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The Appy Awards took place in London on 11 April, demonstrating the UK’s ever increasing usage of smartphone apps.
Download volumes have rocketed in the past few years, with more than 600, 000 apps currently available on the market. In the last year and a half more than 10 billion apps have been downloaded from Apples online store alone.
The Appy Awards brought together some of the biggest names in the industry to celebrate the best apps around. Angry Birds, Facebook and Spotify were amongst the winners on the night.
But it’s not just social apps that are doing well. More and more people are using business smartphones to access office emails on the move and as well as synching their business broadband and phone many businesses are using business smartphone apps. Google Maps triumphed at the awards, taking away the title for best time saver. No doubt business people on the move and navigating their way to meetings have helped the app gain more usage.
More than 30, 000 people voted at the Appy Awards.
4Com offer a range of business smartphones. For more information contact us now.
Rural parts of the UK should expect to see improved broadband speeds soon as Fujitsu has just announced its plans to build a superfast broadband network.
The company is set to work with Virgin Media, Talk Talk and Cisco to deliver the broadband service.
The news comes shortly after the government announced that it would be setting aside £530m to fund faster broadband speeds in rural areas.
The network is planned to be built on existing BT infrastructure and will use fibre optic cabling. The move should see a big difference in browsing speeds. BT’s current network reaches speeds of up to 40 Mbps while the proposed Fujitsu network could reach speeds of 1Gbps.
The demand for faster broadband connectivity has been increasing, with many people now using their mobiles and business smartphones to surf the net and download.
If the plans are successful customers should be able to use the service from next year.
For information on broadband for businesses browse the 4Com website.
An industry report has warned that smartphones and social sites could soon fall victim to hackers.
With an increased usage in business smartphones and sites like Facebook and Twitter, more and more users are being targeted by cyber criminals during cyber attacks.
Symantec’s yearly report suggests that social site visitors and users of smartphones (in particular Android) are most at risk. Hackers are able to gain access to and install potentially damaging software on smartphones via apps. The results can differ, from unsolicited text messaging to dialling toll numbers and running up large bills.
On social networking sites it is suggested that web links drive users to click into websites that have viruses. The links are placed strategically in a bid to store personal information.
Although there has been an increase in threats aimed at smartphones (48 more in the last year) it’s still relatively low. But Symantec has found a 93% increase in web attacks during the last year, which is a concern as more and more people are combining their business broadband and phone.
4Com offer a range of business smartphones. We also offer telephone maintenance contractors to help protect against hackers. Contact us now for more information.
02 recently announced plans to erect 15 new masts across Dorset in a bid to improve mobile internet connectivity.
Through the initiative the mobile phone operator aims to improve mobile internet speeds throughout Bournemouth and Poole.
The plans are no doubt an effect of the increasing usage of business smartphones including iPhone, Blackberry and Android.
As well as consumers using mobile phones to download apps and surf the net, more and more businesses are relying on their business smartphones. Many synch their business broadband and phone to do business on the move and the demand seems to be taking its toll on connectivity and speed.
02’s announcement, which comes ahead of the 4G auction, should see faster internet speed and better broadband for businesses in the area.
The plans are expected to get underway this year.
04/04/11
Users of home telephone and broadband services could be saving on cost soon as Ofcom has just announced plans to review current prices.
The telecoms regulator has suggested that there could be a cost saving of 10% per year.
They are looking at cutting the wholesale price and reducing the amount Openreach (managed by BT) can charge providers for using their service.
The move will see providers such as Talk Talk having access to wholesale phone lines and will offer providers cheaper access to BT’s network.
There are a number of initiatives that Ofcom is looking at; including reducing the amount a provider pays Openreach when it takes over the lines.
Ofcom is expected to conclude the consultation in the summer and any price changes will be active from the end of the year.
4Com offer wholesale rates on broadband for businesses. To find out more contact us now.
28/03/11
If you’re not impressed by the amount of memory your business smartphone can store, fear not. Researchers in Scotland have been working to create a solution to storage problems and have fashioned a device which will improve storage capability for a host of products including business smartphones.
The technology transforms data into electrical signals using a small mechanical arm. The result is improved storage for a variety of portable products including MP3s, cameras and business smartphones.
The new technology uses recordings of the current passing through a carbon nanotube. Past attempts have failed because of a slow speed and limited memory but the researchers have succeeded in utilising the technology via the mechanical arm. It operates much faster than traditional memory storage solutions.
The researchers, based at Edinburgh University, say that it will use less energy and boost operation speed. With more and more people downloading and synching their business broadband and phone to do business on the move, the news will no doubt be welcomed by all mobile users.
Take a look at 4Com’s business smartphones.
24/03/11
Ofcom has announced their plans for the auction of the fourth generation of mobile wireless networks, 4G.
The auction, set for 2012, will be the biggest ever, accounting for three quarters of the mobile spectrum currently being used.
It is a result of the growing demand and use of business smartphones and overall mobile traffic. More and more people are using business smartphones (Blackberry, IPhone, Android) to browse social networking sites and download video and music content which all affect the spectrum.
More companies are also using business smartphones on the move with email easily accessible and many synch their business broadband and phone in order to access the office when travelling.
Ofcom has advised that a key aim of the auction is to widen coverage of mobile broadband to rural areas. Their aim is to increase access to high speed internet connectivity throughout the country.
In a bid to retain competition, the telecoms regulator will be limiting the amount of spectrum any one company can buy. It should mean a healthy level of competition is maintained between 02, Orange/T-Mobile, Vodafone and 3.
After the auction users should expect to see a vast improvement in mobile broadband speed and a faster download pace.
The last auction was in 2000 for 3G.
4Com offer a range of business smartphones and packages. Browse the rest of the site to find out more or contact us now.
21/03/11
After experiencing a record amount of growth, leading business telephone systems supplier 4Com has recently relocated its head office to Bournemouth in order to accommodate its expanding staff and client base.
Originally based in Salisbury, the company is now located at the landmark Loewy House near Bournemouth International Airport. The site has not only given 4Com the space they need but has also brought them closer to the bustling business heart of the South West.
Established in 1999, 4com has rapidly expanded over the last 12 years. The company has installed over 8,000 business telephone systems across the UK and in the process gained an unrivalled reputation for excellence within the industry. 2010 saw an expansion of services to offer calls, line packages, hardware and leasing services to resellers. In addition a new in-house training centre was opened, 4Com Academy, which offers customers and partners expert sales and product support.
To prepare for the arrival of the 140 employees in December 2010, the offices at Loewy House were refurbished to the highest standard.
Alex Croucher, 4Com’s Marketing Manager said, ‘We are so happy to be in Bournemouth. Not only are we closer to many other great businesses in the area but we also have the privilege of being in such a prime location, the office has been refurbished to such a high standard it is pleasure to come to work here every day’.
Both 4Com and its employees are looking forward to another year of exciting growth and will continue to offer companies all over the country tailor made solutions to their business needs.
11/02/11
The international community came together on the 8th February to mark Safer Internet Day.11/02/11
It goes without saying that when you're at home, you are careful on the computer and install the latest anti-virus software that will eliminate things like spyware, Trojan horses and general spammy content.11/02/11
Ofcom have announced brand new plans to try and improve services for mobile phone users in the UK.11/02/11
Silent calls are the bane of anyone's day, and usually due to automated telephony working from a database that detects an answer machine and then cuts off the call.11/01/11
If you’re as sick and tired of carrying around two smartphones because you’ve got deals on two networks and can’t give one up, you’ll be pleased to know that Samsung are one of the companies who have managed to solve the issue.
Telecommunications and office networking technologies are set to go stellar in 2011 and this is just one example of how the face of business telephone systems and technology available to the consumer is changing and increasing constantly.
The new E2152 and Ch@t 322 smartphones have “dual sim” technology and means you can have conduct those all-important deals on one mobile phone instead of either carrying around two phones or swapping sim cards, which is fiddly at the best of times.
This is ideal if you run a small business and need two mobile numbers but do not wish to haul around two phones.
This latest innovation in telecommunications technology means that a form of office networking technology might have been invented that will finally topple the iconic Blackberry.
If you are in need of some advice regarding your office telephone systems and would like to know how you can install effective digital technologies to your existing telephone system, have a browse around our website.
11/01/11
Whether it involves business to business sales or business to consumer, there is nothing worse than getting a silent call.
Ofcom received more complaints from customers who were getting repeated silent calls in 2010 than in any other year on record.
So what is a silent call? It’s when businesses that are cold calling potential new customers use automated dialling systems to call people on a database and don’t have enough staff to speak to them. This means the unlucky customer is left listening to a dead line.
Having sophisticated and up to date business telephone systems can help with this problem. Installing software that enables you to manage and view calls made from the comfort of your desktop computer is a way to avoid inadvertently silent calling your customers. Call recording is also key to this.
Ofcom have also been given more powers by the government to help stop this problem and can now fine businesses more for contravening the codes they set. Companies from February 2011 will be forbidden to call customers more than once a day if they cannot guarantee the call will be dealt with by a live operator. It’s a good start.
4Com is an official Samsung reseller. To find out more, browse the rest of the site.
15/11/10
We have all experienced bad customer service over the phone at some point in our lives, whether it is being put on hold for excessive amounts of time, getting through to someone who doesn't know how to solve your query or constantly being transferred to the wrong department among many other things. However, research has shown that within business even small office phone systems can make a huge difference to customer service especially when your business deals with large volumes of incoming calls.
Installing a digital phone system gives you access to many additional features you would not have previously been able to use such as on hold music, caller ID, conference call and external call transfers. This can be especially useful to help the person who answers to re-direct the call to the most appropriate person to deal with. By being able to swiftly transfer callers, you reduce the waiting time for customers, and reducing their inconvenience. Through the use of on hold marketing instead of music, you may potentially increase your clientele by providing them with something informative and relevant to listen to in order to gain interest before speaking to them.
Many business telephone systems also have voicemail features which allow you to take messages even when you are away from the office. By being able to respond to messages, you are enhancing your relationships with clients and therefore building even further on your business customer service.
4Com are the business telephone system experts so if you would like more information on installing your own digital phone system, contact us today!
10/11/10
On hold music has progressed massively in recent years, now offering people a choice of which music they want to listen too, as well as incorporating queue placements, queue times and promotional messages that might be of interest, also known as marketing on hold.
These professionally recorded messages woven between the on hold music keeps the customer up to date and aware of why they are waiting and how long they can expect to continue waiting for. Research has shown that in fact, instead of finding these informative announcements and promotional messages between the music on hold irritating that customers appreciate being informed of their wait time.
Figures show that businesses or call centres without any hold music see a higher dropped call rate than those that do have hold music, and this decreases even further when professional messages are inter-woven with the music.
And on hold marketing provides a great alternative for those who may not want to use on hold music as it keeps the audience active and more engaged, this therefore leaves the client feeling like they have been waiting for less time. Therefore not only giving you customers a valid marketing message but also leaving them happier when they do get through to an adviser.
19/10/10
It has recently been found that within the small to medium sized business, the use of business telephone systems has significantly increased the productivity of the staff. Research has shown easy-to-use digital telephone systems with features such as caller ID, conference calling and external transfers, allow businesses and their staff to handle phone calls in a far more professional and timely way than traditional phones.
By investing in a digital phone system, businesses can deal with customers far more quickly and efficiently, allowing more time to answer additional calls. This has a positive effect on both the number of potential customers a company can communicate with and the levels of customer service they can provide.
There are also additional services, which can easily be combined with digital telephone systems and handsets, which will further increase the productivity of your staff. These services such as call recording and call logging can be utilised to train staff as well as ensure the highest levels of customer service which will inevitably improve customer relations.
4Com have a wide range of telephone systems to choose from and are experts in creating a bespoke package suited to the nature of your business. So to start making the most of your telephone communications, contact us today.
18/10/10
Everyone at some point has felt the frustration of being on hold to a business, whether it be for a minute or what seems like a lifetime. It can be even more frustrating if you are left with an appalling music track to listen to over and over again. However, there is normally an important reason for your call so the likelihood of you remaining on hold is high.
Whilst this audience is waiting to speak to a live person, there should also be something to keep them occupied. It has been found that nearly 80% of people will hang up within the first minute if they are left on hold in silence.
Although people would prefer music to silence, this is not making the most of a captive audience. That's why many business telephone systems now incorporate on hold marketing as the perfect solution for customers.
Research has shown that the 'on hold audience' is highly captive and very persistent; therefore this poses a great opportunity for business to directly address potential customers. Through the use of on hold marketing, companies can communicate information such as new products, services and promotions. CNN conducted research, which found that callers listening to relevant information will remain on the line up to three times longer than those listening to music.
4Com are a business telephone system provider who specialising in many systems such as on hold marketing. To start making the most of potential customers on hold, why not speak to an expert today.
17/09/10
A new type of WiFi that has a longer range and is much more powerful than conventional broadband, could show up in wireless gadgets a year from now using the airwaves between “white spaces”. These “white spaces” are the unused airwaves between broadcast TV channels that were made available by the changeover to digital signal.
Unlike WiFi, which operates on the unlicensed 2.4GHz part of the spectrum, white space frequencies are far lower – the UK TV spectrum falls between around 450 and 850MHz. The lower frequencies mean waves have a longer wavelength and carry less energy, so they can travel longer distances and have more penetrating power. White spaces are particularly well suited to providing broadband, tech companies say, because they can penetrate walls, have plenty of network capacity and are able to cover large areas.
The Federal Communications Commission in the US is expected to approve the use of white spaces for use in wireless broadband at its September 23 meeting. This move could signal a huge step forward in using broadband for businesses and could potentially bring the costs down for a networked office. Business broadband suppliers have already started experimenting led by companies such as Google, Dell and Microsoft. Google is working on building a frequency database , although it said it would move aside for another company if the FCC selects someone else to build and maintain it. Microsoft has already built its own database, which was used for an experimental white space network which only used two base stations to cover its entire 500-acre campus.
15/09/10
Ofcom has published research which shows that nearly half (45%) of consumers with broadband or a landline think that switching communications provider is too much hassle.
Ofcom is considering ways to make the switching processes quicker and easier across communications services, initially focusing on broadband and landlines, to improve consumers' experience and to make competition more effective. But this doesn’t only apply to phone and internet systems in homes, it also has implications for customers who are supplied business broadband and business telephone systems.
Ofcom committed to review switching processes in its latest Annual Plan. In addition, a number of broadband and landline providers, as well as consumer groups, have expressed the view that Ofcom should consider these issues.
The new provider has an incentive to ensure that the switching process is as smooth as possible. This is also more likely to deliver lower prices, more choice and innovation for consumers because it facilitates phone system and broadband providers competing vigorously for rivals' customers.
With the roll out of super-fast broadband across the UK, Ofcom is considering ways for the new provider led process to be applied to this next generation of communications services.
Ofcom intends to publish a second consultation to further develop the proposals in spring 2011.
Ofcom's consultation and research on switching can be found here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/consumer-switching.