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Blurred boundaries...

Our cover story this month is all about the ‘consumerisation of IT’ and the blurring of distinctions between the devices we use in the home and those we use in the offce. One of the main drivers for this trend is the need for integrated communications involving social media, video, audio, text and messaging.

Consumer devices are considered to be leading the way in this area, but suppliers of business devices are doing their best to catch up, particularly when it comes to video, as our spread on pages 22 and 23 shows. The new generation of videophones and video displays certainly photograph well, but for small businesses smartphones and tablets are a more affordable option.

There’s another reason why smaller companies might be attracted to cheaper, less formal video communications. Large enterprises can make an ROI for telepresence because so much business travel is undertaken to attend internal meetings.When workers for small companies travel it tends to be to meet customers and suppliers and, as survey after survey shows, face-to-face communication is still the best way to cement relationships.

…and fuzzy brains

One highly visible feature of the consumerisation of IT is the replacement of desk phones with mobile devices. This trend continues to gather pace despite persistent fears over the effects of mobile phone use on our brains. Just this month, theWorld Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer raised new doubts about the long-term effects of electro-magnetic radiation from mobile phones. The public at large seems remarkably unconcerned about the risks, but employers cannot afford to be so sanguine. Until all doubts are removed, it may be wise to issue staff with headsets. Even if theWHO’s fears prove to be unfounded, your investment is likely to have been worthwhile for reasons of productivity if nothing else.

James Goulding, Editor – [email protected]

Editor

James Goulding 0780 308 7228 [email protected]

Advertising Director

EthanWhite 01474 824711 [email protected]

Publishing Director

Neil Trim 07803 087229 [email protected]

Kingswood Media Ltd.,

4 New Cottages, Green Farm Lane, Shorne, Kent DA12 3HQ.

Tel: 01474 824711. Email [email protected]

Business Info is a controlled circulation magazine. Applications for free copies will be considered upon receipt of a completed and signed reader info card or online form. Business Info is available on subscription @ £40 p.a. to UK companies or residents and @ £75 p.a. for non-UK subscribers.

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

No part of Business Info magazine can be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. © Copyright 2011 Kingswood Media Ltd. ISSN 1464-8814 Design: Sandtiger Media – www.sandtiger.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit: www.binfo.co.uk

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IN THIS ISSUE

05 Agenda

The true cost of offce interruptions

11 Unifed Communications

A special report on evolving offce communications

14 Call Management

How hosted call management is helping a Sheffeld medical service improve its service

6 The consumerisation of IT

Samsung brings new choices to the workplace

9 Innovations

New products and servic the connected workplac

2 Video communicatio

New generation endpoint deliver video everywhere

6 Network scanners

Scanners so easy that everyone can use them

29 Fixed Mobile Convergence

Aastra’s Debbie Hage makes the case for fxed-mobile convergence

30 IP Telephony

Swyx makes things simpler for its c and resellers

32 Headsets

Nine out of 10 Newport City Homes prefer headsets

34 Business broadband

A brief guide to business broadband

38 Presentations

How to make your meetings more interactive

41 Offce Agenda

Regus opens B.Hives in Manchester and Bristol

magazine