Comms Dealer

Advanced 365 has linked up with Modern Systems (formerly BluePhoenix Solutions) to target the legacy application migration sector.

Advanced has more than 30 years experience in supporting organisations to manage, migrate and modernise existing data and applications. The software and services provider uses an automated tools-based migration approach that securely moves entire Virtual Machine Environment (VME) applications to run natively on a modern and more open Linux software platform.

Modern Systems also specialises in legacy modernisation and has seven global locations, and also specialises in VME projects. The company facilitates the transition from legacy systems to modern environments that leverage cloud, data warehousing, business intelligence and new development.

ICL VME, now owned by Fujitsu, is an operating system that was created in the 1970s. While successful at the time, advances in technology mean that those still using the system are relying on a platform that is now out-dated, inflexible, unmaintained and difficult to integrate with modern IT systems.

Neil Cross, Managing Director, Advanced 365, said: "By joining forces we are bringing together best-of-breed software and highly experienced consultants.

"This collaboration will support us to stay at the forefront of the market and continue offering customers a minimal risk migration service."

Matt Bell, President & CEO, Modern Systems, added: "We have a history of VME modernisation over the past 20 years and partnering with Advanced is the latest step in sustaining that success.

"Both companies complement and build on each other's capabilities to ensure a comprehensive, cost-effective service that manages the complex process of platform migration, enabling customers to drive innovation and efficiency."

BroadSoft has added three new UC-One applications, two for a mobile-centric workforce and the third (for UC-One Enterprise Portal) enables IT administrators and end users to manage UC-One services directly.

UC-One Connect is a mobile-first messaging application for business users that integrates individual and group chat (IM), voice calling, call settings like Forwarding and DND, and presence.The applicationt is optimised for iOS and Android platforms and is integrated with the enterprise directory that enables business users to find and connect with colleagues.

In the second half of 2016, BroadSoft plans another mobile-first application that simplifies the joining of scheduled meetings like traditional conference calls as well as UC-One's My Room collaboration environment when on the move.

UC-One Communicator is BroadSoft's Unified Communications client that provides user access to all UC-One Services.

While UC-One Enterprise Portal enables enterprise end users and administrators to manage UC-One Services directly without requiring Service provider intervention.

Taher Behbehani, chief digital & marketing officer, BroadSoft, said: "UC-One applications deliver Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC), as business users can, for example, start an IM Chat from their mobile device, escalate it to a call with a single click, then seamlessly move to a videophone or Chromebook and expand the session to a multiparty video conference."

CMS Distribution has signed a deal with AVG to supply its security solutions to the UK.

"As the market moves towards mobility and cloud technologies and there is an ever growing importance for data security, a partnership with a cloud security brand made total sense for us," said Justin Griffiths, Group Director Software Solutions at CMS.

CMS Distribution entered the security market in 2015, forming partnerships with AlienVault, Barracuda Networks, iSheriff and The Bunker. It now has a team of security specialists and a base of more than 3,000 channel partners.

Glasgow-based Exsel Group has become shirt sponsor for Celtic Football Club's women's first team.

Exsel Group MD Tom McDonald said: "As a fast-growing Glasgow company we recognise the common brand values shared by both Exsel Group and Celtic Football Club. We are very much looking forward to this positive new partnership."

Celtic's Women's Team Manager, David Haley, added: "This is an exciting time for our women's team. We have big plans and we are pleased that Exsel want to be part of our future and play an active role in the further development of our women's team."

Content Guru is gearing up to extend its agent desktop application storm DTA (Desktop Task Assistant) with WebRTC capabilities to incorporate person-to-person video, advanced collaboration and screen sharing, as well as voice calls made directly to the user's browser.

"By unifying these within a single interface, businesses are able to deliver enhanced enterprise and customer experiences through reduced costs, increased agility and flexibility and a more efficient information exchange," stated Sean Taylor, CEO of Content Guru.

"We've been trialling WebRTC for over a year now and are able to launch it as a mainstream storm product. We believe the technology will be a game-changer."

Eight students from Bury College gained insights into the world of telecommunications following a visit to Nimans.

They took part in an interactive presentation and learned how a phone system and two-way radios operate, before a guided tour of the building.

Event organiser Sue Goldfine from Nimans said: "Many had never been in a work environment before and were excited to be visiting us. It was a rewarding experience as the young people were enthusiastic and keen to discover more."

College spokeswoman Janet Tye added: "The staff at Nimans gave our students a fantastic day and they had great fun while gaining an insight into how a big company operates."

Genius Networks MD James Arnold-Roberts has become CEO and brought G3 Comms under his wing.

He will orchestrate the operations of both business units with G3 and Genius continuing to serve the indirect and direct sales channels respectively with separate management teams.

"While G3 and Genius follow different routes to market with their own dedicated services, both share the same driving force - the expansion of businesses into overseas markets and the need for global communications," stated Arnold-Roberts .

"This strategy is common to both operations and it's my priority to ensure we can give our multi-national customers the resources and solutions they need, irrespective of whether they are end users or service providers."

Telecoms firm Voneus has thrown Gloucestershire village Miserden a connectivity lifeline following its designation as having the slowest average broadband speed in a report by cable.co.uk. 

Plans are in place to deliver high speed connectivity by Spring 2016 through home broadband offering, Voneus Together.

Voneus has assisted Miserden Estates since late 2015 to understand and resolve the challenges faced by local residents and businesses in Miserden, as a result of inadequate broadband speeds.

Voneus is working with the Estate Office and has held public consultation meetings at the village hall, attended by MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, to develop a plan to roll out high speed broadband for the residents and businesses of Miserden.  

Voneus Sales Director, Gary Day, commented: "Obviously we're delighted that the Voneus Together offering will enable all residents and businesses to access high speed broadband and bring Miserden from the perceived dark ages into the 21st Century.

"Staying connected is an essential part of business and everyday living. Voneus Together is a service we are proud to provide for Britain's rural communities." 

Capgemini has secured a one year contract extension to provide the UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) with a secure managed service that delivers the Purchase to Pay (P2P) capability it runs for its trading partners.

The £9.17m renewed contract builds on a relationship established in 2000.

Under the extended contract, which will run until December 2016, Capgemini will continue to provide application and infrastructure services to allow the MOD to make secure transactions with over 2000 of its suppliers.

Approximately £14bn of trading spend is processed through the P2P service each year.

Paul Nannetti, CEO of Infrastructure Services at Capgemini Group, said: "This is a significant contract for us and is testament to the strength of our capabilities in managed services.

"Our strong relationship with the MOD has made this a successful collaboration, and it is a great achievement to be going into our 16th year of working together."

Hewlett Packard Enterprise has reported Q1 net revenue of $12.7bn, down 3% from the prior-year period but up 4% on a constant currency basis.

"During our first quarter as an independent company we saw the progress that comes from being more focused and nimble," said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

"We delivered a third consecutive quarter of year-over-year constant currency revenue growth, and excluding the impact of recent M&A activity, we saw revenue growth in constant currency across every business segment for the first time since 2010."

Enterprise Group (ETOLF) revenue was $7.1bn, up 1% year over year, up 7% in constant currency, with a 13.4% operating margin.

Servers revenue was down 1%, up 5% in constant currency. Storage revenue was down 3%, up 3% in constant currency. Networking revenue was up 54%, up 62% in constant currency. And Technology Services revenue was down 9%, down 3% in constant currency.

Enterprise Services revenue was $4.7bn, down 6% year over year, flat in constant currency, with a 5.1% operating margin. Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing revenue was down 8%, down 2% in constant currency, and Application and Business Services revenue was down 3%, up 3% in constant currency.

Software revenue was $780m, down 10% year over year, down 6% in constant currency, with a 17.4% operating margin. License revenue was down 6%, down 2% in constant currency, support revenue was down 13%, down 9% in constant currency, professional services revenue was down 7%, down 2% in constant currency, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue was down 9%, down 7% in constant currency.

Financial Services revenue was $776m, down 3% year over year, up 3% in constant currency, net portfolio assets were up 4%, up 9% in constant currency, and financing volume was down 4%, up 3% in constant currency. The business delivered an operating margin of 12.9%.