Comms Dealer

Capita plc, BPO and integrated support service solutions specialist, has acquired Updata Infrastructure, a UK-based IT network services provider, for a cash consideration of £80m.

Both companies have been business partners in Scotland since 2011 when they began working on contracts for the public sector. This cooperation also includes a recent business partnership aimed at delivery of Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) which will see a single public services network for all public service organisations across Scotland.

Updata is a specialist in networking connectivity services with an expected turnover of £41.8m (€50.4m) in a financial year to June 2014. It serves mostly the clients in the public sector. The company has also six offices across the UK where it jointly hires around 160 people. It will become a part of Capita's IT Services division.

"Updata has a strong reputation across the public sector as a provider of IT networks that help schools, councils and health bodies deliver improved services. As part of Capita, Updata will strengthen our network capability and ensure we continue to meet the needs of our clients across the UK," commented Capita chief executive Andy Parker.

Preparations for Softcat's fourth annual charity ball are well advanced and according to Charlie Harman, head of Softcat's charity team, the firm has big plans to beat last year's £200,000 total.
 
Already 630 attendees are confirmed for the event to be held on May 23rd at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, in aid of national children's charity Dreams Come True.
 
Harman said: "We've worked with charity Dreams Come True for years because we've seen first hand what a difference they make to terminally ill children's lives. 

"In 2014 we raised enough funds to assist in reducing the waiting time for a child's dream to be fulfilled from 18 to 6 months, and now we really hope to reduce this waiting time down to a month. We hope that the proceeds from this year's May Ball will go a long way towards achieving this."

Auctions and a raffle will also take place throughout the evening with entertainment from Britain's Got Talent winners Spelbound, comedians Stewart Francis and Lee Nelson, DJ Charlie Hedges. FISH Percussion (Britain's Got Talent contestant), and auctioneer Jonny Gould.

Colin Brown, Softcat's MD, said: "This is our fourth May Ball and having raised a staggering £200,000 last year the pressure is on, but we're confident that this year will be the best one yet.

"Our charity team has worked incredibly hard to bring together some class acts, a raffle and an auction, all in one of the grandest venues in London."

Larger screen phones, better video quality and 4G networks are the three most important factors for driving greater consumption of video content on mobile phones, according to Strategy Analytics. 

The study - conducted across the US, China, France, Germany, Spain and the UK - revealed that 42% of mobile phone owners report larger screens would make them watch more video on their mobiles. Better quality video (35%) and having a 4G network (29%) are the next biggest drivers.

Currently, almost three-quarters (72%) of consumers watch video on their mobile phone, however, only 44% do so at least once a week. Less than 1 in 7 (15%) watch mobile video on a daily basis. The Chinese are the heaviest users, 59% watch mobile video every week, compared to 40% of Americans.

Mobile video penetration may be approaching its peak. Only 8% of mobile owners that didn't currently watch video on their phone indicated a desire or intent to do so in the future.

Among mobile video users, 40% report watching less than 30 minutes per week, 22% between 30-60 minutes and 21% between 1-3 hours, while 14% watch over 3 hours a week - the equivalent of a full movie and more.

"Turbo-boosting mobile video use is primarily about improving the viewing experience ahead of cost issues," says Nitesh Patel, Director of Wireless Media Strategies at Strategy Analytics.

"Although free, ad-supported videos and bundling premium video into the current tariff were also cited as factors, operators need to focus on improving the regularity and length of viewing to get consumers onto higher tier data plans."

Seven in 10 mobile video viewers report streaming video content through their mobile browser compared to 35% from apps. Over in 1 in 5 (22%) watch a video they've transferred to their phone from another device - known as "side-loading."

Mobile video consumption is almost three times more likely to be done via WiFi (68%) than via a mobile network (24%). The share of streaming over 3G/4G was highest in France (33%) and the USA (30%).

Among current and intending mobile video users, 64% rated YouTube as their preferred supplier of mobile video, followed by Google (49%), their mobile phone manufacturer (27%), Apple (26%), Amazon and their operator (both 22%).

David Kerr, Senior Vice President, Global Wireless & Digital Consumer Practice concludes: "Although existing Internet brands, such as YouTube, are the most preferred suppliers of video content, a significant share also ranked their phone brand and mobile operator favorably too.

"Consequently, providers of video content must continue to see handset vendors and operators as key partners in the effort to drive mobile video consumption."

Mitel has unveiled MiCloud Enterprise UCaaS for channel partners seeking to offer business communications solutions via a subscription-based UCaaS model.

MiCloud Enterprise UCaaS is available immediately in the United States and will be rolled out in several international markets throughout 2014.

The white label solution allows channel partners to integrate the MiCloud Enterprise UCaaS services as part of their own customer offering, under their own brand.

"Mitel is helping partners capitalise on the industry shift toward cloud-based business communications with MiCloud Enterprise UCaaS," said Jon Brinton, EVP and GM, Mitel Cloud Services.

"For many channel partners, this solution is their bridge to being able to deploy and support their own cloud service while creating recurring revenue streams and providing their customers attractive services for business communications in the cloud."

The solution connects employees, partners and customers with flexible communications channels that are designed to boost productivity and amplify collaboration.

This includes phone service with business-critical voice quality, chat and telepresence as well as audio and videoconferencing capabilities, said the vendor.

IT solutions specialists TSG has been recognised for its achievement in integrating 27 acquired businesses in ten years leading to the creation of a successful national company.

TSG now has 12 offices across the UK and all were investigated as part of its assessment to achieve the international quality management standard ISO 9001:2008.

Since it was established a decade ago, the business has grown through a strategy of acquisition with its regional bases developed from combining 27 smaller IT companies around the UK.

CEO David Stonehouse said the award of ISO 9001 was a clear indication that TSG had successfully integrated the businesses into one efficient national organisation.

He said: "ISO 9001 is a fantastic achievement that will continue to benefit the company internally as well as strengthening our competitiveness all over the UK. TSG is committed to providing the best quality of experience possible to our customers and this certification will ensure we continuously tune our processes going forward as our business develops."

TSG offers IT services, telecoms solutions and IT security and is a provider of CRM software, cloud computing and specialist services such as Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Sage Software, SharePoint and Pegasus business software.

Its regional bases include Newcastle, Teesside, Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Solihull, Loughborough and Southampton.

Sonya Johnson, quality manager at TSG who drove the accreditation process, said: "Through attaining group certification we've successfully demonstrated that all elements of the business, across all of our products, in all of TSG's offices, can operate to the same high quality standards.

"This means that our customers can expect to receive a seamless experience regardless of whether they are dealing with one of our 300 specialists or a member of our centralised business support teams based at head office."

Chief operating officer Steve Cox, who is responsible for the group's service and support, added: "Our industry is hugely competitive so to be independently recognised by a third party for the high standard and quality of our work is hugely important.

"We have invested heavily in building the systems to remove any complexity from delivering great customer experience. We have worked hard to make sure we have the best relationships possible with the perfect mix of technology partners so we can deliver complete end-to-end service across a full range of ICT products.

"Having the right procedures in place underpins our customers' experience. Customers increasingly require these certifications as an essential to conducting business. They want to know that TSG are committed to quality control.

Making sure that we offer our customers the best possible experience is exactly what we strive to do."

In ten years the company has worked with more than 4,500 businesses across the UK to deliver end-to-end technology solutions.

Pictured: TSG's chief operating officer Steve Cox, quality manager Sonya Johnson, business process manager Rob Symonds and CEO David Stonehouse celebrate the company achieving an international quality management standard

C4L has broadened its data centre network footprint having joined forces with Digital Realty.

The move is C4L's first link-up with an official Technology Partner, enabling it to leverage Digital Realty's data centre and colocation facilities in the UK and Europe.

The partnership gives Digital Realty access to C4L's privately owned fibre coreTX network.

C4L's CEO Simon Mewett said: "This partnership represents more than two companies benefitting from collaborating expertise and ownership, it benefits those customers who are already loyal to us, proving that as a customervoriented infrastructure provider we are constantly evolving our service."

Digital Realty's MD for EMEA Bernard Geoghegan added: "By optimising our data centre connectivity credentials this collaboration helps us to continue to build our clients' data advantage and power commercial growth."

Pictured: C4L Business Development Director Matt Delargy presents Scott Newcombe, European Sales Director from Digital Realty, with a Technology Business Partner plaque.

Some 90% of ICT decision-makers are changing their cloud buying behaviour as a direct result of allegations of large scale clandestine cyber-surveillance. A study published by NTT Communications says that even the US customers want local.

The survey of 1000 ICT decision-makers from France, Germany, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and the USA found these key points:

1. Almost nine in ten (88%) of ICT decision-makers are changing their
cloud buying behaviour, with over one in three (38%) amending
their procurement conditions for cloud providers
2. Only 5% of respondents believe location does not matter when it
comes to storing company data
3. More than three in ten (31%) of ICT decision-makers are moving data to locations where the business knows it will be safe
4. Around six in ten (62%) of those not currently using cloud feel
the revelations have prevented them from moving their ICT into the cloud
5. ICT decision-makers now prefer buying a cloud service which is located in their own region, especially EU respondents (97%) and US (92%)
6. Just over half (52%) are carrying out greater due diligence on
cloud providers than ever before
7. One in six (16%) is delaying or cancelling contracts with cloud
service providers
8. More than four fifths (84%) feel they need more training on data
protection laws
9. 82% of all ICT decision-makers globally agree with proposals by
Angela Merkel for separating data networks

Len Padilla, Vice President Product Strategy, NTT Communications in Europe, said, "Our findings show that the NSA allegations have hardened ICT decision-makers' attitudes towards cloud computing, whether it is modifying procurement policies, scrutinising potential suppliers or taking a heightened interest in where their data is stored."

He continued, "Despite the scandal and global security threat, business executives need to remember that cloud platforms do help firms become more agile, and do help foster technology innovation, even in the most risk-averse organisations. ICT decision-makers are working hard to find ways to retain those benefits and protect the organisation against being compromised in any way. There is optimism that the industry can solve these issues through restricting data movement and encryption of data."

Tech Data Europe will supply Google's indirect channel across Europe with services around the Chromecast media streaming device.

Chromecast has just gone on sale in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.

Through the agreement, Tech Data Mobile Solutions will provide complete fulfilment services, including logistics, transportation management, forecasting, procurement consolidation, inventory management, invoicing and collection.

"Tech Data Mobile Solutions is pleased to be selected by Google to manage their end-to-end supply chain operations and distribution of Chromecast throughout Europe," said Rod Millar, senior VP Tech Data Mobile Solutions.

As part of the agreement, Tech Data Mobile Solutions has created a dedicated central account management team and a collection of services, including forecasting, procurement and supply chain reporting, that enables Google retail specialists to commercially manage all European sales through a single Tech Data operational interface.

Dawn McMorrow has joined Jabra UK & Ireland Business Solutions as UK&I Marketing Manager.

She arrives from TD Azlan where she held the role of Cisco Marketing Manager for Tech Data's Enterprise Division, Azlan.

McMorrow has also worked for Westcon, McAfee and Juniper Networks.

Jabra Business Solutions UK & Ireland MD Nigel Dunn said: "Dawn brings with her a great understanding of channel marketing and has excellent experience, having worked with enterprise distributor TD Azlan. She also has fantastic knowledge of working for vendor organisations which is invaluable to her new role at Jabra.

"To complete all of those attributes, Dawn also has sales experience which makes a really great balance for this role.

"Together with her in-depth knowledge of Cisco, who are one of our key Strategic Partners, Dawn has a great understanding of the IPT and UC market space and this is Jabra's sweet-spot."

New findings from leading hi-tech analysts Juniper Research reveal that Tablet Hybrid devices will ship nearly 50 million units by 2018, rising from an estimated 9.5 million in 2013.

Tablet Hybrids combine the mobility of a tablet with the functionality of an Ultrabook and can have the screen removed to perform as a slate.

The new report, Tablets & Hybrids: Market Prospects 2014-2018, observed that the tablet market is becoming increasingly diverse as new form factors emerge. This small scale evolution in the grey area between the Tablet and Ultrabook market is extremely appealing to a niche demographic, mostly business users and gamers.

These demographics are also the most able and willing to spend on new devices. The latest Galaxy Tab-Pro is an example of such a proposition - a business-friendly tablet together with a dedicated keyboard and mouse.

Meanwhile, in the mainstream Tablet market, the significant drop in the price of Tablets has meant that several governments and schools are now providing students with either free or subsidised tablets.

Schemes include the government of Thailand's One Tablet PC per Child policy or the Aakash tablets subsidised by the Indian government. Consequently, the tablet is now seen also as an educational tool in certain markets. It is also perhaps indicative that the future of education is more towards research and interactive programmes.

Other key findings suggest that Hybrid ASP will remain stable over the forecast period due to the more affluent demographics. In addition, the report says that retailers are increasingly launching low cost tablets as a gateway to their online services via widgets and pre-installed features. With Hudl a recent example offered by British retailer Tesco.