Crunch time for BACS, O2 launches i-mode, Exchange Service Pack 2, Free broadband - October Newsletter Issue 03

October

Newsletter

Issue 03

Crunch Time for BACS

O2 launches i-mode in the UK

UK businesses have just weeks to plan their switch to the new online BACS system, or risk entering 2006 paying suppliers or staff wages manually, the IT industry has warned.

Concerned software vendors have revealed that they would struggle to deal with a huge influx of businesses preparing to switch nearer the 31 December, 2005 deadline, when the old BACS system is switched off and replaced by its new internet version BACSTEL-IP.

Ian Armstrong, head of BACTSEL-IP migration at Bottomline, warned that high-profile businesses could end up making out cheques to staff and suppliers 'if inertia in the marketplace' continues for the next few months.

Trafford Centre finance manager Gavin Macdowell, who planned the centre's migration to BACSTEL-IP, urged other businesses to plan for the switch as soon as possible: 'We jumped quickly because I can see companies screaming for help in September/October this year, and not being able to make the switch. We went early to avoid any bottleneck.'

Last November, BACS claimed that 20% of the 35,000 businesses using BACS had migrated to the new online system. BACSTEL-IP marketing manager Mike Hutchinson warned that businesses can't wait until the summer to plan the switch. 'If they stick their hands up in August for help to migrate, it'll be too late.'

If you believe that the changes to the BACS system may effect you then contact us so we can help you plan your migration.

Mobile service provider O2 will turn on the UK's first i-mode phone service next week.

I-mode is a proprietary mobile data system developed by NTT DoCoMo that allows 2G and 3G services to be transmitted to special handsets.

Samsung and NEC will each have two handsets ready for the launch, ranging in price from £79 to £279, and more are planned.

"The i-mode experience in other countries shows that this new depth and breadth of content, combined with the speed and simplicity of use, leads to far higher customer usage," said Matthew Key, chief executive at O2.

More ...

Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2

Users advised to assess Microsoft software plan

Service Pack 2 for Exchange Server 2003 is scheduled for release in the second half of 2005. This eagerly awaited release should bring with it some eagerly awaited improvements.

Microsoft users should carefully evaluate the new benefits the vendor has added to its Software Assurance (SA) licensing programme, to decide whether or not the scheme meets their needs, say experts.

The software giant last week announced a range of additional services that will be available to customers from March next year, in an effort to improve the value for money of SA (see below).

Microsoft UK licensing manager Mark Buckley told Computing that the new features have been made available following feedback from users, and says businesses should examine the benefits in the context of their own organisations.

More ...

SP2 offers a huge leap forward in mobility capabilities. With SP2, Exchange Server 2003 can offer a significantly improved Outlook experience on mobile devices as well as additional security and device control. As always, the Exchange ActiveSync protocol does not require expensive software or outsourcing fees to access data on your Exchange server.

The one feature that really interests us at First Stop IT is the
New seamless Direct Push Technology e-mail experience. No longer is there a reliance on short message service (SMS) to notify and ensure the device automatically retrieves new e-mail from your Exchange server. SP2 will use an HTTP connection, maintained by the device, to push new e-mail, calendar, contact, and task notifications to the device. If you have a microsoft phone you will be instantly updated very much like a Blackberry.

As these features are part of a service pack, they are effectly free to clients already running Exchange 2003.

Dixons offers a year of free broadband voice calls

Home users to get 24MB broadband

Dixons has launched a new voice over broadband service that allows free calls to any UK landline for the first 12 months.

The Freetalk service is set to compete with the likes of Skype, Vonage and BT in the growing internet telephony market.

What makes the Dixons service unique is that users simply plug a box into their broadband connection and can use a normal phone to make calls.

With the Skype service, for instance, users have to switch on their PC and wear headphones to make calls.

Once the free 12-month call period ends, Freetalk charges cheaper line rental than Vonage, which also bundles free calls in its standard line rental package. The Freetalk service costs £6.99 a month, while Vonage currently charges £9.99.

However, the Freetalk broadband connection box costs £79.99

Dixons said it was aiming to sign up 500,000 users to its service within the first 12 months, with the help of its high street shops.

Swedish ISP Be has launched the UK's fastest broadband service for home users.

Be Home 24Meg costs £24 per month and offers an uncapped 24MB internet-only connection. It is currently available in London and will be rolled out to 20 other cities over the next year.

Be said that the service will handle two High Definition TV channels and " three or four" standard TV or video-on-demand channels, along with normal surfing and voice calls. However, the ISP admitted that users may not always get a 24MB connection.
The move is expected to shake up the offerings from other operators. UK Online has said that it will launch a 24MB service in October at £30 per month.

More ...

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Crunch Time for BACS		O2 launches i-mode in the UK
UK businesses have just weeks to plan their switch to the new online BACS system, or risk entering 2006 paying suppliers or staff wages manually, the IT industry has warned. Concerned software vendors have revealed that they would struggle to deal with a huge influx of businesses preparing to switch nearer the 31 December, 2005 deadline, when the old BACS system is switched off and replaced by its new internet version BACSTEL-IP. Ian Armstrong, head of BACTSEL-IP migration at Bottomline, warned that high-profile businesses could end up making out cheques to staff and suppliers 'if inertia in the marketplace' continues for the next few months. Trafford Centre finance manager Gavin Macdowell, who planned the centre's migration to BACSTEL-IP, urged other businesses to plan for the switch as soon as possible: 'We jumped quickly because I can see companies screaming for help in September/October this year, and not being able to make the switch. We went early to avoid any bottleneck.' Last November, BACS claimed that 20% of the 35,000 businesses using BACS had migrated to the new online system. BACSTEL-IP marketing manager Mike Hutchinson warned that businesses can't wait until the summer to plan the switch. 'If they stick their hands up in August for help to migrate, it'll be too late.' If you believe that the changes to the BACS system may effect you then contact us so we can help you plan your migration.		Mobile service provider O2 will turn on the UK's first i-mode phone service next week. I-mode is a proprietary mobile data system developed by NTT DoCoMo that allows 2G and 3G services to be transmitted to special handsets. Samsung and NEC will each have two handsets ready for the launch, ranging in price from £79 to £279, and more are planned. "The i-mode experience in other countries shows that this new depth and breadth of content, combined with the speed and simplicity of use, leads to far higher customer usage," said Matthew Key, chief executive at O2. More ...

Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2		Users advised to assess Microsoft software plan
Service Pack 2 for Exchange Server 2003 is scheduled for release in the second half of 2005. This eagerly awaited release should bring with it some eagerly awaited improvements.		Microsoft users should carefully evaluate the new benefits the vendor has added to its Software Assurance (SA) licensing programme, to decide whether or not the scheme meets their needs, say experts. The software giant last week announced a range of additional services that will be available to customers from March next year, in an effort to improve the value for money of SA (see below). Microsoft UK licensing manager Mark Buckley told Computing that the new features have been made available following feedback from users, and says businesses should examine the benefits in the context of their own organisations. More ...
SP2 offers a huge leap forward in mobility capabilities. With SP2, Exchange Server 2003 can offer a significantly improved Outlook experience on mobile devices as well as additional security and device control. As always, the Exchange ActiveSync protocol does not require expensive software or outsourcing fees to access data on your Exchange server. The one feature that really interests us at First Stop IT is the New seamless Direct Push Technology e-mail experience. No longer is there a reliance on short message service (SMS) to notify and ensure the device automatically retrieves new e-mail from your Exchange server. SP2 will use an HTTP connection, maintained by the device, to push new e-mail, calendar, contact, and task notifications to the device. If you have a microsoft phone you will be instantly updated very much like a Blackberry. As these features are part of a service pack, they are effectly free to clients already running Exchange 2003.

Dixons offers a year of free broadband voice calls		Home users to get 24MB broadband
Dixons has launched a new voice over broadband service that allows free calls to any UK landline for the first 12 months. The Freetalk service is set to compete with the likes of Skype, Vonage and BT in the growing internet telephony market. What makes the Dixons service unique is that users simply plug a box into their broadband connection and can use a normal phone to make calls. With the Skype service, for instance, users have to switch on their PC and wear headphones to make calls. Once the free 12-month call period ends, Freetalk charges cheaper line rental than Vonage, which also bundles free calls in its standard line rental package. The Freetalk service costs £6.99 a month, while Vonage currently charges £9.99. However, the Freetalk broadband connection box costs £79.99 Dixons said it was aiming to sign up 500,000 users to its service within the first 12 months, with the help of its high street shops.		Swedish ISP Be has launched the UK's fastest broadband service for home users. Be Home 24Meg costs £24 per month and offers an uncapped 24MB internet-only connection. It is currently available in London and will be rolled out to 20 other cities over the next year. Be said that the service will handle two High Definition TV channels and " three or four" standard TV or video-on-demand channels, along with normal surfing and voice calls. However, the ISP admitted that users may not always get a 24MB connection. The move is expected to shake up the offerings from other operators. UK Online has said that it will launch a 24MB service in October at £30 per month. More ...