Comms Dealer

Tom Maxwell has celebrated 25 years in distribution as Nimans held a surprise presentation in front of work colleagues to mark his career in the comms channel.

Maxwell was presented with a bottle of champagne, cake, card, framed photo and vouchers, from Group Sales and Business Development Director, Richard Carter - to acknowledge his milestone.

When Maxwell first started at Nimans in the late eighties the IP, digital and mobile age hadn't even started, and staff numbers were around 12 compared to today's 200 plus.

"There have been many changes," he said. "When I first started, DTMF phones had only just launched and Loop Disconnect systems were still selling well - followed by deregulation that helped shape the industry.

"Fax machines took off due to a postal strike, the payphone market opened up and then we witnessed a digital revolution with ISDN followed by IP. Technology has led opportunity and change.

"Most of the early resellers were retail-based independent phone shops selling landline phones because mobiles didn't exist. Technology has made a huge difference and today's ‘super resellers' are now mainly B2B focused operating from large business units and plush offices.

"The presentation came as a complete surprise. I still enjoy working here as much as ever. There's still many industry characters around and close working associates."

In addition, Warehouse Supervisor Dave Barber has also celebrated 25 years' with the company. Seventy two people have been with the company more than 10 years.

Microsoft multiple Gold Partner Core has acquired Oxford-based CRM company Excitation in a seven figure deal.

Core CEO Conor Callanan said: "Excitation's CRM expertise rounds out our full cloud offering by providing CRM both on premise and online, and aligns Core with the Microsoft strategy of mainstreaming CRM."

The acquisition makes Core a platform partner in the UK and Callanan is not ruling out further acquisitions in the future. "There is ongoing consolidation within the Microsoft partnership space, as customers increasingly move towards full cloud partners and away from specialist boutiques. We're always looking for opportunities to expand the breadth and quality of our services."

Having recently expanded its London offices, Core plans to maximise use of the 4,000 foot Oxfordshire premises where the 14 person Excitation team will continue to operate.

Mark Dendy, CEO of Excitation will join the Core board as CRM Director, and David Jennaway will become Head CRM Architect. "David is the UK's longest standing CRM MVP and the first of key MVPs we plan to add to our cloud teams," added Callanan.

Dendy added: "Having enjoyed Gold partner status in our own right, we're looking forward to introducing our clients to a new pool of expertise, and to be part of a fast growing Microsoft multi-platform partner"

Maintel Holdings has announced growth of 52% in Group revenue in its interim results for the six months to 30th June 2014. Its adjusted profit before tax is up by 21% to £2.9m.

Increased confidence in the economy has seen companies start to re-invest in upgrading their communications infrastructures. In particular, Maintel has won significant infrastructure upgrades in the Higher Education, Health and Retail sectors.

In communications, there is a greater move to IP technologies, which have led to more opportunities in data, VoIP and SIP. It also requires companies to outsource the monitoring of their voice and data networks.

In terms of mobile services, Maintel has been adding more larger corporate customers, who are seeing the value of mobile working. This has resulted in an 11% increase in revenue compared with H1 2013.

As companies modernise, there is more demand to outsource the complete management of their voice and data infrastructure. Maintel has accordingly developed an ITIL-based full managed service proposition underpinned by ISO 20000 certification. This new managed service proposition is already gaining traction with two significant customers going live in H2 2014.

Strong equipment and professional services growth has been supplemented by the services and communications technology capabilities that were acquired via Datapoint in 2013. Datapoint is now fully integrated and performing well. This builds on Maintel's status as the winner of Avaya's Technical Excellence Award 2014.

Maintel is on track to meet the Board's full year expectations with a positive outlook for the second half.

Eddie Buxton, CEO, said: "This is a positive set of results for the Group, with growth in the core Maintel business complemented by a full six months' contribution from Datapoint. The integration of Datapoint is now complete and we remain open to further acquisitions should they provide clear value to shareholders."

Olive Communications has appeared for the 2nd consecutive year in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100. Olive has made a move 42 places up the table to number 49 in 2014.
 
The Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 measures the fastest growing privately owned UK technology firms and bases its rankings on revenues from the last three years.
 
Martin Flick, CEO, Olive Communications, said: "It's been a fantastic year for Olive - we've won long-term contracts with prominent enterprise customers such as Lastminute.com, Chelsea FC, Murphy and The Royal Household to name a few.

"At the same time we have enhanced and expanded customer operations including a large new customer contact centre at Hatfield, we have revitalised our brand and won a number of top industry awards, which has all contributed to a strong increase in revenues and profitability."

4net Technologies has been named as a National Champion for Customer Service in The European Business Awards, a competition supported by businesses leaders, academics, media and political representatives from across Europe.

The European Business Awards, now in its 8th year engaged with over 24,000 business from 33 European countries this year and 709 companies from across Europe have been named as National Champions,; going through to the second phase of the competition.

Richard Pennington, 4net's Managing Director, said: "We're proud to be selected to represent the United Kingdom as a National Champion for our Customer Service. We are now looking forward to the next round of the judging process where we can explain in more depth how we are achieving business success."

A panel of judges made up of Europe-wide business leaders, academics and entrepreneurs will view the National Champions' videos, and award the best of this group the 'Ruban d'Honneur' status.

Ruban d'Honneur recipients will then go on to the grand final in 2015. All of the National Champions will also take part in a public vote to decide 'Public Champions' for each country. Last year over 93,000 votes were cast, and over 400,000 people visited the EBA website during the competition.

Daisy Group has launched a new online hub as part of its Resource Centre, which offers support and guidance to growing businesses from some of the UK's most successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
 
The Inside Track has been developed by Daisy to cater for the growing demand from its customers and the business community for cross-industry information and guidance.

The initiative is in line with the CBI's (Confederation of British Industry) commitment to drive business growth. 
 
The one-stop-shop resource incorporates pointers on a range of business topics from management and leadership, to technology and communications guidance.
 
The online platform features a range of articles from Daisy experts, including serial entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Riley, on technology-related topics.
 
Guest contributors include: Patrick Gallagher, Chief Executive of CitySprint; Steve Smith, founder of the multi-million pound retail chain, Poundland; and Neil Westwood, one of Dragon's Den's biggest success stories and founder of Magic Whiteboard.

Daisy is also working with its own customers to share best business practice and suggestions through The Inside Track.

Daisy Group's Marketing Director, Kate O'Brien said: "Small and medium-sized businesses are critical to the UK's economic growth, and research has shown that the more clued-up businesses are, particularly during the first few years of trading, the more likely they are to thrive and grow.
 
"Daisy has an incredibly broad client base so we are in a perfect position to help businesses get to grips with the issues that can affect them, whether that relates to communications, IT or business management.
 
"The CBI shares our commitment to drive business growth so we are working together to foster a supportive and better informed business community."
 
Daisy has formed a close relationship with business lobbying group the CBI and supports its drive for more help to be given to businesses to support their growth into mid-sized enterprises.

?John Cridland, Director-General of the CBI, said: "Medium-sized businesses have some of the most potential to grow and create new jobs but to achieve that growth they often face new challenges, including around technology, financing, and exporting.

"These firms are time-pressed and don't always have the resources to go to consultants, so Daisy's business support hub will be a valuable platform where they can learn from the experiences of fellow business people."

Gartner has positioned cloud provider 8x8 in the 'Leaders' quadrant of its August 28th, 2014 Magic Quadrant for UCaaS, Multi-regional for the third consecutive year.

8x8 CEO Vik Verma said: "Over the past 12 months we've made great progress expanding our mid-market customer base while enhancing the security, features and capabilities of our offerings to meet the complex needs of these highly selective customers.

"We believe Gartner's recognition is a testament not just to the company's ongoing leadership in the UCaaS industry, but to the collective hard work and dedication of the entire 8x8 team."

BT Business Partner Sales has enhanced its partner and reseller portfolio with the addition of BT Business 4G mobile plans.

The new plans for small to medium sized businesses come with 4G access and unlimited BT Wi-fi.

The new 4G services run over the BT Business national mobile service, enabled by the MVNO agreement BT signed with EE earlier this year.

Every BT Business Mobile customer will have unlimited access to over five million BT Wi-fi hotspots across the UK; and customers can download the BT Wi-fi app which will automatically connect them when in range of a hotspot. ??Martin Clarke, General Manager, BT Business Partner Sales, said: "We already provide mobile services to thousands of business customers, along with a wide range of devices.

"We all know that customers no longer want to be tied to their desks. The new BT Business Mobile offering means customers can do more on their mobile devices, wherever they are, with an online experience similar to the office.

"With 4G, businesses can make the most of the cloud, giving them faster, more secure access to their company's applications and programmes."??The new plans range from single user to shared bundles, data-only plans and a new Mobile Flex plan that can offer tailored pricing for larger customers.

Customers have the option to select a SIM only plan or can choose from a competitive range of handsets. ??Customers can also add Mobile Extras including options that they can share across their business.

They can also take advantage of new short-term, 30-day roaming Extras for roaming in both Europe and the rest of the world.

Distributor Westcon has acquired the assets of cloud developer Verecloud, including CEO John McCawley who will be incorporated in Westcon Group's Cloud Solutions Practice. The platform will form the foundation of Westcon Group's cloud digital distribution solution.

Verecloud has developed a cloud services aggregation and brokerage platform with the ability to process millions of concurrent transactions in real-time, including subscription and usage-based services delivered by multiple third-party services providers.

Dolph Westerbos, Chief Executive Officer, Westcon Group, said:
"Weston Group and Verecloud have been working together during the past 18 months and co-developed a cloud go-to-market capability for the channel.

"Coupling our channel cloud enablement services with Verecloud's acquisition will position Westcon Group Cloud Solutions to drive the business models of tomorrow.

"Ownership of our digital distribution platform allows us to bring differentiated, exclusive solutions to the channel without relying on third-party software development.

"Furthermore, having cloud services distribution fully integrated with our hardware and software distribution systems and operational processes allows us to seamlessly transact cloud and hybrid solutions as business-as-usual."

John McCawley, Chief Executive Officer, Verecloud, added: "Cloud solutions have become particularly intricate. That's why our mission is to provide a single source for technology resellers and their customers to discover, buy, monitor, and manage their cloud services eco-system."

Sixteen bakers from South West Communications Group went head-to-head with a charity ‘cake-off' competition. The event was the latest leg of a year-long inter-departmental competition.

Two people from each of the eight teams were invited to bake a Victoria sponge or a cake of their choice.

?The judges of the ‘cake-off' were top chefs Michael Caines from Gidleigh Park, and Matt Mason, from Jack in the Green, plus South West Communications Group's CEO and Chairman Tony Rowe.

Caines said: "A fantastic cake competition with some delicious cakes, although more impressive was the imagination and creativity that went into them. There was not a bad cake among them."

Mason added: "Fantastic effort. A huge array of individual and authentic home baked cakes that are a real credit to the bakers."

The winner of the Victoria sponge competition was Jackie Mead while Mandy Jolly won the freestyle category with her Chiefs fruit cake.

Any remaining cake slices were then sold to staff which raised nearly £100 for the Exeter Foundation.