Comms Dealer

KCOM has entered into the framework contract as an approved supplier on the UK Government's Digital Outcomes and Specialists 2 framework (DOS2) which replaces the previous framework from February 2017.

Digital Outcomes are systems services, projects and programmes that have specific outcomes with clear deliverables. The DOS2 framework assists UK public sector buyers in purchasing digital and cloud-based services quickly and from a large and diverse pool of proficient, proven and reliable providers.

DOS2 runs in parallel with the G-Cloud framework, through which public sector bodies purchase cloud services such as Web Hosting and Business applications. Both frameworks support the delivery of the UK Government Digital Strategy.

"Our Digital Outcomes and Specialists 2 accreditation is a formal confirmation of our capabilities in delivering reliable and outcome-orientated services to the public sector," commented Stephen Long, EVP at KCOM.

Acuity Unified Communications has acquired the customer contracts of St Albans-based SIP trunking security firm 500 Ltd. Its fraud protection software portfolio provides security for mobiles and SIP connectivity.

The deal also gives Acuity access to 500 Ltd's self-service provisioning portal.

John Dowbiggin, MD of Acuity Unified Communications, said: "Cyber security is vital in today's business telecoms arena and we want to ensure those customers that require robust protection from cyber attack whether, it be mobile or SIP connectivity, are covered to the FCS Mark of Excellence Gold level."

500 Ltd MD Jonathan Rodwell added: "We can now focus on being a pure software house and provide service providers such as Acuity our provisioning portals."

A 50% year-on-year increase in pallet volumes and order tonnage along with a broadening product range have prompted Nimans to embark on a programme of warehouse expansion, upping the current 36,000 sq ft capacity to almost 50,000 sq ft.

The distributor has enlisted construction company The Casey Group to undertake the work which is due for completion by October.

The requirement for more order processing space is reflected in Nimans's new trade catalogue that features over 8,000 products.

Chairman Julian Niman said: "I started the business 36 years ago repairing CB radios from limited space at my father's jewellery business.

"I first made a commitment to sign a long term lease on our initial Broadway building on the outskirts of Manchester, then I made an even bigger commitment to build our current multi-million-pound headquarters at Agecroft. It's all about staying one step ahead of the game.

"The business continues to diversify and we sell all manner of communication and technology solutions from a simple cable clip through to a complete unified communications system, connectivity and end points. The new warehouse expansion is a sign of our continued progression."

In a move to bolster its play in the high growth flash storage market industry giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise is to acquire Nimble Storage, the provider of predictive all-flash and hybrid-flash storage solutions.

HPE will pay $12.50 per share in cash, representing a net cash purchase price at closing of $1bn. In addition to the purchase price, HPE will assume or pay out Nimble's unvested equity awards, with a value of approximately $200m at closing.

The overall flash market was estimated to be approximately $15bn in 2016 and is expected to be nearly $20bn by 2020, with the all-flash segment growing at a nearly 17% compound annual growth rate.

Nimble's predictive flash offerings for the entry to midrange segments are complementary to HPE's scalable midrange to high-end 3PAR solutions and MSA products. This deal will enable HPE to deliver a full range of flash storage solutions for customers across every segment.

HPE ALSO plans to incorporate Nimble's InfoSight Predictive Analytics platform across its storage portfolio.

"Nimble Storage's portfolio complements and strengthens our current 3PAR products in the high-growth flash storage market and will help us deliver on our vision of making Hybrid IT simple for our customers," said Meg Whitman, President and CEO, Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

"And, this acquisition is exactly aligned with the strategy and capital allocation approach we've laid out. We remain focused on high-growth and higher-margin segments of the market."

Nimble was founded in 2007 and has approximately 1,300 employees worldwide.

The company delivered revenue of $402M in its most recent fiscal year, up 25% year over year.

Suresh Vasudevan, CEO at Nimble Storage, added: "We're confident that by combining Nimble Storage's technology with HPE's global distribution strength, strong brand, and enterprise relationships, we're creating expansion opportunities for the combined company."

The deal is expected to be accretive to HPE earnings in the first full fiscal year following the close.

Mitel has authorised a share buyback programme under which the Canadian vendor may purchase up to 7,816,574 common shares representing approximately 10% of its public float.

As of February 28, 2017, Mitel had 122,036,009 issued and outstanding Common Shares, including a public float of 78,165,743 Common Shares. During the previous 12 months, Mitel has not purchased any of its Common Shares.

"Mitel is committed to delivering shareholder value," said Richard McBee, Chief Executive Officer. "This share buyback programme provides us with another lever to realise and maximise that value."

Mitel believes that having the ability to acquire Common Shares under the Normal Course Issuer Bid will present an attractive opportunity to utilise Mitel's available funds.

The Normal Course Issuer Bid is intended to permit the Company to reduce its total number of issued and outstanding Common Shares, thereby benefiting all shareholders by increasing their relative equity interests in Mitel.

The Bid will commence on March 9th 2017 and will terminate no later than March 8th 2018.

Subject to certain exceptions for block purchases, the maximum number of shares which can be purchased per day on the NASDAQ will be 25% of the average daily trading volume for the four calendar weeks preceding the date of purchase.

Researchers Gartner and IDC both forecast rapidly rising public cloud spending, hitting $203bn by 2020 as global IT outlay tops $2.65tn in the same year.

IDC's Worldwide Semiannual Public Cloud Services Spending Guide says large enterprises (with more than 1,000 employees) will comprise half of all public cloud spending in 2017 as the segment vastly outperforms other parts of the industry.

"In 2017, discrete manufacturing, professional services, and banking will lead the pack in global spending on public cloud services as they look for greater scalability, higher performance, and faster access to new technologies," says Eileen Smith, program director, Customer Insights and Analysis.

"Combined, these three industries will account for one third of worldwide public cloud services spending, or $41.2bn."

While SaaS will continue to dominate, its share of the market will decline as spending on Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) will grow at 30% and 32% respectively.

"While purchase priorities vary somewhat depending on company size, the leading product categories include CRM and enterprise resource management applications in addition to server and storage hardware," says IDC.

The cloud will become more distributed (through Internet of Things, edge services and multi-cloud services), more trusted, more intelligent, more industry and workload specialised, and more channel mediated, it says.

As the cloud evolves, these important new capabilities - what IDC calls Cloud 2.0 - the use cases for the cloud will 'dramatically' expand.

Distributor Mayflex is gearing up for the April opening of a training, meeting and demonstration facility in Maxim Business Park, Eurocentral (near Glasgow).

The facility will feature a M-Tech product demonstration area, as currently operated in London and Birmingham together with space for training sessions, meetings and presentations.

Tracey Calcutt, Marketing Manager, said: "As our field-based teams, customer base and product offerings grow, the need for a resource such as this situated close to our customers has increased too.

"Our M-Tech demonstration areas in London and Birmingham are popular, enabling customers to see firsthand the solutions we offer. We expect this 3rd M-Tech to be just as useful."

The demonstration and meeting areas will be made available to Mayflex customers where this resource can add value when presenting, demonstrating or discussing project specific points.

Sean Donaldson, Director of Sales for the Infrastructure range of products, added: "We have recently extended our Excel BDM team in Scotland and North East of England, so this addition to our sales armoury comes at an ideal time."

ICT suppliers can now offer their services through G-Cloud 9 (G9), the latest and 'best' iteration of the G-Cloud framework which opens the door to public sector opportunities for cloud service providers of all sizes.

According to UKCloud's CEO Simon Hansford (pictured) G9 is 'the best iteration yet' with improvements coming from consultations carried out by the Government Digital Service and Crown Commercial Service.

Hansford's high expectations for the success of G9 are reflected in UKCloud's just launched channel recruitment campaign to cultivate greater collaboration with more partners on public sector business.

The company launched its partner programme in November 2016 and has so far given circa 120 partners a leg up onto the G-Cloud Framework. "We're committed to continuing this momentum via G-Cloud 9," stated Hansford.

UKCloud has offered cloud solutions via G-Cloud since the Framework first went live in 2012 and has supported more than 465 partner projects across the UK public sector.

Hansford expects the improvements made to G9 to be the catalyst of more sales from a wider range of market sectors. He said buyers will be more receptive to a sharper emphasis on suppliers' security credentials and a slicker buying process through granular service categorisation, all helped along by simplified terms and conditions.

"IT companies wanting to break into the UK public sector market must be familiar with and overcome specific requirements when it comes to assurance, connectivity and commercial governance," added Hansford.

To help ambitious IT suppliers break into the public sector UKCloud offers a G-Cloud 9 check list, a 'How to Submit' guide and a Q&A forum that provides guidance on achieving the required security credentials, and the best ways to address the security questions that form part of the G9 submission process.

8x8 continues to make strong gains north of the border as it marches shoulder-to-shoulder with newly promoted Scottish Gold partner Exsel.

The Glasgow-based reseller joined forces with 8x8 one year ago and hit the ground running, putting in a sales performance that has been rewarded this month with an elevation to Gold status in 8x8's partner programme.

Exsel sold less than 50 hosted seats a month prior to its hook-up with 8x8, a partnership that within six months catalysed a sales boost that more than doubled revenues and registered an increase in ARPU.

In the full year since forming their partnership Exsel has gained more than 100 new customers including Loch Lomond Golf and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

The partnership is expected to push Exsel towards its 30% annual revenue growth goal and 4,000 seat per annum target.

Tom McDonald (pictured left), Exsel Group MD, commented: "We've seen some strong results working with 8x8 since 2015 and we're confident this latest step in our relationship will yield even greater rewards."

Charles Aylwin (pictured above), Director of Channel and Public Sector at 8x8, added: "Working with fast growing and motivated partners like Exsel is key to our strategy for growth."

Gold partner status gives Exsel more sales support and access to marketing development funds, building on the 8x8 Academy and existing partner support.

Exsel has witnessed particular success in reselling 8x8's Virtual Office, Virtual Contact Centre and EasyContactNow.

"8x8's software is born in the cloud so end users can use any device without the need for third party add-ons," added McDonald.

"This is particularly important as the growth of remote and flexible working means that most users expect to use the software on their phone."

Two months ago Exsel Group won £0.5m backing from private equity company Coralinn LLP.

The investment will create circa 50 jobs and fund new offices in Edinburgh and Ireland, adding to its existing offices in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Comms-care has added three more Microsoft competencies taking its tally to eight Golds and four Silvers, making it the most highly accredited Microsoft channel-only service provider in the UK.

Included in Comms-care's recent achievements are two new competencies: Windows and Devices (Gold) and Collaboration and Content (Silver), while Comms-care has also upgraded its competency in Cloud Productivity from Silver to Gold.

Simon Day, Professional Services Director at Comms-care, said: "Achieving 12 Microsoft competencies showcase both the depth of our ability and our commitment to today's technology market. It also demonstrates our deep knowledge of Microsoft as a business and its technology."