Unified communications
Unified communications (UC) is an umbrella term for the integration of multiple enterprise communication tools -- such as voice calling, video conferencing, instant messaging (IM), presence and content sharing -- into a single, streamlined interface, with the goal of improving user experience (UX) and productivity.. See complete definition.
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E-Zine
11 Nov 2021
CW Benelux: Dutch IT company rips up the HR rule book for better work-life balance
One Dutch tech firm has used learnings from the pandemic to rip up its HR rule book and implement an official work-from-home policy. In fact, Infolearn has gone further than hybrid working, with a personal mobility budget for staff and a four-day working week, all with retention of full-time salary. Also in this issue, read how Dutch education administrators appear to be underestimating the threat of cyber crime. Continue Reading
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News
12 Mar 2020
IT Priorities 2020: Benelux organisations and budgets focused on digital transformation
IT leaders in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg expect bigger budgets this year, with spending on digital transformation projects and related technologies being prioritised Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2019
Snap taps Verizon as 5G partner to extend AR, video experiences
US comms giant Verizon teams with Snapchat creator to look at supporting advanced video applications such as augmented reality on its 5G network Continue Reading
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News
25 Nov 2019
State backs Norway’s fibre cable capacity building
Norway is increasing investment on communications infrastructure in an effort to reduce reliance on Swedish and Danish networks Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2019
Google Cloud introduces holistic cloud network monitoring
Spotting a gap in holistic network management in today’s multicloud business environments, Google Cloud introduces its Network Intelligence Centre Continue Reading
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News
15 Nov 2019
Industry questions viability of Labour plan to offer free full-fibre broadband to all UK homes
Uproar in tech sector as Labour proposes to part-nationalise BT and offer free full-fibre broadband to all individuals and businesses by 2030 if successful in General Election Continue Reading
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News
14 Nov 2019
Booming broadband drives EU cable to new highs
Record revenue fuelled by continued growth in cable revenue generating units, says European broadband cable yearbook Continue Reading
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News
13 Nov 2019
Synchronoss joins US big four operators in cross-carrier messaging initiative
Joint venture aims to deliver advanced mobile messaging experience across suppliers’ mobile networks Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2019
Mist gets into gear with first self-driving network for the enterprise
Mist Systems has launched what it claims as the world’s first AI-driven self-driving network for the enterprise, allowing business users to streamline IT operations, simplify troubleshooting across wired/wireless domains and deliver optimised experiences Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
5G to be first mobile generation to have bigger impact on enterprises than consumers
GSMA Intelligence report says 5G could see private enterprise networks explode and become a competition battleground between telcos and cloud companies within five years Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2019
Cisco promises CIO digital transformation gains with new collaboration suite
Suite deploys artificial intelligence to create a personalised meetings experience Continue Reading
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News
07 Nov 2019
Nokia and Microsoft announce tech partnership
IT behemoth Microsoft and comms technology provider Nokia forge first joint solutions, to enable communications service providers and enterprises to accelerate digital transformation Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2019
Ofcom updates mobile airwaves plan
UK broadcast regulator reveals plans to release airwaves to improve mobile services for customers aiming to help more areas get better comms services Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2019
Nordic governments open to Huawei’s ‘no spy’ offer
Chinese tech giant seeks to reassure Nordic governments over security concerns in 5G contracts Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2019
Asset sharing essential to making 5G RAN affordable
Rethink Technology finds that upfront cost containment has been the number one priority for cellular operators in the first stage of 5G deployment, and that three main tactics have been used to achieve this ambition Continue Reading
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News
15 Oct 2019
Huawei: Fresh mindset needed to speed up 5G development
It may already enjoy pricing and technological advantages, but Huawei is calling on 5G industry to collaborate more, especially with regard to regulatory policy Continue Reading
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Opinion
27 Sep 2019
Is it now normal to use video for business communications – what for, where and why not?
The use of video communications in business has moved on from the days of costly videoconferencing suites, but best practices are yet to develop fully Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Aug 2019
Building a 5G city: Bristol’s valuable lessons for the UK’s digital future
West of England Combined Authority is taking part in DCMS’s 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, exploring applications for tourism and entertainment. We find out how it is applying its learnings to life in Bristol and Bath Continue Reading
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Feature
13 Aug 2019
What 5G applications will transform your business?
The UK’s mobile network operators have started work on their 5G roll-outs, but what applications are most likely to gain enterprise traction for the new standard? Continue Reading
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E-Zine
06 Aug 2019
Using tech to boost staff morale
In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the emerging technologies being used to improve employee experience and raise staff loyalty and motivation. The CIO of the Football Association explains how IT is changing the way the national game is administered. And we examine the growing role of AI in preventing cyber attacks. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
31 Jul 2019
Police Scotland awards National Network contract to BT
Police Scotland is embarking on a £3.9m network project as part of its wider digital transformation strategy Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2019
CityFibre announces 14 more locations on its full-fibre network
Full-fibre broadband provider extends its network to more homes and businesses in latest roll-out Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Jul 2019
Rise of the machines: How AI is changing unified communications
Artificial intelligence is now moving into live UC environments at scale. We look at the impact it will have and what lies ahead Continue Reading
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Feature
28 Jun 2019
Exploring UCaaS: The main benefits for enterprises
Getting unified communications-as-a-service right can mean more agility, higher productivity, and cost control Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2019
Openreach trials will speed up broadband upgrade
Tests to focus on process of migrating households and businesses to fibre to the premise and voice over IP Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2019
UC Expo 2019: Experts talk up future tech in unified communications
Automation and AI are increasingly prevalent in unified comms, but do enterprises really need it? Continue Reading
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News
08 Apr 2019
EDF awards Hinkley Point C comms services contract to Telent
Network services company will run communications and IT infrastructure at new nuclear power plant Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2019
Swedish companies increasingly using private networks to communicate with ecosystem
Swedish IT leaders are increasingly turning to private networks to communicate with other businesses in their ecosystem Continue Reading
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Blog Post
26 Mar 2019
Is Avaya entertaining private equity bidders? I have déjà vu
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. It's a handy quote for all occasions - whether or not you believe Albert Einstein ever ... Continue Reading
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News
25 Feb 2019
Australia, Singapore say hello to 5G
Singtel and its Australian subsidiary Optus have made one of the first 5G video calls in the Asia-Pacific region Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2019
IT Priorities 2019: Security concerns top agenda for network buyers again
The ability to gain visibility into what is happening on enterprise networks has once again topped the agenda for network managers and buyers, according to the latest Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT Priorities survey Continue Reading
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Opinion
05 Feb 2019
New audiovisual connections enhance the learning experience
Being open and inclusive to individual sensory needs as well as diverse technology choices means adopting a flexible approach to AV infrastructure Continue Reading
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Opinion
30 Jan 2019
Audiovisual systems need more efficient integration and management
The spread of audiovisual systems for communication and collaboration needs to be supported in a similar manner to corporate IT, not facilities management Continue Reading
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News
18 Jan 2019
Siemens connects to world’s largest UCC deployment
German technology powerhouse Siemens AG reveals how it unified communications and collaboration for hundreds of thousands of employees worldwide Continue Reading
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Opinion
07 Jan 2019
Visual collaboration needs more than just pixels and pointers
The merging of audio-visual and information technologies presents new opportunities for collaboration and data sharing Continue Reading
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News
02 Jan 2019
SMEs urged to get on board with Network Services 2 framework
Suppliers have until the end of January 2019 to sign up to the new government network services purchasing framework Continue Reading
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News
31 Dec 2018
Top 10 network stories of 2018
2018 was the year when software-defined networking, and more specifically software-defined WANs, took centre stage. We look back at a transformative year for the world of the network manager Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Dec 2018
CW Europe: Russia banks on electronic payments
A recent study by Sberbank, Russia’s largest state-run lender, shows the country has experienced a cashless payment boom over the past decade. Also read about the attempt by four Russians to break into the networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague, and why the Estonian government is directly targeting IT professionals in the UK. Continue Reading
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News
12 Dec 2018
Christmas charity appeal increases donations with cloud-based comms
St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is using a pop-up cloud contact centre from supplier Sesui to help run its annual Christmas appeal in partnership with the BBC Continue Reading
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Opinion
28 Nov 2018
Bright future for OTT video – if the network can support it
The emergence of over the top video services is having a massive impact on underlying network technology, according to the ITP Continue Reading
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News
21 Nov 2018
Interview: Comms sector ripe for disruption as climate change takes hold
Humanity has just 12 years left to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5⁰C and prevent climate meltdown. Paul Dickinson from the Carbon Disclosure Project discusses how CIOs can help take steps to avert disaster by changing their attitude to business communications Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2018
Middle East gears up for 5G
The race for 5G is well and truly under way, and the UAE and Saudi Arabia are well positioned to be among the first countries in the world to deliver the benefits of this new telecoms protocol Continue Reading
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News
17 Oct 2018
UCaaS supports British Medical Journal’s cloud-first ambitions
With a growing global business and a CIO intent on doing everything in the cloud, the British Medical Journal turned to unified communications-as-a-service provider RingCentral to make its comms infrastructure fit for the cloud era Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Sep 2018
What are the current SD-WAN options for enterprises?
Software-defined wide area networking is well on its way to being a multi-billion dollar market. We assess the current state of the market and look at some of the options for enterprise CIOs and network managers Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2018
Nordic states collaborate in Arctic IT projects
Nordic countries are working together to introduce advanced communications networks in the most isolated Northerly regions Continue Reading
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Feature
30 Aug 2018
When networks collide: how M&A brings infrastructure together
Enterprise IT runs on networking, so fixing up the network should be a priority issue during mergers and acquisitions – but that’s not always the case. Find out how the pros manage it Continue Reading
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Blog Post
17 Jul 2018
A conference room for the future
In some ways, the recent completion of Plantronics’ $2 billion purchase of Polycom was more surprising for the amount paid than the fact that this is basically an audio headset supplier taking over ... Continue Reading
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Blog Post
09 Jul 2018
Guidance today for a 5G/IoT World Tomorrow
This might best be achieved by engaging sponsors via sector/market/problem specific practitioner workshops to distil current good practice into draft guidance that could be used by those who will ... Continue Reading
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News
09 Jul 2018
Superbike team adds managed UC to support racers
Crescent Racing, Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team has enhanced its existing relationship with MSP GCI to include new unified comms and Skype for Business elements Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2018
Home Office criticised over ESN review progress
In an appearance before the Public Accounts Committee, Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam defended the progress of the ESN project review Continue Reading
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Blog Post
28 Jun 2018
Collaboration, communication and more effective meetings
The last visit to Unified Comms (UC) expo in London reinforced a view that this sector is slightly misnamed. The attempt a few years ago to tack ‘and collaboration’ (UC&C) onto the end seemed ... Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Jun 2018
Digital whiteboards' remote collaboration underused by organizations
When using interactive whiteboards, businesses need to get remote workers involved in the collaboration process through video calls, screen sharing and digital annotation. Continue Reading
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News
26 Jun 2018
Liberty Global picks Cisco to transform customer service ops
Virgin Media parent enlists Cisco in a bid to transform its customer service experience across Europe Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2018
SME provider takes on Cambridgeshire public sector network contract
Managed network services provider MLL Telecom has been awarded the EastNet contract to run WAN services across Cambridgeshire, replacing a legacy Virgin Media Network Continue Reading
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Tip
15 Jun 2018
Design huddle rooms to mirror team collaboration workflows
Different teams conduct different types of meetings. As a result, small conference rooms should be customized to accommodate specific collaboration workflows. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
05 Jun 2018
Divisive Devices And Conferencing Woes?
Like - I suspect - many people, I spend far too large a percentage of my one and only life on various 'net conferences, using a variety of platforms. Most of them are truly loathsome. So it was ... Continue Reading
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Tip
29 May 2018
Six tips to deploy a quality unified communications system
In order to troubleshoot a unified communications system, IT leaders should have a written list of common problems and a description of how to resolve those issues. Continue Reading
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News
23 May 2018
Unified comms bugbears may be easily solved with AI
The concept of unified communications is now so wide-ranging that it is ripe for disruption – or improvement – by artificial intelligence, argues analyst Zeus Kerravala Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 May 2018
CW ASEAN: Connect your people with UC
Unified communications has changed the way we access information and make decisions. However, the adoption of UC varies across Southeast Asia, with Singapore and Malaysia ahead of the curve, followed by Indonesia and Vietnam. In this issue of CW ASEAN, we take a closer look at how ASEAN enterprises are embracing UC tools, factors that organizations should consider when developing a UC strategy, and the emergence of start-ups that have been shaking up the marketplace. Download the ezine now. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 May 2018
CW ANZ: Australian firms connect people in new ways
Australian organisations such as BPay are turning to unified communications (UC) to create workplaces where employees operate in a flexible and open work environment. But IT and user experiences can differ greatly. What has been the journey of ANZ enterprises when delivering a seamless UC experience for employees? In this issue of CW ANZ, we look at how companies are approaching UC, the state of the market and what organisations need to do to be successful. Download the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
16 May 2018
BT and EE to converge fibre broadband, 4G networks
BT’s consumer unit has launched a network convergence strategy designed to make the most of its national fibre and 4G network assets Continue Reading
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15 May 2018
How Australian enterprises are unifying business communications
Business leaders and experts in rolling out unified communications tools in Australia stress the importance of change management and employee consultation to avoid digital white elephants Continue Reading
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15 May 2018
ASEAN’s growing appetite for unified communications
Led by enterprises in Singapore and Malaysia, adoption of unified communications tools is expected to grow with the surge in demand for cloud-based and hosted offerings Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2018
Connectivity problem hits thousands of Post Office branches
Post Office branches unable to connect to Horizon computer system for several hours after morning opening time Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2018
UK railways to save billions of pounds through digital signalling
Network Rail hails digital transformation plans as “a turning point in the history of our railways” Continue Reading
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Tip
08 May 2018
GDPR rules have big effect on UC applications
The European Union General Data Protection Regulation sets tighter controls on businesses and how they handle customers' personally identifiable information. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
08 May 2018
AI in UC: Where it shows potential and where it’s just for show
This is a guest post co-authored by Zach Katsof, director of intelligent communications at Arkadin; Holger Reisinger, SVP of large enterprise solutions at Jabra; and Alan Shen, VP of consulting ... Continue Reading
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Feature
04 May 2018
Dolby Voice Room conferencing product wins Network Innovation Award
Dolby's new video conferencing product, Dolby Voice Room, targets the huddle room market, while touting high-end audio capabilities and ease of management. Continue Reading
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News
01 May 2018
Gulf Cooperation Council smart city initiatives garner momentum
The Middle East is a hotbed for smart city developments, with activities in the region maturing and adapting to what citizens want Continue Reading
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News
26 Apr 2018
NCSC shows support for common standards for secure communication
The UK cyber security authority is supporting an industry drive towards common standards for secure communication by joining an industry organisation that aims to achieve this goal Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Apr 2018
AV1 video codec carries clout with royalty-free status
Industry giants, including Cisco and Microsoft, have backed AOMedia's new royalty-free codec. So, what does this mean for royalty-bearing video coding standards? Continue Reading
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News
24 Apr 2018
Unified communications supplier Mitel bought by VCs
Unified communications and networking technology supplier Mitel is to be acquired by affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners for $2bn Continue Reading
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Video
06 Apr 2018
How to select a UCaaS provider amid market volatility
As mergers and acquisitions swirl around the UCaaS market, organizations need to inspect potential vendors' long-term financial stability and product roadmaps. Continue Reading
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Feature
04 Apr 2018
How Australian enterprises are unifying business communications
Business leaders and experts in rolling out unified communications tools in Australia stress the importance of change management and employee consultation to avoid digital white elephants Continue Reading
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Feature
27 Mar 2018
ASEAN’s growing appetite for unified communications
Led by enterprises in Singapore and Malaysia, adoption of unified communications tools is expected to grow with the surge in demand for cloud-based and hosted offerings Continue Reading
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News
26 Mar 2018
Swedish industry contributes to 5G evolution
Swedish industrial companies have played a role in the development of Ericsson’s 5G services in the country Continue Reading
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Feature
22 Mar 2018
How Turkish mobile operators are helping the vast Syrian refugee population to help themselves
Turkish mobile network operators are designing services that will help Syrian refugees make their lives in the country Continue Reading
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News
21 Mar 2018
Train leasing firm demos mobile edge computing for smart trains
Rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains is demonstrating edge computing over a wireless mesh network to make life easier for its customers’ on-board staff Continue Reading
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News
20 Mar 2018
Case study: Stationery firm gets things moving with FTTP broadband voucher
Nuco, a Midlands-based supplier of paper and stationery products, has improved its business agility and is moving its IT into the cloud thanks to the government’s full-fibre broadband connection voucher scheme Continue Reading
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Blog Post
18 Mar 2018
Meetings with outcomes, not just communication
Despite the opportunities for technology to be really disruptive, it is surprising how often it simply digitally replicates existing processes. There is one common business process where the ... Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2018
New vendors, trends crash Enterprise Connect 2018 party
Slack and Facebook are making their first appearances at the unified communications conference. Plus, contact center technologies could take center stage at the show. Continue Reading
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Blog Post
27 Feb 2018
WCaaP - Web Conferencing As A Platform?
Interesting, timing wise, because a lot of conversations recently with vendors have revealed how much discontent there is with the classic web conferencing tools, such as WebEx and GoToMeeting. ... Continue Reading
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News
22 Feb 2018
Emergency Services Network progress ‘deeply unsatisfactory’, says PAC
A Home Office review of the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme will not be finished before the end of July, the Public Accounts Committee has been told Continue Reading
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Tip
21 Feb 2018
Conference rooms of the future target meeting efficiency
When overhauling your meeting room technology, don't forget the basics, such as high-speed network connectivity and power accessibility for all end users. Continue Reading
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Tip
14 Feb 2018
The evolution of unified communications technologies
Over the years, unified communications tools have evolved to incorporate different modes of collaboration. Enterprises need to be receptive to this ongoing innovation. Continue Reading
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News
05 Feb 2018
IT Priorities 2018: Networking spend declining across the board
Overall spending on networking projects across EMEA looks set to decline in 2018, according to the latest ComputerWeekly/TechTarget IT Priorities report Continue Reading
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News
26 Jan 2018
Cloud, mobility, telephony to fuel UCC market growth, report says
In unified communications news, one industry report issues a bullish outlook, a new group messaging platform has launched and Plantronics expands its headset offerings. Continue Reading
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Tip
25 Jan 2018
Room-based video conference software aids workflows, management
Huddle rooms, or small meeting rooms, can benefit from room-specific video conferencing software that enhances collaboration workflows and IT management. Continue Reading
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News
16 Jan 2018
Cisco collaborates with startup for AI health and safety trial
Cisco is to work with artificial intelligence startup Cortexica in an Innovate UK-funded project to improve physical safety in the workplace Continue Reading
- 11 Jan 2018
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Tip
09 Jan 2018
Video conference hardware simplified, affordable for huddle rooms
Video conferencing vendors have aimed to simplify deployments with cost-effective kits that include cameras and audio peripherals for small meeting rooms. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2018
Insurance broker Simply Business ditches legacy MPLS for SD-WAN
Insurance business finds networking a breeze after ditching its unresponsive managed services provider and implementing VeloCloud’s latest software-defined wide area network technology Continue Reading
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Tip
19 Dec 2017
Five predictions for communication and collaboration trends in 2018
In the new year, watch for team collaboration tools to become the primary user interface. And one UC vendor might mark the end of life for its on-premises platform. Continue Reading
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E-Zine
14 Dec 2017
CW Europe: Eurosport pumps up digital technology for cycling fans
Read how Eurosport is using a novel combination of technology and information to develop immersive viewing experiences for sports fans across a range of platforms. Also find out how Russian state bank Vneshekonombank expects to become a vehicle for a blockchain revolution in the country’s public sector, and what the European Parliament's approval of a new electronic system to store biometric information might mean for UK citizens after Brexit. Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2017
ADMCC monitors Abu Dhabi with Cisco technology
Abu Dhabi's surveillance system is using technology from Cisco Continue Reading
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News
24 Jul 2017
UAE hotel upgrades wireless network and internet connectivity
Beach resort completes major project to revamp its wireless infrastructure with TP-Link technologies Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2017
Australia’s Whispir dials into global market
Fast-growing cloud-based communications service provider expects to more than double its workforce within a year, and grow its business in the double-digit range Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2017
Analytics, automation and AI critical to Cisco’s growth
Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins has been talking about the criticality of analytics and automation technology to the enterprise network Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2017
Cisco adds AI to Spark collaboration platform with MindMeld buy
Cisco plans to use MindMeld’s AI platform to enhance its Spark platform and other enterprise collaboration solutions Continue Reading
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News
24 Mar 2017
Cisco unveils new Spark collaboration platform in APAC
Spark will be the future platform for integrating all of Cisco’s collaboration technologies, according to a Cisco regional executive Continue Reading
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News
13 Mar 2017
Vodafone brings offshore contact centre work to UK
Mobile operator Vodafone is creating 2,100 jobs in the UK by reducing the amount of call centre work done offshore Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2017
Case study: Tamer Group boosts bandwidth and network connectivity
Saudi Arabian firm chooses point-to-point wireless to ensure it provides the connectivity required for a fast-growing business Continue Reading
