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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News
11 Jul 2024
Zoom unveils no-code workflow builder to boost workplace efficiency
Comms and collaboration tech provider announces beta of workplace automation option that uses AI-powered features to streamline routine tasks, boosting efficiency and freeing up time for more meaningful work Continue Reading
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News
27 Jun 2024
Hybrid workers call on employers to increase investment in connectivity
Survey reveals lack of reliable mobile connectivity in the office is affecting seven in 10 hybrid workers, forcing a majority of employees to leave their office building simply to make a phone call 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
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News
06 Mar 2017
Thorough network upgrade underpins University of Law’s IT
Legal education specialist the University of Law has undertaken a multi-million pound future IT project to refresh its networks, Wi-Fi and datacentre infrastructures across multiple locations Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2017
South African children’s hospital uses video to train cardiologists
The Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town is using remote video learning to teach paediatric cardiology surgery to medical students Continue Reading
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News
24 Jan 2017
GDS signals intent to move public sector off PSN
Government Digital Service’s Technology Leaders Network determines that the internet is an adequate solution to support the vast majority of public sector work Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2017
Dubai-based Aramex optimises branch office connectivity
How global logistics firm streamlined its branch office operations in the Middle East Continue Reading
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News
05 Dec 2016
Top 10 ANZ enterprise IT stories of 2016
Here is a rundown of Computer Weekly’s most popular ANZ enterprise IT articles for 2016 Continue Reading
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News
16 Oct 2016
Dubai smart city will be the talk of GITEX
Global experts in urban planning and smart technology will discuss the important role Dubai will play in supporting the development of smart cities in the Middle East Continue Reading
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News
12 Aug 2016
Care charity Avante enhances unified communications capabilities with 3CX
Kent-based residential care charity Avante Care and Support installed an IP PBX to manage telephony across multiple sites and a mobile workforce Continue Reading
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News
28 Jul 2016
BT sales increase 35% in 2016 Q2 with EE and broadband boosts
BT Group reported a 35% increase in revenue as it benefits from its EE acquisition and a large share of the broadband market Continue Reading
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News
08 Jul 2016
Cisco UK and Ireland CEO Phil Smith steps down after 22 years
Phil Smith announces he is stepping down from the day-to-day running of Cisco’s UK and Ireland business to take up the role of chairman Continue Reading
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News
07 Jul 2016
Saudi Telecom Company leads nation’s transformation agenda
Saudi Telecom Company and its technology partners support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s drive into digital public services Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2016
Microsoft sells 1,500 mobile patents to Xiaomi in licensing deal
Sale of mobile patent portfolio comes alongside software licensing agreement and may herald Xiaomi’s expansion into Europe and the US, say analysts Continue Reading
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Photo Story
13 May 2016
Trends in unified communications - Genband Perspectives16
Genband’s Perspectives16 show was staged in Orlando, Florida from May 2 to 5 2016. The event showcases Genband and its Kandy Platform-as-a-Service technology Continue Reading
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News
10 May 2016
Tel Aviv: A smart city where community engagement is the measure of success
Israel’s capital is using the latest technologies as a way of placing the needs of local citizens at the heart of regional government Continue Reading
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News
27 Apr 2016
Mobilising a workforce drives up performance and productivity
Mobile workers are also more creative, satisfied and loyal, says EIU study Continue Reading
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E-Zine
20 Apr 2016
CW Middle East – April to June 2016
The Middle East is undergoing great socio-political and economic change. While the economics of falling oil prices is driving business diversification in the region, the opening up of the Iranian economy looks set to boost demand. The IT industry is set to play a key role in the region's social and economic future. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2016
Broadband will reach 40% of Vietnam households by 2020, claims government
The Vietnamese government announces plans to increase access to broadband networks for its citizens, proposing a figure of 40% in four years Continue Reading
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News
17 Feb 2016
Middle East telecoms operators face up to IoT smart city challenges
As smart city initiatives spring up in the Middle East, telecoms operators contend with the strain of the internet of things (IoT) on networks Continue Reading
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News
15 Feb 2016
Telstra is transforming Australian IT infrastructure
Telco is transforming its IT operation to make better use of the cloud, data and application programming interfaces Continue Reading
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News
09 Feb 2016
Flexible working good for profit, productivity and reputation, says Vodafone
A report conducted for mobile operator Vodafone indicates the scale of acceptance of flexible and mobile working practices Continue Reading
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News
31 Dec 2015
Top 10 networking stories of 2015
A look back at Computer Weekly's most read networking news stories from 2015 Continue Reading
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News
07 Oct 2015
Internet of things is next step along Infiniti Red Bull’s F1 journey
Formula 1 team Infiniti Red Bull Racing is beginning to explore the potential of the IoT as it makes ongoing improvements to its networking infrastructure with support from AT&T Continue Reading
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News
23 Sep 2015
BT platforms streamline UCC deployments for Microsoft and Cisco users
BT introduces new cloud unified comms and collaboration clouds to support Microsoft and Cisco environments Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2015
Myanmar internet gets boost with content delivery network
Myanmar internet users will start benefiting from changes in the law that encourages foreign direct investment in communications infrastructures Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2015
Mobile phone users at risk as hackers bug and track victims
An investigation by Australian TV show 60 Minutes demonstrates how hackers based thousands of miles away in Germany were able to record the calls of an Australian senator and track his movements Continue Reading
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News
02 Jul 2015
Metropolitan Police picks Innopsis to lead network procurement
London’s Metropolitan Police Service signs public-sector networking association Innopsis to lead engagement on network procurement Continue Reading
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News
15 May 2015
Fire services to keep Airwave Tetra radios until 2020
The Department for Communities and Local Government approves a major extension of the fire services' Firelink Tetra network to the end of 2019 Continue Reading
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News
11 May 2015
PSNGB rebrands to drive information sharing across PSN
PSNGB, the trade association set up to promote the Public Services Network, rebrands itself as Innopsis and says its work is far from over Continue Reading
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News
31 Mar 2015
Brecon Beacons National Park soups up staff comms with Unify
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority deploys Unify’s OpenScape voice technology to keep remote staff and home workers in touch Continue Reading
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News
12 Feb 2015
Airwave's Tetra emergency services radio "costly and inflexible"
Incumbent Airwave failed to advance to the next stage of the Emergency Services Network procurement because its Tetra radio technology was too inflexible for current needs, according to reports Continue Reading
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News
02 Feb 2015
Health trust proposed offshoring mental care through Skype
Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust considered cutting costs by using Skype and low-cost staff to treat patients with depression Continue Reading
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News
30 Jan 2015
Government network services tender deadline slips again
Crown Commercial Service pushes back deadline for tender submissions to Network Services framework to give suppliers more time to prepare Continue Reading
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News
17 Dec 2014
Technology needed to help ambulance services cope with increased demand
The future of the ambulance and emergencies services needs more investment in networking Continue Reading
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News
11 Dec 2014
Avaya brings contact centres to Google Chromebooks
Avaya and Google team up to streamline customer service agent workflows by enabling desktop contact centres on Chromebooks Continue Reading
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News
01 Dec 2014
Barclays bank launches mobile video banking
Barclays Bank has launched a 24-hour video banking service that will enable customers to receive face-to-face service from anywhere Continue Reading
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News
28 Nov 2014
CGI secures communications between pilots and air traffic control
Satellite communications firm Inmarsat has outsourced the provision of security IT and services to CGI Continue Reading