Comms Dealer

Trustmarque Solutions has been accepted as a supplier to G-Cloud 6, the UK government's public sector cloud procurement framework, which launches on February 2nd 2015.

Having expanded its capabilities following its merger with Trinity, Trustmarque has been selected to supply cloud solutions via G-Cloud's Digital Marketplace under all four lots of the framework.
 
Mark Garrity, Head of Public Sector for Trustmarque, said: "For over 27 years we've supported the public sector to adopt and use technologies that foster innovation, while ensuring the best value possible."

Through G-Cloud 6 Trustmarque will offer software and services under all four available lots: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Specialist Cloud Services.

This will include virtual desktop integration and data centre and hybrid cloud services. Also available will be CRM, ERP and data management tools such as Listpoint.

Eclipse has strengthened its Communicate offering to resellers with the launch of SIP Trunk for Partners.

The extension of Eclipse's proposition brings more choice to the channel and provides resellers with increased control over how they structure telephony and connectivity deals.

According to Eclipse this new addition to its portfolio will accelerate the success of business partners looking to maximise the potential of the expanding communications market even if they don't have a traditional voice background.

The products are aimed at resellers looking to start their customers on the road to a fully scalable IP-based service. Eclipse will take care of the provisioning and service support while resellers pass on cost savings and continuity benefits compared to traditional PSTN/ISDN lines.

Pete Tomlinson, Director of Sales, Marketing & Product at Eclipse, said: "Expanding the Eclipse experience for our partners is key to our growth strategy. We're now a single service provider offering one point of contact for all our Connect, Cloud and Communicate services."

Henry West, Head of Channel Sales, added: "SIP Trunks is an integral part of what IT system integrators and VARs should be offering to maximise their commercial potential.

"There's a huge opportunity for resellers to increase their margins and take full advantage of this vibrant market."

Bolton-based IT solutions company Imerja has secured its place on the G-Cloud framework for the third time in succession.

Cloud 6 is the latest version of the framework which allows public sector organisations to source and hire approved cloud IT suppliers through the government's Digital Marketplace.

Each company must go through a selection process to ensure that only trusted providers are selected for the framework.

Ian Jackson, MD, said: "G-Cloud and the Digital Marketplace have helped change the way that IT services are procured by the public sector, encouraging direct engagement with SMEs like Imerja.

"Our strong in-house capabilities underpinned by high levels of accreditation and 24x7 operations already enable us to deliver critical services to government, healthcare and blue light services.

"Our focus on achieving accreditation to OFFICIAL and the introduction of HMG Cyber Essentials will ensure Imerja is able to continue to provide robust and accredited services into the public sector."

Masergy Communications' UCaaS Intelligent SIP Trunking services have been certified as compatible with the Microsoft Lync 2013 platform.

As a qualified Lync support partner, Masergy has demonstrated specific expertise in SIP trunking to become independently tested and certified for seamless interoperability with the Microsoft Lync platform.

"Companies who deploy Microsoft Lync make a significant investment and should not settle for anything less than a first rate certified SIP trunking service provider," said Dean Manzoori, VP of Product Management - UCaaS, Masergy.

"We're proud that our SIP services have been independently certified to ensure a superior customer service experience, interoperability, and support for Lync deployments."

According to Infonetics Research's SIP Trunking Services Report, the SIP trunking market is expected to top $8bn by 2018. "There is no denying the world is moving to IP, and SIP has become the de facto solution of choice for businesses. In North America, slightly more than 20% of the installed business trunks use SIP trunking," noted Diane Myers, principal analyst for VoIP, UC, and IMS at Infonetics Research.

Purple WiFi, the cloud-based social WiFi software company, has partnered with Molson Coors, one of the UK's biggest brewers to create a solution called Molson Coors Cloud.

As part of a new trial, Molson Coors is offering a secure gated access point for a pub's WiFi where Molson Coors brands are stocked. The access point also enables the licensees to engage with their customers directly to build loyalty and provide them relevant information and offers.

The licensed venue can also use the Molson Coors Cloud to achieve social media engagement, customer interaction and loyalty, data collection and ROI from additional food and beverage sales.

Alpesh Mistry, Molson Coors Customer Marketing Director, said: "Being a significant On Trade supplier that continues to have a direct relationship with our customers, we know publicans are looking for new modern ways to drive sales.

"The idea of having a resource that would capture customer data and then use this to attract these pub-goers back would have historically been left to those with significant time and budget. By creating Molson Coors Cloud, our hope is we are enabling any of our customers to have this ability."

Daniel Dearlove, General Manager, Backyard Bar & Backyard Comedy Club added: "The Molson Coors WiFi portal is already driving more traffic to our free WiFi service and the marketing opportunities it enables are easy to implement and helping us to engage in new ways with our customer base.

"With a better understanding of our customers we can also identify new markets for our events and improve the service we offer, resulting in increased numbers of returning customers."

Gavin Wheeldon, CEO, Purple WiFi, said: "The drinks industry was one of the first to recognise the demand for free WiFi. Over the past few years there has been a noticeable increase in the number of pubs that provide a WiFi hotspot for their customers. But the supply still isn't meeting demand and WiFi is often unsecured, while offering little or no benefit to the venue.

"Molson Coors is paving the way within the drinks industry, turning that situation on its head by providing free WiFi and getting something tangible in return."

Following a successful trial across 20 venues throughout the UK for a period of six months, Molson Coors will be looking to launch the service to all outlets across the UK.

A UC enhanced version of Jabra's Stealth headset has been launched to the UK and Ireland.

The Jabra Stealth UC Bluetooth headset is interoperable with all mobile devices and UC platforms.

"We strive to help the mobile worker gain the full benefits from both their mobile devices and UC solutions," said Nigel Dunn, Managing Director of Jabra UK.

"It is our experience that one of the most important factors for users embracing these communication solutions is the headset, which bridges the gap between the user and the promise of increased efficiency and flexibility, coupled with high-quality sound. The Jabra Stealth UC provides this bridge and allows the user to stay in their concentration zone for longer."

4Com has extended its sponsorship of former premier league footballer and Southampton FC legend Franny Benali's epic charity run to include Benali's Big Run Gala Dinner on March 14th at Southampton's St. Marys Stadium.

Benali's Big Run saw ex-footballer Benali pound the streets to every premier league ground late last summer - 1,000 miles in 21 days - in a charity effort that has so far raised in excess of £200,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Benali said: "I was told by some that I'm mad and it can't be done, but that made me even more determined to succeed."

4Com's Dean Cartledge joined Benali on the run following a 'suggestion' by MD Daron Hutt. "I was thrown in at the deep end by Daron, however I am grateful for Daron for sponsoring this challenge and involving 4Com and its staff to be a part of this monumental journey of courage and strength."

Hutt commented: "Dean is an inspirational man, a man who leads from the front. He is an inspiring, logistical military motivator with a strict but understanding and caring nature. A true asset not only to 4Com but everyone that has the pleasure of knowing him."

Actor Sir Ian McKellen has taken another leading role, this time as celebrity voice of the Speaking Clock.

McKellen's voice will feature temporarily on the BT Speaking Clock from 2nd February until Red Nose Day on 13th March.

During this time, BT will donate 10p from each call made to the BT Speaking Clock from a BT landline to Comic Relief's Red Nose Day appeal.

McKellen said: "Red Nose Day is a national institution and I'm delighted to be at last making my debut with Comic Relief. As for the Speaking Clock, I hope everyone will give me a call, if they have the time, so to speak."

Most commonly known today for his high profile Hollywood roles as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movie series, as well as Magneto in the X-Men franchise, McKellen's CV also features extensive theatre credits with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

His work has been recognised with numerous awards over the years, including six Laurence Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe, and two Academy Award nominations, among many others.

In 1991, McKellen was knighted for services to the performing arts.  

The money raised through the BT Speaking Clock and other fundraising initiatives will be spent by Comic Relief in the UK and across Africa, helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people to turn their lives around.

Piers Linney, co-CEO of Outsourcery, is leaving the BBC2 show Dragons' Den to focus on growing the company as well as his work related to diversity and inclusion, including his not-for-profit digital platform, workinsight.org

He joined the programme two years ago as part of a show refresh by a new production team, which saw ratings grow by an average of 45 per cent, and was responsible for the highest valuation for an investment in the history of the Den.

Linney said: "I have enjoyed every minute of my time on Dragons' Den and feel honoured to have had the opportunity to contribute to such an iconic and long-running TV show and to have been the first Dragon with Afro Caribbean heritage.

"It is now the right time for me to move on, although entrepreneurship and diversity are two of my greatest passions so I will continue to focus my energies on supporting both.

"It has been a great experience and a pleasure to share with millions of viewers the growing importance of digital innovation and how the technology and creative sectors are making their profound marks on the evolving landscape of British business.

"Among the fantastic entrepreneurs I have backed in the Den, I was especially delighted to have spotted the potential of the full stack digital publisher, Lost My Name, which became the UK's highest selling children's picture book in 2014 and is already one of the biggest success stories to come out of the Den. It will be interesting to see who takes my seat."

Linney will continue to work closely with the entrepreneurs he has backed, including Lost My Name, the technology start-up which takes children on a storytelling journey, creating beautifully illustrated and individual stories using their own names.

He invested £100,000 in the company which received a valuation of £2.5 million, the highest ever valuation in Dragons' Den history.

Linney will also focus on growing Outsourcery . He said: "We have invested ahead of the curve to create differentiated capabilities that are enabling us to win new business against traditional providers of IT and communications solutions.

"We now count a growing number of the UK's largest companies as end-customers and are entering a period of sustained growth. It is a very exciting time for Outsourcery and the cloud market in general."

Channel-only SIP and hosted carrier tIPicall has chosen Juniper Bridge to offer an outsourced support option to its reseller base.

The agreement allows tIPicall's reseller base to leverage the expertise of Juniper Bridge as a white-labelled extension of their own support department for tIPicall's next generation telecoms services.

As Juniper Bridge operates 24x7x365, resellers will be able to choose their own support package offering peak or off peak hours as required.

Juniper Bridge has access into tIPicall's core support systems and will offer a fully expert support function over and above out-of-hours phone answering services.

Guy Miller, Managing Director of tIPicall, said: "This is great news for our partners who want to win bigger accounts and differentiate themselves from their competitors.

"It offers a cost-effective way to move to 24x7 support and is of particular interest to IT companies entering the telecoms space who perhaps don't want to invest in hiring two telecoms engineers from the outset.

"Juniper Bridge can do the work for them until they build up a critical mass of clients that pays for their new hires."

Steve Larkin, Managing Director of Juniper Bridge, added: "We are always looking at ways to make it easier for clients to work with us.

"With tIPicall, we knew that investment in training and knowledge transfer would pay dividends as multiple clients will be using the same platform. More knowledge for us means better service for our clients."