Dell wants friends with benefits

Posted on June 11, 2013 by - News

friendsDell is beefing up its imaging and print strategy partner programme so that it can provide exclusive benefits for its partners.

Deals up for grabs include rebates on inks and toner, to training and marketing funding, to enable partners to better sell Dell Imaging products and grow their print business by developing profitable, long-term relationships with customers.

According to Dell, it is also offering training and technical support, a dedicated account manager, and a reimbursement of up to 50 percent for marketing investments towards Dell campaigns.

While Dell has had a partnership arrangement for its strategic printing partners since 2008, the terms of this one all is new. It is designed to push sales of Dell mono, colour and multifunction printers.

A Dell spokesman said that the scheme builds on Dell’s existing commitment but provides new benefits.
Dave McNally, Director of Product Marketing, Dell Imaging, EMEA, said that as the growth of Dell’s print business continues to accelerate across key EMEA territories including the UK, Germany and France, it needed committed Partners.

These could come from within the traditional printer market and more widely, to take advantage of the dramatic growth forecasted for Managed Print Services (MPS).

“The Programme builds on our commitment to our channel Partners who continue to focus their print businesses on selling our printers. The Programme provides tools which will be integral in enabling our partners to further grow and strengthen customer relationships, benefitting both Dell and Partners,” McNally said.

Partners must already be Registered, Preferred or Premier Partners in the Dell PartnerDirect Programme to qualify.

 

IT buyers out of touch with office needs

Posted on June 11, 2013 by - News

Canon logoCanon has commissioned a study which found those making buying decisions in the office are often out of touch with the needs of the actual user.

Canon Europe surveyed 1,671 end users and decision makers. It found that firms all over Europe are having a hard time bringing in technology to enable flexible working – with a real minority making sure employees had smartphones or tablet PCs. BYOD, then, is crucial at the moment, as those with these devices find they are crucial to their jobs.

Most respondents said they need advice and support from their IT departments if they’re to properly reach their working potential, whether in the office or on the go. Just one quarter knew the office technology inside out, and the report highlights many workers feel they are excluded when it comes to picking technology they feel would be right for their companies.

Canon also found that, while the majority of respondents work with sensitive documents, they are being allowed onto insecure devices on insecure networks. Many end users believe that their organisation is managing document security – when that isn’t a case at all, with under five percent of IT buyers indicating that as a concern in printing, copying or scanning.

The company’s European and UK marketing manager, Matt Wrighton, said the gap between staff and decision makers is obvious. “It’s clear to see how the division within organisations between the two key parties, decision makers and employees, will, if not already, prove harmful to productivity in the workplace,” Wrighton said.

Retail apps may cut price-comparison shopping

Posted on June 11, 2013 by - News

nexus4-ceIt sounds counter intuitive, but according to a survey commissioned by UPS, retail apps might actually cause consumers to do less price comparisons and more shopping. The vast majority of shopping apps do the exact opposite, they are designed to find the best deals and pinch pennies.

However, the survey revealed that 46 percent of US online consumers are less likely to “comparison shop” once they are immersed in well designed apps peddled by the retailers, reports Business Insider.  It sounds like good news for everyone who ever tried to justify the expense of developing a proper app for their business.

Interestingly, the survey also found that shopping satisfaction was better on a tablet than a proper PC. The experience on smartphones lags behind both tablets and regular PCs, which probably has something to do with screen size.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that retailers with good mobile apps should try to gouge consumers. Most people still like to browse and compare prices. There is no substitute for good deals and good service.

EMEA server market slides 10.5 percent

Posted on June 11, 2013 by - News, Products

server-racksThe EMEA server market seems unable to regain its footing. Following several consecutive quarters of lacklustre results, the negative trend seems set to continue, according to the latest IDC figures.

Revenue dropped 10.5 percent in the first quarter of 2013 year-on-year. Shipments also dropped by 5.7 percent, to 520,000 units. This is the sixth quarter in the red and the market has been contracting since the fourth quarter of 2011.

IDC EMEA Enterprise Server Group research manager Giorgio Nebuloni said yearly revenue declined by more than 40 percent.

“Part of the spending intended to keep core business applications running is now absorbed by new integrated system offerings combining x86 and lower-end RISC/EPIC blades with storage and networking back-ends,” Nebuloni said.

The non-x86 market was especially hard hit, with a revenue decline of 34.8 percent. Revenues generated by x86 server dropped by 1.5 percent. Demand for x86 servers in developed European economies is flat, while demand for non-x86 gear is plummeting.

“RISC sales were particularly hit, down by 49.8% year on year, whereas mainframe revenue suffered single-digit declines of 4.8%” said IDC EMEA Enterprise Server Group senior research analyst Beatriz Valle. “Big organisations in the corporate space and government are consolidating existing infrastructure using high-end x86 servers, with demand for legacy architectures at an all time low.”

Demand is evaporating in the CEMA region as well, with a third consecutive drop in the first quarter. Shipments were down 9.7 percent, although some positive trends were seen in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Meanwhile the share of modular server shipments increased from 19.9 percent to 22.7 percent in the first quarter of the year. The growth was driven by the increasing popularity of density optimised servers in the HPC area.

Club 3D dumps Nvidia for AMD

Posted on June 11, 2013 by - News, Products

club3d-logoDutch add-in-board partner Club 3D has ditched Nvidia and decided to become an AMD exclusive partner. The move doesn’t come as much of a surprise, since Club 3D was practically the only big AIB that did not launch Geforce 700 desktop boards last month.

The company confirmed that it is an AMD-only players in a press release late Monday. Acting CEO of Club 3D Judith Ma Tseng said Club 3D believes AMD is “uniquely positioned to deliver a complete solution concept” for its customers.

“We firmly believe that we can offer a better solution, if we proceed with AMD alone,” said Ma Tseng.

Unsurprisingly, AMD welcomed Club 3D’s turncoat antics.

“Their decision to join AMD as an exclusive hardware partner is a powerful acknowledgement of our leadership in the graphics space, and a tremendous contribution to the technical expertise in the AMD Radeon graphics ecosystem,” said Zvika Greenstein, Director of Desktop Product Management, AMD Graphics.

This isn’t the first time that an AIB has chosen to switch sides, or go exclusive. Back in 2010 XFX also ditched Nvidia and became an AMD exclusive partner. Gainward did the exact opposite, when it stopped selling Radeons to focus on Nvidia products.

However, it should be noted that all AIBs, especially smaller ones like Club 3D, are facing a lot of pressure. Sales of desktop PCs have been tumbling for years, while at the same time powerful integrated graphics are slowly killing off the high-volume, low-margin market for entry level discrete graphics.

Bill Gates is a believer in G4S security

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

jailWhile G4S must be one of the most mocked security companies in the UK, it seems that it has a firm believer in the Software king of the world Sir William Gates III.

Initially famous for being one of the first private security companies involved in the English prisons, it next became infamous for letting rather too many escape.

More recently the outfit made a huge blunder over its staffing of the London 2012 Olympics when it failed to get a promised 10,400 guards for the London Games. This forced the tax payer to send in the troops to bail it out.

Following a profit warning in May, its chief executive stepped down last month. Shares in G4S, have fallen 18 percent in three months. This morning you could pick one up for £241.55 as is where is.
However despite all that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has increased his stake in G4S. And while it is normal for people to find their way out of G4S, it is news if someone wants in. This is probably because Gates thinks it is a bargain.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and Cascade Investment, an asset management firm owned by Bill Gates increased their combined holding in G4S to 3.2 percent last week by acquiring around 6 million more shares.

G4S is a jolly big company and it runs services such as cash transportation and prison management in over 125 countries.

 

Trustmarque in £43 mill management buyout

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

TrustmarqueYork-based Trustmarque has been bought out by its management to the tune of £43 million.

The deal was underwritten by Dunedin which is a UK mid-market buyout house.

Trustmarque has been in operation for over 25 years and it helps organisations license, deploy and manage Microsoft, VMware, and McAfee software.
It made £130 million for the year ended 31 August 2012 and it is hoped that Dunedin’s investment will enable Trustmarque to expand.

The company hires 180 people at three sites in York, Bracknell and Edinburgh and currently serves over 1,200 clients including RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, Sainsbury’s and Capita. Public sector clients include the NHS, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Justice, HMRC, local authorities and NHS trusts throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Trustmarque was the first Microsoft partner to achieve Gold licensing status and remains a top software and consulting services supplier to the UK Government.

The Sunday Times ranked it as number 54 in their 2013 league of the best small companies to work for in the UK and the company has also been shortlisted by the National Business Awards scheme.

Mark Ligertwood, partner at Dunedin said that Trustmarque esd s market-leader with a clearly positioned brand and an exceptional reputation within both the commercial and public sectors.

“The UK market for software and IT services is currently worth an estimated £40bn and is expected to grow at two percent to five percent to 2016,” Ligertwood said.

It appears the company’s management has a cunning plan to expand and it is a business plan that Dunedin thinks has legs.

Scott Haddow, CEO of Trustmarque said that Trustmarque has developed significantly over the last four years. His ambition is to cement our position as an independent end-to-end technology services provider and the trusted adviser of choice for blue chip and large government enterprises.

Trustmarque was previously owned by LDC which grew it from an IT reseller into a value-added provider of IT services, growing services-driven revenues to 33 per cent of turnover.

In 2011, Trustmarque bought Nimbus Technology Systems as part of a move to provide cloud-based services.

FCS Global aims at suicide prevention

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

Console LogoUS IP phone systems provider ShoreTel signed a deal with Irish independent communications company FCS Global to provide hardware for its suicide prevention and support charity, Console.

Console offers suicide bereavement and prevention services and resources around Ireland and the UK. All of its free services are delivered by fully qualified and accredited counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists, to those who have been affected by suicide.

Paul Kelly, CEO and founder of Console said the charity relies heavily on the kindness and support of local communities and businesses.

Under the deal, FCS will set up ShoreTel unified communications systems to help Console to streamline operations and aid the further development of its centres and 24 hour helpline service in Ireland and the UK.

Console will be expanded throughout the UK and FCS Global to support its growth with the ShoreTel UC systems.

Using the technology new offices can be easily added by Console to the ShoreTel platform without the need for specialist technical knowledge and will ensure all the centres can continue to collaborate effectively as the charity grows.

UK reports online fraud increase

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

kcalmOnline fraud is on the increase, providing a windfall for security firms trying to pitch packages to cash strapped businesses.

The latest figures from the National Fraud Authority show that account takeover fraud rose by 53 percent compared with the previous year.

This means that those frauds where the criminal requires identity details accounted for almost two thirds of all frauds recorded by CIFAS in 2012.
More than 8.8 percent of UK adults were a victim of this fraud and those who lost cash tended to lose an average of £1,203 each.

Stephen Harrison, National Fraud Authority Chief Executive estimated that this year’s AFI has put the loss to the UK economy from fraud at £52 billion.

He said that private sector businesses suffer the highest levels of loss and can also suffer other impacts like reputational damage. Loss to smaller businesses can even put their future at risk.

Trusteer, which makes products for cybercrime prevention, said it has seen an increase in the number of Man in The Browser (MiTB) malware activity, and in the sophistication and techniques cybercriminals use to steal credentials and credit card data.

A Trusteer spokesperson said that as infection rates increase, account takeover fraud, and account fraud, is becoming a top threat for organisations.

This is not just a matter of providing companies with software or hardware to fix.

Companies need to come up with a holistic approach which encompasses endpoint security as well as clientless detection and conclusive event correlation is required.

This means that security resellers are having to create layered security covering PC and Macs, desktops and mobile, client and client-less solutions.

Brits hate their jobs

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

officegervaisA survey of professional adults in the UK has revealed that just 10 percent are satisfied with their jobs.

The study, commissioned by Peer 1 Hosting, asked 1,300 professionals about their job satisfaction. Over a third of those surveyed – at 36 percent – believed they could be at least twice as effective at their job if their employer recognised their full potential.

Just one in seven respondents believed their employer properly nurtured their potential and talents – and only one in five felt inspired by their company. Not only are employees unhappy, but the majority did not agree that customers were “very happy with the products or services that they receive”.

The prime motivation for almost half of those surveyed as not money. The majority wanted their talent recognised and nurtured through personal development and training – at 87 percent.

Asked to describe, in 140 characters or less, chief problems with their organisations, responses included ineffective management that does not listen to staff and head office imposing its own, out of touch policies. Others said the workload is getting bigger – with longer hours – as well as citing lack of opportunities, salary, and funding.

IT workers in particular were outspoken about the financial gains relating to personal growth and training. Overall, employees in smaller organisations felt more satisfied.

Young Londoners working in the financial sector were found to be most dissatisfied with their job, while 16-24 year olds working in professional services in Northern Ireland appreciated their job the most.

EMEA MD of Peer 1, Dominic Monkhouse, said it’s vital for companies to nurture individual employees to help them realise their own ambitions – “this then becomes a virtuous circle, unlocking potential and productivity while also making the working environment one that staff value,” he said.

 

Microsoft exec: uproot work status quo

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

brokenworkA top Microsoft UK exec has claimed in a new book that the current status quo for work is totally broken – and that the way forward for productivity relies in harnessing advances in technology and flexibility, rather than the traditions of hierarchy.

Chief envisioning officer of Microsoft UK, Dave Coplin, said “the future of work must be based on being open, on focusing on results, not process and on empowerment, not hierarchy”.

He backs up his point quoting a YouGov survey that said almost half of all British office workers have a manager that judges performance by the number of processes completed. Almost a third said their company doesn’t support flexible working at all.

Coplin’s book claims businesses are thoroughly entrenched in the old guard of management and dismiss new ways to collaborate. Employees, Coplin argues, are “not liberated to work creatively” nor are they trusted to set their own processes.

There is a block on progressive work policies and this appears to be management and the accepting of the status quo. Workers don’t feel engaged at the office, Coplin says, and are unable to utilise advances in communications properly.

“The massive risk here is that in a world defined by its processes and not its outcomes, working smarter is not an option and the only feasible other alternative is simply to work harder,” Coplin claims, adding that businesses should use collaboration and flexible working if they want to make the most of their employees.

Otherwise workers are simply being stifled by the monotonous daily grind. Coplin’s book, “Business Reimagined – Why work isn’t working and what you can do about it”, argues that businesses operating with an open mind will reap the rewards. Competitive advantage, Coplin says, will lie with those who can adapt to a changing world and increase collaboration.

Citi sees more gloom in PC market

Posted on June 10, 2013 by - News

pc-sales-slumpIt’s no secret that things are bad in all facets of the PC market and Citi Research believes things are about to get even worse. In a note to investors sent late Friday, the outfit revised its previous forecasts downward. It originally expected the PC market to contract 4 percent this year, but now it expects a 10-percent slide.

The dire predictions indicate that Windows 8.1 and Haswell won’t have much of an effect on overall shipments. It cited sub-seasonal demand in the first quarter and a slowdown in notebook production as contributing factors. Citi also noted that the benefits from Haswell and Windows Blue will be muted and that PC-end demand will remain soft. Computex didn’t help and emerging market aren’t coming to the rescue, either.

“We do not see any meaningful catalysts near-term supported by our product and company meetings at Computex in Taiwan last week which revealed a focus on convertible & higher-end Ultrabooks running Haswell, which addresses the smaller premium notebook market,” Citi said. “We also believe investors will be disappointed when they learn that low-priced touch-capable notebooks (sub-$600) will not be available to consumers until 4Q13.”

Citi forecasts notebook shipments of 179 million units this year, down from 201 million in 2012. Desktops are down as well, 137 million units vs. 148 million units last year. Meanwhile tablet shipments are expected to hit 237 million units, up from 144 million in 2012, reports CNET.

It gets worse. Citi says it previously modelled +2 percent growth year-on-year in PC shipments in 2014 and 2015. That figure has gone out the window.

“We now expect cannibalization from tablets…to more than offset any ‘stabilization’ in demand resulting from stretched replacement cycles or more compelling notebooks,” Citi said.

Compelling seems to be the key word in the PC industry, nowadays. There are no compelling new products or form factors, no compelling OS upgrade or compelling new features. PCs are becoming so mature that they are starting to resemble household appliances, with no apparent need to upgrade until they die.

Ingram Micro in management reshuffle

Posted on June 7, 2013 by - Moving People, News

ingram-mico-hqIngram Micro is reshuffling its executive leadership team and the changes will affect most markets and all continents. The changes will go into effect 1 August, apart from changes in Latin America, beginning in January 2014.

Ingram Micro CEO Alain Monie said the changes are designed to “take full advantage of the diverse and complementary experience, tenure and skill sets” of the company’s senior execs.

PCKeeper lets customers pick their own price

Posted on June 7, 2013 by - News

buckguardA software outfit called PCKeeper has come up with a novel way of flogging its product.

It’s not setting a sale price – instead letting the customer decide what they want to pay.

The company said that it is experimenting with the same idea which allows for musicians and artists to allow their fans to pay what they want for music or art.

It is a radical concept for software because companies usually fear not getting their development costs back.

In this case it took a team of nearly 150 people almost two years to create and support the program so they want to make their money back.

The software normally has a retail price of $39.99 but will be available to customers for as low as $1.00. The idea is being tested out between June and July and it is not clear if it is just a marketing gimmick or if the company really is serious about it as a long term option.

PCKeeper’s communications manager, Ilias Melikov, said that letting people choose their own price is an interesting way to open up the product to consumers who price shop and also build trust with those customers once they use the software and see just how useful it is.

Still, even if the idea is canned after a month it could create regular users.

EE boasts 500,000 4G customers

Posted on June 6, 2013 by - News, Products

eeEE has reached another 4G milestone. After becoming the first UK telco to roll out a commercial 4G network, it is now proudly proclaiming that it already has 500,000 customers. This makes it one of the leading European 4G operators and Britain is expected to become the largest 4G market later this year.