NEWS
www.comms-dealer.com
C
David Pollock
OMMENT IT distributor
gets Opal’s
BT pilots new
The first
broadband
technologies
place
IT AND peripherals distributor
VIP Computer Centre has struck OPENREACH is piloting a new
to start is
an agreement with Opal to distrib- technology that could play a major
your people ute B2B broadband. role in delivering broadband to cur-
Historically a product-focused rent ‘not spots’, those homes and
distributor, Mark Lynch, Product businesses that are currently too far
Manager at VIP, stated that the away from their local exchange to
move marks the firm’s first large- receive a broadband service.
QUALITY REFLECTS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
scale attempt to offer services, and The new fixed line Broadband
Top tips on business development, by David Pollock, cited Opal’s flexible package as a Enabling Technology (BET) is
CEO at Chess. In 2005 Chess launched its Blueprint for key attraction. capable of delivering a stable broad-
success. As part of this process we established our core “The service offers the option band service over lines that are up
business values – Quality and Spirit. Quality describes for customers to create their own to 12km away from the exchange.
John Small
the high standards we set ourselves in all aspects of broadband package. Customers can This is more than double the cur- together to provide a 2Mb/s ser-
our business, and Spirit describes the atmosphere pick and choose ‘Builders’ to add rent 5km limit for broadband. vice, stated Openreach.
within our organisation. This month I want to explain on to the standard package, provid- Openreach reports that initial John Small, MD of Service
why quality is so important to any business and what ing access to extras such as unlim- trials in Scotland (Inverness and Delivery at Openreach, comment-
you can do to promote it in yours. I am passionate ited peak time calls, free minutes Dingwall) have been successful, ed: “We’re keen to work with local
about my business, fiercely protective of it and expect to mobile phones and international with lines of between 7km and and regional authorities, and other
all my people to be the same. It is important to be numbers,” said Lynch. 12km running stable 1Mb/s ser- bodies with funding to discuss how
proud of your company. That means we must strive Andy Hollingworth, Director vices. Where a second copper line the technology can be rolled out to
to be as good as we can in all our activities. With this of Wholesale at Opal, commented: is available, lines can be bonded their areas.”
in mind the national quality standards for quality, the “Because data and voice is offered
environment and business continuity are an excellent as a single contract, the proposition
benchmark for your business to achieve. Once is easy to manage, keeping time
NCP sales signal move away
achieved, it lets your customers know they are dealing and costs spent on administration
with a company genuinely committed to quality.
from traditional PBX platform
to a minimum.”
NIMANS is reporting an ‘enthu- Business Manager, Julie Greaves.
You need to ensure that you show 100 per cent
commitment to quality in all aspects of you business.
JMA selected
siastic’ response to a new ver- “Sales of the NCP are now neck
sion of Panasonic’s Network and neck with our traditional
The first place to start is your people. How they JMA Network has been appointed Communication Platform, the Panasonic PBX systems.”
behave and communicate with each other, your as Preferred recruitment Supplier to KX-NCP, signalling a shift from Key features of V2.0 include
suppliers and customers is critical. Look at your the Admiral Group. JMA Director, traditional PBX to IP platforms. advanced IP extensions, as well as
recruitment policies... select the best people you Clive Jefferys says,” This is a sig- “Version 2.0 is the next step standard SIP phones. Also on offer
can, not the first people who come through the nificant move for a people-focused forward for the popular NCP uni- is greater support for remote work-
door. Make sure they are trained properly. To date organisation that continues to grow fied communications solution,” ers with IP phones, softphones,
we have spent over £400k on employee training. despite a tough economic climate.” commented Nimans’ Panasonic PDAs and mobile devices.
Measure performance, keep your standards high
and keep pushing people to aspire to do better.
HIGHnet bags Platinum Partner
Look at your suppliers. As a reseller of other people’s
services it is hugely important you select the correct
ranking from Gamma Telecom
partners to work with. Even the best company in the
world cannot add value to something that is not fit SIGNIFICANT sales growth and
for purpose. Work on these relationships. Sometimes ‘first class’ product knowledge
they go through a rocky patch, but if you have have netted HIGHnet Accredited
chosen correctly you will work things out. Don’t rush Platinum Partner status from
new products and services to market. Some products Gamma Telecom.
will clearly change the landscape of our industry Dave Siegel, MD of the
in the future, however you mustn’t experiment with Inverness-based firm, commented:
your customers. If it’s not ready, it’s not ready. Listen “Being a Platinum Partner means
to your customers, generally they are right. Look at we get many benefits including
your complaints process and your churn figures. product knowledge, access to co-
marketing funds and participation
David J Siegel (left) with father & MD David Siegel
Remember, nobody’s perfect! Be prepared and in annual incentive programmes.” its channel partners in Scotland ners. We have absolute confidence
accept that from time to time you will drop the ball HIGHnet, which has been a and throughout the UK. in the company’s ability to pass on
– we all do! What’s important is how quickly you pick Gamma partner since the chan- Justin Coombes, Marketing the benefits of our relationship to
it up again and correct the procedure and correct nel-only carrier was set-up six years Manager at Gamma Telecom, its own channel partners.
the system, ensuring the same mistake is not repeated ago, offers Gamma’s FeaturePlus, added: “We rely wholly on the “We now look forward to con-
again and again. Have a great month! Communicator, IPDirectConnect, trade to grow our business, and tinued growth with HIGHnet
n
Mobile and Inbound products to HIGHnet is among our top part- throughout Scotland and the UK.”
10 COMMS DEALER OCTOBER 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
10 10 News.indd 1 30/9/09 15:25:23
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