Voice networking and VoIP

Zoom strikes unified communications home run in MLB partnership

Conferencing and communications company claims first-of-its-kind partnership with major US sports league to enhance MLB games and the fan viewership experience based on contact centre and core platform Continue Reading

8x8 aims to transform XCaaS customer engagement with AI

Cloud comms platform provider claims revolutionary AI-driven enhancements to core XCaaS platform, including a platform-wide integration with OpenAI Continue Reading

Vodafone rolls out reliable 4G to nearly 60 rural UK locations 

Vodafone increases access to a reliable 4G connection across the UK, enabling businesses and customers in rural locations to enjoy faster, more reliable speeds and higher quality voice calls Continue Reading

Symbio acquires Intrado Australia’s UCaaS business

The all-cash A$5m deal will expand Symbio’s footprint in the UCaaS market and deepen its reach into enterprises and government entities Continue Reading

UK businesses urged to move away from ISDN in 2023

Research warns that as analogue switch-off approaches, only 15% of SMEs and 20% of large businesses have plans in place to migrate to an alternative technology Continue Reading

Communications runs in his blood

Symbio Connect CEO Giorgio Mihaila has spent more than two decades in a career dotted with roles at major communications technology providers Continue Reading

Profits fall but Zoom maintains revenue momentum in Q3

Breakout collaboration service maintains momentum for rising revenues in third fiscal quarter of 2022 with significant rise in number of customers contributing more than $100,000 Continue Reading

Webex looks to enhance customer experiences for digital era

Leading collaboration technology provider reveals what it claims is a unique functionality that can deliver a fully integrated UCaaS, CCaaS and CPaaS portfolio to improve customer experience Continue Reading

Gitex 2022: Florius takes AI-powered CCaaS speech analytics to transform customer experience

Changed workloads during the pandemic have driven Netherlands-based mortgage lender to use AI and CCaaS technology Continue Reading

UK Atomic Energy Authority makes call on new UC telephony

National nuclear-based research facility replaces inflexible cloud-based system to add agility to enable staff to collaborate more effectively in a hybrid working approach Continue Reading

BSH Home Appliances takes on Twilio to revamp digital customer engagement

Customer engagement platform partners with Deloitte Consulting to support plan by home appliances firm to revamp its entire digital infrastructure within customer service organisation Continue Reading

Continued major customer rise fuels strong second quarter for Zoom

Post-Covid boom may have subsided, but conferencing and comms company keeps on track with increased total revenues in second fiscal quarter, when its product diversification strategy focused on delivering better intelligence Continue Reading

The state of Australia’s national broadband network

Australia’s national broadband network promises to improve broadband connectivity across the country but has been plagued by pricing issues. Here’s a look at where it is today and what lies ahead Continue Reading

Mobile digital transformation – from fast to deep

The first half of 2022 has been a busy time, with much happening in the mobile industry. We consider what the rest of year might hold Continue Reading

UK mobile call performance strong and improving

Research shows that as the UK’s public switched telephone network is upgrading to a fully digital call network, dropped call rates have remained low over the past few years and continue to improve Continue Reading

CPaaS – a technology for the future

There is a received wisdom that as businesses flock towards the cloud, they are looking for a single platform on which to manage all their communication needs, leading to boom times ahead for communications platform as a service Continue Reading

Next generation of collaboration and communication services

Future comms systems may look and feel rather different from what exists today – we look at the journey for communications services Continue Reading

Zoom adds new round of cyber security enhancements

Videoconferencing platform Zoom adds multiple third-party security certifications and service enhancements Continue Reading

Openreach accelerates UK full-fibre build

BT broadband provision division claims significant milestone in its full-fibre build programme, revealing it is more than a quarter of the way to reaching 25 million homes by December 2026 Continue Reading

Telent takes the National Express to transform communications for buses across the West Midlands

Secure digital radio managed service from critical digital infrastructure technology specialist designed to deliver increased flexibility and performance to support leading regional bus provider’s operations Continue Reading

Verizon adds to adapter portfolio to boost 5G fixed wireless access

Leading comms tech provider certifies C-band 5G adapter to provide connectivity across Ultra Wideband Network to give enterprise and business customers speed, capacity, coverage and performance Continue Reading

Verizon Business enriches mobile endpoint for Microsoft Teams

Business solutions provider becomes one of the first operators to join forces with IT giant to enable enterprise customers to experience the full power of communications and collaboration system Continue Reading

SmarTone, Ericsson team to empower businesses with industry-first connectivity boost app

What is said to be a world-first smartphone app will enable 4G and 5G business mobile users to dynamically boost cellular connectivity Continue Reading

Telstra and TPG Telecom strike network sharing deal

Australia’s Telstra and TPG Telecom have joined forces to share their mobile networks and spectrum in a landmark deal that will expand coverage for both telcos Continue Reading

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

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

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

Calling on communications to address humanitarian crises

Télécoms Sans Frontières responds to the growing number of natural disasters with advanced communications and provides protection and assistance, as well as bridging the digital divide Continue Reading

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

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

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

Blackpool transport meets tourism boom with digital network

Transport services authority of Blackpool looks to benefit from digital radio system being designed and installed by TES Communication Solutions Continue Reading

Tbaytel wraps new voice communications network with Ribbon

Independently owned telecommunications provider aims to offer its customers premium-quality voice services while reducing power costs and accelerating time to market Continue Reading

Openreach announces 86 new copper network switch-off locations

BT-owned UK broadband provision firm accelerates its plan to stop selling copper-based broadband and traditional voice services across the UK by 2025 Continue Reading

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

Openreach warns UK firms to check comms CPE ahead of analogue switch-off

Ahead of current analogue phone network reaching the end of its life by December 2025, UK broadband provider advises firms to start checking digital compatibility of CPE such as alarm services, lifts, payment card readers and medical equipment Continue Reading

Virgin Media O2 uses gigabit voucher scheme to connect rural Sussex homes

Recently merged communications provider announces that it will, for the first time, make use of government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to help residents in West Sussex benefit from next-generation connectivity Continue Reading

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

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

Virgin Media O2 launches with mission to transform UK comms industry

Drawn-out merger of Liberty Global and Telefónica UK cable and mobile assets comes to fruition under new working brand aiming to power the UK’s recovery and create ‘unbeatable’ choice for consumers Continue Reading

EE boosts mobile coverage across London’s rail network

As the UK embarks on the great indoor reopening and workers start returning to the office, BT’s mobile division beefs up mobile network capability along capital’s main commuter rail routes Continue Reading

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

Ericsson: 5G already changing smartphone usage behaviour

Largest 5G consumer study to date finds seven in 10 5G users expect more innovative services and apps, while 20% have decreased usage of Wi-Fi on their phones at home and other locations after upgrading Continue Reading

Mildenhall claims digital communications upgrade first for East of England

Openreach focuses on Suffolk market town for the next step towards upgrading to digital services, with properties now unable to buy copper broadband if they are upgrading, regrading or switching provider Continue Reading

Nokia, NewCore Wireless bring 5G, high-end broadband to remote US regions

Global comms tech provider and regional operator bring next-generation broadband to US tribal nations to empower economic opportunity through support for e-learning, telehealth and remote work during the pandemic Continue Reading

Specific and targeted interventions necessary to ensure UK mobile tech diversification

UK comms tech industry report highlights that successful diversification will require specific and targeted interventions to stimulate the supply market, de-risk the integration of new suppliers into operator networks and lay the foundations for long-term market growth and increased competition Continue Reading

Qualcomm, 5G RuralDorset seed partnership to trial farming use cases

Government announces relationship with wireless technology company to work with its DCMS 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme to power smart agriculture for remote farms in the Dorset region Continue Reading

Hybrid working, diversity progress – Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast

In this episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Caroline Donnelly, Clare McDonald and Brian McKenna discuss hybrid working, progress in diversity and data in healthcare Continue Reading

Zoom fatigue kicks in as working from home becomes working from phone

Research from leading telecoms operator finds over a third of Brits working from home are increasingly switching to mobile data to stay online in lockdown Continue Reading

Collaboration to the fore as ‘staggering’ change predicted for IT in 2021

With 2020 exposing the leaders versus the laggards in enterprise digital transformation, research shows companies intend to invest in SD-WAN and MPLS, UCaaS and CCaaS to stay competitive in 2021 Continue Reading

Security Think Tank: It’s time to secure the collaboration revolution

After a year of unprecedented disruption thanks to Covid-19, it looks like remote working is set to remain with us for now, which means security strategies will change in 2021. What will this change look like, and what tools and services will be selling like hotcakes? Continue Reading

Zoom reveals phone product spike, public offer price

Strong service performance, reliability and enterprise-grade features drive uptake of Zoom Phone as still rapidly growing conferencing firm announces $1.75bn share offering Continue Reading

Telstra International appoints South Asia head

The international arm of Telstra has hired former DXC Technology executive Geraldine Kor as its managing director for South Asia to tap new growth opportunities Continue Reading

Used smartphone sales to dial in near double-digit growth in 2020

Research shows refurbished and used devices continue to provide cost-effective alternatives for businesses looking to save money when buying a smartphone Continue Reading

5G roll-outs to continue apace in 2021

New 5G launches will be led by telcos in forerunner markets, but the industry’s near-term outlook will depend on the timing of an economic recovery Continue Reading

Singapore employees want more support for remote working

Singapore workers faced challenges in accessing internal company resources, spotty connections and had to use their personal devices for business while working remotely Continue Reading

Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 launches unleash UK network traffic surge

Game console launches show network providers need to upgrade their infrastructure and invest in the latest networking technology to ensure reliable, resilient and robust performance Continue Reading

IT Priorities 2020: ‘Benestrophe’ for networking as UK IT departments come to terms with new normal

As 2020 ends, all traditional bets are off as Covid-19 completely changes the landscape of IT, with secure connectivity and cloud emerging at the core of enterprises’ needs for the foreseeable future Continue Reading

Optus to acquire Amaysim, signals decline of MVNO market

Optus’s A$250m acquisition of Amaysim could signal the decline of the mobile virtual network market, according to Venture Insights Continue Reading

Covid crisis proves tech can replace office space and support cost-cutting at Barclays

Bank says it will continue to look at its use of office space as it targets further cost-cutting measures Continue Reading

Chatbots will not replace call centre agents

Chatbots have not lived up to their promises and are better poised to support call centre agents in the blended realm of customer service and employee collaboration, says a regional Avaya executive Continue Reading

CMA asks for right to probe O2/Virgin merger

Competition and Markets Authority requests right to probe potentially game-changing joint venture that could transform UK’s wired and wireless communications provision Continue Reading

Zoom adds two-factor authentication for all users

Latest enhancements to Zoom security make it easier for organisations to protect users and prevent breaches and unauthorised meeting access Continue Reading

Kudelski IoT Labs authorised as Alexa Voice Services test facility

Internet of things division of cyber security firm brings device testing and certification expertise to implementers of Amazon Voice Services in speakers, headphones, vehicles and other connected devices Continue Reading

Zoom dials into Southeast Asia with Singapore datacentre

Zoom’s new Singapore datacentre is expected to shore up the performance of its conferencing tool and phone service in the city-state Continue Reading

Application monitoring, video games dominate internet traffic in first half of 2020

Increased focus on digital presence during lockdown likely to have prompted companies to invest more in ensuring and measuring application uptime and enhancing customer experience Continue Reading

VMware completes participation in UK contact-tracing app development

The day after UK government announced that its long-awaited and controversial contact-tracing application would be available ‘shortly’, VMware revealed it has completed its role in the development Continue Reading

Nokia launches first commercial enterprise 5G standalone private wireless networking

New technology aims to provide ‘direct to 5G’ entry point for high-spec industrial use case validation and ecosystem development Continue Reading

India’s Jio Platforms eyes global 5G opportunity

Indian mobile network operator Jio Platforms has built a 5G solution that will meet domestic and global demand for 5G services Continue Reading

Three areas of remote working to consider

A number of tech firms have used the shift to working from home, to develop new product offerings. We look at the IT impact Continue Reading

Locked-down Nationwide staff make 2.5 million video calls in June

Home-working technologies are no longer just a contingency for large companies, with future working practices set to change Continue Reading

Cops take out encrypted comms to disrupt organised crime

The UK’s National Crime Agency, alongside other law enforcement agencies in France and the Netherlands, have busted illicit arms and drugs rings after disabling an encrypted comms platform Continue Reading

Zoom making progress on cyber security and privacy, says CEO

Three months after being hit by a spate of security incidents, Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, has been discussing progress towards a more secure product Continue Reading

Two-thirds of UK adults to work remotely more often after Covid-19

Research commissioned by Ciena reveals how coronavirus pandemic will likely change UK internet usage, as increased use of online home working applications is complemented by commensurate rise in online education Continue Reading

Zoom U-turns on end-to-end encryption

Embattled video-conferencing provider Zoom backtracks on previous refusals to provide end-to-end encryption to free users Continue Reading

Activists call on Zoom to implement encryption for all

A coalition of tech organisations and nonprofits have urged Zoom CEO Eric Yuan to make end-to-end encryption available to all users Continue Reading

Virtual GP practice accidentally exposes patient video calls

A small number of users of Babylon’s GP at Hand service were briefly able to view other patients’ video GP consultations thanks to a bug in a new software feature Continue Reading

How retailers are staying connected during their coronavirus shutdown

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at how the hard-hit retail sector has turned to technology to stay connected with staff during the coronavirus lockdown. Our latest buyer’s guide examines best practice in data quality and how to avoid “garbage in garbage out” syndrome. And we look at how remote working affects software development teams. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Worldwide user spending on cloud-based web conferencing technology will grow by nearly 25% in 2020

Global workplace restrictions will drive expansion of cloud conferencing user base throughout 2020, but growth will taper off next year Continue Reading

Nokia joins the Open RAN Policy Coalition

Finish comms tech provider reinforces its commitment to the development of future secure mobile radio technologies for 5G by joining open and software-defined network technology consortium Continue Reading

2B or not 2C? That is the question for 5G

A flurry of 5G network launches in all major markets in Asia, North America and Europe, focused on consumer applications and services. This looks set to change in 2020 as the operators get down to business Continue Reading

Covid-19: NHS reveals comms network strain as virus spread

Patients hit the web and phone lines for coronavirus assessments, with demand peaking as lockdown was announced, says health service Continue Reading

Ericsson bullish on 5G despite Covid-19

Comms tech company’s chief highlights the importance of connectivity during times of crisis and unprecedented surge in network traffic Continue Reading

Brits expected to call time on office life after lockdown

O2 Business study reveals currently displaced workers see a permanent change to their company’s approach to flexible working Continue Reading

UK transport research body calls for safer in-vehicle technologies

Voice-controlled systems are the future of autonomous, according to TRL, whose recommendations follow a report into Apple CarPlay and Android Auto demanding improved standards in voice-activated infotainment systems Continue Reading

Pre-owned device values stay strong amidst coronavirus pandemic

More than half a billion dollars returned to US consumers in Q1 2020 as used and new mobile device markets stabilise after Covid-19 disruption Continue Reading

How Vonage is riding the e-commerce wave in Asia

The surge in online sales across Asia has boosted demand for cloud-based communications services as more e-commerce players look to integrate text messaging, voice and video into customer engagement platforms Continue Reading

Fifth of UK small businesses concerned about prolonged remote working

Small firms find the potential prospect of indefinite working from home a major challenge to future business Continue Reading

Managed services rev up revenues for SD-WAN in fourth quarter of 2019

Analyst Omdia highlights the steady transition in 2019 from hardware-based to software-defined networking and predicts good times despite Covid-19 Continue Reading

Coronavirus puts brakes on 5G core deployments

Research firm identifies short- and long-term impacts that global pandemic will have on 5G core and edge networks Continue Reading

Samsung, AWS claim world’s first mission-critical comms video call

MCPTX solution powered by leading cloud platform said to enable first responders to accurately assess vital moments using voice, data and video calls Continue Reading

BCS calls for IT recognition in coronavirus response

Campaign launched by BCS aims to recognise the importance of IT staff in keeping UK workers connected during the coronavirus crisis Continue Reading

Wireless industry hails FCC spectrum announcement as game changer for Wi-Fi 6

Proposed opening of the 6GHz band to Wi-Fi 6 technology in US set to provide more capacity than all other current Wi-Fi bands put together Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Vodafone confident of staying on the line

The coronavirus outbreak has caused the UK’s pattern of working behaviours to change completely – and network operators are confident they can cope Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Is Zoom safe and should security teams ban it?

Zoom’s rapid rise to prominence has highlighted a score of security problems with the service. Should CISOs try to steer their organisations away from it, or ban it outright? Continue Reading

HPE unveils open source software to reduce 5G complexity

Open distributed infrastructure management software launched to resolve complexity that telcos face in rolling out 5G networks across thousands of sites equipped with multiple suppliers’ IT infrastructures Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Zoom accelerates away as office workers make video calls

The Covid-19 pandemic has required people to change their working habits, and many are routinely using conferencing tools Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Mobile comms finds its voice as usage patterns evolve

UK operators declare readiness of mobile networks as they enter uncharted water with millions of users displaced from offices during the working day Continue Reading

Coronavirus: Virgin finds new data trends as it creates 500 contact centre jobs

Cable network provider issues assurance on the resilience of its infrastructure, which is under unprecedented strain from domestic users, and beefs up service staffing Continue Reading

Ericsson wins exclusive 5G contract with Cosmote Greece

Swedish comms firm tapped for 5G radio access network to strengthen Greek provider’s existing networks and boost network quality, capacity, speed and operational efficiency Continue Reading