Comms Dealer

Node4 has implemented a cloud-based infrastructure for Motorpoint to help the online car retailer rapidly expand their number of branches across the UK.

Node4 put together a complete cloud based infrastructure which has enabled Motorpoint to bring all its IT into one central focal point within Node4's resilient data centre environment. This allowed the company to direct its efforts into the core functions of its business without the hassle of being limited by outdated equipment. The whole IT infrastructure is now built on powerful unified Cisco platform blades.

All servers that power the day-to-day operations of the company, including authentication, mail servers and line of business applications have now been moved to the cloud.

Mark Carpenter, Managing Director at Motorpoint, said, "Our ambitious growth plans were being hindered by the fact that our IT infrastructure was inconsistent across the branches. Moving to the cloud has really given us the smoother infrastructure we needed to develop the business. Thanks to Node4, we can now set up the IT for new branches within minutes."

Andrew Gilbert, Managing Director at Node4, said, "The benefits of cloud computing become all the more apparent for a rapidly growing business such as Motorpoint so we have enjoyed helping them to realise their business objectives through IT. The fact that all their data is replicated across a second data centre further adds to resiliency of the solution."

Sales guru Gary May, who is regarded as one of the best business motivators in the UK, has joined the Comms Dealer editorial team.

Gary who owns sales training business Salesology, has published a number of sales training audio and DVD programmes and has co-written the bestselling sales book SELLING: Powerful New Strategies for Sales Success.

He will writing a series of articles for Comms Dealer as well as a Sales Blog on www.comms-dealer.com aimed specifically at the telecoms industry and expertly addressing topics surrounding the art of Lead Generation, Sales Strategy and Proven Business Acceleration Models.

"I am delighted to be joining the UK's number 1 comms magazine and I'm looking forward to exposing those strategies, techniques and business acceleration models that have resulted in our clients being awarded and recognised as being some of the most prolific selling telecoms based organisations in the UK.

"As the green shoots of recovery begin to show there is one single thought that must be at the forefront of every business owner and entrepreneur's mind and that's making more sales. I have witnessed personally and through the success and growth of my clients that economic conditions are simply no match for elite sales and lead generation strategy and performance."

Look out for Gary's first article on 'The 200 year old secret to beating the recession!" in the October issue of Comms Dealer.

Cloud contact centre solutions provider NewVoiceMedia has opened a new office in central London, continuing its rapid worldwide expansion.

Located in Westminster's historic Golden Square, the new office will support NewVoiceMedia's substantial growth and further strengthen its presence in Europe.

According to industry analyst DMG Research, the company is growing at more than twice that of the rapidly expanding cloud contact centre market and has doubled its number of staff in the last year to meet increased demand for its technology.

Jonathan Gale, CEO of NewVoiceMedia, commented: "We recently reported another year of impressive growth and continue to drive innovation that will revolutionise the contact centre industry as it transitions to the cloud. NewVoiceMedia offers an amazing platform with incredible service levels, so it is no accident that we are growing significantly ahead of the market and our competition.

"We are always looking for ways to better serve our customers and the opening of this office provides us with an excellent facility to base our sales and marketing teams. It will also help us to attract the best people who are excited about our vision of using cloud technology to dramatically enhance the customer experience in today's contact centres."

Bonded internet solution provider Sharedband has introduced a new DSL modem it claims will provide help resellers and customers embrace cloud connectivity.

The new Dual DSL Modem bonds multiple connections and replaces the former 'two routers, one switch' bonded solution with a single unit, cutting cost from £400 to £299, according to Sharedband. In addition, the new unit is said to eliminate multiple connections and wiring, eliminating the risk of connection errors and clutter.

Tim Burne, Chief Operations Officer, commented: "Demand for cloud services is increasing but Ethernet and leased line costs prove economically prohibitive for many businesses. This innovation cuts the entry-level hardware cost for end-users making Sharedband an easier deployment for our reseller channel. Sharedband effectively bridges the gap between a standard low-band width DSL connection and the quantum leap to Ethernet or leased lines, giving customers access to cost-effective high-speed internet".

Sharedband's technology bonds together network connections from a variety of sources to produce a single fast and dependable internet connection. Sharedband can bond together two, three or more broadband connections from multiple sources providing a more effective internet connection.

From a channel perspective, Sharedband says the bonded internet is as an enabler for further sales of lucrative cloud solutions that require fast and reliable connectivity.

Nectar Services Corp, a leader in the development of Unified Communications network monitoring and management software for voice, video, data networks and applications, has signed an agreement with the Aura Alliance to be the only network monitoring tool recommended to its members.

With 50+ Avaya certified members and a network of over 3,200+ Avaya accredited specialists in more than 112+ countries, the Aura Alliance is the largest Avaya-endorsed global alliance in the world.

"This agreement indicates the confidence that the Aura Alliance leadership has in Nectar's industry leading solutions," said Tony Parish, CEO, Aura Alliance.

"Nectar has been investing heavily in the development of the Converged Management Platform (CMP) product line for a number of years and its commitment to innovation, coupled with our history of successful global deployments, uniquely qualifies CMP as our best-in-class monitoring solution of choice. We're delighted to offer our support to Nectar and our endorsement of CMP."

David Giangano, CEO, Nectar Services Corporation commented: "Being named the preferred vendor by the Aura Alliance for network monitoring and management is a great honour. Many of the Aura Alliance members already depend on our solutions to offer managed services to their customer base. We're looking forward to having conversations with the rest of the Alliance members and demonstrating why Nectar CMP is the clear choice in our market."

Wayne Martin's GCI Telecom Group has achieved a hat-trick of accreditations from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).

GCI's attention to delivering quality service has been recognised this time for both Quality Management (ISO 9001: 2008) and Environmental Management (ISO 14001: 2004). The latest certification complements GCI's earlier accreditation for Information Security and Information Security Management (ISO 27001: 2005) awarded to its privately-owned data centres in January. GCI has also extended the scope of its 27001 certification to include its regional offices.

According to GCI, certification to these standards ensures that customers can be confident that their chosen service provider has conformed to the standards set out by an international body. It recognises provision of a quality, secure and environmentally friendly service, whilst allowing the service provider to continually assess and improve their business functions and offerings.

Upon receiving the formal certification, Alan Astley, Accreditation Manager for GCI, commented: "Obtaining the ISO accreditation is a positive testament to GCI's on-going commitment to continuous improvements in our service delivery".

GCI says it has now turned its attention to accreditation for ISO/IEC 20000-1: 2011, an Information Technology service management system standard, which focuses on all aspects of service provision, including design, implementation and service improvement.

Nokia has announced the UK availability of the Nokia Lumia 625 smartphone claiming affordable 4G connectivity through a large 4.7" screen.

Running Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 625 provides leading personalisation with changeable Live Tiles that update direct to the home screen, whilst the People Hub makes it easy to stay connected with friends, colleagues and family. There's also Xbox Live, Microsoft Office integration and 7GB of online SkyDrive storage that add to the 8GB of in built memory, and SD memory card support of up to 64GB.

The 625 also offers the choice of five semi-transparent changeable shells in orange, bright green, yellow, white and black.

"The Nokia Lumia 625 combines high end innovation and experiences with a stunning 4.7" screen and 4G connectivity, to bring high speed entertainment to new audiences on a budget." said Conor Pierce, Nokia's VP UK and Ireland. "It's a fantastic blend of affordability and performance. In short, it's the product that the UK 4G market has been waiting for."

New innovations on the device include a range of integrated camera applications like Nokia Smart Camera, which allows users to capture the perfect shot every time, and Nokia Cinemagraph, which transforms pictures into living memories.

Dee Kaul, Director of Terminals for Vodafone UK and Ireland said, "The Nokia Lumia 625 will make a great and highly affordable 4G addition to Vodafone's range of Windows Phones."

Nicola Shenton, Head Of Devices, EE said, "4G is incredibly important for the future of mobile in the UK.With the new Lumia 625, Nokia is helping to bring even more affordable, quality 4G devices to the market which will ensure 4G experiences are available to a broader audience."

Graham Stapleton, CEO of Carphone Warehouse UK said: "Nokia is leading the 4G device portfolio already with a number of innovative middle and high end devices. With the Nokia Lumia 625 we see them move to an even more affordable price point with a 4.7" Super sensitive Display, optimised for viewing media on the go. This will be the most affordable 4G smartphone in our range at launch."

Nokia says the Lumia 625 will be indicatively priced at around £21 per month on contract and £179 on Pay As You Go, it will be available in the UK through O2, Vodafone, EE, Carphone Warehouse and Phones4u from Wednesday the 28th of August.

As I peer through the blur left by our anniversary party, it's time to reflect on how we started our business in 2003. Back then the telecoms sector was cautiously leading the way out of a burst dotcom bubble. Coming from IT recruitment, we were told we were quite mad, as "the last few years had been awful" and "even if it picks up, it'll never be as good again". Undaunted, we set upon our mission to create a fully focussed telecoms recruitment specialist; no IT division, no vending machine salesmen, no local temps, UK only, simply 100% comms people.

We stuck to our guns and starting with the mobile and CPS market, we fed the comms industry's appetite for field sales people to flog new connections. We placed 500 people in just three years. The number crunching was paramount; endless interviewing, supply agreements and tight volume pricing. Clients could hire on one interview and more often if they just fancied the look of the person sitting opposite.

In those days the job boards thought they ruled the market forever. They said recruitment agencies were dinosaurs, set for extinction by a meteorite of technology growing larger in the sky. Since then we broadened into all aspects of data, wireless, sales, management, billings and now with 1576 placements under our belt, it didn't quite work out as the naysayers planned.

Recruitment agencies are alive and well. Whilst we evolved, the jobsites re-spawned their online formula, fragmenting their market share into 3000 pieces in the UK. Lacking a real human touch, they didn't build loyalty. Today they fight over a mercurial candidate supply, as social networking and human interaction has taken back control of recruitment. Whether it's a candidate sitting opposite you, or the client in your Dem Suite, I'm pleased to say that People Still Buy People after all.

As technology only gives temporary advantage until competitors get it too, the quality and service expectation of clients is always rising. When you've got every tech gizmo going, the only way to set yourself apart is with the people who tell your story.

So it's no accident today that 60% of UK businesses want to recruit new staff and new skills. After an incredible 1.6million cv docs that went through our server, distilled into 60,000 real comms people on our CRM, we don't use jobsites much now. They have little new to tell us anymore. Our power is our resources, our people, the knowledge, and the contacts we have built up in, and about, the business. Sound familiar? Of course it does... because this describes your company too...

In 2013 'Power to the people!' rules again.

Leeds based comms solutions provider Nexus Telecommunications has ramped up its marketing team by promoting Ruth Panton to Marketing and Administration Manager.

Panton, who has worked in television and public relations, joined Nexus two years ago as PA to COO Rob Sims.

Panton commented: "I am very excited about the changes and developments that I have witnessed to date at Nexus and feel the opportunity has now arisen for me to increasingly put my marketing experience into practice as we work towards creating a new brand image for the company, from both an internal and external point of view."

COO Rob Sims said: "Ruth's contribution to the business has been fantastic. She has brought creativity, discipline and process to our marketing activity and I am confident her drive and enthusiasm will take the business even further in the coming months."

UK hosted IP specialist HIPCOM has been sold to American UC software giant BroadSoft for an undisclosed sum.

In a press statement BroadSoft said the majority of Hipcom's employees will join its growing team focused on managing its cloud operations across Europe, but chairman Allan Murdoch confirmed that he has left the business with immediate effect.

Murdoch told Comms Dealer the BroadSoft offer came out of the blue and was too good to turn down: "Hipcom are the number one platform in the UK for hosted services and we have built something very special, but we were made an offer we could not refuse. BroadSoft is the perfect acquirer for us. When they approached us with an offer I thought it made perfect sense.

"This is good news for Hipcom resellers and good news for the whole UK reseller market. Our current resellers now effectively go up one tier in the distribution chain by receiving direct supply from BroadSoft. The Hipcom team will still be working with them going forward.

"Continuity was key to this acquisition. One of the things BroadSoft appreciated about Hipcom is the way we did things, the way we delivered the service and the support we give our partners."

Murdoch believes Hipcom's relationship with BT was also key to the acquisition deal.

"Hipcom has very successfully provided a service to BT and has helped them penetrate the hosted market faster than they would have been able to do themselves. I think BroadSoft see that as a particular model they can use in other European markets as it will help incumbent telcos in other countries get to market quickly."

He is also confident resellers will now have an enhanced go to market proposition under the BroadSoft brand: "Resellers will now be in a better position to address UC opportunities. This deal brings BroadSoft closer to the coal face in terms of the recognising some of the drivers the resellers are looking for."

HIPCOM currently provides innovative Unified Communications services based on BroadSoft's BroadWorks® software to a broad customer base.

Scott Hoffpauir, chief technology officer, BroadSoft commented: "We believe the global opportunity for our BroadCloud PBX capabilities is very significant and it was critical we find a team with extensive cloud technology and infrastructure management experience for our expanding U.K. and European operations.

"With the addition of HIPCOM and their experienced management team, we are confident we have the depth of knowledge in place to quickly take full advantage of our growth opportunities for BroadCloud PBX throughout Europe."

BroadSoft anticipates the acquisition will add approximately $500,000 in revenue to its estimated third quarter 2013 results and approximately $1.6 million in revenue to its estimated full year 2013 results. The acquisition is expected be non-dilutive to estimated third quarter 2013 and full year 2013 non-GAAP EPS.