NEWS
Zen Internet unveils Vault for backups
ZEN Internet has launched its lat- est online data backup solution for the channel, called Zen Vault Enterprise. Designed for multiple offices and large storage requirements, Zen Vault Enterprise enables businesses to centralise data backup within Zen’s Data Centres through the provision of a large allocation of mirrored, UK-based SAN storage. Enterprise solutions incorporate all the technical features of both Zen Vault Express and Professional, providing an overall offsite backup solution for multiple data sources in a business. Zen Vault Enterprise also gives IT administrators full visibility and control over the backup process through the use of a centralised management console.
The console enables adminis- trators to monitor the performance of device backups through a single portal therefore reducing the time and effort associated with manag- ing backup processes. Andrew Saunders, Head of
Product Management and Mark- eting at Zen, commented: “We have designed Vault Enterprise as a partner centric product that requires minimal start-up invest- ment, and allows partners to easily establish themselves as a provider of online data backup solutions.”
Daisy to keep BNS site open
DAISY Group has confirmed that its BNS acquisition site, based in Prudhoe, will remain open, giving Daisy a permanent base in the North East, adding to its business centres in Lancashire, London and the Midlands. Chris Jagusz was appointed as interim MD following the acquisi- tion of BNS in February this year. His remit was to ensure that opera- tions remained ‘business as usual’ in the North East. Meanwhile, Daisy conducted a
full review of the business and con- cluded that the BNS site is key to the future growth of the Group. Chief Operating Officer Gareth
Kirkwood said: “Before making any decisions about the future of the company and eventual integra- tion we were committed to fully understanding the BNS business. “We believe there is a strong business here, and we have realised greater synergies than we expect- ed with this cost-effective opera- tion in North East. We have been impressed by the quality and enthusiasm of the people at BNS.” At the time of the acquisition,
Daisy’s 29th to date, BNS was recognised by the management team as a well run business. “With a large base of existing network customers and access to data and IP
Gareth Kirkwood
telephony products, BNS’ product offering will enhance Daisy’s port- folio,” added Kirkwood. Jagusz said: “As the Group antic-
ipates future growth it is important the business has the capabilities in place to support those plans. “With the skills within the BNS team and expertise to make more products available to SMBs, it makes sense to retain our presence in the North East.” Daisy Group acquired BNS for
approximately £10.45m. In the year ended July 2009, BNS record- ed sales of £36.9m (2008: £32.6m) and underlying EBITDA of £3.2m (2008: £0.13m)
BNS has 8,000 customers across 22,000 business sites, with 42,000 fixed line connections, and it cur- rently handles on average over 30 million calls per month.
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TCO program sets challenge
SHORETEL has launched a new program designed to guarantee that its UC solution offers the low- est total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to rival solutions. If the TCO analysis shows that
ShoreTel’s total cost of ownership is higher than a competitor’s, the vendor stated that it will lower its prices to beat the competition. The Lowest TCO Guarantee
Program applies only to compet- ing solutions from Avaya, Cisco, Microsoft and Mitel. According to ShoreTel, average
upfront costs for a UC system typi- cally represent only 25% of its total cost of ownership. The vendor claims that operat- ing costs such as hardware replace- ment, training, support, software upgrades, moves, adds and chang- es, system management, power consumption, and other ongoing charges comprise approximately 75% of a system’s five-year TCO.
ShoreTel says that its UC solu-
tion is ‘simple’ in design, and built from the ‘ground up for IP net- works’. This foundation of simplic- ity, claims the company, eliminates the high maintenance and manage- ment costs. Mark Arman, Vice President of
Business Development, ShoreTel, stated: “ShoreTel’s simple design results in lower costs for imple- mentation, training, maintenance, moves, adds and changes, system management, long distance charges and energy consumption.” Irwin Lazar, Vice President
of
communications and collaboration research, Nemertes Research, said: “According to Nemertes Research, 80% of organisations have flat or declining IT budgets, and 85% of IT expenditures require a pre- approved business case, therefore minimising TCO is an essential requirement for a successful UC implementation.”
O-BIT Telecom has reported a 100% hike in demand for its Purple SIP trunking and termination products in the past year. “The quality of VoIP and SIP services has increased enormously. By not offering such products voice resellers lose out on the opportunity to provide services relying on the LAN infrastructure of the business,” said Dave Breith, CEO. “Our Purple SIP resellers benefit from guaranteed recurring revenues once the equipment has been installed, as well as the wide range of services SIP can deliver.”
Nimans partners top bank in leasing deal
NIMANS and Rocom have part- nered with BNP Paribas Lease Group, a subsidiary of the French bank BNP Paribas Group, ranked as one of the six strongest banks in the world by ratings agency Standard and Poor’s. Tom Maxwell, Dealer Sales
A TEAM from telecoms provider Frontier Voice and Data is taking part in the Capital to Coast bike ride in June to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The 60 mile ride starts from Esher College in Surrey and ends at Hove, East Sussex. Michael J Thornton, Sales and Marketing Director (pictured above), said: “We are committed to raising funds for charitable causes. The fact that the work of The Cystic Fibrosis Trust has a personal connection to the stories of some of our staff is important.” Readers wishing to donate can do so at:
www.justgiving.com/frontier
Director at Nimans and Rocom, hails the partnership as a significant coup for the distributors. He said: “At a time when leas-
ing providers are generally harder to find, it is a major achievement for us to be working with a com- pany that boasts such a high profile international market presence. We can offer resellers access to tailored
and easy to use solutions so they can move forward with the confi- dence and financial flexibility that a deal of this nature provides.” Nimans and Rocom are working with the UK arm of BNP Paribas Lease Group, which won the ‘Best Service from an Asset Based Finance Provider’ award at the 2010 Business Moneyfacts Awards. BNP Paribas Lease Group Sales
Director, Martin Ardern, com- mented: “We recognise the funda- mental role that accessible financial support plays in helping resellers maximise their own sales potential in a competitive and fast moving business world.”
Comms fi rm aids UNICEF
EXCHANGE Communications has donated £6,000 to UNICEF, helping to finance the immunisation of 10,000 children in developing countries against measles. In 2009 the programme saw eight million children in countries such as Ethiopia, Guinea, Lebanon, Tanzania and Algeria vaccinated against measles, which still kills more than 850 children every day. Tom Sime, MD of Exchange,
said: “It’s shocking to think that an illness that is so rare in the UK continues to kill thousands of children. We take vaccinations such as this for granted but it’s important to remember there are millions who are not as lucky.”
6 COMMS DEALER MAY 2010
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