m payment against its existing credit facility following a period of strong cash generation.

This is Mitel's second voluntary debt payment this year, bringing the total debt repaid in 2016 to $40m.

"Consistent with our commitments to shareholders, we are taking cash generated during the March quarter in excess of our working capital requirements to make our second voluntary debt reduction payment in 2016," said Steve Spooner, Chief Financial Officer.

Mitel's results for the first quarter of 2016 for the period ending March 31, 2016 will be issued before the market opens on May 5th, 2016.

ShoreTel has enhanced its integration to Microsoft Skype for Business with a new plug-in that embeds telephony controls inside the Skype for Business client.

With ShoreTel Telephony for Microsoft users can dial contacts directly from the Skype for Business client, make conference calls, transfer calls, access their voicemail box, view and set presence information, and control all of their ShoreTel preferences such as call routing.

"We recognise that some ShoreTel customers will use Skype for Business, so this new plug-in provides ShoreTel telephony features inside that client," said Eugenia Corrales, vice president of product at ShoreTel.

Jason Evans, MD of Response Data Communications, a ShoreTel Circle of Excellence partner in the UK, noted: "For partners it enables us to deliver a voice platform that runs alongside the Skype for Business communications application."

Mitel has celebrated the winners of its annual EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year Awards with TalkTalk Business collecting the UK gong.

Jon Nowell, Head of Product Management, TalkTalk Business, stated. "We set out a few years ago to carefully build a cloud platform based on Mitel technology. Over the last 12 months, we've aggressively grown the platform with very little churn and have steep growth ambitions for the future."

Patrik Sorqvist, VP for Mitel Cloud Services, EMEA, said: "With this year's awards we're recognizing the providers who made great strides in cloud migrations and contributing towards the continued growth of Mitel's cloud business."

Other winners include Telia in Sweden; SPIE ICS in France; Sonera in Finland; Destiny in Belgium; Uno Telefoni in Denmark; and CallHosted in The Netherlands.
Mitel names winners of EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year awards

Mitel has celebrated the winners of its annual EMEA Cloud Service Provider of the Year Awards with TalkTalk Business collecting the UK gong.

Jon Nowell, Head of Product Management, TalkTalk Business, stated. "We set out a few years ago to carefully build a cloud platform based on Mitel technology. Over the last 12 months, we've aggressively grown the platform with very little churn and have steep growth ambitions for the future."

Patrik Sorqvist, VP for Mitel Cloud Services, EMEA, said: "With this year's awards we're recognizing the providers who made great strides in cloud migrations and contributing towards the continued growth of Mitel's cloud business."

Other winners include Telia in Sweden; SPIE ICS in France; Sonera in Finland; Destiny in Belgium; Uno Telefoni in Denmark; and CallHosted in The Netherlands.

US-listed CDW, which acquired UK-based Kelway last year, has now formally changed the UK operation's name to CDW. "The opportunities to deliver enhanced services and solutions stemming from this integration offer tremendous potential," said Phil Doye, founder, Kelway.

"Everything our customers value about their relationship with Kelway will strengthen as we become CDW."

To help introduce CDW to customers in the UK, the company will roll out a local marketing campaign with print, digital and out-of-home components, including taxi, rail and office signage.

EET Europarts has snapped up UK distie Chiltern IT, a family owned firm with 15 staff.

Chiltern IT MD Graham Nye said: "The impact of EET Europarts sales and distribution model in combination with the knowhow of Chiltern IT will create lots of synergies for our spare parts customers.

"Joining forces with EET Europarts and becoming part of a strong financial and administrative infrastructure is right for Chiltern IT."

BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions has launched a new finance programme to encourage sales of Juniper Networks equipment across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK, offering 0% financing until 31st December 2016 on qualifying purchases.

Martin Ardern, Head of ICT Finance Division at BNP Paribas Leasing Solutions, said: "Continued economic uncertainty means that some businesses are reluctant to make the investment in the latest network technology a top priority.

"Outdated equipment will, however, hold back a business and act as a real barrier to efficiency. Our 0% financing promotion will make investment in Juniper Networks products more manageable."

F5 Networks has appointed David Helfer as VP of Worldwide Channels.

He joins from the cybersecurity company Lookout where he served as VP of Worldwide Channels and managed direct sales for the Asia Pacific region.

He also worked at Juniper Networks where he was responsible for worldwide channels and commercial sales and OEM sales in the Americas and partner/alliance sales in the EMEA.

F5 Networks also appointed Peter Brant as its new SVP of North America Sales.

Virtual1 has entered a new phase of ambitious growth following the hire of Magnus Batsvik-Miller as CFO, who, in his previous role as World First Group CFO, is credited with overseeing 400% growth in four years.

"Magnus brings a great skill set to our finance and accounting team from his experience at World First and previous positions at Deloitte, Hutchison Whampoa, Carphone Warehouse and Minit operational Board," said Virtual1 CEO Tom O'Hagan.

"He will be instrumental in providing the finance vision, strategy and leadership to help the company get to the next level."

Batsvik-Miller added: "It's a great time to join such a dynamic company and I look forward to playing an instrumental role in Virtual1's strategic growth."