Author: Tamlin Magee

Next-gen consoles will struggle

Posted on July 16, 2013 by - News

ps4The next generation of games consoles are expected to pass 133 million shipments in their first five years on the market, slightly down from 140 million for the previous generation.

ABI Research noted that, although the console refresh – with Microsoft’s Xbone and Sony’s PS4 – should inject some life into the market, niche consoles nibbling at their heels could shake it up and encourage more innovation than the big three would like.

New platforms, such as niche Android devices like Ouya and even Nvidia’s curiosity Project Shield, will promote different approaches to gaming. According to a report, new entrants will be able to raise existing platforms like Windows and Android as well as bridging the divide between fixed and mobile gaming.

We could even see low cost consoles emerging out of current generation technology in the $99 or less bracket.

According to senior ABI analyst Michael Inouye, without a shift in strategy Nintendo may suffer – as the casual gamers stick to mobile devices and Wii U pricing fails to bring about the success of the Wii.

Meanwhile, if China – which is mulling lifting a console ban – opens its borders to the big players, there could be a short term boost of current generation consoles, though this is not expected to alter next gen shipments too much.

Practice director Sam Rosen said ultimately, the future of console makers depends on balancing compelling content with competitive pricing.

“Without solid titles and first party franchises, platforms will have a difficult time finding traction, streaming media is not enough when low-cost smart set top boxes are readily available,” Rosen said. “While we don’t anticipate a drop-off in game console households, barring significant changes to less developed console markets in Asia and Latin America, there isn’t a great deal of growth opportunity beyond the current installed base”.

Mobile spending increases

Posted on July 15, 2013 by - News

ukflagA deal aggregator noted that, according to its own data, mobile spending rose in the first six months of 2013.

This is hardly surprising and isn’t anything new to those who have been keeping an eye on official retail figures.

But aggregator Bownty noted a 25 percent increase in mobile purchases through smartphones and tablets between January and June. The aggregator looks at daily deals from the likes of Groupon and Wowcher, so there has been increased interest in the bargain, time critical offers to be had.

According to Bownty’s data, Brits spend over £1.3 million daily taking advantage of national and local deals.

“We expect mobile transactions to overtake desktop spending before the end of the year,” Steffen Frolund, Bownty CEO, said.

 

Alvea updates Cloud offering

Posted on July 15, 2013 by - News

cloud1Managed security and cloud company Alvea has bolted on some updates to the Alvea Cloud Attached Storage service.

It aims to address demands in enterprise mobility and bring your own device, by helping businesses protect corruption of business data with centralised cloud based storage, and off site data protection and recovery.

Alvea’s service will now include file sharing and syncing, mobile security, and cloud storage SLA capabilities, with a focus on using mobility for collaborative data, across different devices and in the cloud.

Customers now have access to team collaboration, mobile security policy – or remote file deletion and sandboxing synced iOS and Android files – and improved offline seeding. There is now Microsoft Hyper-V and Sharepoint backup, and active delivery integration, plus Kerberos authentication.

Alvea’s Neil Gardner said enterprise mobility and BYOD have become top priorities for businesses.

“The enhanced features of Alvea Cloud Attached Storage backed by support and expert advice from our partners means businesses can have peace of mind that their data is secure, synchronised and easily accessible in the cloud,” Gardner said.

Avnet picks up huge IBM training contract

Posted on July 12, 2013 by - News

ibm-officeMonstrous distie Avnet has been picked by IBM as a Global Training Provider, opening up training to its partners around the world.

Avnet’s starting its training operations worldwide as of today, beginning with Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Ireland, and the USA, before planning to open its centres in the Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America regions.

The company will be offering over 2,500 IBM training courses, which will be available directly to IBM employees, resellers, and other customers around the world, through its network of IBM Training Partners.

Global prez at Avnet Technology Solutions, Phil Gallagher, boasted the enormous contract will really boost the recent launch of Avnet Services. ”

Veep for IBM Training Bob McDonald said in a statement that Avnet is the company for the job, noting its worldwide reach.

Execs don’t get security metrics

Posted on July 11, 2013 by - News

riskitalySenior executives are struggling to take security metrics into account for their risk based security programmes, a report has said.

Most organisations rely on taking security metrics into account to improve operations, but non-technical business executives struggle to understand the value. IT professionals find it tough to communicate properly with senior execs, because metrics are difficult to properly explain to people with non-technical backgrounds.

A Ponemon Institute and Tripwire survey said 35 percent of IT staff find it takes too much time and resources to properly prepare and report these metrics to senior executives, and worryingly, 13 percent thought the management was simply not interested in the information. Other more pressing problems are often the priority.

Chief Information Security Officers, or CISOs, do often talk up the importance of using these metrics in line with business goals and building risk management best practice, but it is difficult to produce meaningful metrics, while those that are used rarely match business strategy, Tripwire’s Rekha Shenoy said.

A large majority of respondents with risk management background do agree that studying and using these metrics are important for a risk-based approach to security. But half of respondents said they are unsure that these metrics are used in line with business objectives.

Meanwhile, 49 percent of respondents didn’t believe or were unsure the metrics “adequately convey the effectiveness of security risk management” to senior execs.

The report concludes the onus is on IT security and risk professionals to improve the ways they communicate security metrics, if there is to be broader adoption of risk based security.

“Even though most organizations rely on metrics for operational improvement in IT,” Larry Ponemon, Ponemon’s chairman, said, “more than half of IT professionals appear to be concerned about their ability to use metrics to communicate effectively with senior executives about security”.

Mobile PC market in the doldrums

Posted on July 11, 2013 by - News, Opinions

pc-sales-slumpThe mobile PC market has suffered its worst performance in 11 years, according to an IHS report.

Mobile PC shipments worldwide sank 6.9 percent compared to the first three months of the year, marking the first sequential decline since Q2 2002. Traditionally there has been growth in the second quarter, with the exception of 2002 and now, including last year where mobile PCs grabbed a 3.9 percent boost.

But analyst group IHS believes the poor results will spread beyond the second quarter. Taking the first half of 2013 overall, mobile PCs have had the worst performance since 2003 – with a 11.2 percent contraction compared to the same time last year.  This can be compared to a 41.7 percent surge as recently as 2010 to understand where the industry has found itself.

Ultrabooks have failed to woo consumers and, in the midst of global economic crisis, potential buyers are holding off on upgrading, even with price cuts and special offers from manufacturers.

“The mobile PC industry on the whole is struggling to find any momentum for growth as upheavals rock the market,” IHS compute analyst Craig Stice said. “In particular, more nimble devices like media tablets have taken over among consumers given their ease of use and unique form factor”.

IHS noted that innovation in mobile PCs has stagnated and low cost tablets have taken away further market share.

This all fits in nicely with the dominating narrative that the PC is dead, but this will not be the case. Although tablets are a far nicer experience for computing on the go or lazing around at home, it’s rather hard to get an essay done or other work finished on those devices. Instead PC makers will have to adapt and understand that the world is simply too out of pocket to justify upgrading to a new machine every couple of years. PCs have gone from being all in one devices to finding their niche in useful work or serious gaming. The rest can be done with a tablet or smartphone.

As IHS says, Intel’s Bay Trail and AMD’s Temash processors could inject some life into the market as PCs become lower cost, but higher performance and lower power. PC makers, IHS says, are “contemplating a new class of  performance PCs that would incorporate the new processors at affordable prices”.

There is still a current of hope for ultrathin devices, too, but Intel really put all its eggs in one basket when it arrogantly thought high cost Macbook Air knock-offs would fly off the shelf as the whole world got seriously more out of pocket.

“If a new low-cost PC offering strong performance can become available on the market and meet consumer expectations, then PCs could be set for more growth,” Stice said. “Not like the glory days of the 2000s, but growth nonetheless.”

Dell unites channel teams

Posted on July 10, 2013 by - Moving People, News

Dell logoDell has reshuffled two channel teams, combining them into one under Bob Skelley, executive director of Dell’s Global Certified Partner Programme.

Dell’s global channel marketing exec director Kathy Schneider is also leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.

Skelley will take over Schneider’s channel marketing team, but at the same time he will retain his responsibilities, CRN reports. Dell will combine Skelley’s division and Schneider’s team to form a single Global Channel Programs and Partner Enablement group.

“There was always a lot of synergy between our two teams,” Skelley said, speaking like an executive. “Now we are all under one umbrella and that’s really going to help on execution”.

Channel partners shouldn’t experience any changes due to the reshuffle. Dell said it wouldn’t cut staff or budgets as a result of the consolidation and its strategy will remain the same.

Skelley did not wish to comment on new channel programmes, saying it is still too early to talk about them.

Microsoft’s WEPP merged with partner network

Posted on July 9, 2013 by - News

redmondThe Windows Embedded Partner Program, WEPP, is being rolled into the Microsoft Partner Network.

Announced at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston, the change should simplify partner interaction and offer them access to embedded device manufacturers, designers, system integrators and silicon vendors.

The move is scheduled for later this year. Microsoft quotes IDC intelligent systems estimates that say the market should reach over $2.3 trillion in revenue by 2016, so there’s plenty of opportunity to squeeze cash out of the segment.

Partners in MPN will also get access to training, sales support and additional marketing materials.

Microsoft promises that Gold and Silver WEPP partners can “expect a similar level of service and recognition” under MPN, though they will be required to pay an annual subscription fee.

Redmond added some more specialisations, including in intelligent systems, that should help vendors and system integrators flog Microsoft systems.

Those new to embedded systems will be offered access to a Device Design and Development Resource Centre as part of the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription, though this won’t go live until January 2014.

EMC buys Aveksa

Posted on July 9, 2013 by - News

shut-up-and-take-my-moneyEMC has picked up Aveksa, an identity and access management specialist, through RSA in what one analyst said was a “long overdue” acquisition.

Aveksa will be rolled into RSA as part of RSA’s Identity Trust Management product group. EMC hopes the acquisition will take the best of Aveksa to improve RSA’s portfolio in enterprise, cloud and mobile access.

Knowing you are who you say you are is extra critical in businesses with extremely sensitive data, such as in health and finance. Stuffing that up can and does lead to enormous data breaches, embarrassing the company in front of customers and, worse still, losing customer data.

Aveksa specialises in constructing detailed user profiles as well as managing those identities, keeping security tight and making sure sensitive files reach the right eyes only. It already has plenty of customers in the finance sector, health, energy, retail, manufacturing, transportation and telcos.

Principal Ovum security analyst Andy Kellett said EMC/RSA desperately needed an acquisition of this character if it is to compete in the growing, and dramatically changing, identity management market.

“The disruptive influences of mobility and cloud will change device and infrastructure requirements,” Kellett said. “The requirement for risk-based authentication delivers the requirement for business intelligence and information led access controls – the more sophisticated threat landscape and the need to improve fraud detection rates all add to the need for change”.

Although the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, Ovum asserts that it is a sound buy. “The timing is right as disruptive influences such as cloud take hold of the market,” Kellett said. “The partner is right because of its business focused approach and identity as a service capabilities”.

“Finally, the requirement for RSA to extend out and offer more complete IAM is right and in our opinion long overdue,” Kellett said.

 

BRC reports June retail recovery

Posted on July 9, 2013 by - News

poundsThe British Retail Consortium’s data is out for June and online sales were up again, 14.1 percent compared to the same time last year.

With the weather taking a turn for the better at last, clothing and footwear were both up as well as increased footfall on the highstreet. Retail sales overall were up 1.4 percent on a like for like basis from June 2012, and on a total basis sales were up 2.9 percent, compared to a 3.5 percent increase in June last year.

Online sales did their best since July 2012, not including Christmas.

The BRC’s director general, Helen Dickinson, said that the weather helped retail sales along in spite of a generally bleak economic climate. There was a positive reaction to retail promotions as well as continued demand for essential items.

The weather helped along DIY and gardening products, Dickinson said, and there were other purchases that may have been postponed when the weather was more typically British.

TV sales are weak compared to last year – where they boomed thanks to the London Olympics. Electronics promotions did help the segment. Food growth grew in line with inflation.

“June saw another strong performance from UK retailers, with very respectable overall growth across the categories,” Dickinson said. “At this halfway point in the year we are able to see that sales are well ahead of the previous six month period, confirming that the retail recovery is continuing”.

Retail head for KPMG, David McCorquodale, said the statistics mark “another respectable performance”.

“Sales are moving in the right direction, albeit hard-earned and promotion driven,” McCorquodale said. “The statistics are all the more creditable as last year’s sales included a Jubilee boost.”

 

Microsoft: partners want Microsoft cloud

Posted on July 8, 2013 by - News

Clouds in Oxford: pic Mike MageeMicrosoft is going nuts over an IDC report that claims customers like a catch-all, single cloud provider, because it’s confident it can fill that gap.

The study, which was sponsored by… Microsoft, says as companies are dragged into the cloud,63 percent of customers want a provider that can do it all. Meanwhile, 67 percent are after a wide variety of services from a single vendor, and 74 percent expect their data to be moved back on premises if they want it to.

Veep at Microsoft’s worldwide partner group, Jon Roskill, boasted that Office 365 is bringing in tonnes of annual revenue and the company has over 250,000 customers on Windows Azure, so partners should really exploit the trend and sell Microsoft kit in particular.

Microsoft’s calling its efforts a hybrid approach: offering services on site and cloud for public and private. Of course, it’s not the only company offering such services.

While it is an increasingly common opinion that European businesses would be insane to put too much stock in US servers, Microsoft is sure that its partners will be able to win Redmond more business and turn a buck or two themselves by pushing its cloud offerings.

Apple on schedule for next gen iPad

Posted on July 8, 2013 by - News, Products

applecoreSupply chain whispers in Taipei assert that Apple is on schedule to gets its next generation, 9.7 inch iPad out for September.

The iPad mini, meanwhile, may be tinkered with to improve the specs and make it more appealing.

Digitimes thinks the 9.7 inch tablet will sport a slimmer bezel design to make the viewing area larger, with improved battery and half the LED tubes. Upstream suppliers, Digitimes’ sources say, are done with the preparation so last minute spec updates are unlikely. A slimmer bezel would be more in line with Samsung and HTC smartphone designs.

The rumour is suppliers haven’t had word from Apple on the amount they should put out just yet are are shipping for pilot productions, but that will be able to meet initial launch demand. Shipment estimates are expected early August at the latest.

Apple, the sources say, is pondering whether or not it wants to bung a retina display on the 7.9 inch iPad mini. If so, this could lead to delays.

IPSoft appoints new UK MD

Posted on July 8, 2013 by - Moving People, News

cburnsAutomated IT services company IPSoft has appointed a new managing director for the UK, Crosbie Burns, with 20 years of experience in the IT industry.

IPSoft hopes Burns will help IPsoft expand its client base.

Burns used to be in charge of ServiceSource’s EMEA business, and before that was VP and UK MD at PeopleSoft.

CEO Chetan Dube is confident Burns is the man for the job, and that he will promote IPSoft’s automated services in the IT outsourcing market.

“The labour arbitrage approach to cost reduction is burnt out and IT providers need to find smarter ways to improve service and reduce costs,” Burns said. “The only viable approach to this is introducing technology to manage technology by using automation.”

Whinging Brits’ complaints ignored

Posted on July 8, 2013 by - News

ukflagMillions of Brits’ complaints to customer service go unresolved, a report from contact centre software company Aspect claims.

Aspect’s consumer satisfaction report, 2013, said roughly half of respondents have had a positive experience when dealing with customer service, but a third of Brits have had a bad experience in just the last year, with an average of two instances per person.

Over two thirds of pee’d-off customers have made a complaint in the last year, with one in five going to social media to do so. The majority that did complain said their complaint was not resolved or that the response given was not satisfactory.

Most customers prefer to find a quick resolution to a complaint. Three in ten customers said they would switch providers due to bad customer experience, while two in five have switched suppliers in the last year. Insurance was the most common.

ISPs, the survey found, were the most inconsistent with their customer service – with most instances of both good and bad customer services being found in this sector.

This has potentially damaging long term implications for companies. Senior veep at Aspect, Mark King, said in a statement that there are “9 million people that have made an unresolved complaint to a company in the last year”, or 14.5 percent of the population that are unhappy. This should serve as “more than a wake-up call for organisations to do something about it”.

However, King suggests Brits are a nation of whingers, and it is up to companies to adapt to this as expectations are higher than ever.

 

OFT launches public IT investigation

Posted on July 4, 2013 by - News

poundsThe Office of Fair Trading has just launched an investigation to scrutinise government IT procurement and the companies that supply it.

The top IT software and service providers earn roughly £10.4 billion a year through public sector contracting. That said, public IT projects are known for their disastrous implementation and frequent high profile bungles. Top providers often lock the public sector into excessively long contracts which must be seen to the end, and in some cases drag on even longer.

This is not a phenomenon specific to the UK. The public sector often finds itself duped into taking on bloated contracts that arguably provide little value for money, and serve more as a cash-cow for funnelling public money into private pockets without noticeable gains or efficiencies to the public.

The OFT announced that it wants to ensure market competition is up to scratch so that all firms can, at least, bid for projects without contracts automatically going to the biggest players.

“Healthy competition in any market drives down costs, drives up efficiency and promotes innovation,” an OFT statement read. “While a lack of competition can hinder productivity and, in turn, economic growth”.

G-cloud, a government project to open up procurement away from the the IT giants and offer SMEs a fighting chance, has been fairly successful but elsewhere the big hitters still dominate.

Phil Dawson, CEO of Skyscape Cloud Services, offered his comments on the investigation. “For far too long, IT giants and incumbent suppliers have been allowed to reign supreme,” Dawson said. “It is precisely this dominance that has created a stagnant public sector market, which is exactly what the G-cloud programme was established to tackle”.

“Through G-Cloud, public sector organisations are able to avoid inflexible contracts and the locked-in clauses which have been all too common with some of the big incumbent providers,” Dawson said.

The OFT will be examining whether there are barriers stopping smaller businesses from competing, as well as the difficulties associated in the public sector for switching suppliers.

This review aims to look specifically at if market supply is hampering competition rather than a general overview of public IT.

An approach oriented along the lines of G-Cloud would certainly be welcomed by British SMEs, as these companies can offer services that do not lean as heavily on the public purse.

To push further still, perhaps it is worth exploring open source products and services as other flexible, and potentially far cheaper, options.

A reorientation in public IT towards smaller firms, however, could easily upset top corporate lobbyists of the biggest businesses. A push towards open source alternatives would agitate even more.