Technology Reseller v27

01732 759725 NEWS : DISTRIBUTORS 06 Following the launch of Microsoft’s Business Voice solution, Tech Data is offering Microsoft CSP partners three ways to add telephony services to the Teams collaboration platform. These are: 1 An ‘all-in’ Microsoft solution, including the Microsoft telephony system and call minutes, managed through Tech Data’s StreamOne cloud platform; 2 A Direct Routing SIP trunk-independent option based on SoftApp’s ‘the Voice of O365’, for end-user customers who want to retain their existing Telco contracts; and 3 A Direct Routing and calling plan option, which combines the SoftApp solution and Business Voice to offer a Teams Direct Routing module and domestic calling minutes bundle. Nick Stancliffe, Business Development Manager, Microsoft Cloud Solutions at Tech Data UK, said: “These voice calling options extend and enhance the functionality of Teams and turn it into a fully fledged telephony system. We see this as an ideal proposition for partners to take to SMB customers and a great way to drive revenues and cloud consumption.” Through Maverick AV Solutions, Tech Data’s Microsoft CSP team can also put together complete solutions designed to support the use of Teams in collaborative meeting spaces. Tech Data enhances Teams offering with telephony options Vapour CEO Tim Mercer with ICA Director Pam Blanchard Vapour Cloud partners with ICA Vapour Cloud, the channel-only managed service provider and Avaya distributor, has signed a partnership agreement with Stockport-based unified communications specialist ICA to deliver all the company’s future Avaya cloud deployments. The agreement will enable ICA to focus on delivering end-to-end multichannel solutions for clients while Vapour Cloud looks after ICA’s Avaya cloud platforms and delivers a strategic managed service that supports vendor- agnostic solutions for customers. ICA Director Pam Blanchard says the partnership will enable ICA to meet customers’ needs more quickly. She said: “ICA’s point of difference is channel independence, as we can deliver multiple, interoperable solutions that are truly customer-centric. The addition of Vapour’s technical expertise and advice means clients can adopt the right technology at pace. As a duo, ICA and Vapour will continue to disrupt, innovate and lead as businesses demand more channels to communicate and interact with.” Vapour specialises in four key areas – secure cloud, voice, video and networks & infrastructure – and is the sixth-fastest growing tech firm in Leeds. Meet the manufacturers Varlink, a specialist distributor of mobile computing, auto ID and EPoS products, is holding its 15th annual Meet the Manufacturer (MTM) exhibition at Coombe Abbey, Coventry on March 12. Sponsored once again by label and barcode software solution BarTender by Seagull Scientific, the event provides an opportunity for IT resellers, solution providers and system integrators to find out more about leading manufacturers such as Zebra Technologies, Janam Technologies and Honeywell, as well as new brands like Durabook, ParcelKiosk and SUNMI. To register, go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mtm-2020-exhibition- tickets-77995624011. Jabra Number 1 Nimans, the Jabra Distributor of the Year for the second year running, has presented audio and video device specialist Jabra with a special award for being the distributor’s biggest vendor in 2019, following a 50% rise in demand for its products. Nimans Sales Director Richard Carter said: “It’s been a year to remember for us both, and Jabra thoroughly deserve to be recognised for their success. They have risen from number three to number one in the space of a year, which is a fantastic achievement.” Access control to be big in 2020, says Nimans Nimans Director of Sales for Security and AV, Camilla Kirkham, who heads up the distributor’s recently launched security division, is predicting strong demand for access control, intruder solutions, CCTV and body-worn cameras in 2020, as more resellers incorporate IP-based security products into their portfolios. She said: “There’s still lots of work to be done, but resellers are beginning to fully understand and embrace the huge market potential of IP security products. Data cabling companies are leading the charge. They are doing all the hard work with the installations anyway, so adding a camera end point is valuable additional revenue.” Kirkham added: “We’ve got some big plans for 2020 especially around training and accreditation to further support the reseller community.” Midwich on course to smash Mind fund-raising target Strong Christmas raffle ticket sales helped Midwich raise £28,000 for Norfolk and Waveney Mind in 2019, putting it firmly on course to exceed its fundraising target of £45,000 by the end of 2020. Friends and family of Midwich employees spent more than £13,000 on raffle tickets for the chance to win prizes, which included an LG 60” 4K television, a Sonos speaker, dinner for two at the Auberge restaurant in Yaxley Suffolk, afternoon tea at Norwich’s Barnham Broom hotel and golf club, and £1,000 cash donated by Midwich. As part of Midwich’s support for Mind, 24 of its employees volunteered in the charity’s shop in Diss, Norfolk in November and December – the shop’s busiest time of year – collectively spending almost 100 hours sorting donations, steaming clothes and pricing and displaying stock. Mind Retail Manager Sylvia Merriott said: “It has been wonderful to have members of staff from Midwich working at our shop, not just because we processed much more stock, which helps raise more money for Mind, but because it feels like we are being supported by our local community.” In addition to its volunteering activities, Midwich has set up a Mind Donation Station in its offices where staff can donate unwanted items. www.midwich.com • www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk Nick Stancliffe Camilla Kirkham