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Broadband customers told to speak to ISP about speed

Daniel — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:59:02 +0000

A broadband expert has told businesses to speak to their internet service provider (ISP) if they are not getting the advertised speeds.

The regulator Ofcom recently suggested the introduction of a voluntary code to help tackle the discrepancy between advertised and actual broadband speeds.

Richard Patterson, spokesperson for broadband-expert.co.uk, explained why advertised speeds are often not delivered and also gave some advice to customers.

“There is pressure for ISPs to advertise and deliver faster and faster speeds, yet these are limited by the current infrastructure,” he said.

“Consumers should speak to the internet service providers about the actual speeds they are likely to receive before signing a contract. If you are getting a much slower speed than expected, your ISP may be able to help, so it’s worth getting in touch with them.”

He also suggested that, if some ISPs choose not to sign up to the voluntary code, then further regulation may be needed.

Businesses told to look at green energy sources

Daniel — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:59:01 +0000

Businesses have been told that they need to embrace renewable energy sources and efficiency practices.

According to the Annual Energy Statement from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, fossil fuels will be scarcer by 2050 and, with demand predicted to still be high, prices will rise even further.

The statement also pointed out that the UK’s own oil and gas sources will be depleted by then, meaning greater reliance on imports.

Andrew Charlesworth, journalist at BusinessGreen.com, explained why going green can be so important to businesses on a financial level.

He said: “You’ve always got to compare the greening of energy sources with what the alternative is.

“If the alternative is sticking with fossils, then you have to make assumptions in your model about where those fossil energy prices are going to go. Pretty much every analyst and commodity dealer says that they are going to be going up.”

He also pointed out that businesses could make savings by investing in energy conservation and insulation.

Using business broadband for cloud computing

Daniel — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:52:57 +0000

Traditionally, small businesses have relied on individual computers or their own networks to meet their IT needs and to house their software.

Now, however, there is a wide range of cloud-based solutions that means it is possible to have access to various productivity and communications applications with just a business broadband connection.

As well as helping to cut costs – by making servers and software redundant – they can also aid in the introduction of flexible working practices into the workplaces, something the government has put emphasis on recently.

Hugo Harber, director of convergence and network strategy at computing services provider Star, recently explained why cloud computing is expected to see continued growth over the coming years.

He said: “As a cloud adopter you are buying into expertise in hardware and application maintenance and management. In addition to this you achieve scalability and flexibility which you cannot achieve with owned infrastructure.

“Another big driver for business users is resilience and service assurance which are usually inherent in business grade cloud-based services.”

The fostering of creativity is also a common driver towards cloud computing, with a survey by 360°IT finding that half of organisations expect to see this benefit in the technology.

In the same study, it was also shown that 30 per cent of firms recognised the ability to use familiar applications outside of a traditional environment, while 14 per cent felt they may be able to gain an advantage over businesses that do not use cloud computing.

For a basic range of cloud options, businesses could go for Google Apps, the company’s suite of products, including Gmail, Docs and Calendar.

The main advantage is that it is fairly inexpensive and can be accessed easily from a wide range of mobile devices.

On the downside, the office applications do not offer as much functionality as Microsoft’s familiar solutions that have long been used by most businesses.

For those looking for cloud options with more features, but that are still accessible remotely though a business broadband connection, then some of Microsoft’s offerings may be of interest.

With the recently-released Office 2010, web-based versions of Word and Excel have been made available, following the lead set by Google.

However, for organisations looking for some more functionality and better collaborative tools, SharePoint may be the best choice as it allows users to set up pages and integrate many social tools.

One important factor that has made cloud computing increasingly viable in recent years has been the ever-increasing broadband speeds now available to businesses.

According to a recent report by Ofcom, the average speed now stands at 5.2Mb, compared to 4.1Mb just one year ago and, although the UK still lags behind many other western nations, it is good news for businesses.

Of course, one large roadblock to cloud computing for many businesses is the security risk that potentially surrounds the technology.

As with any information sent and received over the internet, it is vulnerable to cyber attacks, potentially meaning the loss or corruption of valuable data.

Dan Raywood, online news editor at SC Magazine, recently said that the only real solution is to find a provider that can be trusted.

Doubts about small business funding for Olympic sports

Daniel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:59:01 +0000

Doubts have been raised about whether small businesses will want to take part in new plans to fund the 2012 Olympics.

Team 2012 recently launched a fundraising programme that aims to get smaller businesses to support high-performance Olympic and Paralympic sport by funding training and equipment for the country’s top athletes.

However, Nick Winch, 2012 co-ordinator for the Federation of Small Businesses, explained why his organisation thinks smaller firms will not take part in the scheme.

“We would be sceptical as to whether many small businesses would want to participate in this. There might have been a higher take-up if the availability of complementary tickets had been part of the deal.

“The larger sponsors who are putting in what is for them a very small amount of money are certainly going to be given tickets, marketing rights and so on.”

He added that there would be more of an incentive for small businesses if tickets to top events at the games were to be offered.

Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne is among the high-profile names championing the Team 2012 scheme.

Business broadband speeds up

Daniel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:59:01 +0000

A new study has shown that business broadband speeds have increased over the past year.

According to research carried out by regulator Ofcom, the average broadband speed was 5.2Mb, in May, up from 4.1Mb in April 2009.

The gap between advertised and actual speeds has increased, leading to the regulator recommending to the Advertising Standards Authority and the Committee on Advertising Practice that a new code be introduced to make sure promised speeds can actually be delivered.

Ed Richards, Ofcom’s chief executive, said: “Ofcom’s research shows that average speeds have increased which is good news, but there is scope for a further step change in the quality of the UK communications infrastructure.

“Actual speeds are often much lower than many of the advertised speeds which makes it essential that consumers are given information which is as accurate as possible at the point of sale; this is what the new code is designed to deliver.”

The rollout of fibre cable infrastructure is one of the factors that is gradually driving up broadband speeds in the UK.

The latest in business mobile phones

Daniel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:59:01 +0000

With technology progressing at an ever-increasing rate, the last few months have seen some interesting developments in the world of business mobile phones.

Apple, with its relentless marketing machine and ability to create hype, recently unveiled and released the iPhone 4, this time boasting a handset that features video calling and a display described as “stunning”.

Launching the device, Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, said: “iPhone 4 is the biggest leap since the original iPhone. FaceTime video calling sets a new standard for mobile communication, and our new Retina display is the highest resolution display ever in a phone, with text looking like it does on a fine printed page.

“We have been dreaming about both of these breakthroughs for decades.”

However, despite the largely positive reaction to the phone, it was also hit by an antenna issue that resulted in a dramatic loss of signal when the handset was held in a particular way.

Apple has also faced a considerable challenge from competitors, which are finally releasing handsets and operating systems that provide a viable alternative.

While Google may have underperformed with its own handset, the Nexus One, its Android operating system has managed to gain ground on Apple.

Recent figures from GfK Retail and Technology showed that Android’s share of the UK mobile contract market grew from three per cent during the first quarter of 2010 to 13.2 per cent in the second quarter.

GfK analyst Megan Baldock said: “The figures suggest an increasing number of consumers are now asking for Android handsets by name.

“Operating systems are no longer simply a by-product but a key selling point in their own right.”

Business mobile phones running on the Linux-based platform have included the HTC Desire, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the Samsung Galaxy S.

Among the key Android qualities of interest to business mobile users will be the improved Microsoft Exchange support introduced with the latest update to the operating system.

Despite the battle between Android and Apple, the leading manufacturer of business mobiles is still Research In Motion (RIM), with its BlackBerry handsets.

A report from Strategy Analytics recently showed that, with Global smartphone sales rising by 43 per cent annually, RIM held its market share of 19 per cent in the second quarter of 2010.

This has largely been down to the fact that BlackBerry phones continue to be the preferred choice of enterprise users, with the main selling point still the impressive push functionality and email support.

Recent additions to the range offered by the firm have included the BlackBerry Bold 9700 and the Pearl 3G, both of which possess keypads.

With all of the latest smartphones, the availability of applications has been among the biggest selling points, with customers being able to download solutions to help them with productivity.

One factor that business mobile users may want to take into account when considering a new handset is that much of the touted functionality may be available through other portable devices such as netbooks or tablet PCs.

Using mobile broadband, these can provide internet and email access, while, equipped with larger screens and easier typing options, can also be a viable option for use on the go.

Flexible working recommended to small businesses

Daniel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Small businesses have been encouraged to facilitate and promote flexible working practices within their organisations.

According to research by Hays, 55 per cent of employers have welcomed government plans to introduce legislation requiring them to offer flexible working to all employees.

Stephen Overell, associate director for the Work Foundation, said that it was no surprise to also see an increasing demand for flexible working from workforces.

“It is something that both sides – workers and employers can gain from. For example, flexible working is often quite a good way to meet customer needs if they are beyond standard working hours,” he added.

“So for 24/7 [the] needs of consumers can be served by flexible working and it also serves the needs of workers who maybe have children, or demands on their time, and they need a way to fit work around it.”

Earlier this year, a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers established that flexible working was the most valued benefit for employees, ahead of other perks such as bonuses.

Business broadband and the coalition government

Daniel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:59:00 +0000

The issue of communications – and broadband in particular – played an important part in the run up to the general election earlier this year and it stayed on the radar after the coalition government was formed.

In its Programme for Government, the coalition outlined its intention to facilitate the rapid rollout of superfast broadband.

It added: “We will ensure that BT and other infrastructure providers allow the use of their assets to deliver such broadband, and we will seek to introduce superfast broadband in remote areas at the same time as in more populated areas.

“If necessary, we will consider using the part of the TV licence fee that is supporting the digital switchover to fund broadband in areas that the market alone will not reach.”

Speaking at the Hospital Club in June, Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport, expanded upon this and explained why broadband is such a vital issue for British businesses.

“Wherever I go in the country, businesses tell me that access to fast, reliable broadband is increasingly essential to their competitive success,” he said.

“Other countries are already moving ahead with rolling out next generation, superfast broadband based on fibre optics rather than copper.

“Superfast broadband is not simply about doing the same things faster. It’s about doing totally new things – creating a platform on which a whole generation of new businesses can thrive.”

One important move, promised in the Conservative party manifesto, was to scrap the 50p per month landline tax that would have been levied on all businesses and households to fund broadband rollout.

This promise was executed in the emergency Budget and chancellor George Osborne said: “Instead, we will support private broadband investment, including to rural areas, in part with funding from the Digital Switchover under-spend within the TV licence fee.”

Perhaps the most significant move came, however, when the government decided to scrap the target for universal 2MB broadband by 2012, which had been set by the previous government and initially maintained by the coalition.

At a recent broadband industry event, Jeremy Hunt said: “I have looked at the provision the government had made to achieve this by 2012. And I’m afraid that I am not convinced that there is sufficient funding in place.

“So, while we will keep working towards that date, we have set ourselves a more realistic target of achieving universal 2MB access within the lifetime of this parliament.”

This would mean that, barring a break-up of the coalition government, 2015 is the new date by which all businesses should expect to be served with adequate broadband services.

In the same speech, Mr Hunt did confirm that a testing process would begin to work out the best way to deliver superfast services to rural areas, an issue that has been of concern among organisations representing businesses away from urban areas, where telecommunications companies have been reluctant to provide infrastructure.

Earlier this month, Jeremy Hunt said that “by the end of this parliament, this country should boast the best superfast broadband in Europe and be up there with the very best in the world”.

While some ambitious targets may have been scaled back, broadband remains a vital issue, recognised as a part of the infrastructure and essential to businesses around the country.

Opportunities for new small businesses

Daniel — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:58:59 +0000

Anyone considering setting up a small business has been told that they still have opportunities despite the tough conditions.

A survey carried out on behalf of Hiscox recently established that 23 per cent of students are considering launching their own enterprise, while 19 per cent said they started their courses with the intention of eventually being self-employed.

Phil McCabe, spokesperson for Forum of Private Business, explained the situation for anyone looking to set up a business.

“In terms of whether it is the right time, there is no right time, there is no wrong time. Obviously we are still facing quite difficult recessionary conditions even though we have come out of the recession.

“On the other side of the coin, that has its advantages. Start-up costs are lower [and] there are gaps in the market where perhaps there wouldn’t have been in the past.”

Meanwhile, research by PayPoint.net recently found that 64 per cent of British office workers are attracted to the idea of running their own business.

Small businesses told to be more communicative

Daniel — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:58:59 +0000

Bosses of small businesses have been encouraged to develop and foster more communicative atmospheres within their workplaces.

According to a recent report by Everything Everywhere, good communication skills have been identified as one of the five key attributes of entrepreneurs, with high online presence also among the factors that result in successful businesses.

Martin Lyne, small and medium enterprise marketing director at Everything Everywhere, explained why communicating is so important.

“Whether a team works from home or in an office, employers must ensure they create a culture which promotes positive communication.

“Having the necessary tools and processes in place to promote open communication is therefore a must for business leaders.”

He added that the rise of smartphones meant that there are now plenty of ways in which to communicate, including video calls and email.

Meanwhile, a survey of entrepreneurs by Hiscox recently established that 30 per cent of small businesses in Europe are set for expansion this year, with the majority targeting the second half of the year for growth.