INDUSTRY NEWS COMMENT: CLOUD TALK David Ellis
WHEN I wrote my first column for Comms Dealer nearly 12 months ago, most resellers we spoke to were taking their first tentative steps towards the cloud. There was a thirst for information about the tangible benefits the cloud could deliver, along with an equal measure of caution and even cynicism from some parts of the industry that predicted that the cloud was just another buzzword. In fact the results of our annual
survey of resellers published in January 2011 demonstrated that less than half of them (44 per cent) were able to offer their customers cloud-based computing services. As the market has developed, both through product and service development and aggregation by vendors, resellers and distributors, so has the confidence of the market. Organisations are now actively implementing cloud- based solutions to reduce their operating costs, create more flexible and cost-effective IT strategies and build secure and resilient infrastructures to protect their vital operations and data from threats and potential disasters. While the ongoing economic climate has forced many channel organisations to review and consolidate their supply chain, for others, it’s been the catalyst for change. For start-up CommitTel, 2011 was the year it looked to the cloud to help build a new business from scratch. By choosing a ready-made set of cloud-based services it’s been able to capitalise on the market opportunity quickly and generate regular, predictable income. With the results of our latest annual survey just out, it’s apparent that the channel is beginning to see the business benefits of building cloud computing. Some 49 per cent of resellers now include cloud computing in their portfolio, with security featuring prominently in their offerings.
David Ellis, Director of New Technology & Services, Computerlinks
Cloud spurs iomart sales
Angus MacSween
GROWTH in cloud business has doubled iomart Group’s pre-tax profits according to the firm’s half yearly results. The cloud computing and managed hosting services com- pany announced a 36% growth in revenue to £15.4m (H1 2011: £11.4m) and an increase of 106% in pre-tax profits to £2.4m (H1 2011: £1.2m), in its consolidated half yearly results for the period ended 30th September 2011.
Angus MacSween, CEO of iomart Group, said: “The mar- ket opportunities available to us continue to grow as more organisations take advantage of the benefits of outsourcing their IT infrastructure needs. “We continue to expand our skills, product sets and infra- structure to deliver an increas-
SHORT CALLS
BT’s Chief Exec’ Ian Livingston has outlined the company’s vision for Broadband Britain to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the cabinet at BT’s research HQ in Adastral Park near Ipswich. Livingston explained that within the next five or six years fibre-based services could be available to more than 90% of UK premises with the majority able to access broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps or above.
ing range of cloud services and expect to continue the growth we have recently enjoyed.” The ongoing uptake of cloud services has contributed sig- nificantly to iomart Group’s impressive growth performance, emphasised MacSween. “We are continuing to deliv- er on our strategy of focusing on managed hosting and the growing demand for complex hosting in the cloud.
“Revenues are strong and we continue to make acquisitions as well as growing organically,” he commented.
iomart Group has made three acquisitions in the past 12 months, including the addition of a premium customer base through the purchase of Scottish infrastructure service provider EQSN for £2.5m.
SHORT CALLS
Fusion Mobile has rolled out a new channel programme and named HSO Enterprise Solutions as its first partner. Stuart Cordingley, Head of Channel at Fusion Mobile, said: “We have developed a programme that helps our partners to stimulate new mobility conversations and create additional recurring revenue opportunities.”
Nimans reckons a push into the door entry system market will literally open more doors for resellers. Purchasing Director, Andy Winfield, said: “Many of our customers are embracing the door entry market for the first time. From the simple to the more sophisticated IP camera systems, it’s a multi- million pound area of the industry too big to ignore.”
Avaya has used its Maidenhead to educate resellers about the latest IP Office release. Approximately 80 resellers converged on the event which was also hosted by distributor Westcon to witness first hand the improved UC functionalities, simplified installation, management and lower customer TCO.
Zunicore launches Charity boosted
PEER 1 Hosting has launched its public cloud division Zunicore which leverages the established infrastructure of Peer 1 Hosting’s wholly-owned FastFiber Network. Zunicore’s cloud service allows users to benefit from cus- tomisable resource pools along- side preset virtual machines, hands-free auto-scaling and transparent pricing.
FairPlay Pricing guarantees that customers pay only for what they use and are never locked into a long-term contract.
“Zunicore Cloud Hosting is built on the principle that a company should be able to focus on controlling its core busi- ness rather than on its IT deliv- ery vehicle,” said Greg Rusu, General Manager of Zunicore. “Zunicore provides users with a pool of resources and easy to use tools that let users quickly and efficiently manage their cloud hosting business needs,” he added.
Got a news story? email:
sgilroy@bpl-business.com
DAISY Group has completed a business broadband project for the UK’s largest cancer charity, Cancer Research UK. Through Daisy’s new ‘free broadband for a year’ proposi- tion wireless Internet has been installed across most of the charity’s 600 retail stores locat- ed throughout the UK.
Using the ‘free broadband
for a year’ deal, Daisy has pro- vided Cancer Research UK with an Internet network of 537 broadband connections spread throughout its charity shops,
helping you reach customers - near or far 12 COMMS DEALER JANUARY 2012
estimated to save it £120,000 in the first contract year and over £30,000 the year after.
Gareth Kirkwood, COO at Daisy Group, commented: “We have provided a solution that meets the business needs of the charity and allows it to focus attention and funds back onto the crucial work it carries out on a day-to-day basis.”
Paul Feldman, IS Director at Cancer Research UK, com- mented: “The ‘free broadband for a year’ offer has allowed us to make significant savings.”
T: 0844 871 1122 E:
sales@maintel.co.uk W:
www.maintel.co.uk
www.comms-dealer.com
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