Comms Dealer

Avnet is to offer the new VersaStack integrated solution from Cisco and IBM in Europe.

The VersaStack solution combines the Cisco UCS Integrated Infrastructure with the IBM Storwize storage system. Avnet will deliver it to channel partners across Austria, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK.

Avnet's offering is supported by SolutionsPath business development, integration capabilities are offered through its integration centre in Tongeren, Belgium.

Dieter Lott, vice president business development at Avnet Technology Solutions EMEA, said: "The addition of VersaStack to our converged and hyper-converged infrastructure portfolio strengthens our position as a value-added distributor in converged solutions."

Node4 has completed the acquisition of London-based Premier IT Networks, a move that strengthens Node4's geographic presence, vertical sector capability and IT expertise.

Under the leadership of Peter Bodley-Scott and Thales Tsailas, Premier IT Networks has grown rapidly since its inception in 2008 to meet the demand for secure cloud computing services in the legal and charity sectors. Both will continue to be actively involved in the business.

Its customers include leading Criminal Chambers 25 Bedford Row and 9-12 Bell Yard, and charities Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer UK.

All of Premier IT Network's employees will continue to work from its London office and will become part of the Node4 team.

All services currently provided to customers will continue and Premier IT Network customers will now also have access to Node4's portfolio of cloud computing, colocation, network connectivity, telephony and communications services.

Premier IT Networks is an ISO27001 accredited company and is also an approved user of the Criminal Justice Secure Email Service. This allows people working in the Criminal Justice Service and those working to prevent crime - including public, private and voluntary organisations - to send emails containing information up to an equivalent of 'Restricted' (i.e. sensitive data), in a secure way. It is also a member of the G-Cloud procurement framework, which allows the public sector to buy cloud-based services from specialised suppliers.

Andrew Gilbert, CEO at Node4, commented: "The Node4 management team is committed to expanding our presence across the UK, as well as our service portfolio, to support the company's ambitious growth plans.

"This latest acquisition strengthens our London presence, as well as bringing valuable sector expertise, which will allow us to grow our presence in the legal, not-for-profit and public sectors. Equally important, we are gaining a team of IT experts who share our values and customer-centric approach to business."

Bodley-Scott added: "Like Node4, our sights are firmly set on future growth. The acquisition by Node4 will enable us to increase the quality and range of services that we can offer to our cloud customers, which will put us in an excellent position to fulfil our growth potential.

'We felt that Node4 was a perfect fit for us in every respect, sharing our ethical approach to business, cultural values and service ethos."

Premier IT Networks was advised by Grant Thornton, whilE business analysts PwC and lawyers Pinsent Masons worked on behalf of Node4.

The Maxwell 10 interactive desktop device from Gigaset pro has gained Unify accreditation.

T he Android-based multi-purpose comms solution - available from Nimans - has achieved Unify's technology connectivity certification following extensive testing.

It boasts a HD ready 10.1" touch display, cordless or corded handset, built in camera, three loudspeakers, microphone and integrated Power over Ethernet - and is now 'Unify ready'.

Ian Brindle, Nimans' Head of Conferencing and Telephony Sales at Nimans, says the Maxwell 10 is a solution particularly for resellers selling Unify's OpenScape Business UC platform.

He explained: "The Maxwell 10's many features complement OpenScape Business and provide resellers with a powerful desktop device that combines style with high performance.

"While the device works on OpenScape Business as a voice solution it also supports Unify's 'my Portal to go' smartphone application which provides full use of OpenScape Business UC capabilities.

He concluded: "Everything a user needs is at their fingertips as an all-in-one desktop solution with integrated WiFi, Bluetooth and DECT capabilities and capacity for up to 12 SIP accounts."

Service provider TMS has launched a new hosted voice solution designed by PBX engineers claiming it counters all of the irritations and omissions from existing hosted voice systems.

TMS says the solution offers a complete hosted package including dedicated handsets (OEM to platform, no programming), three years warranty , three years licence included in handset cost, lease deals (up to £1,000 per seat paid upfront) and a complete feature set per user including unlimited hunt, queue, IVR and voicemail to email.

TMS Director Duncan Wilkinson commented: "All these features are provided from a single supplier, avoiding pitfalls of incompatible systems, network installation delays and faults.

"The package also includes lifetime call recording with full lifetime storage for just £2.00 per month, full analytical software for just £2.00 per month extra and we're paying up-front commissions at a better rate than a traditional PBX sale."

True Telecom is giving away an iPad Mini to the individual who raises the most money at the Kent Messenger (KM) Charity's Assault Course Challenge on Saturday 3rd October at Betteshanger Country Park.

Stuart Griffiths, CEO of True Telecom told Comms Dealer: "We are always delighted to work with the KM Charity Team and support the local community in Kent.  We've seen huge growth as a business over the past few months and nothing makes us come together more than supporting charitable causes in our local area."

The KM Assault Course Challenge boasts over 20 pieces of equipment including tunnels, balance beams, rope walk, water jump and tyre wall. To succeed the members of a team will have to work together and communicate effectively to contend with Kent's longest civil assault course.

To find out more about the event and to book your team's space. Visit the KM Charity website www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/challenge/assaultcourse

Doro has launched an iOS version of its My Doro Manager companion app claiming millions of iPhone users will now be able to help their senior relatives remotely.

The app, now available in both Android and iOS versions, provides a digital bridge between a senior's Doro smartphone and their family as Chris Millington, Managing Director at Doro UK & Ireland explained: "Often in today's busy world time constraints and the geographical spread of modern families impact on the level of physical support a family can provide to a senior relative. With My Doro Manager this can now be delivered directly between paired handsets via the cloud."

Doro's smartphones now all come with My Doro Manager pre-installed - which makes it easy for a senior to pair their device with up to five trusted family members' smartphones who can then share responsibility for providing assistance and support.

Doro says the most important benefit is that the app can be used to spot usage trends and habits, and with the user's permission, can be used to change certain settings remotely.

For example, if a senior were to type text messages and continually 'save' them in drafts by mistake, when in fact they thought the messages had actually been 'sent'. Situations like this can be spotted, and rectified, without any fuss or embarrassment to the user.

Both versions of the app allow the sharing of content such as contacts and pictures. This functionality is specifically included in the service to help drive engagement and build the user's enjoyment of their device. Because the user can see exactly who is sharing information with them it is fully trusted.

Furthermore, the user retains full privacy and security control over all content and settings on their device and the helper cannot see or read any content.

The user app also offers tutorials - again being tailored to the usage patterns of that user - to encourage them to use their phone more and build confidence in their own time.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics there are now more people living in the UK aged over 60 years than there are under the age of 18. This growing senior demographic is predicted to pass the 20million mark by the year 2030.

Millington concluded: "Our most recently launched smartphones are extremely popular and are out performing market predictions. By widening the audience of the My Doro Manager companion app to include iPhone users we help to further bridge the generational digital divide. We have adopted cloud technology to deliver an application which makes a massive difference to how seniors actually use their phones."

Mobile customers on the Three network can now trade-in their phones for cash to offset the cost of a new device thanks to a new agreement with mobile phone recycling company Redeem.

Redeem's white-label support for trade in with Three includes providing a dedicated website, a call centre trade-in support system, and a comprehensive training and development programme for in-store customer advisors.

The process is underpinned by a strong reporting facility which has been developed in-house by Redeem over 10 years.

The Three phones will be processed through Redeem's newly-expanded facility in Macclesfield, and this is expected to take the number of phones processed across Europe to over 200,000 per month.

Redeem claims that 95% of the traded-in devices its handles are data-wiped, refurbished and resold. The 5% that cannot be restored are fully recycled, leading to zero waste going to landfill. Redeem says it provides the data and certification to satisfy the WEEE Directive and high quality CSR programmes.

Mark Chambers, Chief Commercial Officer of Redeem said: "We are delighted to be supporting Three with our unique blend of mobile phone recycling and marketing services. As a true partner in our customers' marketing team, we can produce meaningful value for both the network operators and consumers, returning over £60m to consumers each year for their old mobile phones. ??"Coming on the back of our contract renewal with O2 Recycle and other significant milestones, the last 12 months have been a fantastic time for the Redeem business and a sign of things to come."

NIX Communications Group has teamed up with the Premier League's Southampton Football Club as Official Fixed Line Telecommunications Partner.

NIX Communications Group will have a presence on match day advertising, Saints' official website, and a corporate hospitality box to all home fixtures to entertain staff and clients.

Gareth Rogers, Southampton FC's Chief Executive Officer, said: "NIX Communications Group is a family-run business that has grown at a rapid rate in recent years and its track record for delivering effective communications solutions is evident. NIX Communications Group understands our club and how we operate.

"As a business, NIX Communications Group's vision and values align with our own, which is vital to any successful partnership."

The Hampshire-based business has offices in the Isle of Wight and Manchester and has enjoyed a long-standing association with the football club, having grown from a hospitality box holder, to a pitch-side advertiser to now achieving partner status.

NIX Communications Group is currently nominated alongside Southampton FC for the Growth Business of the Year at the Lloyds National Business Awards.

NIX Communications Group's Senior Partner and Operations Director Nick Zammit said: "We're thrilled to be an official club partner. It's a great step forward for NIX Communications Group. We love the Saints and are proud to be part of its continuing success.

"The partnership makes good sense for both parties. Despite the vast difference in our size, we have both performed really well and have a shared vision of ambition, growth and excellence."

Pictured above: Gareth Rogers and Nick Zammit

Giles Kane has joined Timico as Director of Account Management and Development with full responsibility for the firm's Strategic Accounts team.

He will also oversee the Enterprise Account Management team and be responsible for the enterprise accounts that were brought into the group as part of the recently acquired telecoms interests of Coms.

He brings much experience in a similar role at Alternative Networks where he played a key part in the company's growth over the past nine years. Prior to this, he worked for Cable&Wireless, Verizon and BT.

Kane said: "I'm confident that my entrepreneurial approach coupled with my ability to build and deliver successful sales and retention strategies will mean that I am well placed to support Timico's continued growth."

As a group, Timico employs more than 350 people across six sites, 80% of whom are in customer-facing roles, key to the 24/7 support of these services to more than 15,000 UK businesses.

Union Street Technologies has appointed José Fernandez (pictured) as Chief Operating Officer.

Fernandez will be responsible for overseeing the operations of the company's development, projects and support departments, with the ultimate goal of implementing new processes and frameworks to ensure excellent customer service and high quality software development is consistently delivered as the company grows.

Over the past five years, Union Street has enjoyed rapid organic growth. The company has reported an average increase in turnover of 20 percent year on year, with similar increases in personnel. Today the company employs over 80 personnel, and provides its aBILLity billing platform to close to 450 communications providers across the UK and Europe.

Fernandez brings a wealth of experience, working in the telecoms and managed IT sector since 1999, and having previously held the role of Operations Director at communications provider, Niu Solutions, since 2005.

Fernandez stated: "As COO, I plan on taking Union Street's support and customer service operations to the next level through the use of IT service management, best practices and techniques, with a focus on always having customer excellence at the heart of everything we do. At the same time I will be implementing the very latest processes, techniques and automated methods into the company's development operations to increase the frequency of quality software releases and new functionality into our solutions."

By appointing Fernandez, Union Street's MD Tony Cook will be able to focus on new avenues of development for the company and its products.

He added: "I'm delighted to welcome José to the team. José's knowledge and expertise in this pivotal role will ensure Union Street is well positioned to scale up its operations, and maintain our impressive rate of growth.

"José's appointment will also enable myself and other key members of the Union Street team to explore emerging opportunities in the communications industry and breaking into new markets."