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NEWS


Alternative’s on the march


ALTERNATIVE Networks has acquired Scalable Communications in a £7.5m cash deal. The acquisition strengthens


Alternative’s foothold in the higher echelons of the SME market and beefs up its capability in man- aged data networking services while building on its converged voice, data and mobile offering.


The initial consideration of the £7.5m cash deal includes an estimated £2.5m deferred consid- eration payable on achieving man- agement growth targets. Scalable has performed strongly in the last two years delivering sales growth of 17% and EBITDA growth of 38% in 2009. EBITDA for the year ending 31 December 2010 is expected to be £1.4m, up 45% on 2009. James Murray, Chief Executive of Alternative Networks, com- mented: “It has always been our strategy to build an integrated plat- form of managed data services. We have been following Scalable for some time and recognised the value it can deliver to our business and the scope it offers to achieve this objective. “We will now be better placed, not only to cross sell these services across a growing customer base, but also to make further acquisitions


www.comms-dealer.com


Silent callers risk being hit by £2m fi nes


TELCOS could be hit by mas- sive fines if they breach rules on silent calling under Ofcom’s new regulations to stop consumers being harassed by repeat silent calls. Parliament has approved an


James Murray


“We have been following Scalable for some time”


and continue to deliver long-term shareholder value.”


Scalable is a computer net-


work integrator which specialises in delivering converged solutions around IP network, IP security and IP telephony to business cus- tomers (typically large SMEs and mid enterprises, in the public and private sectors). Its key partners are Extreme,


Mitel, and Juniper. Customers of note include Charles Russell LLP, Bank of Cyprus, Fulham Football Club, and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.


snom adds IP PBX to VoIP handset range


END users with snom VoIP phones attached to their IP PBX systems have, in many instances, been unable to realise the full potential of their handset, prompting the German manufacturer to introduce its own range of IP PBXs. The new IP PBX snom ONE


supports all the functionalities of snom IP phones and is available in three versions: snom ONE free (downloadable free of charge for up to 10 extensions), and the two resale systems snom ONE yellow (for up to 20 extensions) and snom ONE blue (unlimited number of extensions and multi tenant up to five companies).


All versions in the range offer the same features and only differ on the maximum supported quantity of extensions. Jonathan Greenwood, snom


ONE Product Manager and MD of snom UK, commented: “In the past we’ve experienced problems with customers missing out on some of the key features delivered by our phones due to the installed IP PBX systems. “With snom ONE our custom- ers can continue to install and run our VoIP phones on every SIP- based PBX, while having additional access to a series of telephony sys- tems tailored to our phones.”


increase in the financial penalty available to Ofcom in its effort to combat silent and abandoned calls, from £50,000 to a stonking £2m. Ofcom has previously fined nine companies for making silent and abandoned calls and fined one company the then maximum £50,000. The regulator intends to use the full extent of the new finan- cial penalty and will take action against companies found to be in breach of the rules. Ofcom Chief Executive, Ed


Richards, said: “Silent and aban- doned calls can cause significant consumer harm. By tackling repeat silent calls, backed by firm enforce- ment action and a strong financial deterrent, Ofcom expects to see an overall reduction in harm as pro- viders stop these practices.” Ofcom got around 6,600 com- plaints about silent and abandoned calls in 2009 and already in 2010 Ofcom has received over 6,800 complaints. The new rules come into force on 1 February 2011.


Got a news story? email: sgilroy@bpl-business.com


New power in mobile arena


COMPETITION is set to hot up between rival mobile distributors following Everything Everywhere’s move to combine the Orange and T-Mobile networks. Peter Liley, Sales Manager at


Midland Distribution, which is now providing T-Mobile, stated: “With an increase from 12,500 to 20,000 masts resulting in improved performance, T-Mobile is now a true business solution.” Mainline also becomes a T-


Mobile distributor. Gail Hollin- shead, its Director of Dealer Sales, commented: “The Orange and T- Mobile brands work in synergy together and provide even stronger network coverage.”


To advertise in contact The Sales Team on 01895 454411


6 COMMS DEALER NOVEMBER 2010 www.comms-dealer.com


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