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February |
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Newsletter | |
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Issue 07 |
| International IP on Security Exhibition |
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One in 10 sales made online |
Computer networks are being used for more and more, and its not just the computers that are talking over the local area network. At First Stop IT we are always looking for new ways for our customers to use their data networks and to maximize their productivity. This year's IIPSEC show was held just outside Coventry and was all about security products on the data network
The many products on show included video surveillance, visual recognition, retina scanning, intruder detection, intercoms and secure entry systems. One thing we learnt from the show was that much of this technology on the data network is quite new, needing a few years to mature. Much of the standard security legislation doesn't even account for these types of products, so changes will need to be made here too. The one item that did stand out was video surveillance. More than half the exhibits included these products and the quality and features on offer left me in little doubt that these products were a major improvement on the older style systems. If you're looking to keep an eye on someone or something then ask an IT expert on how you can use your network to do it. |
The amount of money spent over the internet almost doubled in the 10 weeks before Christmas compared with the previous year and now accounts for 10% of all retail sales, according to the internet retailing body IMRG. According to Jo Tucker, IMRG's managing director, the figures represent a “step change in retailing at Christmas”. The group's data reveals that shoppers spent £4.98 billion online during the run-up to the festive season, compared to £3.3 billion a year earlier, with the value of the goods purchased rising by 50%. "There can no longer be any doubt that the internet is a major part of the retail landscape, and that it will dominate the retail agenda for the next several years," added Tucker. According to the IMRG, 24 million people made purchases over the internet in 2005, with the average shopper spending £816 last year and £208 at Christmas. |
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Lease and beat the tax man and competition. |
US Blackberry network moves closer to shutdown |
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Small businesses this year will account for more than 50% of the total purchase of IT equipment. Most of these companies know that to compete they need to have up to date IT systems and solutions. Doing this is made easier by leasing your hardware. What are the benefits of leasing? Preserves working capital – By leasing equipment, valuable working capital remains within the business, allowing for continued growth. Protects other credit lines – With leasing existing lines of credit remain intact, i.e. bank overdraft etc, and are free to be used in those all to frequent unexpected times. Tax efficient – Because leasing payments are fully deductible from a businesses taxable profits leasing remains one of the most competitive and convenient ways a company can borrow money. Upgrading – All lease plans provide the flexibility a business needs to stay ahead of advances in technology Ease of budgeting – All lease payments are fixed throughout the duration of an Agreement and not subject to fluctuations in interest rates. For more information on leasing your IT solutions contact: info@firststopit.com |
The US Supreme Court has refused to hear Blackberry maker RIM’s appeal against a previous court ruling that said it infringed NTP’s patents for push e-mail technology, meaning the US Blackberry network is moving even closer to a complete shutdown. NTP filed a patent infringement lawsuit against RIM in 2001. The company won... Article Continues Below The court stayed the injunction pending RIM’s appeals. An appeal court has already upheld the patent infringement judgment and RIM’s initial settlement offer has been rejected by the district court as unenforceable. |
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Next generation telephony |
Europe to embrace triple play |
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Most people don’t realise that there is usually more than one network in their building. Before computers sat on every desktop there was the telephone network. And most people also don’t realise that telephone technology is currently undergoing a revolution: one that will simplify management, reduce costs and change the way that businesses use the phone to interact with customers. This revolution comes with the advent of IP Telephony. IP Telephony, which can also be referred to as Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is the routing of voice conversations over the same infrastructure as your data (email etc) or any other internet protocol-based network. This makes your telephone network part of your IT infrastructure which instantly helps reduce costs for your organisation. Businesses that use traditional phone systems will have two sets of suppliers to deal with along two lots of cables that need to be looked after. Even the smallest office will have a large box somewhere full of telephone cables. It’s another thing that needs to be managed and one more thing that can take you away from concentrating on your business and customers. It is also something that can be quite costly, with the cost of adding, moving or changing the set-up of a handset to an existing system. Prices normally average at £150. With IP Telephony voice, data and video can all be transmitted over a single network infrastructure. This means one box, one set of cables and, most importantly, as your phones becomes a seamless part of your information network, only one supplier contract to manage. As well as reducing complexity, IP Telephony also opens up a world of functionality that is either just not possible with a traditional telephone network or would be prohibitively expensive for smaller enterprises. By Steve Johnson, SMB sales manager at 3Com UK |
The provision of triple play services - TV, broadband and phone - is set to become a major growth area as demand for converged services intensifies. So say the researchers at technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. They predict the market for digital home services will take off in Europe over the next 12 months. According to their report The Future Role of Cable in Shaping the Digital Home in Europe, the long-term winners will be those players able to offer "triple play" on a single bill at a decent price. While many cable companie have pushed ahead with their triple play offerings, the research points out that an increasing number of telcom providers are now forcing their way into the TV market. |
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