INDUSTRY NEWS COMMENT: CLOUD TALK David Ellis
I’VE spoken before about how cloud is bringing about trends in mobile computing such as BYOD and the considerations organisations need to make when forming a strategy. Often it is the use of cloud applications such as
salesforce.com that has driven the growth of devices (including tablets) in the enterprise as employees have extended their access via an Apple or Android app, or using
the ubiquitous browser. However, is it possible for cloud to enable BYOD as well as drive its popularity, and how can the channel capitalise on this? Developments in web browser technology have meant that organisations can use cloud to adopt a clientless approach to running line-of-business applications, handy when these are running over a host of different platforms. Ultimately, provided a user has access to the network and a browser they can use their applications. When it comes to recommending a solution for customers there is no one-size-fits-all approach to BYOD and cloud. This presents an opportunity for resellers to provide consultancy and advice around how the cloud can work with existing infrastructure to deliver business benefits. If implemented correctly, cloud-based architecture such as infrastructure as a service combined with a BYOD strategy can deliver real value to the business. Access to real-time information on sales, finance and customers can be critically important in today’s fast-moving business landscape. Resulting cost savings and incremental business streams can show quick RoI as well as less tangible benefits such as usability, employee motivation and client satisfaction. Cloud doesn’t just influence new technology trends, it can also provide the platform to deliver it.
David Ellis, Director of New Technology & Services, Computerlinks
Westcon set fair for Afina
WESTCON Group, a subsidiary of Datatec, has acquired Latin American and Iberian multina- tional firm Afina Group in a €50m deal. Founded in 1990, Afina focuses on distribution of security and data centre software and employs over 400 staff. The transaction play
bolsters Westcon’s in the cloud
space, strengthens relationships with vendors such as VMware, Riverbed, Symantec and Citrix, and builds on its presence in Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and North Africa. In a statement to channel
partners, Dean Douglas, CEO & President, Westcon Group, indicated that the acquisition will introduce strategic benefits to partners across the board. He also said that Latin America continues to be an important marketplace for Westcon. “The market is entering a highly robust period of IT spend- ing driven mostly by Brazil and Mexico,” he stated. “Analysts predict the region will generate more than $310bn in IT spend- ing in 2012. With this acqui- sition, Westcon expands its already strong presence across these regions, enabling partners to capture significant new mar- ket opportunities.”
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O-bit Telecom has lined up Vodafone alongside O2 to create a white label Dual Network Proposition. According to O-bit the inclusion of Vodafone gives client’s more choice, flexibility and control over the deals they close. It also ensures greater customer ownership and doubles the commercial potential of offering mobile, claims the telco. Dave Breith, CEO, said: “Mobile is regarded as a natural growth area.”
Dean Douglas
According to Douglas the acquisition brings a number of benefits to partners.
“For service providers and
system integrators it will imme- diately strengthen the auto- mation and cross-theatre sup- port we offer via our Global Procurement System,” he com- mented in a statement.
acquisition will
“For regional partners, the afford the
opportunity to rapidly move into adjacent markets.
“For resellers, the agreement
offers the ability to leverage Afina relationships to bring an expanded portfolio to market.” The Afina transaction will
be settled by the payment of €30m in
cash funded from
new loan finance, and €10m in Datatec shares.
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Adept hails partner pay outs
ADEPT Telecom celebrated a brace of company milestones last month having shelled out a total of £9m in commission payments to its IT and telecoms National Partner Programme since its inception, and announc- ing to the Stock Exchange its ninth consecutive year of rising underlying EBITDA. Ian Fishwick, Adept Tele-
com’s CEO, said: “These pay- ments have enabled hundreds of partner companies to sell new products without
investing in extra people or systems.”
Joe Murphy (left) pictured with Ian Fishwick Joe Murphy, Sales Director,
added: “When we set up the National Partner Programme we never dreamed that we would pay out £9m. We are constantly looking for new national part- ners to sell our products in
has also
exchange for connection bonus- es and ongoing revenue share.” Adept
increased
its partner support budget by £200,000 this year and hired five more sales people in the last three months.
Pay as you bill* - Voice/VoIP CDR billing *30 day min contract 14 COMMS DEALER AUGUST 2012
VanillaIP has completed interoperability testing and certification with Yealink’s range of voice and video SIP endpoints. Partners and customers using the VanillaIP hosted PBX service now have access to the full range of Yealink phones including the VP530 video phone.
Tech Track Fast 100 company C4L has extended its leased line connectivity portfolio following a link-up with TalkTalk Business. Jon Selway, Partner Manager at C4L, said: “Within four weeks of announcing EFM lines to our customers we’ve connected 25 sites to the EFM network alone. This is a key addition to our portfolio.”
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PEER 1’s annualised EMEA revenues to the end of April 2012 now stand at £11.5m, marking nearly 100% growth since last year. Dominic Monkhouse, EMEA MD, said: “The last year saw significant developments for the company in the UK, helping clients to realise the possibilities of the Internet.”
3CX has lifted the lid on its 3CX Phone System version 11, which increases user mobility by working hand in hand with 3CXPhone for Android and iPhone. The release also introduces a new look to 3CX MyPhone and allows users to see the presence of, and interact with, users on bridged PBXs.
Lanway has won a five year deal to provide virtualised infrastructure and managed services to North Country Leisure across 12 sites. David Holt, Head of Sales at Lanway, said: “North Country Leisure has much to gain from converging its IT support on a single point.”
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