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The hidden benefits of Cloud Computing

As Cloud Computing is adopted by many more UK business in 2012 there will be a number of ‘spin off’ cost benefits.

Reduction of capital costs, real enablement of a mobile workforce and reducing the amount of IT administration are just some of the benefits of Cloud Computing being touted by the IT industry. There’s no doubt that this particular computing revolution is good for businesses bottom line. But there are other significant benefits that can be made when a company ‘goes cloud’. Benefits that are often overlooked include office space requirements and insurance.

By reducing the amount of expensive IT equipment kept onsite, business insurance premiums for many small and medium sized businesses could reduce. At a time when insurance premiums are rising across the board this would be a welcome reduction for many UK small and medium sized businesses. These are the companies who may have a number of servers currently being housed on their premises and for whom moving to the Cloud would free them of associated maintenance costs.

There will also be significant savings to be made on office space and energy used to maintain temperatures in specially designated server rooms. These are just some of the hidden benefits of Cloud Computing.

To know more about cloud computing services, log on to Ziptech Services Ltd.

In the last ten years the world has seen a surge in the amount of gadgets we all own personally. This is due to the fact that computers become faster and get smaller with every year that goes by….just look at the development of the mobile phone in the last fifteen years alone! With gadgets getting more accessible to the everyman; iPads, iPods, iPhones, smart phones, Kindles, Laptops etc. -  people find themselves encumbered with many little pieces of equipment which, when all added up, amounts to a lot of money. CPP understand this, and have launched an insurance protection plan targeted at protecting the increased amount of technology people typically own.

Gadget Insurance

Paying for repairs on gadgets can cost an arm and a leg, and probably two arms and legs if you need the gadget replaced when it is beyond repair. CPP’s gadget insurance is specifically designed to remove repair and replacement bills – due to the fact that gadgets are becoming more expensive as our financial belt is tightening somewhat.  In late 2011, AXA home insurance conducted a study revealing that an average house in the UK possesses around five thousand pounds worth of gadgets.

The gadget insurance is available from CPP’s website and the cover can be applied to numerous personal gadgets, including: iPhones, tablets, PDAs, cameras, laptops, Sat Navs, portable games consoles, MP3/iPods and E-readers.

Theft

With gadgets becoming smaller and more expensive, they are truly a target for any thief. It is never possible to know whether you are going to be targeted by a thief, and the precautions you may take might not always be enough. That’s why it is always best to invest in a protection policy alike what CPP is offering. CPP’s insurance package protects against theft, accidental and malicious damage. What is great about the new package from CPP though is that friends and family share gadgets about, which CPP recognise; so the plan also provides cover for two other named users.

Protection Plan and Mobile Phone Insurance

CPP also provide a ‘protection plan’ service. This plan is well thought out and designed, for it includes breakdown cover outside of warranty periods and up to £200 of software and accessories. This is available from a little charge of 2.49 a month – a cheap way of giving your gadgets that bit more extra security.

CPP also offer iPhone and mobile phone insurance which provides £1000 worth of cover to unauthorised calls – whilst giving the option of having worldwide replacement, providing customers with a local pay-as-you-go handset and SIM if the phone is lost or stolen whilst travelling abroad.

Thoughts behind the Plan

Rizwan Rajpoot, Group Head of eCommerce trading gives an insight into CPP’s thoughts behind their new range of insurance products geared at gadget-users:

“At CPP, we’re committed to making life less stressful for our customers and helping them resolve anxious situations. We know how important people’s gadgets have become to them and our insurance means that, if anything does happen, they won’t have to survive without their laptop or iPhone for long.”

If you are looking to invest in insurance for your beloved personal gadgets, head to CPP for a range of insurance products to suit your lifestyle.

We live in a generation where everyone is trying to cut expenditure, tightening the financial belt in all aspects of life – so, when it comes to insurance many people are hesitant to fork over the cash. This might be for a few reasons. Maybe it’s down to the fact that smartphones can cost up to £500, and people do not then want to part further money to insure the damn thing! Or maybe it’s because certain people think they are not clumsy and will never drop/break/have their phone stolen. Well. Here are the facts for you taken from different studies of iPhones and smartphones in recent years – they might surprise you somewhat.

FACTS

Around 20% of iPhone 4 users report accidently damaging their phone – This is a rising number. Just think of how many of your friends have a crack in their iPhone – and how many of your friends phones have still go the crack on their phone due to lack of insurance.

Over 100,000 smartphones are stolen every year.

60% of car crimes are attributable to mobile phone theft – however no other policy will insure your phone (Regular household, office or motor policies etc.). Specialist mobile phone cover will only insure your phone.

Not many people actually have insurance – Recent surveys have revealed that actually over half of people who have smartphones don’t actually own smartphone insurance. As a result of that, a third of smartphone users have to replace their phone before their contract runs out or gets upgraded.  On top of that, 37% of people who have a 24 month contract had to replace their handset before the contract ended.

iPhones and smartphones are too expensive to replace without insurance – 50% of people in a certain study (who had lost their iPhone or smartphone) refused to buy a new handset due to the escalation in price and the tight economy.

Phones used to be cheaper than they are now, and still people have the mind-set of that with attitudes towards iPhone and smartphone insurance. As careful as you can be, there is always a danger something will happen to your phone whether it is dropped, stolen or malfunctions. In this economy buying a replacement would be insane, so the smarter thing would be to protect your investment of your phone with insurance – you’d do it for you laptop or iPad wouldn’t you?

In conclusion, be smart and be safe with your handset. Invest in some iPhone insurance or smartphone insurance to protect you, your phone and your pocket.

We live in a generation where everyone is trying to cut expenditure, tightening the financial belt in all aspects of life – so, when it comes to insurance many people are hesitant to fork over the cash. This might be for a few reasons. Maybe it’s down to the fact that smartphones can cost up to £500, and people do not then want to part further money to insure the damn thing! Or maybe it’s because certain people think they are not clumsy and will never drop/break/have their phone stolen. Well. Here are the facts for you taken from different studies of iPhones and smartphones in recent years – they might surprise you somewhat.

FACTS

Around 20% of iPhone 4 users report accidently damaging their phone – This is a rising number. Just think of how many of your friends have a crack in their iPhone – and how many of your friends phones have still go the crack on their phone due to lack of insurance.

Over 100,000 smartphones are stolen every year.

60% of car crimes are attributable to mobile phone theft – however no other policy will insure your phone (Regular household, office or motor policies etc.). Specialist mobile phone cover will only insure your phone.

Not many people actually have insurance – Recent surveys have revealed that actually over half of people who have smartphones don’t actually own smartphone insurance. As a result of that, a third of smartphone users have to replace their phone before their contract runs out or gets upgraded.  On top of that, 37% of people who have a 24 month contract had to replace their handset before the contract ended.

iPhones and smartphones are too expensive to replace without insurance – 50% of people in a certain study (who had lost their iPhone or smartphone) refused to buy a new handset due to the escalation in price and the tight economy.

Phones used to be cheaper than they are now, and still people have the mind-set of that with attitudes towards iPhone and smartphone insurance. As careful as you can be, there is always a danger something will happen to your phone whether it is dropped, stolen or malfunctions. In this economy buying a replacement would be insane, so the smarter thing would be to protect your investment of your phone with insurance – you’d do it for you laptop or iPad wouldn’t you?

In conclusion, be smart and be safe with your handset. Invest in some iPhone insurance or smartphone insurance to protect you, your phone and your pocket.

Are you in a large airport sprawled for acres trying to find its ticket counter or washroom? Or searching for your favourite brand showroom in a huge shopping mall? With the new Google Maps 6.0 specially for Android, there is no need for you to run around looking for enquiry counter at an airport or a shopping mall.

Till now, Google Maps guided us to find the way outdoors with the usual blue dot that indicates where you are right now. But now Google has partnered with “some of the largest retailers, airports and transit stations in United States and Japan” and helps you find where you are and what you are looking for in these places with its new Google Maps 6.0. Google Maps for Android now “enables you to figure out where you are and see where you might want to go when you’re indoors”. In other words, it helps you determine which floor you are on and where the place you are looking for is. Android users can also use other available features such as finding out restaurants and stores in the vicinity of a few metres.

With Google Maps 6.0, when you enter these selected places and open the Google Maps, their detailed floor plans would appear. As you move around, the interface would automatically get updated to show the location where you are right now. Google has added a few airports and stores for the time being; however, in course of time it would be adding more locations around the United States and Japan. Currently, this facility is for Android devices including mobile phones and tablets. IPhone users might have to wait for some more time.

The help centre for Google Maps for Android has the complete list of indoor locations in the United States and Japan where you could avail this facility for now. In fact, if you have a business of your own and wish to add the floor plan of your store in the Maps, you could do that as well through the help centre. Very soon, your customers could find you through Google Maps and thus reach you faster and easier.

Source: http://www.thewebclinic.co.uk/blog/know-where-you-are-indoors-with-google-maps-6-0-for-android/

Roadshow promotions specialists Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) have launched their innovative new ‘technology in a box’ solution for new clients.

The film showcases the tremendous success EMS has had managing campaigns for big technology brands such as Ciena, Lenovo and Motorola.

These brands have been taking advantage of EMS’ unique expertise in providing mobile trailer-based event marketing roadshows to give customers hands-on experience of products and services across the globe.

EMS Managing Director Keith Austin said: “With a decade of experience behind us, we can deliver a logistically complex operation to customers’ doorsteps anywhere in the world for international technology companies.”

Keith added that years of experience and know-how allows EMS to put together bespoke event roadshows in as little as eight weeks, from concept to delivery.

He said: “We are experts in finding solutions that allow our clients to demonstrate and store their high-tech equipment safely and effectively.

“This expertise has not only contributed to our tech clients’ global success – but also to EMS’ growing worldwide reputation as we head for another record-breaking year.”

If you would like more information on how EMS can create tailor-made event marketing roadshows and deliver ‘technology in a box’ for your company, get in touch:

Event Marketing Solutions
+44 (0) 151 350 1500
info@eventms.com
www.eventms.com

Ref: EMS-HS-110112

If you are searching for IT Support London in Google here are 4 ways that you might select companies from the list Google returns:

1. Look beyond page 1

It seems obvious, but the companies that have been around the longest and Google regards as having comprehensive websites are the most likely to be at the top. Companies can get higher up the list than they have any right to be using SEO. However you could argue that good marketing is an indicator of professionalism! Everybody looks above the fold on page 1. I suggest that you look to at least page 3, picking out a couple of dozen websites.

2. Take Location Into Account

The search engines give more prominence to local businesses. For example if you search for “IT Support London”, Google will present you with a map on page 1 of the results. It’s useful in finding the IT Support London companies closest to you.

3. Are There Any Familiar “IT Support London” Companies?

There may be a few names that you recognise in the search results. If you do that’s a bonus. It’s probably a good sign and they may be worth looking at first.

4. Trust Your Instincts

Sometimes it’s difficult to know why a company just doesn’t feel quite right. It may be an impression that they won’t work well with your values and culture. The look and feel of a company’s website tells you tells you about them. Are they enterprise level, home support focused, very technical, lacking in people skills, etc. Using these 4 techniques should help you find 6 IT Support London companies that are suitable candidates to research further. The next step is to call them and reduce it down to a list of 3 to meet. Then all you need to do is make the final selection!

EMS Healthcare is unveiling the latest addition to its fleet of state-of-the-art mobile medical units at an open day for healthcare professionals this month.

The invitation-only event will be held on 23rd and 24th January 2012 at the company’s HQ in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The EMS Healthcare team will be showcasing the company’s new Liberty Quad medical vehicle, one of which is already being used to provide vital community-based dialysis treatment to patients in North Wales.

The innovative dialysis unit is created by linking four 13.6m medical trailers together to reveal a high-quality eight-bed ward and two private isolation rooms for patients.

Invited guests will be able to witness first-hand the variety of clinical environments that can be created via EMS Healthcare’s wide range of bespoke medical trailers, whether it is to provide healthcare closer to patients’ homes or as a temporary solution during new-build or refurbishment projects.

EMS-Healthcare Business Development Manager Rob Jordan said: “We are immensely proud of this latest addition to our growing fleet of mobile medical units. Our highly versatile solutions offer cost-effective and flexible temporary accommodation that is already being used successfully by public and private sector healthcare professionals in a variety of settings.”

If you are interested in attending this EMS Healthcare event, please get in touch using the contact details below:

Rob Jordan (Business Development Manager)
07917 395 563 | robert.jordan@ems-healthcare.com

Kate Price (Marketing Manager)
0151 350 1509 | kate.price@ems-healthcare.com

Ref: EMS-HS-040112

[Ends]

Elegantly simple and appropriate engineering is something that very few IT Support Companies seem to understand or bother with. Sadly I see over-engineering and bad engineering on a regular basis.

It really annoys me. Not only is over-engineering expensive, but it’s sloppy, lazy work by the IT Support Companies involved. Many IT Support Companies seem to find it easier to apply a one-size-fits-all solution to every one of their clients from the smallest business to the largest enterprise.

Most business IT networking infrastructure requirements and IT Support requirements are really quite simple and don’t cost as much as many businesses seem willing to pay.

Of course that’s easy for me to say. I’ve been involved in Business IT Support for 20 years.

If you are a business owner without IT Support or computer expertise how can you avoid these expensive and frequent IT errors?

In my experience there are 3 basic business tests you should apply when hiring a new Business IT Support Company. They actually apply to the purchase of any new product or service in an area that you do not have expertise in.

1. Get at least 3 IT Support quotes. This sounds basic, but so few companies do it. I know it’s time-consuming, but I’ve found it to be worth the effort in my own business.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask “stupid” questions! You are the customer, the business owner who will be parting with his or her hard earned money. If they can’t answer it in a way that you can understand then move onto another Business IT Support Company with better customer service.
3. Select an IT Support Company that specialises in your scale of business. If you are a small business and they support Enterprise clients that doesn’t make them better for you. It actually makes them worse for you. They will try to force large company technology solutions into your small business – it’s expensive and ultimately it won’t work.

Using these 3 at least will dramatically reduce the chance of making a Business IT Support error, or an error in almost any important purchasing decision.

How Technology Can Prevent Crime

One of the top uses for modern technology is to make our homes and families safer than ever before. I finally realised when my home got broken into a couple of years back that I didn’t have any sort of protection at all on the property. I didn’t even leave the lights on when I went out all day.

The first step I took afterwards – after I had kicked the cat – was to start leaving the lights on, but obviously this little trick wasn’t going to fool all but the dimmest and least persistent thieves.  No, it was clearly time to get up to speed with the latest anti burglar technology at last.

CCTV Cameras

I had always been a little bit wary of professional CCTV systems to be honest. They always reminded me of harsh speeding fines and Big Brother style street surveillance. However, for protecting a home from the bad guys they are the bee’s knees alright. One sight of your camera looking down at them and most thieves will decide to look elsewhere. My DIY skills amount to being able to turn a screwdriver in the right direction and I was amazed to see that I was able to fit one of these systems all by myself.

Burglar Alarms

I was sitting at my desk in the office one day about 15 years ago when the alarm went off. Good lord, the clanging almost burst my ear drums. It turned out to be a false alarm as well, as a pigeon or some other undesirable creature had set it off. Anyway, I only mention this because I had assumed that modern burglar alarms were like the old ones only shinier. It turns out that they aren’t, and with a smart new wireless burglar alarm you can keep a home well protected without any hassle. As it is wireless it once again falls in my “can do” column and I got mine set up without any problems. There are now types of alarm for all types of home, and even if you live in a rambling mansion you can use the wireless aspect to cover all of your property very easily. As my mansion is pretty compact and semi detached-like I didn’t really have to spend too much time thinking about this aspect anyway.

Not Getting Paranoid

For me the really big benefit of using this crime prevention technology is that I haven’t turned into a nervous wreck or a curtain twitcher. My Mum’s home got broken into years ago and it took her ages to get over it. She used to phone me up at work when a strange car appeared in the street and I think she was even considering buying a ferocious dog at one point. Instead of living like this it is far better to simply protect yourself and breathe easily again. By making technology work for you burglars will be scared off and you can reclaim your property as a haven of peace and security again.

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