Comms Dealer

Three quarters (75%) of business-led IT money is spent on innovation, compared to just 25% from the traditional IT budget, which is focused on maintenance and operations, or rather 'keeping the light on'.

This is according to latest research from member-based advisory company CEB, which looked at the benefits of business-led IT and the need for CIOs and their teams to act as technology advisers.

Based on the study, CEB has identified the best ways to harness the value of business-led IT.

Educate employees about what's healthy

The first step is to get employees to understand the critical difference between healthy and unhealthy IT spend. As a general rule, projects which can be easily hosted through the cloud and have the flexibility to stand apart from the rest of the business should be encouraged as positive examples of business-led IT.

Projects that need support from expensive dedicated in-house technologists, or basic commodity technologies - such as printers or servers - should be considered much more carefully.

Help manage the vendors
IT teams need to help executives deal with vendors, some of whom will be looking to exploit the less tech-savvy backgrounds of employees outside IT. Compared to equivalent sales to corporate IT departments, CEB research suggests that technology sales direct to the business close in less than half the time and have twice the contract value.

Shift the dial on 'shadow spending'
Finally, CIOs still need to focus on shifting perceptions about how IT staff view 'shadow spending' and help teams understand its value. Almost one third (60%) of IT employees believe that business-led IT "always creates risks", while less than 40% think it should be allowed at all.

Andrew Horne, MDat CEB, said: "Most organisations now understand that business-led IT is here to stay. For every £1 spent on the corporate budget, another 40p is spent by other parts of the business.

"What CIOs are now realising is that business-led IT is another - often better, cheaper - way to achieve the goals of the IT department, particularly when it comes to innovation and testing out new digital capabilities.
The goal is to improve the success rate of these technology investments - regardless of who came up with the idea.

"The talent landscape is also experiencing huge changes. We found that 97% of IT roles will undergo changes in the next few years and IT teams will need to hire six new roles that don't exist today. The CIO role will also change. The aspiring CIO is no longer someone who can run technology projects and keep costs down. They need to be able to coach business leaders and influence business-led technology strategy. This means working directly with the CEO and other executive team members."

Europe's second-highest court has upheld the €1.06bn fine levied in 2009 on Intel by the EU's antitrust regulators.

Intel was accused five years ago of blocking AMD's market share by giving rebates to PC makers with the result that most continued to buy most of their computer chips from Intel. The company can still appeal the case to Europe's highest court, the European Court of Justice.

March Networks, an independent subsidiary of Infinova and a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, is focusing on expanding in Europe, and in key verticals in this region such as banking, retail and transportation segments, as well as horizontal industries.

Sales in Q1 2014 were 78% year on year higher than 2013. Speaking about the company's success in Europe, Stefano Torri, European Sales Director at March Networks, said.

"Having established its market leadership in North America, March Networks now wants to do the same in Europe. We are making significant investments in our sales, marketing and customer support teams in the region to help drive this expansion, as well as significant investment in our Milan, Italy, R&D centre. With the success that we have seen so far this year, we are looking forward to the rest of 2014 and beyond to further grow our business in this key market."

Users include more than 450 banks globally, covering over 26, 000 bank branch offices. In addition, its monitoring systems cover over 500 million miles of transportation links and infrastructure, served by March Networks' mobile monitoring solution with coverage in more than 50 countries all over the world.

March Networks' short-term objectives are to increase its visibility and market share in European vertical markets and to revamp its regional Partner Program by expanding its channel partnerships in key markets and verticals.

"Our Enterprise class video solutions have already been proven by customer experience in other markets such as North America and Asia," continued Stefano Torri.

"These are now being rolled-out across Europe and many businesses are seeing the benefits these can bring, especially in commercial and industrial multi-site applications where our enterprise class deployments can bring real results and benefits."

Canon's imaging business is buying Denmark-based Milestone Systems A/S, a provider of open platform video management software, via its subsidiary Canon Europa N.V.

Canon has a clear ambition to drive future growth through diversification and has identified network video surveillance as a strategic new business area. Bringing Milestone into the Canon Group will significantly enhance Canon's software capabilities in this sector.

Rokus van Iperen, President & CEO, Canon Europe, Middle East and Africa, explains: "Canon is aiming to take a leadership position in network video surveillance and we are making an important strategic investment today to realise our objective to expand in this market. Together with Milestone, we can accelerate our growth by delivering new advanced products and solutions for new sectors, through new channels, to offer greater customer value."

Lars Thinggaard, President & CEO, Milestone Systems, added: "Canon respects how we built our business with our partners and supports our strategy of providing open platform solutions and therefore the need to remain a standalone company within the Canon Group. We feel this step is right for taking both our business and support for suppliers and partners to a new level."

Having worked for the likes of global giants Phillips, British Airways, Mitel and ADC KRONE, Wielenga brings over 30 years experience of IT systems and telecoms into the position. Prior to his appointment at Daisy, he was working as a freelance product manager, consulting for a number of large business communications providers.
 
In his new position, Wielenga will be responsible for delivering new products and solutions, as well as developing and monitoring the performance of existing connectivity products, including broadband, Carrier Ethernet and MPLS solutions.
 
Nathan Marke, Daisy's Chief Technology Officer, said: "Jan has an invaluable amount of experience working within the industry and his arrival will further strengthen and build our existing connectivity portfolio.

"In line with the roll-out of fibre optic broadband across the UK, connectivity solutions will play a pivotal role within the sector going forward. The time is right to strengthen our product team in these key areas as we continue to deliver quality solutions to our customers."

Wielenga added: "I am looking forward to making a real difference at Daisy. It's a fantastic opportunity to further develop and drive the existing connectivity portfolio.

"As UK businesses continue to realise the importance of using cloud services, now and for the future, capable and cost effective connectivity becomes vital."

The future for the MVNO market is bright but traditional models must evolve for long-term sustainability, according to research released by Piran Consulting.

According to the report's authors a relentless focus on understanding the customer, a strong distribution capability and a means of creating true loyalty, allied to a network partnership model, are the critical factors for success.

Since the launch of the first mobile virtual network - Virgin Mobile in December 1999 - UK MVNOs have taken an ever increasing market share.

In its report, Piran estimates that 15.6% of the mobile market is now served by some 248 MVNOs, accounting for 12.4% of the UK's £15.9bn mobile revenues.

While one in four MVNO entrants fail, the last three years has seen an upsurge in the number of B2B-focused MVNOs, international long-distance MVNOs (such as Lebara and Lycamobile) and machine-to-machine MVNOs. And Piran believes the market, now more than ever, is ripe for growth and unlocking new revenue streams.

Traditionally sought after by bigger brands that are looking to scale and diversify by entering the telecoms market, it is the B2B arena that is currently seeing the most growth in MVNO, as large enterprises now invest in dedicated mobile phones for their employees.

And prompted by the advent of fixed mobile convergence, unified communications (as typified by Microsoft's Lync product) and tablet computing, businesses are increasingly seeking providers who can provide a complete single source service at a lower cost.
In addition, opportunities have been identified in the shift from Pay-As-You-Go to post-pay, providing the challenge of thin or poor credit history can be overcome, as well as those MVNOs promoting richer, multi-media, multi-channel propositions.

With over a million customers estimated to be rejected every year having failed mobile operators' credit checks, high street retailers with MVNO operations have been pinpointed as best placed to expand into this market and exploit new revenue streams, alongside historic underperformers which have been tipped for a resurgence through transition to triple and quad-play offers.

Erick O'Connor, Director, Piran Consulting, said: "MVNOs that have stood the test of time have done so by continuing to evolve their service offers and by maintaining reputations that are centred round value, customer service, and rewarding loyalty, and also by diversifying the breadth of their offering through a movement to bundled products.

"Undoubtedly it is the strong, those equipped to adapt to the quickly evolving consumer demands, that will thrive and grow and as the market evolves towards high speed data and unlimited tariffs the traditional MVNO model will need to evolve to be sustainable businesses.

"A supportive mobile network operator partner is also key but ultimately having a simple proposition that solves customer needs is what counts, backed by a strong distribution capability and excellent customer service."

A new study released by O2 and the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr) suggests public sector organisations are missing out on crucial savings due to inefficiencies caused by poor staff connectivity and digital technology on the move.

The findings reveal public sector organisations in local communities are still facing challenges when it comes to embracing technology. This is in spite of the Government's ambition for a public sector that is 'Digital by Default'.

With these departments remaining under pressure to improve efficiencies, while increasing savings, the report identifies three clear opportunities to improve support for frontline workers:

Empowering frontline community workers to work remotely - poor access to the right tools and connectivity is leading to a lack of information on the move, for example when meeting citizens in the local community. This is resulting in an average loss of 53 hours a year per employee, equating to £2.2bn, which could be reinvested in other services

Boosting productivity - employees, such as community healthcare workers, could on average reduce the time taken to complete follow up tasks after home visits by as much as 30% with better connectivity. This would allow them to file real-time reports and update patient records without having to travel back and forth to the office

Improving work-life balance for employees - employers believe that with the right tools and technology in place, employees could choose to spend another 22 days a year working from home, equating to a 90% increase in current levels

Billy D'Arcy, Managing Director of Public Sector Business, O2 commented: "As the UK economy starts to show signs of recovery, pressure remains on public services to look for efficiencies to cut the remaining deficit.

"Alongside this, there is a growing demand from the public for better services and access to information delivered through new channels, such as mobile apps. With smartphone penetration expected to reach 80% by January 2015, this demand is only set to increase.

"The report findings highlight the crucial role technology has to play in supporting these organisations, both in terms of cost savings and delivery of services and in care to local communities.

"I believe the right investment in digital technology can have a real impact on social value, for example providing frontline staff with devices to empower them to work more flexibly, or giving doctors the technology to deliver remote diagnosis to patients that need help. Government and businesses urgently need to work closely together to make sure that these crucial public services - which we rely upon every day - are fit for the future."

Andy Burton has been appointed as the Non Executive Chairman of Concorde Solutions, a software developer and service provider delivering business analytics for managing software compliance, optimisation and governance across complex IT estates for Enterprises and Public Sector organisations.

The appointment follows the recent announcement that the company had secured a multi-million dollar investment.

Burton, who has been a Non Executive Director with the firm for the last two years, brings relevant experience having previously held CEO roles at Centennial Software (now part of FrontRange), Content Technologies and most recently Web and Cloud Services provider, Fasthosts Internet Group.

He is also the Chief Revenue Officer of innovative UK hybrid cloud ISV, Zynstra, a Non Executive Director of both FAST and Outsourcery plc, and the Founder and a Director of the Cloud Industry Forum.

Martin Prendergast, CEO of Concorde Solutions, stated: "Andy has established a solid reputation as a passionate advocate of new technology innovation and adoption that fits perfectly with Concorde's plans."

Burton added: "Most Enterprises today work in an environment that encompasses on-premise through to Cloud based IT services, and the traditional endpoints of desktops have expanded under the adoption of BYOD.

"The challenge in such a shifting landscape is how best to optimise investment, maintain controls and ensure risks are mitigated."

The company recently raised $2.5 million in new investment led by new investor, JMI Services, LLC, and included follow-on participation from Panoramic Growth Equity and Elderstreet, both of whom were existing investors.

Concorde will use this additional capital to further expand its geographic coverage, go-to-market programs and core product investment.

Plantronics has appointed Paul Clark to the role of VP, General Manager North Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia & Sub-Saharan Africa.

Clark was formerly UK and Ireland MD and Regional Director in the Nordics, Holland and Belgium, and will now also be responsible for expanding the company's business in Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern Europe.

He has already launched Plantronics' Connect Partner Programme in the Russian and Eastern European markets.

Over 170 partners have graduated from Plantronics' partner training programme across Europe since its launch last year.

Clark joined Plantronics in 1994 as the company's EMEA Marketing Director, a role which he held until 2003. During this period, he helped Plantronics boost headset adoption across global business markets and strategically launched the company into the consumer space. Paul then became Plantronics' EMEA Director of Product Management before taking on a commercial role managing sales operations in the UK and Ireland in 2007.

Clark said: "I'm pleased to have the opportunity expand on the success Plantronics has experienced in Russia and Eastern Europe. I looking forward to driving further growth in the region by providing added support to our local channel partners, and to seeing a growing number of users experience the benefits of Plantronics programmes and products."

Philip Vanhoutte, Senior VP & MD, Europe and Africa at Plantronics, added: "Paul has been instrumental in building Plantronics' global presence over the years, both with our business partners and consumers.

"His extensive knowledge of our products and dedication to our core values make him an ideal candidate to grow our presence in key Eastern European and Russian markets, and we expect him to continue delivering great results in his new role."

British UC vendor ipcortex has been selected by Google as their winner at TADhack, the Telecoms Application Developer Hackathon.

The event, held in Madrid, hosted a live development competition to celebrate and promote the use of APIs and other technologies used to create apps in the telecoms space.

Over 60 development teams from all over the world submitted their entries both directly and via six satellite events across America, Europe and Asia. Prizes went to the most innovative and compelling applications developed during the course of the event.

The ipcortex entry, RTC Emergency, is a proof of concept app that adds value to emergency service calls using only the base software on an Android phone with no special application or network support.

An emergency call, initiated via the normal telephone network was augmented by RTC Emergency to pass location information accurate to within a few metres directly to the operator and allow them to view a real time video feed of an unfolding emergency via the caller's smartphone.

With 'eyes on the scene' call centre operators would more effectively engage response teams. It even allowed paramedics en route to an incident to view the same feed to allow them to arrive fully prepared.

For example, paramedics would triage or dispense advice while making their way to the incident, from their passenger seat in the ambulance. Functioning on any smartphone with a suitably up to date web browser, all the caller needs to do is click a link sent by text message to activate the feed; there is no need to install any application and the emergency call is not affected.

The application was based on the use of the WebRTC protocol, an open standard spearheaded by a group of companies including Google, who selected ipcortex as a winner. It allows web browsers to set up audio, visual and data connections without third party programmes.

Rob Pickering, ipcortex CEO, said: "Participating in TADHack was illuminating and anyone who still doubts the effect that emergent telecommunications APIs will have in setting the future direction of UC should take a look at some of the entries.

"Our winning RTC Emergency application was a crude proof of concept, developed in a few man days of effort, but the fact that it was even possible demonstrates how the stage is set for new solutions to real world problems which merge traditional telecommunications and rapid web based development.

"We've been working on WebRTC applications since 2012 to implement functionality that will feed into our mainstream VoIPCortex UC platform. For now, though, RTC Emergency was just a way of illustrating how WebRTC will allow a re-think of well-established services and processes and we're delighted that Google recognised our efforts at TADHack."