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, content sharing, etc. See complete definition.
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News
27 Mar 2024
RingCentral goes global with AI-powered contact centre solution
Provider of artificial intelligence-driven cloud solutions expands global footprint and drives adoption momentum of contact centre products with CRM integrations that enable integrated, immersive agent experience Continue Reading
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News
27 Mar 2024
Avaya announces Zoom strategic partnership for collaboration
Avaya selects Zoom’s recently launched AI-powered Workplace platform to integrate with its Communication and Collaboration Suite to help enterprises ‘reimagine’ teamwork Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2022
New world of work sees emergence of hybrid holiday
Research from Virgin Media O2 suggests 2022 will be the year when working from anywhere becomes a reality for businesses across the UK Continue Reading
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Feature
10 Feb 2022
Hybrid working in the metaverse
Few topics have attracted more headlines over the past year than hybrid work and the metaverse. How can these realities fit together and become productive in the new normal of work? Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2022
CPaaS key to enabling customer experience to drive digital transformation
IDC study shows nearly four-fifths of enterprises are set to implement conversational customer engagement to improve customer experience Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2022
Vodafone Business teams with RingCentral to deliver cloud communications
New cloud-based comms platform set to enable UK operator’s mobility and 5G capabilities to give customers more choice, flexibility and simplicity in workforce collaboration and remote working Continue Reading
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News
04 Feb 2022
Cisco pitches into private 5G, reveals hybrid work technology slate
Comms and collaboration technology services giant introduces new technologies to help businesses rapidly scale networks and digitise operations Continue Reading
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Blog Post
01 Feb 2022
Companies need to embrace voice to promote empathy and intentionality at work
This is a guest blogpost by Oliver Palihes, CEO at Aircall. It seems that, in recent years, messaging and video have become the de facto modes of communication for businesses looking to optimise ... Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2022
Majority of UK employees prefer hybrid work
Survey reveals the importance of hybrid working and shows a degree of WFH fatigue following Omicron, with firms assessing when it will be possible to return to in-person work Continue Reading
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Feature
14 Jan 2022
What does 2022 have in store for hybrid working?
The Omicron coronavirus variant has brought a return of working restrictions. Can we be optimistic about the resilience of organisations as they try to get the best out of their workforce? Continue Reading
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News
13 Jan 2022
BT appoints MD of advanced enterprise comms division, inks ABB contract
Managing director appointed for what is regarded as a likely key growth engine for UK incumbent telco’s enterprise business, moving it from a telco to a techco by expanding into services that go beyond traditional calls and lines Continue Reading
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E-Zine
13 Jan 2022
CW Middle East: What does Saudi Arabia’s autonomous vehicle agenda mean for the world?
If all goes according to plan, within a few years, one million people will live in Saudi Arabia’s ‘city of the future’ – and every one of them will depend on a fleet of self-driving cars. Also in this issue, read about the UAE's bid to become a world-leading location for artificial intelligence innovation. Continue Reading
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Definition
11 Jan 2022
instant messaging
Instant messaging, often shortened to IM or IM'ing, is the exchange of near real-time messages through a standalone application or embedded software. Continue Reading
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News
10 Jan 2022
Qualcomm announces Microsoft collaboration to boost AR in the metaverse
Mobile chipmaker enters into collaboration with Microsoft to design custom augmented reality chips and integrate software platforms Continue Reading
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Feature
06 Jan 2022
Avoiding the two-tier workforce in the third workplace
The new world of hybrid working is sometimes referred to as the third workplace. Yet just as firms are having to deal with the ‘great resignation’, they are in danger of unwittingly creating a two-tier workforce Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2022
BlueJeans and Google join forces to unlock value for remote workforces
Leading US comms provider re-bundles flagship collaboration platform so it can be preloaded on Google’s Glass Enterprise Edition 2 Continue Reading
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News
23 Dec 2021
Avaya comms support Santa-as-a-service tracking
As sleigh bells ring, Avaya’s OneCloud contact centre services let you chart Father Christmas’s journey Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2021
Neos Networks brings high-capacity fibre access to leading UK cities and Oxfordshire
UK business connectivity provider opens first of four metro access networks to offer last-mile services direct to nearly 10,000 regional businesses and those in the City of London while also announcing rural county expansion plan to connect over 200 public service sites in a bid to improve digital and social inclusion Continue Reading
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News
15 Dec 2021
Avaya enhances educational and logistics environments with UCaaS and cloud
Supply chain leader supports business expansion and supercharges agent retention with cloud comms platform, and enables ‘exceptional’ education experiences for thousands of students with unified comms as a service Continue Reading
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News
10 Dec 2021
More than 50% of UK workers would quit without hybrid work
Research provides insight into the views of UK workers regarding splitting time between the office and home Continue Reading
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News
30 Nov 2021
Rapidly changing hybrid workforce sees IT departments struggle to keep up
Research finds faulty technology is leaving businesses ill-equipped to support the future of working, warning that tech-savvy workers will expect more from their employers Continue Reading
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News
24 Nov 2021
Zoom boom rolls on over to Q3 2021
Partial return to the office fails to stop momentum of breakout collaboration technology giant in the third quarter of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
23 Nov 2021
Ericsson boosts business play with $6.2bn Vonage acquisition
Acquisition of IP communications provider expands Ericsson’s presence in wireless enterprise and broadens its global offerings, creating a global network and communication platform for open innovation Continue Reading
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Feature
19 Nov 2021
Ensuring hybrid work works in the new normal
The hybrid business is becoming a reality, but how can firms ensure a positive employee experience and learn how to identify and manage risks? Continue Reading
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Opinion
12 Nov 2021
Flexible working hours the key for increased productivity
With flexible working shifting from being a privilege to a necessity, company leaders must ensure their workers have a high-quality network service, efficient resources, hardware and cloud services, says Whit Andrews, distinguished research vice-president at Gartner Continue Reading
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News
12 Nov 2021
Klaxoon enters US and launches next-gen meetings workshop platform for hybrid work
French teamwork and smart work technology provider unveils its next-generation workshop platform and expands in the US with CEO and key executives Continue Reading
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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
09 Nov 2021
No device upgrade for most UK workers during pandemic
Research finds that most workers are still using equipment issued before lockdowns, raising fears of a productivity gap as staff work from home Continue Reading
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News
08 Nov 2021
More than four-fifths of firms expect to keep hybrid work environment
While business leaders are comfortable with and believe there are many benefits to hybrid work, most organisations are unprepared to deliver a seamless experience in a hybrid workplace, where the need for end-to-end data visibility and actionable insights intensifies Continue Reading
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News
05 Nov 2021
Fibre lights up BT half-yearly results
BT has revealed a tough first six months of the financial year, but also claimed Fibre First build programme roll-out continues to accelerate, reaching record levels in second quarter Continue Reading
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News
03 Nov 2021
Windstream Enterprise and BlueJeans up the ante in collaboration
Managed communications service provider makes additions to unified comms offerings to enable effective and scalable collaboration while Verizon-owned company announces support for Microsoft Direct Guest Join Continue Reading
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News
02 Nov 2021
Digital connectivity investment could unlock 500,000 jobs, £70bn of GDP growth by 2026
First Digital Connectivity Index from recently merged fixed and mobile operator shows that UK is currently ranked eighth among developed countries for digital connectivity Continue Reading
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News
01 Nov 2021
India’s tech workforce braces for hybrid work
A Nasscom study reveals that India’s tech workers and their employers are planning to return to offices thrice a week, paving the way for hybrid work Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2021
City of Edinburgh Council signs up CGI to implement smart city plans
Five-year contract to support Scottish capital’s transformation into a smart city includes data insights, processes and tools to achieve transformational change and deliver high-quality services to citizens Continue Reading
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News
28 Oct 2021
Cisco supports hybrid workforce augmented reality meeting solutions
IT giant evolves collaboration suite to combine Webex meeting functionality with real-time, photorealistic holographic experience Continue Reading
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News
27 Oct 2021
Microsoft’s latest results focus on combating inflation
With prices set to rise, CEO Satya Nadella used the Q1 2022 earnings call to discuss the deflationary effect of digitisation Continue Reading
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News
25 Oct 2021
Chancellor sets aside £2.1bn to fund NHS IT modernisation
Improving efficiency, reducing waiting times and expanding tests and scans are among the key targets for £5.9bn of extra NHS funding Continue Reading
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News
22 Oct 2021
Flexible a fixture as technology critical to hybrid working future
Survey shows knowledge workers in leading economies believe that having an office space will be considered an employee benefit, rather than a mandatory way of working Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2021
Virgin Media takes full-fibre to west Berkshire, launches Wi-Fi 6 hubs
Full-fibre contract between network provider and local authority aims to connect west Berkshire schools and public buildings to next-generation digital infrastructure Continue Reading
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News
21 Oct 2021
Gitex 2021: Batelco brings collaboration to Bahrain operations
Aiming to deliver evolved teamwork capabilities to its customers to accelerate Bahrain’s transition to the digital workplace, digital communications solutions provider adopts new collaboration technology Continue Reading
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News
20 Oct 2021
Gitex 2021: Nuuday finds new voice to deliver cognitive customer universe
Upstart Danish telco deploys communications-as-a-service technology and virtual assistant to restructure business, gain differentiation and extend to new touchpoints in highly competitive local market Continue Reading
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News
19 Oct 2021
Gitex 2021: Arc spans network ecosystem in Oman
Integrated networking services provider invests in Nokia technology to offer added connectivity options for enterprise customers in key Middle East location Continue Reading
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News
18 Oct 2021
Gitex 2021: Avaya builds up AI experience to boost collaboration
New communications and collaboration ecosystem launched to enable customers to achieve better business outcomes in the experience economy and the new hybrid working mode Continue Reading
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News
14 Oct 2021
Generation Novel hybrid workers bring new demands and risks
Aruba survey warns business leaders that they must strike a balance between flexibility and security to address risky behaviours and evolving expectations of today’s tech-savvy workforce Continue Reading
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News
13 Oct 2021
FCA warns over future hybrid working security risks
Earlier this week, the Financial Conduct Authority issued fresh guidance to regulated organisations on keeping hybrid workers safe and secure Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
Talent sits everywhere with hybrid work powered by mobile and artificial intelligence
Cisco’s Hybrid work index reveals insights on people’s preferences, habits and technology usage in the era of hybrid work Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
Need for work equity and total meeting equality in world of hybrid work
Research into the evolution of the workplace in the wake of Covid shows hybrid workers embracing anytime working as office culture ‘changes for ever’, but concerns over discrimination, career progression and noise weigh on employees’ minds Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
Telstra connects direct to Microsoft Azure and Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams
Australia-based global carrier enhances connectivity to Microsoft cloud services and provides an integrated calling experience via flagship collaboration service Continue Reading
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News
08 Oct 2021
How Zoom is growing its APAC business
Zoom is driving its growth in Asia-Pacific by embedding business processes into video communications, supporting the hybrid workplace and expanding its headcount in the region Continue Reading
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News
30 Sep 2021
NTT strengthens Microsoft alliance to support shift to hybrid working
Technology and business solutions provider enriches enterprise telephony and connectivity with IT giant’s Operator Connect for Teams to assist users’ support for the new normal or working Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2021
UK pivot to hybrid tech could add £76bn to GDP
Study shows rise in hybrid working could boost GDP by £48bn annually as part-time workers increase hours and investment in hybrid technologies could add nearly £80bn over next four years Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2021
Employers worry about remote work productivity, but fail to invest in tech solutions
Research warns employers to continue valuing in-person collaboration and to balance between safeguarding culture and a sense of team experienced though office-based working, with the virtues of hybrid working that is now essential in the new normal Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Sep 2021
Hybrid meetings, virtual whiteboards clash with outdated rooms
As companies look to integrate virtual whiteboard software into their conference rooms for hybrid meetings, they should start investing in meeting room hardware. Continue Reading
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News
16 Sep 2021
BT gifts small businesses £7.5m in street advertising as Street Hub 2.0 units go live
Local businesses in Kensington and Chelsea are given the chance to advertise for free via digital screens in Street Hub 2.0 units while research reveals over 60% of small firms say local advertising will boost awareness of their business Continue Reading
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News
15 Sep 2021
Zoom aims to ignite the next era of communications
Breakout conferencing and collaboration company shows range of innovations will enable businesses in the post-Covid era to embrace change, enable hybrid workforces and grow their businesses Continue Reading
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News
10 Sep 2021
Poor home connectivity risks jeopardising switch to hybrid working
CityFibre, Chartered Management Institute survey warns once-in-a-generation opportunity to change working practices for the better could be put at risk because of network issues Continue Reading
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News
31 Aug 2021
Zoom posts first billion-dollar revenue quarter
Pandemic conferencing breakout star sees revenues and subs maintain robust growth track in second quarter. Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Zoom plots path to hybrid return to the workplace
Pandemic’s breakout conferencing tool provider plans to support the new normal of hybrid working with systems recognising both remote and in-office work Continue Reading
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News
26 Aug 2021
Gartner survey shows 44% rise in workers’ use of collaboration tools since 2019
As the onset of a hybrid workforce becomes a reality for more firms, research shows massive spike in virtual meeting and collaboration tools since 2019, and stresses that digital workplace technologies will be essential for enabling innovation in the new normal Continue Reading
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News
25 Aug 2021
How to reconfigure for hybrid work
While many businesses are reopening offices, staff are reluctant to come to the office every work day. We look at how to support hybrid work patterns Continue Reading
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Feature
20 Aug 2021
First priorities for the third workplace
Almost 18 months since Covid-19 caused an almost overnight pivot to home working for many firms, hybrid working seems here to stay for knowledge workers. But the role of the 'third workspace' is not yet entirely clear Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2021
Need for strong internet connection keeps Brits indoors
Study from leading UK communications provider highlights that although a new normal is coming for a significant number of UK workers, so are new problems and the need to create a better work-life balance Continue Reading
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News
06 Aug 2021
Half of Gen-Z would leave job if not given a hybrid work option
Even though two-thirds of workers surveyed by workspace technology company say hybrid work benefits mental health and productivity, over half believe that their employers are not prepared to implement it Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2021
Virgin Media O2 unveils UK fibre upgrade plan
Newly merged operator announces FTTP upgrade of fixed network starting this year with completion in 2028, taking advantage of what it says is efficient fibre deployment with ‘value accretive roll-out economics’ Continue Reading
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News
29 Jul 2021
Profits, revenues fall but BT expands 5G, fibre in first quarter
UK incumbent telco sees profits and revenues fall, but increases capital investments in next-generation wireless and extends Microsoft strategic partnership Continue Reading
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News
27 Jul 2021
Some 15 million UK consumers suffered major broadband outage in past year
Study covering first full year of lockdown reveals how millions of home-workers and home-schoolers experienced internet outages when they would usually have been at their workplaces or in school Continue Reading
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News
22 Jul 2021
Satellite and 5G firms announce ubiquitous UK communications trial
Space agencies and leading technology businesses test ubiquitous UK communications coverage for transportation market in region of south-west England notorious for poor communications Continue Reading
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Feature
21 Jul 2021
Five ways to ensure remote working security and compliance
A mix of on-site and remote working has become a fact of life for many organisations. We look at five key things you should consider to ensure compliance and security Continue Reading
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News
19 Jul 2021
Zoom expands into contact centre market
Zoom is steadily expanding its enterprise offering and has now spent $14.5bn on an acquisition to fill a gap in its product portfolio Continue Reading
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News
12 Jul 2021
IoT at tipping point but multi-region connectivity, device deployment hinder UK adoption
Research from connectivity specialist finds three-quarters of UK respondents say their internet-of-things project is at best only somewhat successful in meeting expectations and realising benefits, but 91% still plan increased investment Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Hybrid working model significantly affects helpdesk and support
SASE provider’s survey finds that the IT challenge with deployed remote access technology is failing to meet enterprise requirements, forcing support and helpdesk to compensate Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2021
Remote workers feel disconnected from company IT departments
As hybrid working becomes the norm, study advises that now is the time to invest in more robust technology to support remote workforces for the long term, and to fend off lingering feeling of resentment over lack of support Continue Reading
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News
30 Jun 2021
Incoherent technology investment saps motivation at mid-size businesses
Research suggests that mid-size businesses are falling into the trap of investing in technology for technology’s sake, rather than identifying what the business actually needs, with stress especially acute supporting remote working Continue Reading
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News
29 Jun 2021
Productivity apps here to stay as quarterly mobile app spending hits all-time high
Research from leading mobile data and analytics company App Annie finds $7bn jump in app spending year on year, suggesting the start of a global economic rebound Continue Reading
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News
24 Jun 2021
UK workers demand economic recovery to be built on better internet access
Cisco announces index of broadband services in the UK and reveals lead role in government’s levelling-up initiative designed to help close the digital divide Continue Reading
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News
23 Jun 2021
Majority of global knowledge workers will be remote by the end of 2021
Leading research firm predicts remote work will drive PC and tablet shipments to over 500 million units for the first time ever by the end of 2021 Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2021
Users’ network expectations change in new normal
Ciena study reveals how sustainability, connected industries and always-on connectivity are shaping the UK’s digital post-Covid landscape Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
Vodafone taps Ericsson to strengthen UK 5G core
Partners to deploy cloud-native dual-mode 5G core to bring the full promise of 5G services to business users Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2021
Telenor, Telia tap Nokia for 5G joint network roll-out in Denmark
Nokia to work with leading Danish mobile operators via their joint network to accelerate the delivery of 5G services across Denmark following the availability of 3.5GHz spectrum Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2021
Garden Court Chambers makes the case for communications transformation with UCaaS
Rapid transition from limited on-premise systems to cloud-based video conferencing and workstream collaboration sees leading London legal firm gain ‘frictionless’ digital workplace for a team-centric experience Continue Reading
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News
15 Jun 2021
Cisco unveils catalyst for 5G at industrial IoT edge
Communications and services giant enhances portfolio of internet of things routers to unite edge networks and scale IoT deployments in factory and production environments Continue Reading
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News
14 Jun 2021
Collaboration challenges loom but UK adults demand hybrid working
Analysis of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on attitudes to future working practices in the UK reveals that population wants more remote working despite technical hurdles Continue Reading
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News
11 Jun 2021
Evidence emerges of new digital divide in UK connectivity
Study shows extent to which online connectivity impacts quality of life but reveals that renters are nearly twice as likely to describe their connection as only average or unreliable, compared with home owners Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Zoom aims to empower hybrid workforce with phone appliances
Video conferencing provider introduces devices that offer an all-in-one desk phone solution for calls and meetings, with hardware solutions from Poly and Yealink Continue Reading
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News
10 Jun 2021
Boom in hybrid working, high-speed connectivity drive influx into UK market towns
Network data from TalkTalk shows many UK employees are moving house as hybrid working transforms working habits and becomes very much here to stay Continue Reading
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News
09 Jun 2021
Cisco reveals new Webex to power ‘inclusive’ future of work
Collaboration suite has new look and feel, and supports hybrid work collaboration at what is claimed to be 40% lower cost than à-la-carte systems Continue Reading
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News
04 Jun 2021
Inclusivity and participation top issues for employees in new normal
Canva study reveals pressing need to bridge the hybrid workforce divide and for companies to adopt new technologies and processes to sustain employee happiness and productivity Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Connectivity and flexibility deemed vital for the future of small businesses
Research from mobile operator Three UK uncovers post-Covid work job opportunities as hybrid working set to become the default for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises Continue Reading
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News
03 Jun 2021
Zoom boom carries over into 2021
Breakout video conferencing firm’s current fiscal quarter revenues almost treble those posted at the end of April 2020 Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
Small business workers fear missing out on hybrid opportunity
Research finds three in five small business workers expect to be predominantly office-based after Covid-19 restrictions ease, due to high levels of admin and paper-based processes Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2021
Businesses hail new Openreach rural full-fibre focus
BT broadband provision division announces next step in gigabit broadband deployment programme to offer levelled-up connectivity for premises in hardest-to-reach parts of the UK Continue Reading
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Feature
28 May 2021
Revolutionising communication and collaboration for the hybrid world
As hybrid working looks set to become the norm in the post-Covid world, the lessons learned during lockdown will need to be applied. However, firms will have to overcome the limitations of current communication and collaboration tools Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
Edge computing drives business innovation
Intel research identifies edge computing as a critical factor that businesses must harness to navigate and understand data now and into the future Continue Reading
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News
25 May 2021
BSO draws on Arc to deliver on-demand connectivity in Middle East
Joint venture will interconnect companies’ network footprints in the Middle East, connecting digital hubs and providing inter-regional connectivity Continue Reading
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Feature
24 May 2021
Getting ready for the new normal of hybrid working
Many companies are preparing to return to offices for the first time since the UK’s first lockdown began, but the office environment will look very different to a year ago. With some workers looking forward to returning to the office and others preferring to stick to remote working, employers will have to accommodate differing needs and create an IT and networking infrastructure to do so Continue Reading
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News
21 May 2021
Zoom launches Events platform for virtual experiences
Breakout conferencing platform makes next evolutionary step with platform for producing and monetising interactive virtual events and conferences Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
Virgin Media, O2 merger gains final UK regulatory approval
Competition watchdog CMA removes last stumbling block and gives green light for what is being described as a watershed moment for the UK comms market Continue Reading
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News
20 May 2021
5G-enabled sales to surpass €400bn and offer huge green gains by 2030
Commissioned by global telco, study in five European geographies finds hugely positive socio-economic impact from 5G roll-out in terms of enabled sales, employment and reduced greenhouse gas emissions Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2021
Covid lockdowns dent Vodafone fiscal year
Revenues fall for fixed and wireless operator as mobile users obey stay-at-home orders but overall yearly service takings are described as stable, returning to growth in the second half Continue Reading
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News
17 May 2021
AT&T to focus on fibre, 5G after WarnerMedia merger with Discovery
Media mega-deal presents leading US operator with opportunity to unlock value and be one of the best capitalised broadband companies Continue Reading
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Feature
17 May 2021
The right tech choices for hybrid workers
Various studies give a mixed reaction to businesses returning to office work, but what is apparent is that support for remote working will continue Continue Reading
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News
13 May 2021
Employers rethinking office space, collaboration and technology in new hybrid workplace
As the pandemic eases, many business leaders are engaged with effectively offering remote working flexibility and are creating and communicating plans to their employees, setting expectations and guidelines moving forward Continue Reading