XLN Business Community

Businesses told to deal with employee stress issues

Daniel — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:08:45 +0000

Employers have been urged to have procedures in place to help staff with stress or mental health issues.

A recent survey by Simplyhealth found that half of workers in the UK think that their bosses have ignored their wellbeing during the economic downturn, with 45 per cent planning to find a new job because of this.

Dr Clare Kelliher of Cranfield School of Management said that a good working environment can help alleviate stress while it is also important that bosses communicate with their staff.

She added: "Training may be part of the solution, but it is also about the climate at the workplace.

"Treating people with dignity and respect goes a long way to foster similar behaviours in return. Managers can act as role models for their organisations."

According to mental health charity Rethink, 59 per cent of British workers would feel uncomfortable talking to their boss about issues such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder.

Business mobile users could look to VoIP

Daniel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:22:06 +0000

Business mobile users may increasingly turn to voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services over the next few years, it has been claimed.

According to market research firm In-Stat, the number of mobile VoIP users will reach 288 million around the world by the end of 2013, with many of them accessing the services over developing technologies like Wi-Max and long-term evolution (4G) connections.

George Van Horn, a senior analyst at research firm IBISWorld, believes the use of the technology will be boosted by greater access to mobile broadband while high-definition VoIP will also gain traction.

He said: "There is huge potential for the widespread introduction of mobile VoIP in the outlook.

"High-definition VoIP will play a role in improving phone call quality and service options, which will contribute to the growing user base."

Figures recently published by IBISWorld showed that VoIP was the best performing industry of the last decade, with growth of 179,036 per cent between 2002 and 2009.

Fast business broadband ‘benefits everyone’

Daniel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:21:55 +0000

A digital market research expert has said that businesses could benefit from superfast broadband services.

Broadband Delivery UK was recently set up by the government to help achieve the target of getting 2Mbps broadband to homes and businesses around the country by 2012.

It will also manage the £1 billion Next Generation Fund to roll out superfast broadband to 90 per cent of the country by 2017.

While a lot of the discussions surrounding broadband speeds have been about individual users, Shane Wright, technical director for eDigitalResearch, maintains that it "benefits everyone", including businesses.

He added: "They [businesses] benefit through the same process efficiencies as users and have [an] opportunity to innovate and differentiate themselves by supporting online sales and information channels."

According to broadband.co.uk, the average broadband speed in the UK grew from 3.667Mbps at the beginning of 2009 to 4.478Mbps by the end of the year.

XLN Telecom offers speeds of up to 24Mbps with its business broadband services, with a variety of packages available depending on the needs of an organisation.

Google Apps recommended for small and medium sized businesses

Daniel — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:18:55 +0000

Google has recommended its Apps suite to small and medium-sized businesses looking for disaster recovery backup.

While large enterprises may have their own data centres and solutions for data backup, it is just as important for smaller business to have the same security.

Rajen Sheth, a senior product manager for Google Apps, puts the case forward for the suite in a post on the Official Google Enterprise Blog, and he stresses the importance of quick recoverability.

He adds: "No one likes preparing for worst-case scenarios. When you use Google Apps, you have one less critical thing to worry about."

The Apps suite, which is a form of cloud computing for businesses, includes Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites, all hosted online and accessible from any location.

Another area in which Google products could potentially benefit the business community is with its mobile phone solutions.

This includes the Android platform, available on a number of handsets, as well as the company’s own model, the Nexus One.

VoIP predictions show importance of business broadband

Daniel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:43:35 +0000

A technology expert has predicted that voice over internet protocol (VoIP) will eventually replace other forms of communication, once again stressing the importance of a business broadband connection.

Research by Point Topic recently found that VoIP subscriptions grew by 15 per cent in the first three quarters of 2009, with 2.95 million people now using it in the UK.

According to Ian Grayson, technology journalist at business IT website Hydrapinion, the current trends point towards the domination of VoIP.

He said: "VoIP will become the standard for all voice calls eventually, as voice simply becomes another data stream carried over IP networks."

Grayson also suggested that VoIP over 3G connections has the potential to cut mobile phone bills, especially with data rates continuing to fall.

Services accessible over a broadband connection include Skype, Google Talk and SightSpeed.

As well as voice, many VoIP providers allow users to engage in video conferencing in addition to instant messaging.

Google predicts death of traditional desktop PC

Daniel — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:14:28 +0000

Google has predicted that the future lies in mobile devices that require a constant connection to the web, rather than desktop computers.

Speaking to Silicon Republic recently, John Herlihy, vice president of global ad operations at Google, said that there would be more emphasis on cloud computing and ubiquitous connectivity.

Cliff Saran, managing editor of Computer Weekly magazine, agreed that mobile devices are coming to the fore, although he stressed that this didn’t necessarily mean smartphones.

He added: "What Google are saying is that the traditional desktop computing is going to be around, but it’s not going to be the same. People will still run desktop applications, but they’ll be run on much smaller devices – thin client devices.

"Thin client software – basically web software – requires the persistence of connection to the internet, otherwise it just doesn’t work."

The need to stay constantly connected to the internet once again emphasises the importance of having a strong business broadband connection.

Market intelligence provider Analysys Mason recently noted that there was a potential for big growth in cloud computing for small and medium sized businesses.

Face-to-face business is still best, says James Caan

Hannah — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:50:39 +0000

Dragon’s Den star James Caan says face-to-face communication is still vital for successful businesses.

His comments came this week in response to a survey which revealed that UK workers are finding it increasingly difficult to switch off their mobile devices outside of the office. About one in seven of those surveyed by Nectar Business estimated they add an extra one to two hours to their work week by simply checking and organising messages on handheld devices – that equals nearly 10 additional working days per year.

Whilst they’re certainly helpful for business people on the go during working hours, it’s crucial to strike a proper balance when it comes to business communications. According to Caan, “the key to making the most of technology in business is to ensure it’s used as an additional tool rather than the only form of contact with colleagues.”

He added: “New technology has evolved at an incredible rate in the last decade and businesses are now run very differently compared to when I started out. Face-to-face meetings are essential to build a business – it’s important to remember that clients and suppliers buy into the people as well as your product or service.”

Research carried out in August last year by the Harvard Business Review Analytic Services found that face-to-face communication was very valuable. Of those who took part in the study, 89% said face-to-face meetings are key for sealing deals, 95% indicated it’s essential for building and maintaining long-term relationships and 77% felt it’s the most effective way to meet new clients or sell services and products.

Could business mobile users soon make silent calls?

Daniel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:20:32 +0000

New technology has been demonstrated that could result in business mobile users being able to make ’silent’ phone calls.

Described as ’silent communication’, the technology, developed by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, was recently displayed at the Cebit electronics fair in Germany.

It works by measuring electric signals from muscles and converting them into audible speech, meaning a mobile user could simply mouth words into the phone to communicate.

Professor Tanja Shultz of the institute told the BBC: "I was taking the train and the person sitting next to me was constantly chatting and I thought ‘I need to change this’."

In addition to telecommunications, this technology could also be used to help give a voice back to people who cannot speak as a result of illness or an accident.

Another recent advancement in this field has been the revelation that Google is working on technology that could turn mobile phones into instant translation devices.

Although still a few years off, according to the company, the service would combine voice recognition with the translation tools it already provides.

Businesses urged to help employees with back problems

Daniel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:20:31 +0000

Businesses are being urged to do more to help employees who have back problems.

The Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance revealed recently that musculoskeletal disorders were responsible for 10.8 million lost working days in 2008-09 and has published a charter outlining the ways in which employers could help their workforce.

This includes providing more flexible working hours and ensuring that there is proper dialogue between the different parties to identify any health issues.

Steve Bevan, managing director of The Work Foundation, said that the situation could be improved if more people had jobs offering autonomy and a say in key decisions.

He added: "Flexibility in working time can make a big difference, especially if the health condition causes chronic pain or fatigue.

"A small amount of flexibility can often help people cope with the demands of their condition."

According to the Health and Safety Executive, some 1.2 million people who worked during the course of the 2008-2009 period were found to be suffering from some form of illness, including long-term and new conditions.

Government starts work on next generation broadband

Daniel — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:14:33 +0000

The government has announced that work has begun on delivering fast broadband to most of the country.

A new body, Broadband Delivery UK, will drive forward the commitment to bringing 2MB speeds to every household and business by 2012, while a £1 billion Next Generation Fund will aim to bring superfast services to 90 per cent of the country by 2017.

In an announcement on Thursday (March 4th), Digital Britain minister Stephen Timms said that it was clear government intervention is needed to ensure everyone benefits from superfast internet access.

He added: "Taking advantage of new technologies like next generation broadband is vital to the growth of the UK’s economy and it’s important that all homes and businesses can access the opportunities faster speeds bring."

A report has also been published by the government to help local authorities decide how to implement plans and to work out which communities will need the most assistance in ensuring they have access to high-speed services.

The Country Land and Business Association recently urged the government to introduce grants to help deliver broadband to rural areas where many are still rely on dial-up internet.