www.tdnewsflash.co.uk DECEMBER 2014 TECH DATA – UK • E&OE No. 12.14 The essential monthly update for our customers Inside this month’s issue Time is running out for Windows Server Microsoft • 30 First look at some ‘Sturdy Boots’ Panasonic • 34 Is SDN the future of networking? Brocade • 56 Scan this QR code to download this version of Newsflash for the iPad or iPhone. Newsflash 12.10.indd 1 05/12/2014 14:06 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Margin Makers n • The hottest deals for the fastest return • 01256 788 000 2 Newsflash 12.10.indd 2 05/12/2014 14:06 Newsflash 12.14 n Introduction • n Welcome to the December edition of Newsflash With Christmas approaching all too soon, at Tech Data it is time to reflect on what has been a challenging but positive 2014 and look ahead to a bright start to 2015. Turn to page 20 as we talk to business leaders and visionaries from around the Tech Data Collection of Specialists and discuss what the major trends and opportunities may be for next year. Last month we had some great news for our Azlan division coming out on top at the recent CRN Awards winning Storage Distributor of the Year. It was acknowledged that no other value distributor in the channel could offer the depth and range of services on top of an increasingly extensive product portfolio. Well done to everyone involved. As Public Sector spending continues to build this month, many educational organisations and establishments are preparing for the Bett Show – the biggest IT education event in Public Sector and a crucial date in our calendar. Our Public Sector team will be in attendance as will many of our vendor partners. For further information, please visit www.bettshow.com Finally take a look at pages 19 and 40 for interviews with Steven Bailey from our Tech Data Components and Accessories division and Adrian Williams from Microsoft Lumia. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. credits Click the picture above and Kate McIntyre will show you some of the many highlights in this month’s Newsflash Interactive. Or if you’re reading the printed version visit Publishers Tech Data Redwood 2 Crockford Lane Chineham Park Basingstoke RG24 8WQ Designed by Swingate Design Ltd Editor Simon Meredith Interactivity produced by Swingate Design Ltd Account Handlers Emma Alcock Rachael Crook Stewart Hayward Larisa Lucaciu Lee Prior Jennifer Taylor Printed by Acorn Press, Swindon www.tdnewsflash.co.uk TO CONTACT NEWSFLASH AND TECH DATA PLEASE EMAIL: info@tdnewsflash.co.uk 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 3 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:06 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Contents • n What does 2015 have in store for IT? We asked business leaders and visionaries from around Tech Data’s Collection of Specialist businesses to give us their views on what will be the major trends and opportunities for the year ahead. PAGES Margin Makers The hottest deals for the fastest return........................................................................ Industry News A brief look back at all that’s been happening in the channel................................... News News focusing on corporate, consumer, SMB and technology markets.................... 02 05 06 Public Sector News 16 CRN Public Sector Report now available to you............................................................ Time is running out Upgrade your customers as Windows Server comes to the end.................................. Sturdy boots The Panasonic Toughbook and Toughpads withstand rough conditions................... Lumia from Microsoft Adrian Williams from Microsoft discusses the challenges and achievements........... Ten points for Promethean Revolutionise the way teachers can inspire our children............................................ Promising even more Acer steps up its sales drive in the commercial markets............................................. 30 34 40 44 48 Improving solution providers’ businesses A success at the CompTIA’s UK Channel Community Meeting..................................... Is SDN the future of networking? Curt Beckmann from Brocade discusses the potential of SDN.................................... Future events 52 56 Interactive Newsflash is published monthly by the Marketing Department of Tech Data UK. All prices and codes are correct at time of going to press. Errors and Omissions excluded. ©Tech Data. Information sent on Fax-backs to Tech Data may be held on database for future mailings. All prices quoted are in Pounds Sterling and Euros. Offers may not apply in R.O.I. All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Tech Data. All rights reserved. Calls cost 10p per minute plus any network charges. Interactive Your first port of call for upcoming events held across the UK.................................. 60 4 Newsflash 12.10.indd 4 05/12/2014 14:06 Newsflash 12.14 n Industry News • n Cloud predicted to dominate enterprise spending within four years C loud services will account for half of software, server and storage spending growth – and generate three quarters of data centre traffic, according to recent industry research. IDC says public IT cloud services spending will reach $56.6 billion in 2014 worldwide and swell to $127 billion by 2018, generating half of all software, server, and storage spending growth. It expects the number of new cloudbased solutions to increase ten-fold and says software as a service (SaaS) will account for 70% of spending in 2014 and continue to dominate. Cisco meanwhile has predicted that within four years, 76% of all data centre traffic will be cloud-based. It was generating 54% of total data centre traffic already last year. On its latest Global Cloud Index, Cisco also predicts overall data centre traffic growth will triple in volume, growing 23% per annum from 3.1 zettabytes a year in 2013 to 8.6 zettabytes in 2018. (A zettabyte is a trillion gigabytes.) Connected devices Laptop sales revived by consumer demand to grow by 30% G UK Most channel businesses in transformation 3D printer sales doubled in 2014 artner estimate the number of connected devices will increase 30% over the coming 12 months as mobile, social media and cloud trends continue to dominate. The analyst firm predicts that the number of connected devices will rise from 3.8 billion this year to reach 4.9 billion in 2015. research firm Context says that Q3 saw a revival in consumer laptop sales – and it’s expected to continue through the holiday season. The firm says that sales of consumer-targeted ‘clamshell’ laptops increased by 20.3% year-on-year, while tablet sales declined. The ‘back to school’ effect was influential in Q3 but home users are also replacing aging systems and upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 8.1. C ompTIA’s latest State of the UK Channel Report has found that 70% of firms are transforming their business to meet customer demand for new kind IT solutions. Changes to services delivery and the cloud are major influences, with 40% of respondents saying they are finding it hard to balance meeting existing business needs with new areas. S ales of 3D printers are expected to double by the end of 2014, according to analyst CCS Insight. Worldwide shipments are expected to be 158,000, up 93% from 2013. In value terms the market is expected to grow from $1.15 billion last year to $4.8 billion in 2018. Industrial 3D printers will see a steady year-on-year growth of 30% in 2014. Separately, HP says it has developed 3D-printing technology that can print 10 times faster at considerably less expense than current devices. It plans to launch products based on the technology in 2016. Intel VP predicts big tech changes in 2015 I ntel’s PC chip business boss, Kirk Skaugen has predicted big tech changes next year, including wireless power supplies and charging for laptops and a concept called ‘YAP’ – ‘you are the password’, which recognises the user’s voice, fingerprint or facial features (using 3D cameras) and will cut out the need for passwords to protect access to PCs. 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 5 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:06 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Corporate News • n HP Z series workstations finding new customers in new industries HP Jon Moore: Potential for workstation sales is spreading to more industries ’s new Z series line-up of workstations bring potential for you to increase sales and margins as more customers look to invest in higherperformance desktops. The desktop and mobile devices offer more expandability, higher-speed memory and multi-core performance than previous offerings. The HP Z840, Z640 and Z440 desktop workstations feature the latest Intel® Xeon® processors plus NVIDIA® and AMD professional graphics options. The HP ZBook 15 G2 and 17 G2 Mobile Workstations come with optional Intel quad-core processors and NVIDIA Quadro® and AMD FirePro™ professional graphics. demonstrations, and special bids on multiple or even on single units with HP workstations. The higher revenues and margins available make it well worth pursuing every opportunity.’ The market potential for workstations is growing, says Jon Moore, Business Development Executive for Workstations at Tech Data. ‘Architects, engineers, designers and media professionals have always needed excellent graphics and responsiveness and they remain a primary market for workstations, but more users are now taking advantage of lower-cost subscription models to make use of 2D and 3D modelling, simulation and data analysis software and to create more imaginative and dynamic content for use on the web and in marketing. There are great opportunities in photography, manufacturing, finance, healthcare, scientific imaging, oil and gas exploration and many more industries. If you would like to discuss workstation business prospects, please email HPTeam@techdata.co.uk or call 01256 788000. ‘That’s expanding the market for workstations and the opportunities for resellers and the new HP Z series is the ideal platform for customers who want the very best performance from a name they can trust. We can offer extensive pre-sales support and assistance with Positive response to IBM MaaS360 A zlan has seen a really positive response from VARs to MaaS360 – the market-leading enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution from Fiberlink, an IBM company, since launching the solution in late summer. MaaS360 enables enterprises to fully embrace mobile technology and quickly scale deployments and we are already seeing some very good business prospects and positive responses to early evaluations and pilot projects. If you have enterprise customers that are still grappling with the problem of managing the mobile device explosion and managing policies and data, MaaS360 could provide you with the ideal solution. To find out more, please contact the IBM software team on 0871 880 3803 or email IBMSW@azlan.com It’s worth noting that with Datech acting as the exclusive distributor for Autodesk in the UK and the cost of AutoCAD LT 2D software now becoming much more affordable under term based subscription licensing, and wide format printer devices also available in our portfolio, Tech Data can help you meet all the advanced needs of users that require high-end imaging, graphics and drawing performance. Do you need help selling HP systems? If you need help, our HP team can provide it… Demonstrations improve success rates and we can arrange for demonstration products via the HP Evaluation Team to help you establish suitability for an end user or for use in marketing events. If you are buying five or more HP PC products for a named customer, we may be able to help you achieve significant special bid discounts. Just email part codes with the end user’s details to hpbiddesk@techdata.co.uk Azlan named Storage Distributor of the Year A zlan was crowned as Storage Distributor of the Year at this year’s CRN Channel Awards. Azlan’s ability to enhance and extend core storage offerings with complementary technologies alongside our in-house professional services and support, made it stand out from other contenders. No other value distributor is able to offer the depth and range of services around storage that Azlan can today. Our ability to bring together this combination of core enterprise technologies, complementary solutions and expertise, and deliver them with and on-behalf of VARs, systems integrators and solutions houses, is unrivalled in the UK today. For more information on storage solutions, please call Azlan on 01256 864359 or email azlanservicesuk@azlan.com 6 Newsflash 12.10.indd 6 05/12/2014 14:06 Newsflash 12.14 n Corporate News • n Azlan appointed for IBM SoftLayer IaaS cloud services A zlan has been appointed as a distributor for IBM’s SoftLayer Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) options, providing a unique value proposition that offers these services alongside IBM’s software and hardware systems. SoftLayer’s IaaS includes virtualised, public and private options, delivered across a global cloud infrastructure that is highly scalable and flexible. Both virtual and dedicated bare metal servers are available on a self-service or managed provisioning basis with rapid deployment options. The appointment gives Azlan the unique ability to provide support to IBM partners across the vendor’s software, hardware and cloud services offerings. Azlan’s dedicated managed services provider (MSP) team will be supporting resellers on IBM SoftLayer solutions, working closely with Azlan’s established IBM experts. Andrew Brown, IBM Technical Practice Manager at Azlan, stated: ‘Azlan is now unique in being able to offer the whole range of IBM technologies. We can offer partners an integrated approach and help them to meet the full range of IBM customer requirements. This is a good opportunity to help customers develop hybridised IT infrastructures. IBM is a trusted name and Azlan has the experience and capabilities to help VARs develop and grow with IBM’s comprehensive set of platforms by helping customers embrace the new IT infrastructure models.’ Our project saw more than 9,000 individual and shared mailboxes to Microsoft’s cloud service from our onpremises, server-based infrastructure. Reza Honarmand, Vice President Software and Cloud at Tech Data Europe said: ‘We are delighted with this experience and we are convinced that this is the optimal solution on the market, giving end-customers quality and value for money. This implementation makes it much easier for us to demonstrate to our customers that Office 365 is the best solution out there.’ If you’d like to transition to Office 365 yourself, we’ll be glad to offer you help and advice. It is a great way to set an example to customers and with the new Office 365 plans and options, making the switch makes even more sense now. Please get in touch with our dedicated Microsoft team – email software@techdata.co.uk or call 01256 864114. 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 7 software and services For more information, please call 01256 864359 or email T money offerings on IBM hardware, andy.brown@azlan.com ech Data Europe completed its internal Office 365 implementation last month, so we really are practising what we have been preaching. Is it your turn next? By making use of Office 365 ourselves we are taking the lead and setting a great example to the market – and of course, we are doing it because we understand the benefits and we’re eager to experience them for ourselves. is great quality and value for Comprehensive set of Azlan will be offering sales and marketing support to reseller partners that commit to developing a defined business development plan. We’ve completed our Office 365 roll-out! Is it your turn next? Reza Honarmand: Office 365 Andrew Brown: HP teams achieve ISMM training centre accreditation A zlan has completed the latest phase of the HP Sales Excellence Programme, with 149 of its HP specialist sales staff from across Europe completing the second module of four of their ISMM (Institute of Sales and Marketing Management) Level 3 Certificate in Sales and Marketing. The Azlan HP Sales Excellence Programme aims to set the highest standards in the industry for professional sales practice in value distribution. Azlan has also attained the status of an ISMM Recognised Centre, enabling it to deliver ISMM sales qualifications to its own staff and reseller customers. Stephen Cant, director for HP Enterprise Group, states: ‘We want to make certain that every experience that partners have with Azlan, is a positive and progressive one for their business. ‘We are pleased with the positive way our teams have responded to the tailored ISMM training. We take that as a clear sign that our investment in them will be translated into excellent service for our customers.’ HP partners that want to find out more about Azlan’s ISMM courses, the HP Signature programme or TD Academy, should visit www.hp.azlan.com or contact their local HP account management team. www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:06 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n SMB News • n Microsoft partners benefit from Tech Data tailored support R eseller partners have given a resounding thumbs-up for the way that Microsoft and Tech Data have been taking Office 365 and Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to market, but want to see more tailored support and a greater emphasis on selling the benefits of the solution. Gemma Horsell: Microsoft team is here to offer one-toone service and support Microsoft partners that want to find out more about the support and capabilities of the Tech Data Microsoft team, should call 01256 864111 or email software@techdata.co.uk Tech Data and Microsoft recently brought together a group of resellers for a round table session to discuss the developing opportunities around the vendor’s latest offerings. A clear message emerged that resellers want to see more emphasis being placed on the benefits that Office 365 and other Microsoft solutions deliver and less on the cloud concept. We have launched a new Microsoft blog and Tech Data’s almost-famous Microsoft Solutions Architect, Sean Taylor will be regularly keeping you up-to-date with the latest and up-coming developments from Microsoft – and his views on them. Anyone who knows Sean will expect the blog to be entertaining as well as informative, and perhaps just occasionally, opinionated. Sean won’t be by himself though, the blog will also be updated by Codie Gill, Senior Office 365 Sales Specialist. It’s well worth a book-mark or you can even ‘follow’ the blog and be notified by email when there is an update – read the first entries now at https://tdmicrosoftblog.wordpress.com Gemma Horsell, Microsoft Business Manager at Tech Data, said: ‘We were really pleased with the feedback that we got from the round table and what was abundantly clear is that resellers are embracing the messages around Office 365, Azure, OneDrive and devices, but want to see more clear emphasis placed on the benefits these solutions bring to end-user customers. That’s something we’ll take on board and work on with Microsoft. It was also clear that partners wanted more tailored support and information – and that’s something we can deliver today. We have a dedicated group of experts in Microsoft licensing and in the cloud solutions and they work as a team to ensure that we provide the support and service that individual partners need.’ SAP value proposition just keeps getting better H igher awareness of the importance of business information has seen growing interest in SAP’s complete range of software solutions and with this broadening appeal and a great partner programme in place, SAP is becoming ever-more popular. The SAP Authorised Reseller Programme (ARP) offers a whole range of benefits, including free training, attractive finance options and great margins. Plus as an SAP Partner you’ll have real credibility with customers. Get up to speed on Microsoft Licensing in 2015 T he New Year will be the perfect time to get yourself up to speed on the very latest changes and developments in Microsoft Licensing and we will be holding our renowned Boot Camp sessions throughout 2015 – if you’d like to get in early with your New Year’s resolutions, please get in touch and reserve your place for the next courses – email software@techdata.co.uk The SAP solutions range covers a really broad spectrum of needs. SAP Business Objects enables you to drill into raw data to drive more informed decision making, and Sybase SQL Anywhere, provides data management, synchronisation and exchange capabilities that enable the rapid deployment of remote and mobile applications. In addition, SAP offers the ever-popular Crystal Solutions, BI OnDemand, the Sybase IQ RDBMS for big data and analytics, and the Afaria mobile device management system. For more information, take a look at the SAP microsite, call 01256 864 114 or email matthew.cook@techdata.co.uk 8 Newsflash 12.10.indd 8 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n SMB News • n HP vaporises virtual infrastructure silos W ith the launch of the HP ConvergedSystem 200-HC StoreVirtual, HP is signalling the end of virtualised infrastructures in which the server, storage and software were purchased separately and then brought together as one in which the whole solution comes ready-made as a fully integrated system. Billed as ‘the fastest, easiest way to deploy and manage virtual infrastructure’, the HP ConvergedSystem 200-HC StoreVirtual can be deployed in around 15 minutes. As well as all the core building blocks, it comes with integrated HP OneView management software. Aimed at businesses with up to 250 seats, at a stroke, it expands the potential available market for virtualised solutions, says Jonathan Kaiser, HP Solutions Architect at Azlan. ‘The HP ConvergedSystem 200-HC is a totally and truly converged environment that is ready to go out of the box. That makes it easier to sell and deploy – and is more affordable. It will be an easier decision to make for customers and will bring many more prospects – who might have otherwise looked at lower cost options that would not deliver the same level of functionality – into the frame. It’s a really great opportunity.’ Azlan’s specialist HP team will be offering multi-level support on the new HP ConvergedSystem, enabling resellers to quickly attain the level of pre-sales support they need to win business. With availability expected in the New Year, Azlan will be arranging a series of workshops and demonstrations for partners that are interested in learning more about the HP ConvergedSystem 200-HC. A very special promotion is also being planned for resellers that undertake training and engage with Azlan on sales and marketing. Jonathan Kaiser: Converged system brings more customers into the frame Full details and information on the new HP ConvergedSystem 200-HC StoreVirtual can be obtained from the Azlan team – please call 01256 864359 or email hpteam@techdata.co.uk Use your cloud experience to build new business with AutoCAD LT W ith major software vendors such as Adobe and Microsoft now moving purposefully towards a subscription-based licensing model, many resellers are starting to get quite a good understanding of how these programmes work and how they can be best sold to end-user customers. you have been talking to customers about the benefits of Adobe Creative Cloud, for example, you’ll find it easy to understand and articulate the benefits of AutoCAD LT subscription licensing as well, and if you have customers who need to create drawings or diagrams of any kind, there is an opportunity waiting for you there.’ Autodesk – for which our Datech business unit is the exclusive UK distributor – is also moving firmly in this direction, actively encouraging customers to take-up subscriptions for the excellent 2D drawing package, AutoCAD LT in particular. Using the software under annual subscription is much more cost-effective than buying it outright and stakes are growing as a result. AutoCAD LT is now available on a term-based licence. A one-year AutoCAD LT 2015 Desktop Subscription carries an SRP of £300 – this compares with a Perpetual Licence SRP of £950, on top of which customers would be expected to pay annual maintenance of £180. Anna-Marie Constantinou, Datech Retail Business Manager, says: ‘Under the Desktop subscription licensing AutoCAD LT is much more affordable and customers who previously thought that it was out of their reach are now finding they can afford to invest. That’s growing the market quite rapidly. A number of resellers who have not previously sold AutoCAD LT have started marketing this option to their existing customer base with some success.’ annamarie.constantinou@datech2000.co.uk She says that the growing familiarity of resellers with cloud-based services is helping to drive new business. ‘If 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 9 To find out more, please contact Anna-Marie Constantinou, on 07920 727069 or email Deadline looms for AutoCAD customers AutoCAD LT customers have until 1st February 2015 to upgrade to the latest edition and take out Desktop Subscription. After that they will lose their opportunity to take advantage of the discounted offer. If you still have customers who are yet to make the commitment, the time to contact them is now! www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Consumer News • n Tech Data makes full range of IRIS portable scanners available in UK T ech Data is now selling the full range of home, mobile and hand-held scanners from IRIS. It’s a really excellent line-up that has something for every kind of user – from super-fast A4 scanners and wireless units to the amazing IRISNotes™ Executive 2 digital pen, which converts handwriting to digital text, as you write. Mark Glasspool: Excited about the prospects for IRIS scanner range There are devices in the range designed to scan pages from magazines or books and as they run off built-in or simple AAA, they can be used just about anywhere. That’s perfect for students who need to capture pages for revision or homework, for people doing family tree research and anyone who wants to quickly capture and store away images digitally. There is even a special business card scanner. They are really easy to use and attractively priced. Mark Glasspool, Director of Printing, PC Components and Consumer Electronics at Tech Data UK, is expecting them to be popular. ‘IRIS’ products are really attractive and broad in terms of their appeal, so we are expecting to see healthy demand for them from retailers and online sellers. Tech Data Mobile to embrace The Edge of Innovation theme at Mobile World Congress 2015 T he Tech Data Mobile team will be put in force at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona between 2–5th March 2015 and it’s a great opportunity to meet with them and hear about our plans for 2015 and how we can help you drive more profitable business. Stephen Nolan: Looking forward to welcoming partners and customers to Mobile Word Congress 2015 This annual gathering of the great and the good in the mobile business is the place to get right up to speed with trends and directions in the market, so if mobile is strategic to you, don’t miss it. Stephen Nolan, Senior Vice President of Tech Data Mobile Europe is really looking forward to the event. ‘We are excited to be a part of MWC once again and we’ll be fully embracing this year’s The Edge of Innovation theme. MWC is a great place to catch up with customers and suppliers and develop new relationships. We have a lot of plans to discuss with our partners for 2015, so we’re expecting our stand to be even busier than it was last year.’ The Tech Data Mobile team can furnish you with all the details of this year’s event and they will be there to meet with customers and suppliers and discuss the future. If you are interested in meeting up with the team there or would like some more information, please call Tech Data Mobile on 01256 864 888 or email emma.alcock@techdata.co.uk They demonstrate well too, so they are a great product to show customers and something that will grab attention and get people talking. We’re quite excited about the prospects.’ Tech Data is working with IRIS on a range of promotional and go-to-market activities. For more information on the IRIS range, check InTouch, talk to your sales contact on 01256 788000 or email print@supplies@techdata.co.uk Kingston provides 256GB SD card for pro users M emory market leader Kingston Technology has set the bar incredibly high with its latest 256GB capacity SD card. The Class 10 UHS-I card is ideal for intensive full HD video recording, 3D video, and fast-action HD stills. Making use of the very latest UHS-I technology, it supports full 1080p HD video and 3D video and provides higher sustained write speeds for continuous burst mode and reduced stutter. It’s compatible with SDXC and comes with Kingston’s famed lifetime warranty and free technical support. For more information, please check InTouch or email components@techdata.co.uk You can find out more about the event at www.mobileworldcongress.com 10 Newsflash 12.10.indd 10 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Consumer News • n Now there are no limits on OneDrive for Office 365 users M icrosoft has announced that it is removing the storage limits in OneDrive for Office 365 users, making the new productivity suite an even more attractive option for SMBs and individual workers who want to ensure that they can always have access to all their data, anytime, anywhere. The move is expected to accelerate uptake of Office 365 even more. Migration has been gathering pace in recent weeks. The free upgrade to unlimited storage will roll out to all subscribers over the next few months – but current subscribers can sign-up for the unlimited OneDrive storage right away on Microsoft’s website. The previous limit on storage was 1TB. Dwayne Earl, Software Business Unit Manager at Tech Data, says that it’s a significant change. ‘By offering unlimited OneDrive storage, Microsoft is stepping up a gear with Office 365. It’s already attracted a lot of attention and we certainly see it accelerating sales of the Personal and Home editions. It’s something worth shouting about and will add to the appeal of Office 365 as an attach sale to all Windows laptops and tablets.’ There is no limit to the number of devices that can access OneDrive storage, but access is tied to a single Personal subscription. Customers with a Home subscription can have up to five separate Microsoft account holders with their own cloud storage space. Separate OneDrive storage subscriptions are still available as well. It’s expected that the no-limits storage will be rolled out to business customers next year. For more information, please call the Microsoft team on 01256 864111 or email software@techdata.co.uk Acer gets to market first with launch of 4K Ultra HD laptop A cer has become the first vendor to start shipping a 4K Ultra HD laptop. The V Nitro Black Edition has a 17.3 inch display and makes use of Intel’s fourth-generation Core i7-4710HQ quad-core processor. It comes with 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD plus 1TB disk and Nvidia GeForce GTX860M graphics card inside, the Aspire VN7-791G, so it really is very powerful indeed. There is also a Blu-ray drive (PART CODE: 3200535). Acer has also announced the new Aspire Switch 12 hybrid tablet, which uses fanless Intel Core M processors. This makes it ‘whisper quiet’ and with five modes and a 12.5-inch Full HD screen, this tablet has a broad appeal. Stocks should be landing about now. Both products ship with Windows 8.1. For more, check InTouch, call the PC Systems team on 01256 788200. 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 11 Dwayne Earl: Unlimited OneDrive offer is worth shouting about Take advantage of the C2G Attach programme P roviding connectors and cables for mobile devices, notebooks, tablets, smartphones and TVs is a great way to boost your profits this holiday season – and it’s worth stocking up on top-selling items and taking full advantage of the C2G Attach programme. You’ll find all the hardware products you need on InTouch with cables and connectivity items listed under ‘Related Items’. Start attaching today, log onto InTouch or contact Maverick on 01256 788733. GO Lamps hits 10K mark GO Lamps – Genuine Original replacement projector lamps – now has lamps available for over 10,000 projectors. A leading manufacturer of genuine original replacement projector and Rear Projection TV (RPTV) lamps, GO Lamps offer the exact same performance as the original. GO Lamps are generally priced 25% to 35% more competitively, without any compromise on the quality. And with a 30 day money back guarantee and two-year warranty, GO Lamps is a great choice for your customers every time. For more information and to order online from your PC or mobile device, visit www.hotlamps.com www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Technology News • n Tech Data boosts storage portfolio with Seagate T ech Data is now offering Seagate’s full range of internal disk drives, giving systems builders and resellers throughout the UK easy access to one of the most popular and renowned storage brands in the industry. Adam Lee: SSHD gives you something different to offer This means we can now supply you with Seagate’s reliable products for use in pre-build desktops and laptops and in servers and NAS boxes. As well as the complete range of disk drives, Tech Data is stocking Seagate’s famous and ground-breaking solid-state hybrid hard drive (SSHD) offerings. The company has pioneered this technology, which offers the speed of SSDs combined with the industry’s highest storage capacities. SSHDs typically deliver three to four times the performance of traditional hard drives in typical PC workloads and they are now being widely adopted by Veeam Cloud Connect offers simple backup options off site V eeam has announced the launch of Veeam Cloud Connect as part of Tech Data Azlan’s new Cloud Services portfolio, giving service providers and resellers the ability to offer customers a fully integrated, secure and efficient method of moving backups off site without making any up-front capital investment. For VARs and MSPs Veeam Cloud Connect is a simple and powerful platform that enables them to deliver fast and secure backup to the cloud for Veeam customers. It is remarkably simple to set up and service providers can offer offsite backup services to customers in less than 10 minutes. Veeam Cloud Connect is available as a pre-configured template with Tech Data Cloud Provider, within Microsoft Azure as a pre-configured Certified for Virtual Machines solution, and as a backup target within our MSP ecosystem’s clouds. With just a few clicks, you can have a hosted solution for managing and moving backups off site into the cloud. Part of the new Veeam Availability Suite™ v8, Veeam Cloud Connect is a great way for you to easily and quickly expand your cloud services business. Veeam Availability Suite v8 combines the award-winning data protection of Veeam Backup & Replication™ v8 with the virtualisation management capabilities of Veeam ONE™ v8 for VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V. This widely-anticipated release is packed with new functionality, designed to close more deals and put more money in your pocket. For more information please get in touch with Azlan by calling 0845 360 3030 or emailing leading PC vendors and Seagate recently shipped its 10 millionth SSD. Adam Lee, Category Manager for PC Components at Tech Data, said: ‘It’s great to have Seagate on board as it’s a name all systems integrators and builders know they can trust. It means they can take advantage of our extensive stock-holding and services to source Seagate drives. Having the SSHD line within our portfolio is brilliant, as that gives our customers something that they can use to deliver higher performance to customers, and a way of differentiating their offerings.’ The full range of Seagate internal drives is now available on InTouch – log-on to check pricing and availability. If you have any questions about the Seagate range please email components@techdata.co.uk or call 01256 864220. Tech Data appointed as exclusive UK distributor for LG Hotel TV W e’ve formed an exciting new partnership with LG Hotel TV that will provide new opportunities in the hospitality and healthcare markets. We are now offering the full LG Hotel TV range, including the Interactive Ready, Fully Interactive and Smart solutions. Available in sizes between 22-inch and 60-inch, they offer a reliable and tailor made in-room entertainment system for hotel guests using LG’s range of Pro:Centric applications. Designed to provide a comfortable experience for customers, the dedicated hotel data broadcasting platform also offers hoteliers a flexible and cost-effective service for managing multiple in-room TV solutions. For more information about this exciting new partnership, contact the Maverick team on 01256 788 733. daniel.hicks@azlan.com Sell Veeam Availability Suite v8 now and save customers money – sell Veeam v8 now before the prices change in January and you can save customers as much as 10%. For your Veeam Essentials customers there is also a limited time upgrade offer to Veeam Availability Suite™ or Veeam Backup & Replication™ which you can save 50% on the upgrade costs. 12 Newsflash 12.10.indd 12 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Technology News • n HP adds thin deduplication to 3PAR storage arrays HP has strengthened the appeal of its 3PAR disk arrays by adding advanced deduplication capability to an already impressive range of features. With the release of InForm OS 3.2.1 MU1, HP has enabled the ASIC-accelerated deduplication feature on the 3PAR StoreServ family. Dynamic Optimisation feature. This means huge amounts of space can be reclaimed without impacting the storage environment. So-called ‘thin’ deduplication can reduce the physical capacity needed to store data by a factor of ten. This means 1TB of user data could be stored in as little as 100GB of physical space. HP’s implementation of deduplication uses an ‘in-line’ method (so no post-processing is required) that is hardware-accelerated by the Gen4 ASIC leaving the CPU free for other tasks. It is also OS agnostic and requires no client / server side drivers to be implemented. With InForm OS 3.2.1 (GA and MU1), HP has also announced support for ‘adaptive flash cache’ which allows SSDs to be used as an extension to the controller cache (DRAM) to accelerate read I/O on the array; FIPS 140.2 compliance with external secure key managers for ‘dataat-rest’ encryption; enhancements to peer persistence (stretched Hyper-V clusters) and various updated hardware components (cMLC SSDs and 16Gb/s FC host ports). Existing arrays can be upgraded on-line with no downtime to the new code. Existing volumes can be converted to thin-deduped volumes without disruption by using the To find out more contact the HP EG Pre-Sales team at ESSN@azlan.com or call 01256 864359 The thin deduplication feature can be enabled on existing arrays which feature Gen4 ASICs, have SSDs and are under a valid support contract with HP. Free three-year warranty available on Canon business printers C New stocks of Fujitsu’s iX100 portable scanner now arriving T he Fujitsu Scansnap iX100 is ideal for use on the move or wherever you need to take the scanner with you – in retail, schools, surgeries and countless other settings. It’s ideal for capturing documents, notes, pages from books, drawings – anything you like – at any time and any location. Its slim design makes it really easy to carry and with wireless connectivity can be used with tablets and smartphones as well as laptops. It scans documents of up to A4-size and at up to 300dpi – and it only takes a few seconds to capture any document. Tech Data has new stocks of this versatile device from Fujitsu arriving now. For more information, please check on InTouch, call 01256 864200 email print&supplies@techdata.co.uk 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 13 anon is currently underlining its commitment to the B2B market by offering a three-year warranty on selected i-SENSYS and all MAXIFY devices. The new i-SENSYS range of lasers comes with Canon’s Mopria wireless printing technology, smart new designs and spacesaving features. The MAXIFY inkjets offer excellent quality, low-cost colour output and are aimed directly at the rapidlyexpanding SoHo printing marketplace, which is expected to grow by 116% next year. For more information, call 01256 864200 or email print&supplies@techdata.co.uk Get Vision’s TC2-HDBT for uncompressed 4K HDMI and power V ision’s new Techconnect TC2-HDBT HDMI extender provides uncompressed 4K HDMI over a single Cat6 cable up to 70m (230 feet) long. Using Valens Semiconductor’s HDBaseT™ chipset and encased in a slim, metal chassis only 15mm thick, the tried and tested industrial design ensures stable heat management for reliable performance at an extremely affordable price. For more information, please visit www.visionaudiovisual.com/ techconnect/tc2-hdbt – or call Maverick on 01256 788733. www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Technology News • n Make the most of NAS growth with Synology S ynology is the latest prestige addition to our growing portfolio of NAS solutions and has a strong and growing reputation for delivering great performance and one of the most valuable and promising yet. With its comprehensive range of reliable, versatile, and ecofriendly solutions, Synology meets all kinds of requirements and has been seeing rapid growth. Now that its products are available through Tech Data, it will be easier for you to take advantage of the firm’s growing reputation. Paul Jacobs: Synology is a prestige signing and big opportunity for resellers Paul Jacobs, General Manager of PC Components at Tech Data, says: ‘Synology is a very exciting addition to our NAS range and one that presents a big opportunity to resellers. The products are excellent and address the widest spectrum of potential – from enterprise to SMBs and even home users.’ Synology recently added to its range by launching the DiskStation DS415+, a powerful four-bay NAS server designed to centralise data storage, backup, and file sharing for SMBs and home users. It features an Intel® Atom™ 2.4Ghz quad-core processor with an AES-NI hardware encryption engine, a floating-point unit, as well as 2GB DDR3 RAM. The four drive bays accommodate huge amounts of storage capacity, while the USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and eSATA ports allow users to connect and access NAS Configurator on its way – watch this space T ech Data has been developing its own NAS Configurator and the tool will be available very soon on our website. The NAS Configurator will enable you to find and configure the most suitable NAS solution for your customers, combining the chassis and storage drives that work together to come up with a setup that’s perfect for your customer’s needs. Paul Jacobs, General Manager of PC Components at Tech Data, believes it will be a big help to resellers at all levels. ‘We offer a lot of NAS options and choices now and obviously it’s important to make the right choice for customers and ensure they get the best value and ROI. The NAS Configurator is designed to make sure resellers can select the right NAS solution for every customer – from the large enterprises to the home user. It’s just another way of making it easier for our customers to do business.’ The NAS Configurator will be available shortly on the Tech Data website, under the Configurators navigation tab. If you have any questions, please email components@techdata.co.uk various external storage devices. Dual LAN ports support failover and link aggregation, thus improving resiliency and potential throughput. Another recent addition is the DiskStation DS115j, a compact, energy-saving, and quiet single-bay NAS server that can be used as a private cloud platform and smart network video recorder. It consumes just 3.85 watts when hard drives enter hibernation mode, and below 13 watts under full operation. It is also extremely quiet compared with similar devices, keeping the noise level to only 18.1dB(A). Synology products are available from Tech Data now. For More information, please call the PC Components team on 01256 864220 or email components@techdata.co.uk Solutions for meeting and signage – it’s Simply Done with Maverick M averick’s Simply Done initiative aims to make what can often seem like complex solutions for meeting room and digital signage needs, really easy to deliver. We have consolidated all the key selling tools, training, marketing materials and market research, providing a unique toolkit and single point of knowledge to assist you and ensure your meeting and signage solutions are ‘Simply Done’. Meeting rooms and digital signage are changing and the opportunities to upgrade both are large and profitable. The AV market is predicted to grow 52% from 2014 to 2016, with digital signage forecast to triple and meeting room upgrades set to explode. Partner with us and we will support you in delivering outstanding meeting space and signage solutions whatever your customer’s specification – and whatever your own level of experience. For more information visit www.simplydone.eu/uk or email simplydone@tdmaverick.co.uk 14 Newsflash 12.10.indd 14 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Technology News • n FLUX ruggedised education tablets available exclusively from Tech Data T ech Data has signed an exclusive agreement to distribute the revolutionary designed-for-education mymaga™ FLUX tablets. Based on Intel technology, the FLUX is a sturdy, easy-to-use learning tool designed for use by younger children. interface allows teachers and parents to create an unlimited number of profiles and control when and which activities, sites and apps are available. The FLUX devices will retail at well under £100, so they will be affordable for everyone. Waterproof and dustproof, the FLUX has rounded edges and built-in shock absorbers that mean it can withstand a 70-cm drop test onto concrete. Its appealing all-in-one rugged design makes it ideal for use in schools. Adam Gay Head of Development for Tablet and CE at Tech Data UK and Ireland says: ‘The FLUX is exactly what a lot of schools have been looking for – a highly effective tablet for use inside and outside the classroom that does everything they need it to and is also child’s play to use and almost unbreakable. It’s different and exciting and it’s backed by Intel. We see good prospects not only in schools but also the retail and consumer market for the FLUX.’ Powered by Intel® 1.2GHz Dual Core ATOM chip with 1GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage (plus a Micro SD slot to add up to 32GB), it also comes with Intel® Education Software built in and a rich catalogue of learning and creative tools are available via the Google Play Store. Other innovative scientific tools, such as a Microlens (which turns the rear camera into a microscope) and Thermal Probe, make FLUX an even more intuitive and enthralling tool for developing minds. It comes in 7-inch – the FLUXmini – and 10.1-inch variations. The HD multi-touch capacitive display delivers great visuals and front and rear cameras mean it can also be used for two-way video connections. There is an HDMI port for output to a big screen and the device will run for up to eight hours on battery. It is secure, coming with McAfee Mobile Security for Android devices, and the customisable mymaga Shell Time to start thinking about Windows 2003 upgrades S upport for Windows Server 2003 ends on 14 July 2015. That will soon come around, so there is no time to lose in alerting customers that they will need to upgrade. The Microsoft team at Tech Data is ready to help you discuss the options and put you in touch with other specialists across our business, so that you can maximise the potential of what will be a good opportunity to upgrade customers’ server systems and infrastructure – and perhaps introduce them to Office 365 and Azure as well. To get you started, we can point you towards assessment tools and other resources that will help you understand how to broach the subject with customers and ensure both you and they take the right steps to prepare for the switch up to Windows Server 2012 R2. The mymaga concept and brand has been created by JP Inspiring Knowledge (JP-IK), a Portuguese developer of mobile systems with over 25 years experience in developing ICT solutions for education. It is the largest OEM worldwide for Intel-based student devices. For more information on the mymaga FLUX and how you can get involved in taking it to market, please get in touch with Adam Gay – call 01256 86 4169 or email adam.gay@techdata.co.uk Atlantis leads the way on how to sell VDI F lash storage and VDI specialist, Atlantis Computing is leading the way in developing the market and working with partners to demonstrate how the concept can be sold effectively. Atlantis recently scored a big success in the UK with Kingston University, which has deployed Atlantis ILIO™ flash caching software to provide remote users with virtual desktops and achieved throughput of up to 600 input/output operations per second (IOPS) for 1,000 users, achieving significant performance improvements. To read the full story please visit www.techdata.co.uk/computerweekly/uk With large organisations looking to create a higher performing and cost effective solution to enable the best possible end-user experience and efficient use of back-end infrastructure, the opportunity for Atlantis is growing. The company has produced some useful selling tools with analyst, Storage Swiss. You can find them at the following links: • The three Ps to a successful VDI deployment – Persistence, Price, Performance – www.techdata.co.uk/storageswiss/a • Why users hate VDI – and why that’s a problem – www.techdata.co.uk/storageswiss/b • How to Overcome the Four Obstacles to VDI Love – www.techdata.co.uk/storageswiss/c To make a start visit http://msft.so/EB480E – or contact the Microsoft team by calling 01256 864114 or emailing Don’t be put off by the titles – these blogs and video resources will really help you understand how to sell VDI effectively to customers. To find out more about Atlantis Computing, please get in touch with the Azlan team – call on 0845 356 3030 or email software@techdata.co.uk EnterpriseSoftwareteam@azlan.com 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 15 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Public Sector News • n Tech Data’s regular look at stories relevant for resellers targeting the Public Sector. If you have opportunities in education, healthcare or government, please get in touch with our Public Sector specialists to find out how we can help – email publicsector@techdata.co.uk or go to www.techdata.co.uk/publicsector Chrome Management Console gives schools control as Google gets big in education T Tom Baker: Looking for new partners who can take Chrome to education he Chrome Management Console (CMC) is now fully and exclusively available from Tech Data and it’s a big opportunity for you to make a complete and very convincing Chrome story into schools and colleges. to use admin system that enables hundreds of Chrome devices to be managed across an organisation. It’s easy to see how desirable having that level of control would be in a school. Chromebook sales have been driven by education in the US and the trend looks set to repeat itself here. Last year, 82% of Chrome devices that were sold in North America went to schools or colleges and the total market worldwide was worth 5.2 million, according to Gartner. By 2017, sales are expected to reach 14.2 million. CMC administrators can assign devices to users and get configuration and usage reports, pre-install and block specific apps, create user groups and control user access. They can also set network and proxy settings and ensure users are protected by web filters and firewalls, and modify user settings like bookmark and app sync across devices and even create customised themes. Tom Baker, Google Product Specialist at Tech Data, says: ‘We’re advising resellers to start talking to schools about Chrome and to place evaluation units as soon as possible. It’s a really great option for education, as data can be kept safe but accessed from anywhere at any time, and devices are inexpensive and easy to manage and maintain. We think sales are really going to take off over the next few months and we’re actively seeking new partners who can take the proposition to market.’ The Chrome Management Console will make the Google option even more attractive to schools. It provides an easy Promethean extends ActivPanel Touch range P romethean’s range of ActivPanel Touch interactive displays now include the new 55-inch high-definition APT-55 and the ultra-high-definition, 84-inch APT84. These new additions give customers even more choice of large, vibrant, displays that will support multi-touch interaction and enable up to ten students to collaborate and learn together. Tech Data has a good choice of Chrome mobile and desktop devices available from top names such as Acer, Asus, HP, LG and Toshiba – check on InTouch for all the details. If you are interested in finding out more about Google Chrome or any of the products mentioned above, or becoming authorised to sell the Chrome Management Console, you should contact Tech Data Google Chrome team by calling 01256 788 000 or emailing email google@techdata.co.uk CRN Public Sector Report is now available T Also available in 65- and 70-inch sizes, the ActivPanel Touch supports a full range of learning settings, including wholeclass, individual, duo, small-team and multi-team. Stylus or touch interaction creates exceptionally smooth, responsive and precise interactivity, whether writing or using multitouch gestures. A sleek design, superior image quality and durable construction ensure years of captivating learning experiences. Contact your Maverick, account manager today and begin transforming traditional classrooms to collaborative learning environments – call 01256 788733 or email sales@maverick.co.uk he CRN Public Sector Report, which has been produced by the magazine in association with Tech Data, is now available. The document provides an overview of the current state of play in the market and looks at the opportunities and challenges for the year ahead, so it’s essential reading for resellers targeting healthcare, local government or education. You can request a copy by emailing publicsector@techdata.co.uk 16 Newsflash 12.10.indd 16 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n WATCH OUT FOR: Public Sector News • n • LATEST DISCOUNTS: GO TO WWW.TECHDATA.CO.UK/PUBLICSECTOR/PRICING OR EMAIL CARMEL.KEIGHTLEY@TECHDATA.CO.UK G-Cloud advances as SMB suppliers take more share T he government has said that G-Cloud is making good progress and is pushing forward plans to allow suppliers to amend the services they offer without having to wait for new versions of the framework. Purchases by local authorities through the G-Cloud framework reached £1.75m in September, up 40% on August. Cumulative sales through the framework have now reached £18.75m. Overall, cumulative sales to the wider public sector now total £314.2m, with 53% by value and 61% by volume awarded to SMBs. During September, 28 councils made purchases via G-Cloud, the largest being a £91,520 deal for website redevelopment placed by Peterborough City Council. The London Borough of Hounslow made the largest number of G-Cloud purchases of any local authority in September, awarding 51 contracts worth a total of £356,058. Meanwhile the Government Digital Service (GDS) has been looking at putting a more flexible system for the operation of the framework in place, built around the EU Public Sector Directive. It is also looking at ways in which public sector customers can share feedback on G-Cloud suppliers. Time to get ready for BETT T he annual BETT Show takes place next month at London’s Excel exhibition centre between 21 and 24 January 2015. If you want to keep you finger on the pulse of IT in education attendance at Europe’s biggest IT education event is obligatory, so we highly recommend you get the date in your diary now. Many of our vendor partners and reseller customers are going to be there Tech Data’s own Public Sector team will be there as well of course. We’ll be happy to meet up with you to discuss opportunities and the many ways in which we can help you to succeed in the education sector. You can find more information at www.bettshow.com; and to set up a meeting with us at the show, please email publicsector@techdata.co.uk It was announced recently that the G-Cloud 6 Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) is expected to go live in the first week of February 2015. Sign up for our next Tendering Workshops If you have cloud services to sell via the G-Cloud framework or to any area of the Public Sector, you need to comprehend the tendering process and you’ll really benefit by attending one of our free, one-day Public Sector Tendering Workshops. You’ll walk away with the understanding and the confidence you need to understand the selling process and how to get the best results when you work with the Public Sector. We’re planning further events in January and April. For more information and to register please email kirsty.prigmore@techdata.co.uk Anyone for an Advanced Bid and Tender Management course? We want your opinions! We are looking at the potential for putting on an Advanced Bid and Tender Management course, which will take you one step further from the Tendering Workshops. We’d like to know your views on whether this is something you’d like to see and if so, whether it would be beneficial to have any relevant certifications or qualifications? Please let us have your views – email kirsty.prigmore@techdata.co.uk Visit our Virtual Rooms to discover the best technology solutions T ech Data’s Virtual Rooms enable you to explore all the options available in the classroom, in the surgery, waiting room, hospital ward or local government office. They are a superb aid to selling – or simply familiarising yourself with the technology options and opportunities available in Public Sector settings. Go to www.techdata.co.uk and click on the Learn and Develop tab to pull up the Virtual Environments options. Use our free tool for delivering targeted messages to your customers O ur free online demand generation toolkit enables you to take vendor public sector offers, add your own messages and get them put to your customers. It’s fast, efficient, easy and cost-effective. Just go to www.techdata.co.uk/publicsector/portal and follow the instructions. If you need help or have questions, please email publicsector@techdata.co.uk 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 17 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk Samsung Galaxy Alpha, Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S5 Mini The premium range from Tech Data Mobile The sleekest Galaxy smartphone ever • • • • • • • High quality metal frame Less than 7mm thick 4.7” Super AMOLED Display Advanced 12MP Camera with real-time HDR Android 4.4 KitKat Ultra Power Saving Mode Fingerprint sensor PART CODE: 3165178 PART CODE: 3165177 £390.53 DEALER PRICE • €492.19 Designed for you, fast & powerful • • • • • • 5.1” HD Super AMOLED Display 16 MP Camera Wi-Fi Technology Ultra Power saving Mode Android 4.4 KitKat Fingerprint sensor. Compact design, big performance • • • • • • Super slim at 9.1mm 4.5 “ HD Super AMOLED Display 8MP Camera Android 4.4 KitKat Fingerprint sensor Ultra Power Saving Mode. PART CODE: 3050527 £365.00 DEALER PRICE • €460.01 PART CODE: 3184050 PART CODE: 3184062 PART CODE: 3165179 £248.26 DEALER PRICE • €312.88 For further information on the above handsets or any other Samsung products available from Tech Data Mobile, contact your account manager. 18 Newsflash 12.10.indd 18 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n From the desk of… • n Kate McIntyre interviews Steve Bailey, Business Development Manager for Components & Accessories Tech Data Limited. To hear the full interview visit www.tdnewsflash.co.uk Tech Data have been talking about the benefits of their Protect, Connect, Extend program for some time now and over the coming year that message will resonate even more loudly as wearable technology and home automation start to become more prevalent and the mobile device explosion continues. In all of these areas, Tech Data is bringing new vendors on board and opening up new opportunities for you to offer accessories and add-ons that will enhance the capabilities of these solutions, make them more secure and ensure that users can make use of them while they are on the move. We talked to Steve Bailey, Business Development Manager for for Components & Accessories at Tech Data about the new opportunities that are emerging around lifestyle add-ons and apps, the connected home and mobility in the consumer, public sector and commercial markets. 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 19 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Focus On • n What does 2015 have in store for IT? We asked business leaders and visionaries from around Tech Data’s Collection of Specialist businesses to give us their views on what will be the major trends and opportunities for the year ahead I n many respects, it’s going to be more of the same in 2015 – a rapid and constantly changing evolution rather than a sudden revolution, but with some potentially disruptive technologies emerging as well. The revolution, as it were, is already underway and is set to continue. The changes now taking place in the way IT is bought and consumed are fundamental and impact every area of the business. Mobility and the migration to the cloud will still be the main themes. Many customers will take more apps, productivity apps and some specific solutions such as CRM into the cloud, but keep others on premise. The end of support on Windows Server 2003 in July will be the moment around which many decisions with regards to what to keep on-site and what to use in the cloud will turn. More mobile integration With regards to mobility, many larger customers will seek to integrate mobile use much more with their IT systems, so they have better control over data and usage. Other organisations may look to the proliferation of lower cost mobile client devices and tablets to provide easier, cheaper, anytime-anywhere access. There will certainly be no shortage of potential with mobile devices and solutions. The arrival of all-in-one converged reference architectures, with server, storage and virtualisation software pre-integrated is going to have an impact and with this, storage is likely to become a bigger area of focus. Customers who keep data on site will need more capacity and will want faster, solid-state technology if they can have it, while service providers will need tremendous scalability and resilience, as well as capacity. For resellers, the challenge of transitioning to business models based largely on services and managing the monitoring of usage and customer billing, is a considerable one. Traditional solutions sales are not going to go away, so it’s not essential to switch focus suddenly or completely. But the shift towards hosted and managed services can’t be ignored. Capturing consumers In the retail and consumer markets, mobility is a key driver again and the new and exciting areas of wearable-tech and home automation look ripe for growth. It is perhaps a question of exactly when these kinds of systems will start to capture the imagination of the general public. Ultra 4K HD is already a major trend and that will continue. 3D printing is also an exciting and enticing area – and one that is certain to capture the imagination and curiosity of the consumer – just as soon as devices fall in price to a point where they become affordable to home users. As ever, to survive and prosper VARs, systems integrators, resellers and retailers will need to adapt to the market, embrace change, listen and respond to customers and make the best possible use of the services and support available from their industry partners. You need to be agile and quick on your feet, but also keep them firmly planted on the ground. 20 Newsflash 12.10.indd 20 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Focus On • n SOFTWARE Getting more comfortable with the cloud ‘We’ll continue to see a lot of focus on the cloud and moving customers to a subscription model. Adobe has made a lot of progress with the Creative Cloud for Teams and VIP and we are seeing much stronger take-up for Office 365 now as well. Dwayne Earl ‘All this points to the end user customer becoming much more comfortable in using hosted solutions and the use of business apps in the cloud is going to become much more accepted and mainstream. But it’s not going to happen overnight and it is really important to understand that on-premise software is not going to disappear. We’ll see many customers using both consumption models for some time to come.’ Business Unit Manager, Software MICROSOFT The year of the platform ‘The end-of-support on Windows Server 2003 is going to be a major event this year. There are conversations to be had around the data centre, around virtualisation and hosted services. I’ve been working with Microsoft and HP on a playbook of scenarios recently and we stopped when we got to eleven – but there are literally hundreds of different variations. ‘Azure will become more prominent – and a lot of the conversations will be around the platform choice – with Azure now, you can run just about anything, including Linux, so you can out everything under a Microsoft platform. Most customers are likely to adopt a hybrid approach though and make use of Azure for backup or DR and other core services. ‘CRM is going to be a real game-changer this year. Microsoft’s latest CRM has a lot of features that were previously out of reach for small business customers and make it possible for them to achieve so much more in their marketing, sales and customer management by using social media and trend analysis. When customers see it, they will want it.’ Sean Taylor Microsoft Solutions Architect CONSUMER ELECTRONICS Taking more tech home ‘3D printing is going to get much more consumer-focused this year. We are already seeing a number of businesses taking it up. Prices are coming down and we are starting to see more users wanting it at home. The number of things you can do with 3D printers is increasing all the time – such as 3D full body scanning that you are now seeing advertised – so that’s an area we are looking at right now. Mark Glasspool Director of Printing, PC Components and Consumer Electronics ‘Wearable tech is potentially a very significant opportunity and that’s also something we are looking at as a category in its own right. It’s a very broad term though – we see the main opportunities around smart watches and fitness bands at the moment and possibly some visual products as well. ‘NAS is already strong and we expect to see growth in the consumer market as more users start to store video and images at home. As with 3D printing, people are starting to take the tech they see in the workplace, into their own homes much more. ‘Home automation has been around for a while but it is now really starting to attract a lot more interest. Some key vendors such as Samsung are getting much more serious about it. We have a strong line-up of products already and see some good opportunities here, for additional products such as apps and alarms.’ 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 21 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Focus On • n COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES Stepping up a gear Paul Jacobs ‘In the consumer market it will be all about wearables, home automation and NAS. On the back of that, as so much more will be done in the cloud, we’ll see even more demand for faster WiFi, connectivity and storage components and accessories. As well as massive growth in NAS we’ll see increasing sales of SSD as confidence in the technology grows along with reliability, and prices come down. From the enthusiast market we’ll see even more hunger for even more power as online gaming becomes more sophisticated and developed. It will all step-up a gear and with more graphics and other functions being crammed onto the chip and the main board now, graphics and other upgrades will be taken to a higher level.’ PC Components and Accessories Business Unit Manager SYSTEMS New generation of hybrids may prove disruptive James Reed Director Systems & Software ‘Tablets will continue to be the big theme in 2015 but there are two quite distinct major trends taking place now. First of all we are seeing customers making more definitive choices. The wider set of options available compels them to be more selective. Some are going back to conventional laptops, small-footprint desktops or powerful workstations, while others are standardising on convertible or multi-mode devices. We’ll also see rapid growth of simpler hybrid tablets for content consumption as the new generation of extremely power-efficient and affordable and devices – some running Windows 8.1 others running Chrome – come to market. This will stir up a lot of disruption, excitement and activity in the SoHo, education and student markets, so it could be a really interesting year.’ ENTERPRISE PLATFORMS De-risking investment ‘From a technology perspective we are now beginning to see the migration to managed IaaS and PaaS platforms that’s been talked about for so long. It seems like the right time now for that to really start happening. That said we don’t expect to see many organisations putting their most mission-critical apps into the cloud. But some applications – such as CRM – lend themselves well to it. Gary Lloyd Director, Azlan Cisco and EMC Business Unit ‘We see a lot of growth coming from the emergence of the converged reference architectures in 2015. The application is what’s key here because if you are a C-level executive all you really care about is that the line-of-business app is running. It’s about de-risking the investment and we’re seeing a number of developments in this direction now. The most prominent has probably been VCE up to now and we’re seeing things like EVO: RAIL as well and vendors bringing their own reference architectures to market.’ 22 Newsflash 12.10.indd 22 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Focus On • n CLOUD SERVICES SMBs will turn to their trusted advisors ‘The cloud SMB services market has grown from £1.4bn last year to £1.9bn this year [according to the Parallels SMB Cloud Insights™] but even so, cloud services are taking time to develop in the channel. What we will see in 2015 is SMBs turning to their resellers to consolidate the services they have already started to use and want to start using. Many smaller businesses have started by sourcing services via the Internet, but as they look to expand their usage and integrate their solutions and services, they are going to need the help of their trusted advisor. Joel Chimoindes Azlan Cloud Services Director ‘Growth of cloud services – and especially infrastructure as a service (IaaS) – will be driven this year by compelling events, such as the end of support on Windows Server 2003. Hybrid will continue to be key – and the ability to offer some services on- and some offpremises and move seamlessly between the two, taking advantage of services such as Cisco InterCloud and the VMware VCloud Network, will be vital for resellers.’ Trusted vendors make it easier to enter market ‘In 2015 more and more vendors will enter the cloud market directly. Managed Service Providers (and ISPs before them) have long satisfied the need for hosted solutions but recently we have seen major vendors who previously have offered traditional hardware/ software products start to introduce their own public cloud platforms. That’s significant because it means the reseller channel can work with the same brand names, the same people they know and trust and that will only accelerate adoption of the cloud and related services.’ David Newbould Azlan Business Leader, Cloud Services & MSP MANAGED SERVICES MSPs come of age ‘We are very much focusing on the whole CAMS area for 2015 – on cloud, analytics, mobility and social. There are two key trends I’d highlight – the development of the MSP and the growth of data analytics. More resellers are now becoming managed services providers and established MSPs are starting to find their niches in the market. We are now facing that changing scenario with a dedicated MSP team and helping services providers to create new revenue streams and develop their infrastructure. Rob Tomlin Director, Azlan IBM Unified Comms & Cloud Business Units ‘The other key trend for 2015 we see is the continuing growth in big data and data analytics. Organisations want to do more with their data now and we are working closely with IBM to find new and intelligent ways in which customers can store, analyse and use their data. This is going to be a very big trend for next year.’ DATA CENTRE Brave new world in the data centre ‘The development of converged systems that combine compute, storage, virtualisation and management software into a single integrated solution is going to be a very significant growth area for 2015. Storage and in particular advanced deduplication, is going to be a major area of potential. We will be putting a lot of additional focus on advanced storage solutions in 2015. ‘Another major trend will be software-defined networking. Many businesses are starting to understand the potential benefits, so we see interest growing rapidly. We already have our own Proof-of-Concept centre set up and we are ready to demonstrate the latest SDN solutions and what they can deliver to customers at any time.’ 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 23 Andy Dow Director, Azlan HP Business Systems Unit www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Focus On • n MOBILE IT to embrace the mobile at last ‘The big trend we see in 2015 is the integration of the mobile phone into the IT infrastructure. With the Lumia devices that are now coming to market this really can happen for the first time. Being able to fully integrate smartphone and phablets devices with Windows Server for completely seamless integration of email, scheduling, unified messaging, CRM and other functions, is going to create a whole new set of opportunities. Peter Hubbard Managing Director, Tech Data Mobile UK ‘Looking at the wider market, the continuing roll-out of 4G will drive more smartphone uptake and keep driving sales of course. Analysts are also predicting a surge in sales of simpler, more affordable devices. Dealers need to be ready to meet the needs of both kinds of user – those who want the very latest, most powerful and functional smartphone available, and those who want a simple, low-cost option. They also need to ensure they take every opportunity to sell accessories and add-ons and maximise the efficiency of their supply chain.’ AUDIOVISUAL Displays to drive added value ‘Next year is going to see a lot of activity around visual displays in all sectors – and as well as the devices themselves, there will be more connectivity and integration opportunities than ever. In education we are still seeing the migration from interactive whiteboards to more versatile LCD displays. That’s a major opportunity, not only to deliver the latest technology to schools, but also to upgrade interactivity and collaboration tools as well. ‘We are now starting to see really excellent and much more affordable Ultra HD 4K displays and curved displays coming to market and that trend will continue throughout 2015. Simon Fagan Director, Maverick ‘The desire to be connected and to collaborate is very strong in both the public and commercial sectors now, so all displays need to be fully connected to the network and the web so the cables and connectors need to be good enough to support the full capabilities of the displays. We also see some more affordable and accessible video conferencing and digital signage solutions coming to market, and this will also drive display, mounting and connectivity business for AV resellers.’ Getting heads up out of the clouds Some of the key points raised include: • Microsoft’s marketing of Office 365 is having an impact and resellers are benefiting, not only from getting new customers on board, but also from up-selling and crossselling of other services, such as Azure and InTune. • Staging customer events on Office 365 and other new technologies really works in terms of gaining customer confidence and lead generation. They are especially effective if you can enlist the help of experts in Microsoft solutions. • Messaging around Office 365 and other cloud-based solutions is effective, but needs to be brought together and more focus needs to be placed on the benefits that are delivered to customers as a whole – not on individual products or on the ‘cloud’ aspect itself. • The Lumia launch has been positively received and resellers like the idea of being able to offer a mobile device platform for simple tasks like email that is fully compatible and can be fully-integrated with Windowsbased systems. • Partners need to know where to find resources – such as those available via the SureStep programme – so they can access them without hold-ups. In response, Microsoft Business Manager at Tech Data UK, Gemma Horsell, says: ‘It’s great to get some really candid feedback from resellers. There is clearly an important role 24 Newsflash 12.10.indd 24 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n Focus On • n What do the analysts say? Gartner predicts potential for disruption Gartner defines a strategic technology trend as one with the potential for significant impact on organisation in the next three years, due to high potential for disruption, the need for a major investment, or the risk of being late to adopt. The top 10 strategic technology trends for 2015 it has identified are: Computing Everywhere as mobile devices proliferate, there will be increased emphasis on serving the needs of the mobile user The Internet of Things suppliers will seek to leverage four basic usage models – Manage, Monetize, Operate and Extend 3D Printing worldwide shipments expected to grow 98% in 2015, and double in 2016. Lower-cost device sales will grow rapidly and industrial use will expand Advanced, Pervasive and Invisible Analytics the desire to use vast pools of structured and unstructured data means every app will need to be an analytic app Context-Rich Systems embedded intelligence combined with pervasive analytics will drive the development of systems that respond to their surroundings. Security will be an early application Smart Machines deep analytics and an understanding of context will enable the development of smart machines (vehicles, robots) that understand their environment, learn for themselves, and act autonomously. Gartner predicts this will be the most disruptive trend in the history of IT Cloud/Client Computing the convergence of cloud and mobile computing will drive more use of centrally coordinated applications that can be delivered to any device Software-Defined Applications and Infrastructure agile programming of applications and basic infrastructure will enable more flexibility and dynamic configuration Web-Scale IT a way of applying the capabilities of large cloud service providers (like Amazon and Google) in an enterprise IT setting. This will evolve as cloud and software-defined approaches become mainstream Risk-Based Security and Self-Protection as it becomes recognised that it is not possible to provide a 100% secure environment, organisations will begin to apply moresophisticated risk assessment and mitigation tools; applications will become self-aware and self-protecting. Tech Data has been taking feedback from Microsoft resellers on Office 365 and Azure, and what they see as the priorities for 2015. for us to play at Tech Data in bringing all the Microsoft solutions and messages together and making resources easily accessible and available to partners. ‘As migration to Office 365, Azure, InTune and other new Microsoft technologies continues, there will be even more demand for sales and marketing support, training and technical assistance. Our job, fundamentally, is to make it as easy as possible for partners to sell Microsoft solutions. We’ll be stepping up our efforts in 2015 – a whole series of training and events are already being planned for first half of the year – to make sure we can meet more requests from more resellers as the momentum builds, and ensure Microsoft partners can keep on developing their business in this direction.’ Any Microsoft Partner that wants to provide additional feedback and find out more about the support available to them from Tech Data’s dedicated Microsoft team, can call 01256 788 000 or email microsoft@techdata.co.uk 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 25 Gemma Horsell Microsoft Business Manager www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 Introducing our new MAXIFY range What makes them perfect for small business? New high density inks High Performance Always Connected • High quality, detailed prints • Marker and friction resistant • True all-colour pigments. • Quick First-Print. • Wi-Fi, Ethernet and cloud enabled • Print remotely • Multi-device compatibility. What’s most important to your customers? Cost-effectiveness Speed and efficiency Simplicity Businesses want a printer that’s energy-efficient and helps them save on paper and ink costs where possible. Businesses need a device that can support them and deliver the service they need – quicky Businesses require great functionality while being easy to use to make working life easier. Connectivity and mobility Reliability Employees working remotely need the option to send documents straight to the office printer or mobile devices. Businesses want an affordable, high-quality printer that won’t let them down and can do everything they ask – day in, day out Source: ‘Printers in the UK SMB Market’ by B2B international, July 2014 When buying a new printer, which factor would be most important to you? MAXIFY MB5350 MAXIFY MB2350 • Overlapping paper feed and the fastest first-print from startup of just 7 seconds • Single pass two sided scanning and auto two-sided print • Can print via any mobile or desktop device • Quality prints thanks to high density inks. • Scan documents directly to the cloud (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Evernote) • Print via any mobile or desktop device • Simple, full-colour touchscreen menu • Quality prints thanks to high density inks. PART CODE: 3222692 PART CODE: 3223645 DEALER PRICES • 3262.09 DEALER PRICES • 3159.08 £207.96 £126.22 MAXIFY iB4050 MAXIFY MB5050 • Will be able to print remotely via their mobile or desktop device • Can connect via any mobile or desktop device thanks to versatile connectivity • Scan and upload images direct to email, network locations or the cloud • Fast printing speeds at high volumes. • Overlapping paper feed and the fastest first-print from startup of just 7 seconds • Single pass two sided scanning and auto two-sided print • Can print via any mobile or desktop device • Quality prints thanks to high density inks. PART CODE: 3222690 PART CODE: 3222691 DEALER PRICES • 3121.36 DEALER PRICES • 3177.44 £96.29 £140.79 For further information on warranty go to: http://canon-extended-warranty.sales-promotions.com For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 26 05/12/2014 14:07 Introducing our new i-SENSYS range Canon i-SENSYS laser printers make the ideal focal point in office productivity. PRINT | COPY | SCAN | FAX MF229dw MF226dn PART CODE: 3222521 PART CODE: 3222520 DEALER PRICES • 3245.45 DEALER PRICES • 3210.28 £194.75 £166.85 MF217w MF216n PART CODE: 3222519 PART CODE: 3222518 DEALER PRICES • 3161.06 DEALER PRICES • 3139.94 £127.79 £111.04 PRINT | COPY | SCAN They have been designed and developed to tackle the challenges that matter to MF212w MF211 PART CODE: 3222517 PART CODE: 3222516 customers – easy connectivity for mobile DEALER PRICES • 3118.86 DEALER PRICES • 3111.81 devices, fast output, easy operation and £94.31 £88.72 control over costs. There are 10 models in the new line-up, so there’s plenty of choice PRINT of options – all with admirable output speeds of between 18pmm and 27ppm. LBP6230dw LBP6030w PART CODE: 3222515 PART CODE: 3222512 DEALER PRICES • 397.57 DEALER PRICES • 373.70 £77.42 LBP6030B LBP6030 PART CODE: 3222514 PART CODE: 3222513 DEALER PRICES • 366.68 DEALER PRICES • 372.98 £52.91 Newsflash 12.10.indd 27 £58.48 £57.91 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk Logitech B100 Optical USB Mouse A comfortable plug-and-play mouse with built-in quality and optical precision. PART CODE: 2663149 The Logitech USB Headset H570e – Enterprise-quality communication, a comfortable fit and unmatched by the competition. Offer pricing only available until 31st December 2014! Logitech RX250 Optical Mouse With its classic renowned design, offers consistent optical tracking performance, a 1,000dpi resolution and a tilt and zoom scroll wheel with comfort grip for ease of use. For further information on any of the above Logitech offers, please contact your account manager PART CODE: 1379846 FREE FIVE YEAR WARRANTY On Epson’s installation projector range Available on the EB-1900 Series and EB-4000 Series from Maverick EB-1970W EB-1975W EB-1980WU EB-1985WU Part code: 3191280 Part code: 3191451 Part code: 3191452 Part code: 3191453 Dealer prices • €1,511.11 Dealer prices • €1,770.74 Dealer prices • €1,511.11 Dealer prices • €1,914.41 £1,199.00 £1,405.00 £1,199.00 £1,519.00 EB-4450 EB-4650 EB-4750W EB-4850WU EB-4950WU Part code: 2824080 Part code: 2824076 Part code: 2824192 Part code: 2824193 Part code: 2824078 Dealer prices • €1,702.68 Dealer prices • €1,872.82 Dealer prices • €1,872.82 Dealer prices • €3,061.29 Dealer prices • €3,333.52 £1,351.00 £1,486.00 £1,486.00 £2,429.00 £2,645.00 Offer is also available on Epson’s G Series projectors • Terms and conditions apply For more information please contact Maverick on 01256 788 733 or email sales@maverick.co.uk 28 Newsflash 12.10.indd 28 05/12/2014 14:07 Choose Acronis for the Windows Server 2003 migration Unfortunately all operating systems meet their end of life. Many times it is better to migrate to the newer operating systems sooner rather than later. When assisting your customers to migrate, be sure that they plan, are prepared, have done their research and are going to use the right set of tools to make the migration process as smooth and reliable as possible. Backup Windows Server 2003 machines: all the data, files, folders, documents and everything else they may need. Use tools to help you efficiently and reliably provision new machines in their environment. Acronis Snap Deploy can help to provision new operating system environments and software to many machines in one step. Why choose Acronis for Windows Server 2003 Migration? • Capture everything quickly on Windows Server 2003 machines with patented image-based backups • Preserve Windows Server 2003 environments with Virtualisation, even if you plan to reuse the hardware • Deploy new operating systems en masse to save time and resources • Recover individual files, folders, applications or complete Server 2003 systems • Recover to any hardware or VM. For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 29 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n End of Support • n Microsoft® will end extended support for Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 and Windows Server 2003 on July 14, 2015. Without support, the day-to-day operation of these important resources and, more importantly, the day-to-day operation of business networks could be at risk. • Windows SBS 2003 and the workloads running on it will become more expensive to operate. • Exchange Server 2003 reached end of extended support on April 8, 2014, meaning email could be at risk. • Computers and networks could become vulnerable to malicious software and other security issues. • Any outdated software could create compliance issues. Upgrading to Windows Server 2012 R2 enables businesses to modernise their networks at a significant cost saving, gain comprehensive data protection, and increase productivity for workforces. to view: www.techdata.co.uk/microsoft/videos/endoflife We look forward to discussing with you how upgrading to Windows Server 2012 R2 can help you: • • • • Continue getting the support you need. Save money running your network. Get extra protection for your sensitive data Provide access to users – across all their devices. Contact the software team today software@techdata.co.uk or call 01256 864114 30 Newsflash 12.10.indd 30 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n End of Support • n Tech Data recommends Windows. Following a migration process should make the transition from Windows Assess Server 2003/R2 to the cloud as smooth as Once your customers have a catalogue, you will need to assess what’s in it. possible for your customers. That process This means categorising and analysing the catalogued applications and workloads based on type, criticality, complexity, and risk. After completing the assessment, workloads and applications can be prioritised for migration. This helps identify issues and opportunities. will include discovering, assessing, and targeting workloads and software before choosing the right migration plan. Discover The first step is to discover and catalogue all of the software and workloads running on Windows Server 2003/R2. There are several self-service tools that can help with this process, such as the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit, a free tool that helps to collect and organise systemwide information from a single, networked computer. Other third-party discovery offerings include Dell ChangeBASE, Lakeside Software SysTrack, JumpStart for Windows Server 2003 from Microsoft Services, and a number of other options from system integrators and Microsoft partner service providers. Target Choose a migration destination for each application and workload. Available options include Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Azure, Cloud OS Network, and Office 365. Different workloads and applications will logically lead to certain targets. Others could offer the possibility of migration to one or more of these destinations. The choice will be driven by factors such as speed, ease of migration, cost, and desired functionality. Migrate Choosing the right migration plan may require some additional analysis and assistance. Several vendors offer DIY tools to assist in the decision-making process and in the migration itself, including Dell ChangeBASE, Citrix AppDNA, AppZero, and JumpStart for Windows Server 2003. Other migration services are also available through system integrators, including several Microsoft partners. Upgrade to Windows Server 2012/R2 Standard Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard provides features that aren’t available in Windows Server 2003 or Windows SBS 2003. • Server consolidation. Get the most out of server hardware investments as businesses grow. • Disaster recovery. Make sure important data isn’t lost. Hyper-V Replica, which is included as part of Windows Server 2012 R2, provides automated data protection and recovery across servers. 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 31 • Flexible, cost-effective storage. Scale data storage quickly, at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. • Easy remote access. Give employees the flexibility to work anywhere and organisations the peace of mind that comes from knowing their data is protected. • A consistent user experience. Provide workforces with a consistent, well-managed experience across the many different types of computers and mobile devices in use. www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk DO MORE. WITH LENOVO® THINKSERVER® TOWER SYSTEMS Loaded with an outstanding array of enterprise-class features, ThinkServer TS140, and TS440 Tower Systems have the performance, scalability, manageability and RAID protection needed to meet 24/7 business-critical computing demands. For a limited time only, Lenovo is offering end users up to £350 cash back when they purchase the following ThinkServer Tower systems: ThinkServer TS140 ThinkServer TS140 ThinkServer TS440 • Intel Xeon E3-1225 V3 (3.2GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 1600MHz), • 1x4GB DDR3-1600 uDIMM • 500GB SATA6GB 3.5 • 4x3.5” DC SATA, RAID100 onboard (0/1/10/5) • SLIM DVD/RW • Gigabit Ethernet. • Intel Xeon E3-1225 V3 (3.2GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 1600MHz), • 2x4GB DDR3-1600 uDIMM • 2x500GB SATA6GB 3.5 • 4x3.5” DC SATA, RAID100 onboard (0/1/10/5) • SLIM DVD/RW • Gigabit Ethernet. • Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 (3.4GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 1600MHz), • 1x4GB DDR3-1600 uDIMM • 2x500GB SATA6GB 3.5 • 4x3.5” hs SATA, RAID100 onboard (0/1/10/5) • SLIM DVD+-RW • Gigabit Ethernet. NOW WITH UP TO MANU CODE: 70A5000KUK MANU CODE: 70A50010UK MANU CODE: 70AQ000BUK DEALER PRICE • €465.05 DEALER PRICE • €597.39 DEALER PRICE • €628.89 £350 CASH BACK! £369.00 £474.00 £499.00 To maximise the cash back amount earned, simply attach either the specified ROK, warranty or both for up to a massive £350 cash back in your customer’s pocket! Email: lenovoservers@azlan.com • Tel: 0845 356 3033 • Web: www.azlan.com Philips IPS Monitors This winter we’re fully stocked with promotionally priced Philips E-Line IPS monitors for you and your customers. With promotions on 21.5”–23.8” monitors featuring IPS and HDMI from only £79.99, you’re sure to find something to tempt your customers in out of the cold. 21.5” 224E5QDAB 23” 234E5QDAB £79.99 £97.99 IPS • VGA • DVA • HDMI PART CODE: 2974034 DEALER PRICE • €100.81 IPS • VGA • DVA • HDMI PART CODE: 2974035 DEALER PRICE • €123.50 23.8” 244E5QHSD IPS • VGA • 2 x HDMI PART CODE: 2946775 £99.99 DEALER PRICE • €126.02 32 Newsflash 12.10.indd 32 05/12/2014 14:07 Versavu 360° Rotating Case Protection and maximum viewing versatility. • 360° rotating case • Slim design • Perfect fit cradle. BLACK • PART CODE: 3236594 GREY • PART CODE: 3236590 BLUE • PART CODE: 3236589 DEALER PRICES • €30.81 £24.45 Click-in 360° Rotating Case 3D Protection Excellent all-round usability, maximum viewing versatility Structurally protective design with viewing stand and typing position • Patent pending 360° rotating design • Slim and lightweight • Secure fit. • Shock absorbing • Superior protection • Water and dirt repellent. BLACK • PART CODE: 3236595 RED • PART CODE: 3236599 DEALER PRICES • €17.12 BLACK • PART CODE: 3236598 GREY • PART CODE: 3236601 DEALER PRICES • €23.96 Click-in Case Hard Cover Excellent all-round usability, ideal for everyday use Extra protection and durability £13.58 • Slim fit design • Trifold adjustable viewing stand • Durable iPad cover BLACK • PART CODE: 3236600 RED • PART CODE: 3236596 DEALER PRICES • €15.41 £19.01 • Hard edge front cover • Shock resistant • Unlimited viewing angles. BLACK • PART CODE: 3236597 DEALER PRICES • €17.12 £13.58 £12.23 For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 33 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n First Look • n 34 Newsflash 12.10.indd 34 05/12/2014 14:07 Newsflash 12.14 n T he Panasonic Toughbook and ToughPads are designed to withstand the toughest of conditions. There are models designed to suit all kinds of different environments – for construction sites, manufacturing, the emergency services, the military and many more. There is even a Toughpad certified for use on oil rigs – the FZ-G1 Atex is Zone 2 compliant, see business.panasonic.co.uk/computer-product/toughpad/fz-g1 for more details. It is almost certain that every reseller reading this will know of several customers who might be able to make use of a portable PC or device that can withstand more than the average treatment. In every case, Panasonic Toughbook and Toughpad should be the first names on the shortlist. Panasonic is the number-one brand in rugged notebooks in Europe, so it’s an established and highly credible name in this market. Panasonic Toughbook had a 66.4% revenue share of sales of rugged and durable notebooks and Panasonic Toughpad held a 50.4% revenue share of sales of rugged business tablets in 2013 (VDC Research, March 2014). Looking the part They look fantastic too. Whilst by necessity, they have a reinforced construction and they do appear sturdy and dependable, they are striking and stylish too. They reassuringly look the part and that’s a strong element of their appeal. You would be daft venturing out onto a muddy construction site in a pair of high heels or expensive trainers – and it would not be practical. You’d wear a pair of sturdy boots – they would look the part and enable you to move about freely and comfortably and work without distraction. Just take a look at a product like the fully-rugged 10.1” Windows 8.1 FZ-G1 Toughpad which sets the benchmark for outdoor viewable tablets, for example, or the hybrid notebook tablet 11.6” Business Rugged CF-AX3 Toughbook. In the latter case, Panasonic has drawn on its long pedigree of combining ergonomic and durable design to create a highly mobile, lightweight and stylish Intelbased Windows 8.1 Ultrabook™ that is also really solid. And that’s essentially the appeal of Panasonic Toughbooks; they enable people to get on with their work without having to worry about the delicate constitution of their stylish laptop, which may look great in the office, in the cafe or on the train, but won’t seem to be quite as wonderful when they are out on site and there is a storm brewing or there is dust everywhere. With a Toughbook, there is no need to worry. Most models are water resistant and dustproof. They can be dropped from a reasonable height – off a table or from a standing First Look • n height – and suffer none of the consequences you might expect to be inflicted on other systems that were subjected to such trauma. Officially, Panasonic says that they are drop proof from a height of up to 180cm – around the average height of a UK adult. Super specs There is no shortage of choice in terms of form factor – there are tablet, hybrid and clamshell options and in terms of specification, Panasonic’s devices are right up there with the best. They can be customised to suit your client’s exact needs as well. Even with toughened screens you get multitouch; Intel Core processors and generous heaps of RAM and disk are all provided, along with a camera for video conferencing. They have daylight visible screens, so they can be used outdoors at any time. Excellent graphics and long battery life add to the practicality – a lot of the time mobile users who need this kind of system – think construction, utilities, military, healthcare, police – need high-resolution and plenty of mobile time. Docking stations are available for when mobile workers do return to the office. They are – as you might expect for all this added durability – a little more expensive and a touch heavier than conventional laptops. But not that much more expensive and not that much heavier; and frankly, they are great value for money. Where a customer needs the extra resilience and defiant resistance to the elements, it is worth the extra investment. If you really need a portable PC that won’t break as soon as it rains or gets a bit dusty, the extra weight is not going to be an issue. Focused support Fully Rugged, Semi-Rugged and Business Rugged are the 3 levels of ruggedness on offer. There are ‘ruggedised’ and semi-ruggedised’ models, so you can choose the degree of durability. But they are all very tough indeed. If you have not seen one for yourself as yet, we recommend you get your hands on one as soon as possible. Tech Data has a dedicated Panasonic Business Manager, Lynne McDonnell, (contact details below) and she is available to help you with any opportunity and can assist with providing evaluation units. For customers that need something that really will withstand the elements and the day to day adversity of the harsher outdoor working environments in which most of today’s laptops would, quite frankly, not last more than a few hours, the Panasonic Toughbook is a great solution and well worth the additional investment. For more information on stock and availability please check InTouch or contact Lynne McDonnell on 07976 013 450 or at lynne.mcdonnell@techdata.co.uk 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 35 www.techdata.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk 36 Newsflash 12.10.indd 36 05/12/2014 14:07 DiscoverVibrant Beauty with LG’s MP55 and MP65 Series ISPS Monitors LG’s MP55 and MP65 Series IPS monitors provide vibrant beauty at an affordable cost. With an LG IPS monitor, users experience images in rich colour and vivid detail from virtually any angle. Discover LG monitors and discover the many features and benefits of IPS. Lifelike colour: MP55 and MP65 Series monitors are designed to accurately reproduce consistently brilliant reds and blues, deep blacks and crisp whites. Wide viewing angle: Designed to eliminate colour shift, LG IPS monitors show the same crisp, clear images when viewed from the far left or right, as from the centre. Built-in HDMI Receivers: Many of the LG IPS monitors have built-in HDMI, allowing users to watch and play high resolution content without distortion or compression. Ultra-Slim Design: Boasting stunning pictures, the MP55 and MP65 Series also feature a spectacular sleek and slim design. 22” MP55 22MP55HQ PART CODE: 2998247 £81.39 DEALER PRICE • €102.58 22” MP65 22MP65HQ 24” MP55 24MP55HQ PART CODE: 2998421 n £98.29 DEALER PRICE • €123.88 23” MP65 23MP65HQ PART CODE: 3003551 n £89.99 DEALER PRICE • €113.42 27” MP65 27MP65HQ PART CODE: 2998248 n £97.29 DEALER PRICE • €122.62 PART CODE: 2998423 n £163.99 DEALER PRICE • €206.68 For more information about LG monitors contact your account manager or visit InTouch today. All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 37 05/12/2014 14:07 Veriton | N series Tiny form factor. Lots of flexibility. Perfect for Education. The new expandable Acer Veriton N series meets classroom performance expectations, with flexibility, security and manageability in a compact form factor. Occupying very little space, this tiny 1-litre desktop PC is also easy to pick up and move and to set up. The ideal choice for the education sector. • Compact, expandable and flexible design • Remarkable performance • Secure and manageable • Eco-saving compliance. For further information please call your Account Manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 38 05/12/2014 14:07 Acer recommends Windows. PART CODE: 3234947 £416.99 DEALER PRICE • €525.54 Compact, expandable and flexible design Featuring a compact 1 litre chassis, the Veriton N series is only 33.2 mm high and comes with a modular design that allows various alternatives for inputs and outputs or discrete graphics via an optional module. It can be placed in different ways: lay flat on the desk, upright with the module base, or attached behind the monitor. Remarkable Performance In Education, PCs have to suit different types of users and applications. Acer Veriton N series provides the processing power to run the wide range of classroom applications and comes in two different configurations: the N4 model (N4630G) is equipped with the latest Intel® Core™ processor family while the N2 model (N2120G) takes advantage of the AMD Athlon and Sempron processors. P1510 TCO Projector The P1510 TCO DLP, 3,500 ANSI Lumen, HDMI projector is TCO certified to ensure picture quality and energy efficiency are maximised, while acoustic noise and the impact on the environment are minimised. • TCO Certified DLP Projector • 3,500 ANSI Lumens • HDMI Input. Acer Classroom Manager In the Veriton N series you have the Acer Classroom Manager an innovative solution that helps teachers and trainers to improve the efficiency of ICT teaching. It promotes high standards in teaching methodologies and adopts advanced information technology to achieve even better results. Secure and manageable Security is a major concern for schools and educational institutions. The Veriton N series provides trustworthy and robust security features to ensure complete peace of mind. Acer’s ProShield Security secures both the desktop and the data it contains, while TPM-based data encryption protects sensitive information. Acer Office Manager allows educational institutions to deploy security policies, monitor IT assets and schedule maintenance tasks. Get more done with the new Windows The new Windows brings together everything you do across all your devices whether in the classroom, at home or on the go. Windows allows you to create a truly one of a kind experience that is made for the way you live and study. PART CODE: 2700626 £117.99 DEALER PRICE • €148.70 B246HL 24” B6 Series Monitor Warranty extension programme Ideal for use in office environments, libraries and computer labs, B6 Series monitors deliver dynamic, energising visuals and ergonomic comfort thanks to their high display resolution, true-to-life colours and adjustable stand. Acer Veriton N series desktops come with a Standard Warranty1 which can be extended up to 5 years of coverage. Users can also choose to have on-site repair with next business day service. • 24” LED Monitor • Full HD 1920 x 1080 Resolution • VGA, DVI Inputs, Speakers & Height Adjustability. Specifications vary depending on model. 1 Consumers have legal rights under applicable national legislation governing the sale of consumer goods and this warranty does not exclude, limit or suspend any such applicable rights. Newsflash 12.10.indd 39 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n A closer look… • n Time to catch up with Lumia from Microsoft ® Kate McIntyre interviews Adrian Williams, Director Business Sales – UK & Ireland, Microsoft. To hear the full interview visit www.tdnewsflash.co.uk Since the launch of the Lumia from Microsoft® range at Tech Data in July, the B2B sales of Lumia phones has gone from strength to strength. For Microsoft, since the acquisition of the Nokia business, B2B market share has increased from 15% to 21% demonstrating the impact this range has had on partners. Adrian Williams, Director Business Sales – UK & Ireland at Microsoft talks to us about the challenges and achievements of the past year, Lumia’s position within the B2B market and the plans for the year ahead with Tech Data as an integral part of their growth strategy. With Tech Data a key distributor of Microsoft Software products, the addition of the Lumia range further cements our position as a provider of Microsoft end-to-end solutions. For more information visit sales@techdata.co.uk 40 Newsflash 12.10.indd 40 05/12/2014 14:07 Toshiba Portégé Z30-A-13W PART CODE:3002789 WAS £1050 £799.00 DEALER PRICE • €1,006.99 FREQUENT MOBILE USER • Powerful Intel® Core™ i5 processor – This laptop will keep up your End Users • Windows 8.1/Windows 7 – Choose the OS which is right for your business • Full Sized Ports Including VGA – No Dongles Needed • Massive 12 Hour Battery Life – Live a full working day without recharging • 13.3” HD Non Gloss Display – See clearly even in a bright office • 128 GB SSD – Faster performance and more reliable over HDD • Super Light at 1.2KG – More portable for End Users on the move. • 4G – Stay connected anywhere at anytime. Toshiba Tecra Z40-A-18T PART CODE:3171773 WAS £899 £725.00 MOBILE/DESK BASED USER • Powerful Intel® Core™ i5 processor – This laptop will keep up your End Users DEALER PRICE • €913.72 • Windows 8.1/Windows 7 – Choose the OS which is right for your business • Full Sized Ports Including VGA – No Dongles Needed • Massive 12 Hour Battery Life – Live a full working day without recharging • 14.1” HD Non Gloss Display – See clearly even in a bright office • 128 GB SSD – Faster performance and more reliable over HDD • Super Light at 1.4KG – More portable for End Users on the move • 4G – Stay connected anywhere at anytime. Toshiba Tecra Z50-A-106 PART CODE: 2936213 WAS £900 £891.00 DESK BASED USER (FULL NUMERIC KEYBOARD) • Powerful Intel® Core™ i5 processor – This laptop will keep up your End Users DEALER PRICE • €1,122.94 • Windows 8.1/Windows 7 – Choose the OS which is right for your business • Full Sized Ports Including VGA – No Dongles Needed • Massive 12 Hour Battery Life – Live a full working day without recharging • 15.6” HD Non Gloss Display – See clearly even in a bright office • 128 GB SSD – Faster performance and more reliable over HDD • Super Light at 1.8KG – One of the lightest 15.6” Notebook in its class • 4G – Stay connected anywhere at anytime. SMB RESELLERS • CLAIM YOUR FREE 3 YEAR ONSITE WARRANTY ON THESE UNITS. 3 YEAR WARRANTY TRADE IN RELIABILITY GUARANTEE SMB Resellers, claim your free 3 Year Warranty on this unit. Trade in your customer’s old laptop and receive £75.00. Your Toshiba Laptop won’t let you down. If it breaks, you’ll get a free warranty repair and your money back. View Tecra, Satellite and Portégé rewards here www.toshiba.co.uk/ channelrewards www.toshiba.co.uk/tradein www.toshiba.co.uk/reliability For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk Toshiba, Satellite Pro, Tecra, Qosmio and Portégé are trademarks of Toshiba Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 41 05/12/2014 14:07 Cisco Live is Cisco’s premier education and training destination for IT professionals worldwide. Be a part of the largest gathering of Cisco customers, experts, and partners in Europe. Join us for more than 400 sessions, inspiring keynotes, the new DevNet Zone, and more than 90 of Cisco’s top technology partners in the World of Solutions. As your network and data centre evolve and you add new business processes, systems, and services, the consequences and cost of downtime increase dramatically. Delays in resolving issues can bring your busincess operations to a standstill. Use Cisco SMARTnet to help avoid banana skins • Empower your IT staff • Quickly resolve issues • Avoid risk. Contact us if you would like to know how Momentum can accelerate your Cisco business! ukciscosales@azlan.com or call 01256 864 374 All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 42 05/12/2014 14:07 Cisco Fast Track: Pricing Fast Track is a simple programme that helps you build and succeed as a Cisco partner. Get the right products at the right price, while taking advantage of: • Solution bundles • Individual rewards • Instant rebates •Profitability • Deal protection Available now until 26th January 2015 www.azlan.co.uk/cisco/ftp Cisco Fast Track: Internet of Things Get the right products at the right price, while taking advantage of the increased margin with regular discounts. Driving industrial grade routing, switching and wireless networking for the utilities, oil and gas, manufacturing and transportation markets. Cisco Fast Track: Volume Promotion Buy in bulk, and save with Cisco! Fast Track Volume offer provides incremental discount Available now until 26th January 2015 when purchasing minimum quantities for 20 www.azlan.co.uk/cisco/ftIOT or 50 of each products. Cisco Fast Track: School Promotion The Fast Track School Promotion provides additional discounts on selected SKUs from our routing, switching, wireless and security Available now until 17th January 2015 www.azlan.co.uk/cisco/ftpsmb Cisco Fast Track: 3 Year Multi Year Services Promotion product ranges. The promotion is eligible for Available on: Small Independent Schools only. •SMARTnet • Smart Care • Cisco SMARTnet Service for Cisco Unified Computing System • Essential Operate Services (CBS) for TelePresence (TP) Available now until 24th January 2015 Available now until 25th July 2015 www.azlan.co.uk/cisco/ftschool To find out more, or if you have any questions on Cisco Fast Track promotions, please contact programme owner Geraldine Dury on: gdury@cisco.com Newsflash 12.10.indd 43 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Leading Edge • n Ten points for Promethean With its amazing and smooth multi-touch capabilities, the new Promethean 55-inch ActivPanel Touch can revolutionise the way teachers inspire our children P romethean is famed for the quality and pragmatic design of its solutions in education. It is probably fair to say that no other company has done more to advance the understanding and use of interactive technologies in the classroom and Promethean continues to lead the way and set the standard which all other solutions seek to attain. ActivPanel Touch promotes active participation in wholeclass or small-group lessons by providing vivid interactivity and engaging learning experiences. The latest 55-inch, Promethean ActivPanel Touch ATP-55 display is a great example of how Promethean continues to set the bar higher for excellence in education solutions. This vibrant, high-definition display supports ten point multi-touch interaction, enabling students to collaborate and learn together. This feature is also available on the new 84-inch version of the ActivPanel, which will be shipping soon. The 55-inch ActivPanel is available now – and it will be a great product to take into schools in the New Year. The new multi-touch capability will really help them to freshenup the classroom and add some extra zing to learning experiences. Crisp, sharp, precise The crisp display and sharp audio, combined with the smooth and precise touch capability, will enhance the interaction with a wide range of digital content and make learning and teaching more engaging and efficient. Quite simply, it makes both delivering and receiving a lesson more interesting and more fun. It is worth mentioning that the ActivPanel Touch also comes with ActivGlide™ acid-etched glass surface technology, which provides smooth multi-touch interactivity (without ‘finger-burn’), and low latency ensures near-perfect touch tracking, which means it feels perfectly natural using the panel for cursive writing in particular. In addition the narrow profile of the infrared bezel that edges the display means that the point at which For more information on the new ActivPanel Touch and the entire Promethean range, please contact Maverick – call 01256 788733 or email sales@maverick.co.uk a touch is detected is very close to the surface. The result is that users experience highly accurate responses to touch and pen use for precision work. The inclusion of Promethean’s award-winning ActivInspire software is also notable. This system is well-known and very popular amongst teaching professionals, not least because it gives them access to over 90,000 free lesson resources via Promethean Planet to make lesson planning easier. That makes a massive difference to the everyday working lives of teachers. Practical use It’s a really great display to use – and practical too. The LED array backlit LCD screen is full HD 1080p and provides consistent colour, contrast and brightness across the whole panel surface. This is really important – a poor display won’t hold the attention of pupils and students; one that is clear and vivid will. For the same reason, audio quality is important as well and the integral 10W stereo speakers are capable of projecting commentaries and soundtracks to the whole classroom. The inclusion of an Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) slot makes it possible to incorporate a fully-functioning PC as a built-in part of the display, negating the need for connection to external systems. This approach is often preferred by schools. The inclusion of VESA 100 and 75 points on the rear of the panel mean it is easy to slot an Intel® NUC or other small-footprint device onto the back of the display. You can also plug memory sticks or external hard drives into the USB slots provided on the ActivPanel Touch and play audiovisual content directly. Durable design One final point of note is the durable construction and reliability features of the ActivPanel Touch. The classroom can be a testing environment at times. The casing is sturdy and contains a temperature-activated fan system. When the unit reaches a certain temperature, heat is dissipated to protect the LCD panel and minimise the chance of failure. All these features make the new ActivPanel Touch even more attractive to schools and colleges looking to enhance learning and improve outcomes. With the new ten-point multi-touch, the ActivPanel Touch makes it even easier for teachers and pupils to work together, to collaborate and to inspire each other. It’s the ideal tool to share students’ work and ideas and discuss them as a class, build communication skills and practise team-based problem solving. 44 Newsflash 12.10.indd 44 05/12/2014 14:07 Lenovo® recommends Windows 8. THE NEW THINKPAD X1 CARBON ULTRABOOK FEATHERWEIGHT. HEAVYWEIGHT. INTRODUCING THE NEW X1 CARBON. PROFESSIONAL REDEFINED. The lightest 14” Ultrabook in the world also gives you powerful performance and a fullycustomisable interactive experience, including touch, voice and gesture control. The unique Adaptive Keyboard makes you more productive, and you’ll love the stunning WQHD display, long battery life, broad SSD offering and much more. It’s the ultimate Ultrabook experience. 1 2 3 4 Executives looking for a premium ultrabook with the latest technology. INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING Ultra-thin and lighter-thanks to durable carbon-fibre construction, innovative fan design and dust-free cooling vents. TOTAL MOBILITY Lightest 14” Ultrabook with improved battery life and a variety of options to keep you connected anywhere, anytime. LEADING-EDGE USER EXPERIENCE Unique Adaptive Keyboard dynamically transforms to suit the work you’re doing. Voice recognition and gesture control make you more efficient. Great for presentations. PREMIUM PERFORMANCE AND DISPLAY A real performer powered by Intel Core i7 processors with vPro and up to GT3 graphics combined with a WQHD (2560x1440) display delivers striking visuals. Customer-facing professionals who can use the Adaptive Keyboard, NFC, voice and gesture control for powerful presentations and dynamic client interactions. Power users who need long battery life, stunning displays and premium performance. Road warriors who want ultimate portability, without sacrificing durability and performance. IT managers looking for trusted technology that protects their investment. For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 45 05/12/2014 14:07 Gartner Market Share Analysis: SSDs and Solid-State Arrays, Worldwide 2013. Published June 2014 All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 46 05/12/2014 14:07 IBM Ranks #1 Worldwide Leader in Flash Commands 25% market share of Solid-State Array market 278% growth in revenue from 2012 $164 million in 2013 All-flash array market grew to $667 million 182% year over year growth, outpacing SSD market IBM flash has global market acceptance 800+ clients over 2,000 systems shipped Less than fifteen months after finalising the acquisition of TMS and only nine months after announcing the IBM FlashSystem™ family, IBM claimed the top spot in Gartner’s Market Share Analysis: SSDs and Solid-State Arrays, Worldwide, 2013 over the competitors Pure Storage, Violin, EMC, and NetApp. Gartner calls the all-flash array category, referred to as solid-state arrays (SSA), a disruption to the enterprise disk storage market. IDC agrees, reporting a 25% decline in high-end disk storage spending over the same period. Traditional storage vendors made bold claims about the flash market position prior to the Gartner analysis and were left off the report. However, Gartner’s finding show that all of these companies revenues combined from SSD-retrofitted arrays barely adds up to the IBM FlashSystem. Azlan can help to grow your storage business Don’t worry if you are new to IBM Storage; Azlan’s ‘sell with’ BDMs can attend customer meetings alongside you. Azlan is fully accredited to sell IBM’s entire storage portfolio. From ensuring the best price and full rebates are received, to enablement and customer demonstration capabilities, Azlan will work closely with you in the selling process to make selling storage with Azlan simpler, quicker and more profitable. If you would like guidance on how to sell and where to position any products in the IBM Storage portfolio, our Azlan IBM Specialists will be happy to discuss this with you. Contact the IBM sales team by emailing: IBMUK@azlan.com or speak to your account manager to find out more. Newsflash 12.10.indd 47 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n In Business • n Acer promises even more Acer is stepping up its sales drive in the commercial markets by emphasising the great choice and value it offers with its range – and the superb investment protection offered by the Acer Promise If you have any special bids or specific questions on Acer, please contact the PC Systems team on 01256 788000 I f you sell PCs you’ll already know that Acer has a really competitive line-up of systems to suit the needs of all kinds of users, from the simplest laptop for occasional users who just need core functionality, to the most fullyfeatured and powerful desktop replacement and multimedia portables you’ll find anywhere. Last year, Acer upped its game by launching the Acer Promise, a set of commitments designed to underline the reliability of its systems and assure customers of its commitment to delivering the very best return on investment*. The launch of this programme has had a positive effect and it’s something the company now wants to build on, says Chris Bates, Category Manager for Acer at Tech Data. ‘The Acer Promise has been received well and we’ve seen good growth in Acer’s commercial sales across the UK over the last few months. We’re now making more improvements to our processes that will make it even easier for resellers to work with Acer. That, on top of the excellent range of business systems that Acer can offer to meet every kind of need will make it an even more attractive proposition to our channel partners, as well as end-user customers.’ Winning business There are four pillars to the Acer Promise – Reliability, Performance, Trade-Up and Promotion. Essentially what the Acer Promise does is promise to match anything else that’s available from our competitors. That means resellers will always get the best chance of winning business and the best chance of making a decent margin on business. For customers, it means the best value and all-round investment protection, so everyone gains. With the TravelMate notebooks, Aspire S7 Pro, Veriton desktops, Aspire Switch convertible and Iconia Windows tablets, the B6 series monitors and the P5 projector series, Acer does indeed have a comprehensive range of offerings that are suited to every conceivable need in SMB and education – the two key target markets for the company. When backed with the Acer Promise (as all these products are), they present a very appealing value proposition for customers in these sectors. A core element of that is a guarantee on replacement systems. If something goes wrong with their PC in the first year, Acer will replace the system or repair it and refund 50% of the purchase price. Additionally, if a PC fails within a month of purchase, it promises to replace the device next business day. Recently implemented changes to processes here mean that resellers and customers can be assured that any enquiries and returns will be handled smoothly and efficiently. The Trade-Up Promise also has a strong appeal in SMB and education, as customers who hand over their old PC when they buy their new Acer, can claim a cash-back payment. Acer is also running regular promotions, offers and incentives. Broad appeal In SMB it also has clear differentiation in the form of the Acer Office Manager (AOM). This simple remote management tool makes it easy for businesses to configure system settings, run detailed reports and implement policies such as usage limitations for each PC. Similarly in education, the Acer Classroom Manager (ACM) enables teachers to manage content sharing and communication centrally, helping teachers to focus pupils’ attention, maximise use of learning time and monitor activity. It also allows lesson details to be easily captured and saved. The broad appeal of Acer’s range, backed by the powerful Acer Promise and some excellent tools that help you to differentiate the offering, make Acer easier to sell and easier to support – and with the added reassurance that the systems and processes are firmly in place to make every customer interaction run smoothly, it’s the perfect time to take the Acer message to your SMB and education customers. For more on the Acer Promise, please visit acerpromise.com * All commercial Acer TravelMate Notebooks, Aspire S7 Pro, Veriton Desktops, Aspire Switch 2-in-1 and Iconia Windows tablets, B6 series Monitors and the P5 Projector series are covered under Acer Promise. For full terms and conditions please visit www.acerpromise.com 48 Newsflash 12.10.indd 48 05/12/2014 14:07 Tech Data recommends Windows. Support for Windows Server® 2003 is ending in July 2015. It means your customers have a fantastic opportunity to access modern solutions built on Windows Server 2012 R2 and IBM® System x® servers with Intel Xeon®. The ideal combination for customers who want full support, business growth and improved cost efficiency. Why customers cannot wait With less than 280 days until support ends, there are many compelling reasons why business customers cannot afford to wait to migrate from Windows Server 2003: • No Compliance • No Protection • No more application and update support. A perfect opportunity to sell hardware and software 44% of SMB Windows Server customers are still running 2003. By offering solutions based on Windows Server 2012 R2 and IBM System x hardware, you can help them solve the above challenges and: • Win with the latest up to date infrastructure • Choose the ideal server for their needs • Add value through services and the cloud. Upgrade easily to Windows Server 2012 with Azlan and IBM To support the transition Azlan has IBM Tower and Rack servers, along with Microsoft ROK products, all in stock and available now. See below for some examples: Manu code Description Euros Dealer price 7914E7G Express x3550 M4, Xeon 6C E5-2620v2 80W 2.1GHz/1600MHz/15MB, 1x8GB, O/Bay HS 2.5in SATA/SAS, SR M5110, Multi-Burner, 550W p/s, Rack €1,246 £989 7915E7G Express x3650 M4, Xeon 6C E5-2620v2 80W 2.1GHz/1600MHz/15MB, 1x8GB, O/Bay HS 2.5in SAS/SATA, SR M5110e, Multi-Burner, 550W p/s, Rack €1,259 £999 5458E1G Express x3250 M5, Xeon 4C E3-1220v3 80W 3.1GHz/1600MHz/8MB, 1x4GB, O/Bay SS 3.5in SATA, SR C100, 300W p/s, Rack €515 £409 7382E3G Express x3300 M4, Xeon 4C E5-2407 80W 2.2GHz/1066MHz/10MB, 1x 4GB, O/Bay HS 2.5in SAS/SATA, SR M1115, Multiburner, 550W p/s, Tower €849 £674 If you have any questions about the ending of Windows Server 2003 please speak to your Azlan IBM Account Manager or contact: Tel: 0845 356 3033 • Email: IBMUK@azlan.com • www.azlan.com All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 49 05/12/2014 14:07 ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL P SERIES NOTEBOOKS BUDGET-FRIENDLY AND ULTRAPORTABLE NOTEBOOKS FOR SMBs. The ASUSPRO P Series ultraportable notebooks are designed for small and medium businesses. Offering affordable reliability and durability, with a light and slim design that starts at 1.75kg. Reinforced and proven by much higher standard testing than other notebooks. Business-class security and manageability deliver greater productivity for small and medium businesses. Higher than standard reliability: the underside and removes unneeded clutter with a stylish dark Work with Peace of Mind brushed-hairline finish. True-comfort keyboard provides better click Small and medium businesses demand higher standards and page down keys to increase efficiency when doing calculations and greater reliability. ASUSPRO notebooks are strictly quality-tested to much higher industry standards than mainstream notebooks. This includes enhanced drop testing at more than double the standard drop height. The ASUSPRO Notebooks ship with an anti-shock hard drive that includes a G-sensor and hardware structure that ratios and travel distance, and full numeric keypad with page up/ reading long documents. Touchpad is 47% bigger than touchpads on similar notebooks, making it easier to use and more precise with scroll, rotate and zoom. The anti-glare display has a matte screen surface that prevents unwanted reflections and helps reduce eye fatigue. protects the hard drive should it drop or impact with another surface. The spill-resistant keyboard repels higher volumes of liquid compared with industry standards. Streamlined productivity: PC Management in One Package Professional design: Featuring ASUSPRO Business Centre, a simple, one-stop security Style, Comfort and Productivity and manageability solution specially designed for small businesses The ASUSPRO P Series uses a one-piece build, creating a scanning that takes data access authorization and protection to a subtle and completely consistent look. The designs extend to higher level. without a managed IT environment. Incorporating fingerprint For more information please contact the PC Systems team or visit the Asus portal at asus.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 50 05/12/2014 14:07 ASUS recommends Windows. ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL P550LAV XO598G •Intel Core i3 (4th Gen) • Windows 8 Professional • 4 GB RAM • 500 GB HDD • 15.6” LED backlight. ® ™ ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU551LA XO032G •Intel Core i5 (4th Gen) • Windows 8 Professional • 4 GB RAM • 500 GB HDD • 15.6” LED backlight. ® ™ ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU550CA XO013G •Intel Core i3 (3rd Gen) • Windows 8 Professional • 4 GB RAM • 500 GB HDD • 15.6” LED backlight. ® ™ ASUSPRO ESSENTIAL PU551LA XO085G •Intel® Core™ i7 (4th Gen) • Windows 8 Professional • 6 GB RAM • 750 GB HDD • 15.6” LED backlight PART CODE: 3115093 PART CODE: 3100893 PART CODE: 3100892 PART CODE: 3184063 DEALER PRICES • €340.52 DEALER PRICES • €428.29 DEALER PRICES • €376.33 DEALER PRICES • €552.43 £270.19 Newsflash 12.10.indd 51 £339.83 £298.60 £438.33 05/12/2014 14:07 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk UK Channel Community Meeting • n n On track to improve solution providers’ businesses On 5th November, CompTIA’s UK Channel Community Meeting brought together some 200 solution providers, vendors, and distributors from across the UK. Its goal: demonstrate exactly how CompTIA’s resources and tools are helping grow and improve their businesses. So did it deliver? R ecently in Newsflash, we announced details of CompTIA’s UK Channel Community Meeting, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, on 5th November. With over 350 delegates in attendance at the venue, the meeting focused on enabling solution providers to understand more about the value of CompTIA membership, and how to make effective use of the tools and resources that it provides. can access CompTIA’s 10-Week Guide to Transitioning to Managed Services, which provides a structured, step-by-step approach for actually launching a managed service offering. The UK Managed Services Agreement Template then provides a ready-made, contractual basis for immediate engagement with the business’s new customers, plus guidance on how to change the business, and practical support to implement and benefit from that change. One of the tracks at the meeting, in particular – Getting the most out of CompTIA membership – tackled this head-on. Solutions in scenarios What made the track particularly effective was the role-play scenarios that really captured the issues and challenges facing solution providers across multiple vertical sectors, and actively demonstrated how CompTIA membership practically addresses them. For example, a solution provider looking to grow and improve their security offering can make use of CompTIA’s resources both to gain trusted credentials in this field (Security Trustmark+ accreditation) and to access business tools, at no cost. These tools (including the IT Security Assessment Wizard and the Marketing Toolkit) would otherwise be very expensive to procure. The solution provider therefore not only gains a better understanding of both the market and their customers, but, critically, benefits from tools that enable them to distinguish themselves from their competitors. In another scenario, a solution provider wanting to move up the value chain from break-fix to managed services Want to know more? You can sign up as a CompTIA Registered User at www.comptia.org/registereduser, which gives you access to many of CompTIA’s resources at no charge. To learn more about CompTIA and the UK Channel Community, and to gain access to CompTIA’s full range of tools and resources by becoming a CompTIA member, go to www.comptia.org/uk You can also attend CompTIA’s next meeting at no cost, in Bristol, on 25th February 2015, and join the optional networking dinner on the evening before. To reserve your place, contact: Leanne Johnson | 0207 330 6066 | ljohnson@comptia.org Kris Nagamootoo | 0207 330 6062 | knagamootoo@comptia.org You can see more about CompTIA and the UK Channel Community at www.comptia.org/uk Flying Fox IT: a CompTIA success story But scenarios are hypothetical. It is the feedback from members that best highlights the value of membership. On this front, too, the track didn’t disappoint. CompTIA member, and MD of Flying Fox IT, Jonathan Fox, answered probing questions about how membership has benefited his company. He cited the Staff Handbook, the Quick Start Guides and the Client On-Boarding Template as resources from CompTIA that have added particular value to his efforts to grow and improve his business. Vaughan Shayler, Director of Channel Strategies for CompTIA, commented: ‘Providing resources and tools is hugely important, but it is demonstrating exactly how to find and utilise them, and showcasing their proven value, that is key to actually enabling solution providers to improve and grow their business. ‘Paid membership isn’t the only way to do this, though. You can sign up as a Registered User, enabling you to access the majority of CompTIA’s resources at no cost, to use and share them within your business.’ CompTIA Premier Member, Mark Williams, Partners and Alliances Director at Wavex, has told Shayler that he was ‘kicking himself ’ for not accessing CompTIA’s content earlier, and speaks of ‘tools that could have saved me fees galore over the years.’ Quality testimonials, generous insights, unstinting practical detail. The meeting delivered. 52 Newsflash 12.10.indd 52 05/12/2014 14:07 U28D590D 28” 4K UHD Monitor SD850 Series WQHD Business Monitors The Samsung UHD monitor offers PC viewing, gaming and more The SD850 series combines rich functionality with superior with Ultra High Definition picture quality. A resolution four times picture quality, all exquisitely designed to deliver the ultimate higher than Full HD and an incredible one billion colours ensure professional user experience. A Wide Quad High Definition every image and detail is accurate, vivid and crystal clear. With a resolution gives double the pixel density of Full HD, providing superfast one-millisecond response time, great connectivity and razor sharp images and detail. With ergonomic adjustment and elegant minimalistic design, it’s ideal for work and play. great connectivity, it is the ideal choice for business users and U28D590D graphic designers. PART CODE: 3199157 £346.00 DEALER PRICE • €436.07 27” • S27D850T 32” • S32D850T £324.00 £369.00 PART CODE: 3229728 DEALER PRICE • €408.34 PART CODE: 3229729 DEALER PRICE • €465.05 For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 53 05/12/2014 14:07 Ten reasons why businesses are turning to Lumia Reason #1 Out of the box solution Simple integration with your existing Microsoft Ecosystem and back office systems with full support throughout Reason #2 Mobile Device Management Easy access to corporate resources at any location but at the same time monitor all activity with the necessary configurations and policies Reason #3 Apps that work across phones, tablets and PCs Microsoft Windows and the full range share more than 80% of their APIs, which means that making and deploying apps on the Windows ecosystem has never been easier Reason #4 Uncompromising business grade security With inbuilt security designed specifically for business. Features range from a bullet-proof secure boot process and code signing, to full device encryption and unique Information Rights Management capability Don’t just imagine. Give it a try. Ask your Tech Data Mobile Account Manager today why Lumia from Microsoft® should be part of your day-to-day business. All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 54 05/12/2014 14:07 Tech Data recommends Microsoft® software. Reason #5 Communication and collaboration made simple Lumia helps to boost productivity and efficiency with tools that are both familiar and easy to use. These include not only Outlook Mobile, but People Hub, calendar and task functionality and Microsoft Lync Reason #6 Reason #7 Windows Phone is the only platform with Outlook Mobile and Office Mobile with mobile optimised versions of Word, Powerpoint and Excel built in as standard LTE models, NFC functionality, high performance processors and expandable memory Mobile Office and Outlook built in as standard Hardware that works in harmony with its software Reason #8 Reason #9 Users can personalise their Start screen and device to make their lives as easy as possible Businesses also benefit from 300,000+ apps and growing, including the exclusive HERE navigation apps and MixRadio for stress-free business travel. Highly customisable to your people and your business Built for business. Designed for life Reason #10 A full range of models and price points Not only do you get complete consistency across the mobile device range (from entry level to power user) but the Lumia comes in a range of models and price points that allows you to align the type of phone you want to deliver to different functions within the business. © 2014 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Newsflash 12.10.indd 55 05/12/2014 14:08 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n A closer look… • n Is SDN the future of networking? We talk to Curt Beckmann, Chief Technology Architect EMEA at Brocade, about software defined networking (SDN) and the massive market potential for this new approach to managing and scaling-out the data centre. Q:What is SDN and why is it important? Q:What are the benefits of SDN for customers? A:Software-defined networking (SDN) is a new approach to how we manage, build and extend data centre networks that offers considerable technological and financial benefits. For organisations of any size and in any sector, the right network is vital to their ability to tap into technology innovations such as cloud, big data, the internet of things (IoT), bring your own device (BYOD) and seamless mobility. Curt Beckmann: SDN gives businesses far greater control of their data and applications However the majority of today’s networks are built on legacy technology, based on principles first established 20 years ago when the Internet was young. Inflexible, hard and costly to scale, and a nightmare to manage, these networks are not suitable for the demands now being placed on them and they are failing under the combined pressures of exponential traffic growth and increased server virtualisation. What’s needed is a new IP network, one that is better aligned with the evolution of the rest of IT. SDN will be a crucial component in this new approach to IP networking. A:SDN has the potential to deliver radical cost and time saving benefits for businesses. One of its primary advantages is the potential for automation. By using programmatic controls to automate functions within a network, SDN can significantly increase speed and efficiency while reducing the risk of human error. The business can then focus on innovation, rather than operational tasks. Q:What has to happen for SDN to become mainstream? Q:How does SDN work? A:Essentially, SDN enables the separation of the part A:SDN is still a developing technology. However, there is already a real interest from enterprises that are keen to see how deploying SDN in their own private or hybrid cloud environments can deliver greater business agility and to roll out innovative services faster and more efficiently. According to recent research by Brocade, 40% of IT departments are planning to deploy SDN within the next five years, with 30% of those likely to do so in the next three years. With IT departments becoming increasingly service-orientated, the ability to support business units by quickly and easily deploying new services through SDN will become hugely valuable. of the network that is responsible for routing and directing traffic (known as the control plane) from the part that carries the traffic itself (known as the data plane). The logical next step in virtualising and automating the data centre, SDN enables the redeployment or adoption of physical or virtualised network resources to be simplified, centralised and automated. Reducing the time needed to manage the network and deploy new resources or applications can also greatly increase an organisation’s agility and the speed with which new services can be deployed. For instance, if an employee does not have to manually provision the compute, storage and network resources needed to deliver an application, businesses are able to get new services up and running far quicker. The goal is to allow organisations to respond rapidly to changing business requirements. By simplifying how network resources are deployed and managed, SDN gives businesses far greater control of their data and applications and makes network management simpler and faster. You can download a free trial of Brocade’s SDN solution at www.techdata.co.uk/brocadesdn/freetrial If you’d like to find out more about Brocade’s approach to SDN, please get in touch with your Azlan account manager – call 01256 864359 or email UCNS@azlan.com One thing that will be vital to the future of SDN is the establishment of open standards. These are crucial, since they guarantee that network products will be interoperable regardless of which company manufactured them; something which is a key factor in enabling a more holistic approach to network management. Fortunately, we are seeing a shift towards open, more flexible, efficient, highly programmable and elastic network infrastructure solutions with key initiatives such as OpenStack and the Open Daylight Project now very well supported. 56 Newsflash 12.10.indd 56 05/12/2014 14:08 Give your customers an all-round security solution that’s easy to install and works the way it should. McAfee® Endpoint Protection Suites provide exactly what SMBs need – simple installation, optimised CPU usage, and reliable security with excellent detection rates. See what else McAfee products – now a part of Intel® Security – can do for your sales. Visit www.mcafee.com/smb-emea-endpoint For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk Intel and the Intel logo are registered trademarks of the Intel Corporation in the US and/or other countries. McAfee and the McAfee logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of McAfee, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the US and other countries. Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others. The product plans, specifications and descriptions herein are provided for information only and subject to change without notice, and are provided without warranty of any kind, express or implied. Copyright © 2014 McAfee, Inc. 61438ad_endpoint-smb-CRN_1014_wh All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 57 05/12/2014 14:08 Challenge Acer products for reliability Purchase a qualifying Acer business product before 31st December 2014 and register within 30 days to be eligible to claim a 50% REFUND of the price paid, if the product is repaired under warranty within the first year. THE PROGRAMME NOW APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE RANGE OF ACER BUSINESS PRODUCTS: Notebooks Tablet Desktops Peripherals • Acer TravelMate P2 series • Aspire Switch 10 • Acer Veriton 2 series (X, M, N, Z) • Acer B6 Monitor series • Acer TravelMate P4 series • Aspire Switch 11 • Acer Veriton 4 series (L, X, M, N, S, Z) • Acer P5 Projector series • Acer TravelMate P6 series • Iconia W4 • Acer Veriton 6 series (L, X, M) • Acer TravelMate X3 series Replace your fleet today! Acer guarantees to protect your investment thanks to Acer Reliability Promise. Acer products feature best-in-class components to deliver revolutionary performance, reliability, data security and energy efficiency without compromises. For more details visit acerpromise.com For further information please call your account manager or visit InTouch at www.techdata.co.uk All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 58 Acer UK © 2014 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. 05/12/2014 14:08 Acer TravelMate notebooks and Veriton desktops Acer TravelMate notebooks are put through a comprehensive, end-to-end diagnostic and extensive, rigorous testing including temperature, acoustic noise, vibration, shock, drop, spill and humidity. Acer TravelMate is made to last and packs innovative reliability features. Acer Veriton desktops series with their top performance and security features, are the ideal desktop PCs for running businesses successfully. Acer Veriton desktops comply with environmental industry standards, saving energy and reducing costs. Acer Aspire Switch 2-in-1 and Iconia Windows tablets Acer Aspire Switch 2-in-1 and Iconia Windows tablets apply the industry’s latest innovations and stylish designs to meet the high standards of modern professionals. These devices feature innovations such as the Snap Hinge™ connection, Zero Air Gap technology, Gorilla Glass construction, plus Windows 8 Pro and TPM security. TravelMate P256 • • • • Support for up to 3 independent displays Equipped with Windows 8 Pro Precision Touchpad (PTP) offers intuitive fingertip control Acer ProShield secures data and accounts. i3 • PART CODE: 3142908 i5 • PART CODE: 3142909 Acer Peripherals The Acer B6 Monitor series combine the latest display technologies with smart Eco features for long term quality viewing with reduced cost of ownership. Acer strive to continuously reduce power consumption whilst enhancing the user viewing experience. The Acer P5 series is a Professional-Class Projector family that delivers premium colour performance, superb clarity and exceptional brightness even in large meeting rooms with bright ambient light. Equipped with convenient utilities, Acer projectors are easy to set up, while the advanced EcoProjection solution helps to save energy reducing total cost of ownership. Performance, security and reliability Acer products are designed to meet the productivity needs of today’s business people. Delivering dependable processing power, long product life cycles, indispensable security solutions as well as remote management capabilities, Acer products not only make it easier to manage and control the IT infrastructure but help increase productivity. Newsflash 12.10.indd 59 Veriton X2631G • • • • • Serious performance With Windows 8 Pro you can get it all done Compact and efficient Premium manageability Industrial Compliance. PART CODE: 3142904 05/12/2014 14:08 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Future Events • n Azlan Citrix Webinars FOR: All Resellers LOCATION: Webinar REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/citrixwebinars 12 09 JAN 13:00–14:00 WEBINAR • XENAPP 11 DEC 09 FEB 13:00–14:00 WEBINAR • XENDESKTOP 05 JAN 12 MAR 13 13:00–14:00 WEBINAR • XENMOBILE 02 FEB 02 JAN APR 13:00–14:00 WEBINAR • NETSCALER MAR 01 APR 14:00–15:00 WEBINAR • MANAGED ACCOUNT WORKSHOPS 13 13 15 2124 0920 JAN JAN JAN FOR: All Resellers LOCATION: Hilton, Coventry REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/pstenderingworkshop Government ICT FOR: All Resellers LOCATION: QEII Conference Centre, London REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/publicsector/events Nutanix Casino Night FOR: Nutanix Partners to bring their end users LOCATION: The Hippodrome Casino, London REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/nutanixcasinonight BETT Show 2015 JAN FEB FOR: All Resellers LOCATION: EXCEL, London REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/publicsector/events Microsoft Regional Showcase Classroom Roadshows FOR: All resellers LOCATION: Centre for Alternative Technology, Aberystwyth REGISTER: www.techdata.co.uk/publicsector/events HP Gen9 Launch COMING SOON! 2015 JAN-FEB 2015 JAN-FEB Public Sector Tendering Workshop 2015 FOR: All distie-lead resellers LOCATION: TBC REGISTER: HPEGMarketingUK@azlan.com Axis Communications Academy FOR: All Resellers REGISTER: www.axis.com/academy/uk ZyXEL ZCNE Training FOR: All Resellers REGISTER: www.zyxel.com/uk/en/training/training.shtml 60 Newsflash 12.10.indd 60 05/12/2014 14:08 Government to spend £160 million on Digital Courtrooms The Justice Minister has announced his intention to modernise the Criminal Justice System. The move is hardly surprising as it follows on from a similar move by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt who plans to save millions and improve the health service by digitising processes and benefit from storage savings. The aim is to create a Criminal Prosecution Service (CPS) where: • the design, introduction and use of the digital file will lead to business processes that eliminate unnecessary process steps and administration; • the digital file is the basis of all casework preparation, decision-making and presentation; • working digitally is the normal way of working for all staff; the receipt, processing and printing of paper will be an unusual exception; • staff are provided with the right tools to work effectively and efficiently in a digital way supporting both the Civil Service and CPS capability digital priority; and • engagement with victims and witnesses and the public is available through a digital medium. Learn more at www.gov.uk Fujitsu is the UKs leading scanner manufacturer and with its class leading easy to use software included with machines, users can easily be trained to scan, edit, store and retrieve documents. These documents can then be accessed remotely at other sites, updated and then saved. This process alone saves users time and money spent on paper, storage space and delivering documents to other sites. To order or learn more about Public Sector supportive pricing on Fujitsu Scanners contact your Tech Data account manager All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 61 05/12/2014 14:08 www.tdnewsflash.co.uk n Your Contacts • DEPARTMENT TELEPHONE HOURS Main switchboard 01256 788 000 08.00–18.00 New account enquiries 01256 864 044 09.00–17.30 n EMAIL ADDRESS customerwelcome@techdata.co.uk SALES TEAMS Apple 01256 788 164 09.00–18.30 applesales@techdata.co.uk Corporate 1 01256 788 278 08.30–18.30 azlansales@techdata.co.uk Corporate 2 01256 788 279 08.30–18.30 azlansales@techdata.co.uk Retail 01256 788 134 09.00–18.30 SMB Development 01256 788 333 08.30–18.30 smbdevorders@techdata.co.uk SMB Managed 01256 788 334 08.30–18.30 smbmanaged@techdata.co.uk SMB Ireland 01850 946 906 08.30–18.30 smbirelandoperations@techdata.co.uk FREEPHONE IRELAND ONLY. CUSTOMER SERVICES Azlan 01256 864 359 08.30–18.00 customerservice@azlan.co.uk Tech Data Mobile 01256 864 544 08.30–18.00 tdmobilecustomerservices@techdata.co.uk Maverick 01256 864 359 08.30–18.00 maverickcustomerservice@techdata.co.uk Philips 01256 864 279 08.30–18.00 philipscs@techdata.co.uk Retail and Etail 01256 864 279 08.30–18.00 retailcustomerservice@techdata.co.uk SMB 01256 864 344 08.30–18.00 customerservicessmb@techdata.co.uk Website Technical Enquiries 09.00–17.30 intouch@techdata.co.uk Xerox 08.30–18.00 xeroxorders@techdata.co.uk 09.00–17.30 customerexcellence@techdata.co.uk 01256 864 544 Feedback and Complaints CREDIT SERVICES Credit Assessment 01256 864 244 09.00–17.30 Credit Collections 01256 864 274 09.00–18.30 Credit Elevator 01256 864 247 09.00–17.30 limitreviews@techdata.co.uk creditelevator@techdata.co.uk SPECIALISTS Azlan Consultancy and Services 08451 557 766 x6002 09.00–17.30 AzlanServicesUK@Azlan.com Tech Data Mobile 01256 864 888 09.00–18.00 orders@techdatamobile.com Datech (Authorised CAD software) 01256 864 636 09.00–17.30 sales@tddatech.co.uk Datech (Retail CAD software) Please call your Account Manager 09.00–17.30 LT@techdata.co.uk Maverick (Audio Visual) 01256 788 733 09.00–17.30 sales@maverick.co.uk PC Components 01256 864 220 09.00–17.30 components@techdata.co.uk Print and Supplies 01256 864 200 09.00–17.30 print&supplies@techdata.co.uk Public Sector Sales Specialist Please call your Account Manager 09.00–17.30 publicsector@techdata.co.uk Software and Licensing 01256 864 114 09.00–17.30 software@techdata.co.uk 62 Newsflash 12.10.indd 62 05/12/2014 14:08 Each month we bring you the latest web links to what Tech Data and our vendors are broadcasting around the World. Enjoy! Canon Maxify: Professional business printing for small and home office Protect your ipad from scratches with the Targus Versavu rotating case Samsung Alpha: The next evolution of the GALAXY smartphone is here Do more on the go with the Toshiba Tecra Z40 Kate McIntyre shows you how to get the most from Newsflash Interactive 24 hours of UK airspace 01256 788 000 Newsflash 12.10.indd 63 To view vendor films go to www.tdnewsflash.co.uk 05/12/2014 14:08 Adobe Acrobat subscription now available on the Value Incentive Plan Adobe Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Pro have been added to the Value Incentive Plan (VIP) so you’ll have new ways to enable users to work from anywhere, on any device. Acrobat is packed with the tools needed to create and share PDF-format design layouts, press-ready files, interactive PDF portfolios, and fillable PDF forms. With an Acrobat subscription, users get access to online services, so they can convert, combine and export PDFs from Android and iOS devices – or from any browser with no need to download or install new software. Updates are included, so everyone gets the newest features as soon as they’re available for no extra charge. Adobe’s VIP programme is an easy way to buy and manage all subscription software through one buying programme. Using a single administrator console, users can download, deploy, count and manage seats, simplify version control and ensure licence compliance. Adobe VIP Benefits: • • • • • • • No minimum purchase Gain easy and immediate access Flexibility and scalability Centralised control Evergreen membership Hassle-free compliance Budget predictability. For more information, please contact Ricky McNamara at ricky.mcnamara@techdata.co.uk Adobe, the Adobe logo and Acrobat are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All orders that you place will be subject to acceptance in accordance with Tech Data’s Standard Terms and Conditions of Supply available on its website (www.techdata.co.uk) or available on request. All 0871 calls cost 10p per minute plus network charges. Newsflash 12.10.indd 64 05/12/2014 14:08
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