Cisco Announce Ten Thousandth Blade Server Customer
Earlier this month, communication technology giant Cisco released a statement stating it had acquired its 10,000th server customer. Since launching into the server market nearly three years ago, the company has faced intense scrutiny and pressure from competitors and industry commentators and the announcement has been regarded by some as a chance for Cisco to brag about the growth of the server area of the business and who its customers are.
Cisco entered the server industry in March 2009, with the introduction of the UCS B Series of Blade servers and the release of the C Series in June. The servers Cisco manufacture boast 10 Gigabit Ethernet networking, which enables servers to link to other servers as well as external storage; a system management tool- UCS Manager- that is fully integrated and features hypervisor capability; and virtualised I/O via UCS systems to manage the server.
When Cisco entered the server market, server and storage networking were coming together. Established server makers such as IBM and Fujitsu sold data centre switches with their server cabinet and server hardware that they either made, or purchased wholesale and rebranded and were searching for marketing opportunities to increase their market share. This convergence of server technology made Cisco’s entry inevitable.
It is also arguable that Cisco’s entry into the server market caused other manufacturers of tier one servers to speed up work on networking plans. It is for this reason that industry experts believe that Cisco’s embracing of server production has been a benefit to the industry as a whole, even if the server wing of the business is yet to prove itself profitable financially and could have effected its networking wing, as companies that were previously partners became competitors.
Cisco sold almost 40,000 blade or rack-mounted servers in the third quarter of 2011, the latest that sales figures are available for. The company’s marketing manager for unified computing, Todd Brannon stated that the UCS server side of the business was generating orders at the end of 2011 that if calculated over the course of a year would total $1.1bn.
The rate at which Cisco added customers during the Spring and Summer of 2011 was impressive and although the numbers fell slightly in the Autumn, it is worth remembering that Cisco has existing relationships with a large number of the top businesses around the world that use large data centres. Industry commentators state that even if the company does not sell a single server to a small to medium enterprise (SME), the total market for Cisco servers would remain extensive and would not affect sales for server manufacturers like Hewlett Packard, Fujitsu or IBM or other computer parts UK companies.
Brits Seek Cheaper Holiday Accommodation And Destinations
For the travel industry, the first two months of the year are usually key, with a large number of people booking their summer holidays. Things appear to be changing this year though, as UK holidaymakers look for ways to save money on their breaks.
Research conducted by Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance has shown that almost 29 million UK residents are planning on going on holiday this year; with a collective spend of £22 billion between them. This means the average amount people are willing to spend is £765.
Whether looking for B&B accommodations in Rome or all-inclusive beach resort deals, with the pound not stretching as far as it used to, almost 80 percent of those questioned admitted they were looking for ways to save money when booking a holiday this year and were likely to spend less money than they had when booking holidays in previous years. Almost 16 percent of Brits have booked their summer break already, although figures show that the numbers planning to book by the end of February are significantly lower than they have been in the past.
45 percent of respondents said they were planning foreign holiday, with 17 percent of them staying in a hotel, 13 percent staying with friends or family, 12 percent opting for a self-catering break and a mere 10 percent looking to stay at an all-inclusive resort. Sites offering private rentals direct from the property owner seem to be faring well during this time, Wimdu offers in Amsterdam, for example, have steadily increased over the last few months as people around the world look for new sources of income.
Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance Manager David Barrett said: “It appears that more people will delay booking their holiday this year, presumably hoping to secure a better deal. We would also encourage holidaymakers to carefully consider their travel money and travel insurance and shop around for the best value for money without forfeiting quality.”
He continued: “Good quality travel insurance will give you peace of mind that your possessions, holiday costs and healthcare needs are covered in the event of unexpected mishaps. Also, organising your travel money before you go means that you have one less thing to worry about, and are fully prepared when you reach your destination.”
Almost half of those questioned (43 percent) said they were planning to holiday in the UK this year, a fact that could give the economy a much needed boost.
WWII Veteran Short Of Choices As Homephone Is Cut Off Over Christmas
An army veteran who served in the Second World War was forced to spend Christmas without a working landline this Christmas after his line was disconnected by service provider TalkTalk on 20 December 2011. Ninety-one year-old Jim Bradshaw of West Chesterton, Cambridgeshire was stuck without his home phone for more than ten days.
Although TalkTalk did eventually re-route Mr Bradshaw’s calls to his mobile phone, the former teacher explained that due to his arthritis, he often finds it hard to answer calls before the caller rings off, and when he does get there in time it is not uncommon for him to press the wrong button, accidentally terminating the call before it even takes place.
Mr Bradshaw said he was “absolutely brassed off. Somebody of my age shouldn’t have to be in this predicament. I’ve missed no end of appointments and invitations – I’ve had a very miserable time.”
Mr Bradshaw noticed that his line was not working when he attempted to connect to the internet. He presumed that work was being conducted on the line, although the longer he remained unable to connect, the more suspicious he became.
With a host of price comparison websites like Homephone Choices providing support and guidance on low price landline deals and service providers that will install your phone line for free , those in Mr Bradshaw’s position are able to research more reliable services and read feedback from existing customers before committing to a contract, although this information would not have been too useful for Mr Bradshaw over the holiday period as he noted what a struggle it was to get hold of any assistance from TalkTalk during this time due to lower staff levels.
Mr Bradshaw continued: “They routed my home number through my mobile phone so at least I can take incoming calls, but I’m not quick enough on the draw and sometimes I miss the call. I must have spent £20 ringing people back on my mobile.”
Mr Bradshaw is a retired teacher who lives alone. During the Second World War he achieved the rank of sergeant while a radar specialist in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. His son Andrew, a Cambridge-based estate agent, said the family had been doing their utmost to help but dealing with TalkTalk was proving to be a ‘complete nightmare’.
At the time of writing, TalkTalk have not provided a statement relating to this matter.
China Telecom Announces UK Mobile Coverage Plan
China’s largest fixed-line telephone company in terms of customer numbers; China Telecom, has announced it is set to enter the UK mobile phone market in a groundbreaking deal that will see the company utilise existing local mobile networks to provide branded mobile coverage for the UK’s Chinese residents as well as visitors to the country such as tourists, business leaders and students.
The deal with Everything Everywhere Ltd, the British operation of the combined European communication giants France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom is targeting the UK market ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in London, when the numbers of Chinese tourists arriving in the UK is set to increase significantly. Managing Director of China Telecom Europe, Ou Yan said: “Entering the UK mobile market is a strategic move. We are keen to launch the service in the UK as soon as possible as there is a real gap in the market for the provision of tailored mobile services and competitive tariffs aimed at the growing Chinese population in the UK.”
Everything Everywhere is the UK’s largest mobile operator, boasting close to twenty-eight million customers. The company runs two of the UK’s most famous brands; Orange and T-Mobile, and the deal will see China Telecom utilise their extensive 3G network to roll out their plan.
As the Chinese population is the target market, China Telecom will provide services in Chinese languages and make calling China easy to do and easy on the wallet. It has not been announced whether they will also sell branded handsets, but with a wide range of mobiles £100 and under on the market, customers will surely be able to choose a mobile phone with best battery life and additional features that they will understand and be able to use freely. If the uptake is good, China Telecom will also set up packages that will make customers in China able to easily contact mobile phone users on the plan in the UK, making communication easier and more affordable for families and businesses in both countries.
China Telecom estimates the number of Chinese citizens living in Europe to be close to two million, with more than six hundred thousand of them living in the UK alone. If the move is successful, China Telecom plans to expand the operation to mainland Europe.
China Telecom stated their belief that the new service will be available to customers from the end of March 2012.
Enfield Council Fears Digital Switchover Could Cause Increase in Fraud
As North London is switched over from analogue television signal to digital, Enfield Council has warned that the switchover could see an increase in con artists and fraudsters coming to the area posed as TV engineers, to scam vulnerable local residents. The local Trading Standards team have urged local residents to be vigilant as the switchover picks up speed in the next few months, as the fear is that rogue traders may target the elderly and the infirm by offering to help ’switch the signals’.
The Trading Standards team believes that con artists will use the digital TV switchover as an excuse to gain access to and burgle homes of less technologically savvy local residents, while pretending to adjust their existing television sets.
Those looking to learn more about the switchover to digital from analogue should contact Digital UK to find out exactly what it entails. This is recommended by Chris Bond, cabinet member for the environment, who also stated that should someone call round at your home offering help for the switchover, they ‘will almost certainly be a fraudster’.
Mr Bond said: ‘We will take every step necessary to track down and prosecute rogue traders, they are a scourge of our society and prey on our most vulnerable residents. Residents who think they have been visited by a rogue trader or conman should report them to Consumer Direct so they can be investigated.’
With recent figures showing that a large proportion of London residents have spent vast sums of money on new digital-ready TVs, Enfield Council are also keen to inform residents that they only need to purchase a set-top box to make the change from analogue to digital. In fact, a campaign stressing that people need not shell out hundreds of pounds to be ‘digital-ready’ was launched last month in Enfield Town and featured an installation by Holly Freeman that was constructed entirely from old television sets.
To find out whether your area has been switched over to digital yet or to find out when it is scheduled to, visit Digital Choices , an independent price comparison site that details comprehensive information and links about the digital switchover, as well as reviews of cable and satellite digital television packages and a simple to use HD TV coverage checker.
Always ask for ID if someone calls at your house and asks for access. You are well within your rights to take their identification and call their head office for confirmation. Any legitimate visitor will happily wait for you to do this.
Cosine Celebrates Launch of International Benelux Division
Cosine is delighted to announce its further expansion into the European market with the launch of Cosine Benelux. After another year of impressive growth.
Cosine continues with its strategy to develop a European solution for clients. This strategy was launched in 2010 with Cosine taking control of 2 other Omnicom agencies; Stein, a German promotions agency and Daytona, a Paris based sales agency.
Nick Jones, CEO at Cosine, had this to say about the imminent launch: “We are excited to be launching our Benelux business having identified an opportunity for a Data Led Sales agency that has the ability to offer clients high levels of insight, using our retail expertise.”
With LG Electronics Benelux already on board, Cosine Benelux shows every sign of reproducing the successes of its award-winning UK division in Belgium and the Netherlands. Cosine Benelux was selected for the desirable contract with LG Electronics over several local competitors, partly due to its superior solutions capability and its backing by the powerful Omnicom Group. Combined with years of experience and a long-standing commitment to innovation, these factors make Cosine an outstanding choice among field marketing agencies across Europe.
“Cosine convinced us with their ambitious, driven approach and great track record in the UK” Claudia Nijland, project manager at LG Electronics Benelux, said. “We are looking forward to a professional way of working based on their Field marketing crm tool and insights in retail dynamics.”
As Cosine continues to grow in line with the needs of its clients, it will continue to deliver exceptional marketing solutions forged from its winning formula of business intelligence supported by market, retailer and consumer data. By bringing data to the forefront of the sales agenda, Cosine has identified and exploited opportunities in the UK market and will now take its methodical approach further a field. Clients across a diverse range of industries trust Cosine because of its proven expertise in driving sales across both business-to-business and business-to-consumer environments. Whether promoting telephone services to small businesses or sampling food and drink in supermarkets, Cosine consistently delivers its clients quantifiable results. This degree of adaptability is just one of many reasons Cosine continues to thrive both at home and abroad.
Cosine is no stranger to silverware, having already received a host of awards and been named ‘Field Marketing Agency of the Year’ (2011), in the Field Marketing and Brand Experience Awards and by Marketing magazine (2010). Daytona has recently won the Argent de la meilleure Externalisation Commercial trophy, for their work with Johnson and Johnson.
Cosine’s Data Led Sales solutions for retail execution, consumer engagement, direct sales and tactical activity are widely recognised for their effectiveness and efficiency. This hard-earned reputation for delivering quality results has earned Cosine the confidence of numerous blue-chip clients, such as Sainsbury’s, BT, Nokia, American Express, and now LG. With a new international focus, Cosine hopes to add to its growing collection of satisfied clients and industry accolades.
About Cosine:
Cosine UK is at the forefront of the field marketing industry, developing and implementing cutting-edge Data Led Sales solutions across a variety of markets. With the addition of Cosine Benelux to its existing UK business, ‘Field Marketing Agency of the Year’ Cosine will bring the benefits of its award-winning expertise to an increasing number of clients.
CSR Announces It Is Ending Investment In HD And Digital TV
UK based computer chip and wireless technology company CSR has announced that it is ceasing investment in digital television systems on a chip, known as DTV SoC, to focus on areas of technology where they have an existing market lead such as GPS, bluetooth and wifi chips.
The company, which is based in Cambridge, stated in the announcement that the areas it would instead be focusing on would include voice and music technology, digital cameras and low energy bluetooth products. Chief executive Joep van Beurden was quoted as saying: “We have decided to withdraw investment from the DTV SoC and silicon tuner businesses and are focusing our investment where we have a strong position in platforms in the areas of voice & music, automotive infotainment, cameras, document imaging, gaming and Bluetooth low energy. We will also continue to invest in a range of products for attractive growth markets including handsets and computer peripherals.”
Experts believe that by moving away from the increasingly competitive HD and DTV SoC market, CSR stands to make a saving of almost £40m annually from reduced operating costs as a direct result of the changes. The chip industry has experienced a slump recently, as sales of gadgets have lowered across Europe, the USA and other areas due to the economic uncertainties that continues to effect consumer spending.
The company will continue to provide support for existing users of their DTV SoC products and will continue to deliver products to their customers in these areas, although future development will be directed at improving connectivity, voice command technology and various other products that will be useful to the DTV market.
CSR do not belief the change will have a negative effect on its revenues for 2012, in fact the cost reductions expected as a result, such as the cost of goods, looks to save the company almost £10m, although this could be bad news for some employees, as the company is aiming to trim down staff levels from around 3200 personnel, the figure in their employ at the end of September 2011, to 2400 staff worldwide by the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2012.
The technology CSR is retracting investment from is currently found in most set-top boxes you would find on an online HD package checker or postcode HD checker . The announcement will have no effect on consumers, as production of these chips will not slow as a result. If anything, the news should cause excitement among gadget enthusiasts, as CSR’s cost cutting measures could lead to technological advancements in numerous areas.
Regions in Britain Prepare for Extreme Weather
Winter has officially arrived in Britain, with forecasters predicting snow and high winds for parts of northern England and Scotland in the coming weeks. It is recommended that motorist in these areas of the country look at breakdown recovery deals on price comparison website, such as www.breakdownchoices.co.uk for example, before the conditions take a real turn for the worst. Motorcyclists are advised to consider the necessity of their journey and to only attempt to get anywhere if they have comprehensive motorbike cover .
This week has already seen gale force winds in parts of Scotland, with wind speeds of up to 165 miles per hour recorded in some places. With forecasts warning of snow, sleet and hail in the coming weeks, making sure you are prepared before conditions deteriorate further is possibly the wisest thing that motorists can do at the moment.
With temperatures continuing to drop, the likelihood of roads becoming icy is ever increasing meaning that those driving early in the morning as advised to use caution if conditions are poor. Southern areas of England should escape the worst of the weather, but Scotland has been issued with severe weather warnings by the Met Office.
Before attempting a journey of any distance, you should make sure that your car is safe to drive. Check oil and water levels, as well as your screen wash and engine coolant. If your water is frozen, tepid water (never boiling) can be used to melt it, by adding a suitable anti-freeze product to your screen wash reservoir can also help prevent any problems with that. Another important check to carry out is the pressure of your tyres. In cold weather, some wheels can contract slightly, meaning that tyres lose pressure. By investing in either a foot pump or cigarette lighter-powered tyre inflator, you can make sure that you are able to top up the air in your tyres wherever you are, saving money on roadside callouts and time waiting for them to arrive.
To drive safely in snowy or icy conditions you should consider include increasing the distance you keep between your car and the vehicle in front of you as braking distances are vastly increased in bad weather. To slow your vehicle, move down through the gears before using your brakes. Hard braking should be avoided, as you can easily lose control of your car and if you skid, always steer into it until you either come to a stop or regain control. Always keep food and drink, a torch, waterproof footwear, blankets and a shovel in your car in case you do break down or get stuck in snow and ensure your mobile phone has sufficient charge to last the whole journey.
By being prepared, drivers can avoid the worst of the problems that riddle the country each time we experience extreme weather conditions, although the best piece of advice is arguably to keep an eye on forecasts and judge each journey you need to take on its importance.
Everything Everywhere Moves to Improve Mobile Coverage
UK mobile network provider Everything Everywhere has recently announced plans to invest over £1.5 billion in the next three years to improve mobile coverage and prepare for the launch of a 4G mobile network.
As part of the plans, users of both the Orange and the T Mobile networks should experience increased signal strength and coverage as network parent Everything Everywhere takes steps to ensure a greater level of integration between the two networks. Under existing plans, mobile users should see their telephones able to switch between the two networks according to which has the strongest signal in the area. Starting early 2012, this process should become automatic.
According to Everything Everywhere, the increasing integration between Orange and T Mobile should give customers access to the UK’s broadest 3G data coverage. The announcement is in line with a general positioning strategy that will see Everything Everywhere compete to offer the best and most reliable 3G data service in the UK. Data is becoming more and more important to users of the latest and greatest camera phones of 2011 due to an increasing level of internet-based smartphone functionality.
It is likely that a large proportion of the proposed investment will also go into developing the infrastructure required for a 4G mobile network. The auction for 4G spectrum is currently scheduled to take place in Q4 2012 and this will be closely followed by the deployment of 4G network infrastructure. The most optimistic predictions see the first commercial 4G signals go live in the UK in January 2013, although some commentators remain sceptical that this will happen.
Nevertheless, following its recent 4G trials in Cornwall and the announcement of its planned one-and-a-half-billion-pounds expenditure, it is likely that Everything Everywhere will be well-positioned to take advantage of the 4G spectrum when it becomes available. Unfortunately for users who generally purchase handsets £100 and under in price, 4G-capable phones are likely to remain among the most expensive for the foreseeable future.
Unique Domino’s Field Marketing Solution
Pizza delivery business Domino’s has teamed up with US firefighters in an inventive and original field marketing exercise. People who ordered Domino’s pizza were surprised to find their meals delivered by volunteer firefighting personnel and arriving on a fire engine.
After arriving on the premises, the firefighting delivery team proceeded to check pizza recipients’ homes for working smoke detectors. Those whose homes sported fully-functional alarms were given their pizzas for free, whilst those who did not were offered advice and vouchers for free pizzas in the future – provided they passed another fire inspection.
By teaming up with firefighting forces, Domino’s created a unique and memorable experience for its customers which is sure to reinforce their purchasing habits and inspire brand loyalty. At the same time, the pizza delivery business managed to promote an important safety issue, raising awareness of the dangers created by ignoring fire safety regulations and generating positive press exposure for the company.
This is an excellent example of how experiential marketing campaigns can combine innovative strategies with memorable events to create the greatest possible impact on customers of a brand. Field marketing and brand experience initiatives are well placed to provide the kind of marketing experience that can increase customer satisfaction, instill brand loyalty, encourage brand advocacy and have a lasting impact on the purchasing habits of the consumers concerned.
Although the Domino’s firefighting experience was only available to customers who had already purchased a product from Domino’s, a similar approach can be used to promote products to potential customers. Leading field marketing agencies regularly harness the power of experiential marketing to improve public perceptions of a brand.
Every experiential marketing initiative is (or should be) unique – for this reason it is impossible to come up with a list of rules for creating such a campaign. In the Domino’s example, Stephanie Siegwald, Field Marketing Coordinator for Domino’s in the New Orleans area where the event took place, and her team identified a social issue that could be harnessed for both social and commercial benefit. This is not always possible, but the key issue here is that the Domino’s field marketing team identified a unique and creative way to make ordering pizza a memorable experience for its consumers.
Field sales solutions are often at their best when coupled with an experiential element, even if this is as simple as an impressive in-store product demonstration – although more creative solutions tend to have a greater impact on consumers.