Technology Reseller - v19 2019

01732 759725 18 NEWS : VENDORS Video meeting and collaboration specialist Lifesize has surpassed $100 million in bookings since introducing its cloud-based video conferencing solution in 2014. Over the last four years, it has enjoyed an 80% compound annual growth rate in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and established a global network of more than 3,500 partners, distributors and resellers. Its customer base includes tens of thousands of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large global brands like Netflix, Yelp and LinkedIn. Lifesize CEO Craig Malloy said: “Lifesize is the only vendor providing end-to-end 4K video conferencing with 4K content for boardrooms, huddle rooms and everything in between. With 4K-quality video technology built on a cloud platform, we deliver a demonstrably superior and intuitive collaboration experience that customers love.” www.lifesize.com $100 million and counting Extreme Networks to develop AI capabilities Extreme Networks has announced that it is investing 95% of this year’s R&D dollars into software and AI, as it seeks to transform the network from a binary utility into a powerful engine that automatically and intelligently connects people to technology. Priorities include greater automation for its Smart OmniEdge, Automated Campus and Agile Data Center solutions, helping it to create a secure, self-healing, self-driving network from the enterprise edge to the cloud. Rohit Mehra, IDC Vice President of Network Infrastructure said: “The network has traditionally been seen as an IT support function, providing connectivity to users, devices and IT infrastructure – seen by many as plumbing. That notion is both antiquated and false, given the intricacies of what modern cloud and IoT applications require in an enterprise context. Today’s vision of the network is that of a secure, application services and connectivity platform that can help optimise the user and application experience across healthcare, education, hospitality, manufacturing and other domains.” He added: “Extreme’s focus on automation is relevant, and timely, as organisations look to network transformation as a foundation to build on for their digital transformation journey.” www.extremenetworks.com HP launches conference room systems pre- configured with Zoom Zoom and HP have announced three HP conference room solutions pre- configured with Zoom Rooms software. Designed to be easy to deploy and manage, as well as use, they include: n the HP Elite Slice G2 with Zoom Rooms, a plug-and-play, all-in-one solution offering a complete Zoom Room experience for small and huddle rooms; n the HP Elite Slice G2 Audio Ready with Zoom Rooms for medium to large-sized rooms and environments with an existing AV infrastructure and a requirement to connect to third-party audio and video peripherals; and n the HP Collaboration PC with Zoom Rooms, a single-purpose appliance for pairing with third-party A/V peripherals in boardrooms, classrooms and training centres. Zoom head of product management Oded Gal said: “The fact that our customers can take these systems right out of the box with Zoom Rooms already pre-configured means that they can roll out hundreds or thousands of these rooms quickly. The options for integrating with other A/V systems allow them to use Zoom Rooms for any space, from small team huddle rooms to large-scale or specialised spaces.” zoom.com Olive extends global service capability with Australian subsidiary Olive Communications, the High Wycombe-based cloud telephony and unified communications provider, has opened an Australian subsidiary to enhance the 24x7x365 support it offers global customers. Olive Cloud Solutions (PTY) Ltd, based in Brisbane, and a similar operation planned for North America, will enable Olive to meet the needs of ‘in region’ customers more effectively than it can with a 24-hour UK service desk. Working in partnership with Mitel, Olive has been expanding its international business, delivering global telephony and contact centre solutions to customers across North America, Australia and the UK, in a single cloud infrastructure. It is soon to provide the same service to a large customer in South Africa. Olive Chief Executive Martin Flick said: “We have seen Olive evolve from a highly capable Enterprise Mobility supplier into a fully fledged cloud-based telephony and Unified Communications managed services provider in the past five years, with an increasing number of large customers requiring global solutions. Our developing global portfolio and support model is evolving to ensure we continue to be best in class.” Olive Cloud Solutions will work closely with fellow Mitel partner Azentro (PTY) Ltd, which is offering overflow support in peak periods and a joint sales and marketing strategy. www.olive.co.uk GlobalMeet adds UCaaS Business communications provider PGi is enhancing its GlobalMeet platform with a unified communications as a service (UCaaS) offering due to be rolled out internationally later this year. Adding UCaaS to the platform’s existing cloud voice and business messaging services will enable enterprise customers to replace existing PBXs and other phone systems and consolidate business communications and collaboration onto a single, unified solution. It will also be introducing smart collaboration features that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to save time and improve productivity. A century of deals for Knight Knight Corporate Finance has marked its 10th anniversary with the completion of its 100th deal. This milestone follows a successful 2018, in which the TMT (Technology, Media, Telecommunications) specialist advisory firm completed 13 deals. The company advises clients on development capital, acquisition finance, strategic and private equity investment, as well as development and exit strategies. Since it was set up in 2009, Knight has generated half a billion pounds of value for clients. More recently, it has diversified with investment in the Knight R&D tax credit business and fund:tmt, an investment fund aimed at Knight’s core market. Craig Malloy Martin Flick