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Network & Communications

  • Time has come for videoconferencing
    In line with current cost-cutting trends, the focus at IP’08 was around network management and unified comms.
  • BT adds T-Mobile and 3 to services pack
    The UK arms of mobile networks T-Mobile and 3 have signed up to BT’s 21CN platform in a move that will provide a welcome boost to BT Wholesale’s coffers.
  • Gores takes stake in Siemens Enterprise Communications
    US private equity firm The Gores Group has concluded a joint venture transaction with Siemens AG by purchasing a 51 percent stake in Siemens Enterprise Communications (SEC).
  • Gamma unveils assured service
    Business broadband and comms provider Gamma Telecom has lifted the lid on a new assured IP telephony services proposition that the firm has claimed is the first such service to carry a guaranteed end-to-end SLA.
  • Staff influence IT buying decisions
    The drive to improve technology is now coming from the bottom up, with individuals rather than IT managers pushing for change
  • Affiniti parent KCOM latest to reveal Lehman hit
    The fall-out from the collapse of Lehman Brothers continues to ripple across the channel with Affiniti and Kingston Communications parent KCOM warning it could be hit by £3m by the demise of the financial institution.
  • D-Link gets TalkTalk consumer business
    Carphone Warehouse consumer internet subsidiary the TalkTalk Group has handed a two-year contract to supply home networking routers to D-Link.
  • Netgear plugs UTM gap with Chinese outfit
    Consumer and business networking business specialist Netgear has forked out $14m in cash for Chinese gateway content security outfit CP Secure in a bid to integrate UTM technology into its SME portfolio.
  • Jabber added to Cisco collaboration line-up
    Cisco will add increased instant messaging (IM) capabilities to its unified comms portfolio after acquiring Colorado-based presence and messaging software start-up Jabber.
  • Call centres ring the changes
    With a shift in emphasis to retain customers, call centre providers are working to improve the user interface.
  • Dimension Data reveals costs of network downtime
    Network performance in the UK lags behind the global average and is leading to delays that waste time and cost customers money.
  • Mobile broadband will force regulatory change
    Telecoms and media analyst consultancy Analysys Mason has called for Ofcom to begin considering regulatory change as the dramatic growth in mobile data usage is altering the nature of the mobile proposition.
  • PostPath added to Cisco collaboration stable
    Email and calendaring software developer PostPath is to become the latest addition to Cisco’s line-up after agreeing to be bought for $215m.
  • Network giants in prize WLAN deals
    After a flurry of acquisitions, analysts say the best deals have been made, leaving little space for future growth.
  • BT gets TelePresence certification
    Five months after launching its Unified Communication Video solution built on Cisco’s HD video-conferencing TelePresence solution, BT has become one of two global providers to gain certification on TelePresence.
  • Colubris deal fills need for wireless solution, says ProCurve boss
    HP ProCurve has revealed that demand from corporate end-users and reseller partners for wireless solutions, was a big factor in yesterday’s acquisition of wireless LAN vendor Colubris.
  • Is this green invention a wind-up?
    Portable charging system uses the movement of the wearer to provide energy for mobile phones and iPods
  • Your info, your liability
    Don't be shy of asking tough questions of business partners who access your data
  • HP and Cisco plough cash into UC
    Cisco and Hewlett-Packard are pumping additional cash into joint training, marketing and sales campaigns as they expand their venture in deploying unified communications solutions worldwide.
  • The word on unified communications
    Unified communication technologies offer big opportunities for resellers. Cath Everett looks at the benefits of convergence and asks how resellers should present it to customers
  • Security for remote access
    As mobile working increases, so do opportunities for selling remote protection tools
  • Masergy launches embedded remote access offering
    Network specialist Masergy has taken the wraps off its remote access product opting for an embedded service that removes the need for some of the more traditional demands of an SSL VPN.
  • Cloud helps to buoy the channel
    Despite the state of the economy, spirits in the channel have remained high, with hosted software showing particular growth. Halfway through the year, we look at how the market is shaping up
  • LG-Nortel seals fibre-optic buy
    Nortel and LG’s comms and networking JV has closed the acquisition of fibre-optic access solutions developer Novera Optics.
  • Time and tide wait for no WAN
    Optimising a wide area network for virtualised servers improves application performance and traffic protection
  • Cisco buys into Home Networking 2.0
    Investments in Pure Networks and Celeno Communications aim to support intelligent networking in the home
  • The return of 3Com
    Mike Ansley, general manager for EMEA at 3Com, tells Alex Scroxton how the vendor plans to challenge Cisco’s market dominance
  • Up service to keep web ball rolling
    Service levels will have to improve if expansion of web-based services is to continue, suppliers warned
  • Nortel gets infrastructure partnership role at 2012 games
    In a sign that backs up other anecdotal channel expectations that it will be networking players that get a slice of the Olympic action, Nortel has become an infrastructure at the 2012 London games.
  • Caution sounded over home networking ambitions
    The decision by Cisco to acquire Pure Networks last week in a move designed to bolster its position in the expanding home networking market has raised the question of what those users will need from vendors.
  • Former French minister linked with Alcatel-Lucent vacancy
    Former French finance minister Thierry Breton is being tipped to replace Patricia Russo running Alcatel-Lucent.
  • Resellers with skills in both security and networking in demand
    An increasing number of customers are looking for a single reseller to offer both security and networking expertise.
  • Zycko moves Riverbed training to London
    Cirencester-based distributor Zycko has moved its training course on Riverbed’s WAN optimisation technology to London due to popular demand from resellers that were struggling to take time out of the office to travel to its HQ in the Cotswolds.
  • Juniper names Jones as CEO
    Junpier has revealed that Microsoft veteran Kevin Jones is to pick up the reins as CEO from September with current incumbent Scott Kriens continuing his role as chairman.
  • Cisco wants Pure for home ambitions
    Cisco has announced plans to splash out $120m on Pure Networks, a home networks management specialist, in a bid to bolster its position in the market for services by professionals working remotely.
  • Cisco makes life tougher for exam cheats
    Cisco has introduced more security features to its exam process to ensure that those taking the tests do not cheat.
  • Apple 3Gs find a ready market
    Availability of business applications helps drive rapid take-up of the latest generation of iPhone
  • Colt names NGN suppliers
    Colt Telecommunications has named Nokia Siemens Networks and Sonus Networks as key suppliers to the first stage of its next generation network (NGN) project.
  • Channel looks to iPhone halo effect
    Could Apple's latest device prove to be an effective Blackberry-killer among corporate end-users?
  • Analysts predict mobile broadband squeeze
    The struggling mobile base station market is set for a renaissance over the next three years, according to a report released by business intelligence consultancy Informa Telecoms & Media.
  • Channel hits back over bandwidth concerns
    Warnings that remote services providers keen to target the SME market might be unable to fulfil demand unless faster, reliable broadband is made an urgent priority have received a sceptical response.
  • Intact moves into Fast Lane
    Cisco services partners have teamed up to boost the advanced network skills market.
  • On-Communications teams up with Airspan Networks
    Fixed wireless access (FWA) provider On-Communications and Florida-based Airspan Networks have teamed up to supply WiMAX solutions as it expands its UK network rollout.
  • Freedom first in for BT channel scheme
    Voice and data integrator Freedom Communications has become one of two specialist resellers to join a newly defined BT channel partner category. Under the terms of the agreement the Watford-based comms provider will now resell fixed line minutes, SIP trunking, video-conferencing and other BT network services to its customer base.
  • Linksys offers Apple coverage
    Cisco’s home and SOHO networking division Linksys has announced it will now support its wireless routers on Mac OS X 10.4 through its Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) as booming uptake of Apple kit prompts networking vendors to take more notice of the Mac community.
  • Cable and Wireless goes back to Thus
    Cable and Wireless has improved its cash offer for the assets of Thus.
  • Data resellers urged to consider VoIP
    Issues surrounding the interaction between telephony solutions and business firewalls could present a hidden opportunity for data resellers that previously thought they had no skills in the voice arena.
  • Unified comms skills threat
    The sheer complexity of unified communications has caused a growing skills gap in the industry, says UC specialist Psytechnics.
  • Web 2.0 apps to boost mobile use
    The mobile internet services market is still “nascent” and ripe for investment but opportunities to innovate may begin to run dry.
  • Channel awaits domain name vote
    The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (Icann), the Internet regulatory service, is set to shake up the world of domain names this week if a crucial vote in Paris goes its way, and there could be both pros and cons for the channel.
  • Juniper changes welcomed
    Juniper Networks has revealed its move into the enterprise switching sector paid off during the first quarter of its fiscal 2008. Juniper’s UK revenues over the last three months were up 26 per cent compared to the same period in 2007.
  • ZyXEL education programme
    Education programme launched
  • Cool response to Cisco Web 2.0 focus
    Cisco resellers have voiced concern that the vendor is focused too much on buzzwords and Web 2.0 hype at the expense of substance in a series of announcements made at its recent Partner Summit in Hawaii.
  • ProtoCall One pushes BI
    Contact centre solutions provider ProtoCall One has called for networking resellers to get involved in business intelligence (BI) solutions after signing up to Oracle’s PartnerNetwork.
  • PwC prediction off the mark
    The latest Telecoms M&A Insights report from financial services specialist PricewaterhouseCoopers has revealed that consolidation in the telco sector in the US and western Europe is on the verge of collapse — but the findings have been criticised for potentially damaging national markets during the current period of uncertainty.
  • Mobile LBS users to top 100 million
    According to a report from telecom research firm Berg Insight, more than 100 million mobile subscribers in Europe will use location-based services (LBS) by 2012
  • Devices key to mobile broadband development
    The predicted successful growth in mobile broadband will only come about by plugging the gap between users, infrastructure and devices according to a report by In-Stat
  • SMBs taking to unified communications
    A report from analyst firm Canalys shows that the take up of unified communications (UC) solutions among small businesses is growing.
  • Firm debuts partner project
    Fixed-wireless access provider On-Communications has unveiled a partner programme for its guaranteed bandwidth, symmetrical broadband service.
  • Motorola addresses concerns over split
    Motorola has assured its business partners they have nothing to fear from the imminent break-up of the communications giant.
  • Can the largest robbery in the UK be stopped?
    Resellers pay the price for CNP fraud.
  • Distributor in line to sell comms division
    Australian firm in talks as consolidation runs apace in telecoms sector.
  • Security is the key for remote working
    Affordable SSL VPNs increase options for businesses on the move.
  • Magic web's tawdry truth
    Site to tag photos uses mass labour
  • Ancient enmities on YouTube
    Mud-slinging between Greeks and Turks on Web 2.0 site
  • Motorola addresses concerns over splits
    Motorola tells partners not to worry over imminent break-up
  • Fixed-wireless firm debuts partner project
    On-Communications unveils partner programme
  • Spending curb could push hosted services
    Analysts mull over state of the market ahead of EMEA summit.
  • BT price cuts squeeze VoIP resellers
    The growing hosted VoIP market is driving resellers to rethink their sales strategies, with many that had been selling VoIP on cost-savings being edged out of the market by some aggressive pricing from BT.
  • Avaya reveals affordable unified comms
    Business communications vendor Avaya has insisted its partners have nothing to fear after it unveiled what it claims is the industry’s most affordable unified comms (UC) software systems, designed to be priced at under £49 per desk.
  • Colt seeks VARs
    A year after streamlining its partner base, network infrastructure provider Colt Telecommunications is to increase its channel commitment.
  • Router margins to shrink
    Further margin cuts on routers seem inevitable after Context SalesWatch Distribution data for the UK market in January showed a decline in average selling prices on 802.11n-based equipment.
  • Sphinx boost for Alcatel-Lucent channel
    Alcatel-Lucent business partners look set to benefit from a partnership signed between its main convergence distributor, Sphinx, and integrator and Alcatel-Lucent Premium Business Partner Redbridge, which will allow them to enlist technical assistance when selling into new business areas.
  • IPT carriers 'mis-selling'
    Major carriers have been “mis-selling” IPT networks and failing to provide a quality service, leaving customers having to make changes to make their infrastructure robust, according to research from comms infrastructure and IP-network services provider SAS Group.
  • 'Box sellers' fail with complex opportunity
    The future for the networking world looks brighter than it has done for years but some resellers will not enjoy the benefits.
  • 3Com bidders move to ease concerns
    The withdrawal of the joint $2.2bn bid for 16 per cent of 3Com by Chinese networking vendor Huawei and VC firm Bain Capital does not mean the deal is off.
  • 802.11n vendors hit by price cuts
    Cisco consumer arm Linksys among those hit by declining ASPs
  • Cisco SMARTnet woes
    Cisco SMB resellers are still losing substantial sums of money on misplaced or duplicated SMARTnet support contracts six months after the system was refreshed. In spite of repeated calls from the channel to simplify the quotation process, the networking giant again stands accused of failing to heed its partners’ concerns.
  • Cut cables disrupt business
    The accidental cutting of three submarine fibre cables in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, which provided internet services across the region, has had an impact on outsourced operations that service UK customers.
  • Service providers fill installation shortfall
    Following recent criticisms from Cisco customers that key partners have failed to install functioning networks and unified comms packages (MicroScope 28 January), service providers have voiced the view that responsibility for training rests within the channel, as opposed to the vendor community.
  • Zeus partners AdaptiveMobile
    Application traffic management software vendor Zeus Technology has signed an OEM partnership agreement with Dublin-based AdaptiveMobile to sell its ZXTM software as part of Adaptive’s technology package for large mobile telcos.
  • Alcatel-Lucent shuffles team
    Troubled networking giant Alcatel-Lucent has made some internal changes to its senior management after appointing its networks operations head, Andy Williams, as services business president.
  • Brick to build solid ProCurve
    When HP ProCurve’s UK country manager, Jon Weatherall, hit the road at the tail end of July 2007, some in the channel rushed to paint his departure as the end of an era. But six months later, and with his successor now installed in the hot seat, ProCurve has maintained a steady course. Business has remained good, boosted by a series of product releases.
  • Initiative for independents
    Networking kit vendor ZyXEL has rolled out a programme to help the UK’s independent technology retailers keep their heads above water in an increasingly competitive age.
  • Rift in UC development
    The channel has appealed to unified communications (UC) vendors to adopt a more banded view of the technology in the face of growing complexity.
  • Gradwell signs Tiscali deal
    SME VoIP provider Gradwell.com has signed up with Tiscali Business Services to push the adoption of voice-ready broadband and unbundled phone services to SMEs.
  • Avaya VP to address issues
    Avaya’s freshly appointed vice-president of EMEA channels, Mark Mitchell, has promised to continue the comms kit vendor’s focus on becoming easier to partner with during 2008.
  • Cisco partner is sold
    Another Cisco Gold Partner has fallen under the spell of an acquisitive suitor as security-focused managed services provider s2s was picked up for an undisclosed sum by Bailey Teswaine, the IT division of building services specialist NG Bailey.
  • Technology must 'prove itself'
    The networking sector appears to be insulated from the economic slowdown spreading across the IT industry, but there have been warnings that although the network has made itself an indispensable business tool, nothing can be taken for granted going into 2008.
  • Mobile WiMAX set for growth
    The mobile WiMAX market is set to leap to around 80 million subscribers worldwide by 2013, driven by growing demand from the so-called ‘millennial’ demographic.
  • Avaya takes top spot
    Avaya has increased its share of the European enterprise voice market in the third quarter, displacing Franco-American rival Alcatel-Lucent from its market-leading position.
  • Nortel marketing push
    Nortel is hoping that its co-marketing bureau will make it quicker for its partners to capitalise on revenue opportunities and cover the costs of any joint exercises undertaken by the channel.
  • 3Com offers discount
    3com resellers across EMEA will be offered a 6 per cent discount on networking kit sold into the public sector under an initiative announced last week by the vendor aimed at growing its share of business in the state sector.
  • Eurodata in Mitel pilot
    Microsoft Gold Partner Eurodata Systems has been named as the first to be certified for a unified communications (UC) initiative from Mitel.
  • Avaya talks spark speculation
    The channel has warned networking vendor Avaya it will need to assess prospective partners very carefully when it recruits a distributor in the near future.
  • UC firms forge ties
    The networking channel has welcomed a growing movement to build confidence in unified comms (UC) skills among resellers, with some arguing for closer co-operation between vendors and value-added distributors.
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