The most recent articles from Computing

Lack of IT standards hampering UK war effort

Parliamentary reporter — 2008-11-07T14:28:00.000Z

Parliamentary reporter, Computing, Friday 7 November 2008 at 14:28:00

Proprietary software making it harder to exploit reconnaisance data in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has warned that differing US suppliers' proprietary software standards are hampering the ability of British forces in Afghanistan to make full use of data from unmanned air-reconnaissance vehicles (UAVs).

A report from the MoD said that it constantly seeks interoperability between intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and surveillance (ISTAR) systems, including UAV, but added: "There is a tension between working towards this goal through open or agreed standards, and the commercial imperative of key industry players to establish their own proprietary technology as the de facto standard. "

Replying to a report from the Commons Defence Committee, the MoD highlighted three major downlink standards used for dissemination from ISTAR platforms, two of which are either proprietary or subject to US Traffic in Arms Regulation controls.

The MoD acknowledged that interoperability is being achieved on a third, relatively low-level, analogue downlink standard.

The department argued that the need for more efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum has already mandated the move to digital downloads for future capabilities such as Watchkeeper, a range of UAVs which Britain is adopting.

"But with no internationally agreed single standard, there remain challenges to overcome to ensure that the user has access to all the information collected by coalition ISTAR platforms," the report stated.

The MoD recognises the need to balance emerging capabilities for collecting intelligence with appropriate processing and dissemination capabilities "to ensure that users continue to receive the right information at the right time".

This includes the exploitation of network-enabled capability, regarded as a key future defence capability, to "improve delivery of processed intelligence and increase agility of deployed forces".

The MoD sounded a note of caution over its ability to use US Reaper UAVs, which it has acquired independently, because, although the UK has "operational sovereignty", there are good operational and cost-effective reasons for sharing US facilities on which the UK is dependent.

There is a need to retain alignment with the Reaper technical baseline to benefit from hardware and software upgrades, and any move away from this to develop or upgrade Reaper independently would "introduce an unacceptably high level of technical risk".

Tui Travel enables in-store video service

Angelica Mari — 2008-10-07T11:09:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 11:09:00

Holiday decision making supported by media streaming

Tui Travel is using desktop computers enabled with video streaming at its shops to let customers view holiday destinations before booking.

The initial roll-out to over 600 Thomson and Lunn Poly branches was completed in four months, and implementation of the service to 360 First Choice stores took less than three months earlier this year.

One of the main challenges was ensuring sufficient bandwidth to support high-quality multiple video streams in each store, since the group found that BT "was not flexible enough" to support the project's requirements.

The new application has now been extended to all Tui Travel stores across the UK and the group is considering rolling out the system to other shop networks in Europe, as well as introducing other media applications.

The service is being provided by T-Systems and Tiscali Business Services.

Yo! Sushi rolls out VoIP system

Angelica Mari — 2008-09-15T12:56:00.000Z

Angelica Mari, Computing, Monday 15 September 2008 at 12:56:00

Restaurant chain to unify voice and data to generate savings

Restaurant chain Yo! Sushi is to begin implementation of an IP telephony system to reduce its operational costs.

The company will replace a legacy set-up with the new technology across 35 branches, and will extend the system to a further 15 outlets within the next 12 months.

"The ongoing costs of line rental and telephony maintenance were becoming a significant overhead to the business and, as we had plans to double the number of outlets within two years, this was an appropriate time to review our overall telecoms strategy," said Yo! Sushi IT manager Billy Walters.

Yo! Sushi hopes that the new platform will allow it to integrate incoming calls with its customer database and maps software, which is in turn expected to generate savings as calls are routed to the company's own call centre in London.

A conferencing feature in the system aims to improve internal communication and cut costs, as regional managers will be able to hold remote meetings with restaurant supervisors, reducing the need for travel or to subscribe to a third-party service.

"We expect the system to pay for itself within two years, and believe that we have only scratched the surface of what we think the telephony system can do for us in the future," said Walters.

The system was supplied by Swyx.

Your questions answered: How web conferencing technology can support your IT strategy

2008-09-12T06:15:00.000Z

Computing, Friday 12 September 2008 at 06:15:00

We asked Computing readers to pose their questions to the experts

In this Computing TV video, Michael Murphy, senior product manager for Europe at Cisco WebEx Technology Group answers reader questions posed by Computing editor Bryan Glick.

Watch the video to discover the answers to the following questions:

There is no doubt that the technology offers significant potential benefits - the stumbling block is cost. What can be done, if anything, to reduce costs to a minimum and still maintain benefits?
I run a very small consultancy business that helps UK businesses outsource software development to India. Video/web conferencing is potentially of great benefit to my business. How much will I have to pay per use? And can it be used three-way between a UK client, me and an Indian supplier?
Many companies transmit sensitive information and do not want their secrets to be divulged to hackers and eavesdroppers. How do you ensure security in web conferencing?
Can the UK’s infrastructure really support proper web conferencing and home working on a grand scale or are we just kidding ourselves”?

Click here to find out more about WebEx web conferencing

Pharmaceutical Society refreshes videoconferencing

Tom Young — 2008-09-10T16:47:00.000Z

Tom Young, Computing, Wednesday 10 September 2008 at 16:47:00

System will save on business travel and allow witnesses to testify from afar

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) is using a videoconferencing service to cut down on business travel to meetings.

The Mvision system is also being used by the regulatory body's disciplinary committees for dialling in witnesses unable to attend in person.

RPSGB previously used a Polycom system for videoconferencing but switched suppliers after problems with the setup.

"We have had video-conferencing for over five years but it was unreliable and high-maintenance. Mvision offered us a stress-free alternative," said Martin Bagley, audio-visual support manager at RPSGB.

The new supplier has installed systems at offices in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff. The RPSGB pays a single fixed monthly fee for unlimited point-to-point video calls.

HSBC opens network of virtual meeting rooms

David Neal — 2008-09-04T16:26:00.000Z

David Neal, Computing, Thursday 4 September 2008 at 16:26:00

Cisco Telepresence systems save money and the planet, says bank

HSBC is using Cisco Teleconferencing technology to power a network of internal conference rooms.

The system provides the bank with fully-fitted meeting rooms, high-definition screens large enough to provide life-size high quality images, lighting, speakers, microphones and cameras.

HSBC said that it offered the "interactivity, spontaneity and nuanced communications experience of an in-person meeting".

The Cisco set-up replaces an existing teleconferencing solution which the firm said it had outgrown.

"Our current meeting and collaboration tools provide significant increases in productivity, but are no substitute for in-person meetings," said HSBC chief information officer Ken Harvey.

"Cisco Telepresence gives us the experience and benefit of actually being in the room with colleagues on the other side of the world without having to pack a suitcase."

HSBC is rolling out the Cisco Telepresence rooms in London, Chicago, Hong Kong, Mexico City, New York and Dubai.

The company said that by using the system for meetings it would save money and lower its environmental footprint.

The firm quoted an example of a meeting that might have required three employees to travel from Hong Kong to Chicago.

Using the Cisco TelePresence system could save HSBC up to $50,000 in airfare and travel costs in this situation.

UK communications use surge continues

Ambrose McNevin — 2008-08-14T11:32:00.000Z

Ambrose McNevin, Computing, Thursday 14 August 2008 at 11:32:00

PC, mobile and broadband use up, but VoIP suffers a downturn

UK citizens are using more communications technology than ever before with broadband, mobile and PC technology use growing rapidly, but voice over IP is losing its appeal, according to regulator Ofcom in its recent communications industry annual report.

The number of people using voice over IP fell from 20 per cent in 2006 to 14 per cent in the first quarter of 2008.

The average UK citizen spends 24 minutes per day using a PC and an average of 10 minutes talking or texting on mobile phone.

An examination of people's internet and TV use showed that TV is most popular with over three and a half hours per day spent TV watching. But viewing habits are changing rapidly as people increasingly use the internet to watch TV.

A key factor in this has been the take up of broadband. "In the past 12 months take-up of broadband through a landline grew from 52 per cent of households to 58 per cent mainly as a result of consumers upgrading from dial-up access to always-on broadband," the report says.

Nearly a third of internet users (32 per cent) watched video clips and webcasts in 2007, compared to a fifth (21 per cent) in 2006. The number of UK internet users who watched YouTube, reached 9 million in April this year, nearly 50 per cent more than a year ago.

In terms advertising spend online advertising is up by almost 40 per cent year-on-year reaching £2.8bn in 2007. For the first time, more money was spent on internet advertising than the combined advertising spending on ITV1, Channel 4, S4C and five (£2.4bn). Paid-for search advertising still dominates the internet market, up by 39 per cent during 2007 at £1.6bn. Classified advertising saw the largest increase in 2007 – up by 54 per cent to £600m while display advertising grew by 29 per cent in 2007 accounting for a further £600m of advertising spend.

Ofcom said that overall average household spend on communications was £93.63 a month in 2007.

City law firm implements audio conferencing

Janie Davies — 2008-08-13T11:04:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Wednesday 13 August 2008 at 11:04:00

Audio conferencing will reduce travel and improve green credentials

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has implemented audio conferencing to improve external communications.

The law firm, which has offices in three European cities and Singapore, and employs 1,250 staff, also wanted to reduce its carbon footprint by reducing dependency on business travel.

BLP uses a mix of collaboration tools to minimise travel, said Alison Klarfeld, corporate and social responsibility project manager at BLP.

“We promote the use of various software and facilities to minimise business travel, including audio, web and video conferencing and virtual private networking," she said.

"Conferencing and collaboration technologies are used both for conducting effective client meetings without the need to travel, and for carrying out training at our international offices."

Until now, BLP staff had been booking audio conferences manually through the firm's general switchboard, a time consuming and inflexible process that did not allow for calls to be made instantly.

The new system, from communications supplier MeetingZone allows users to simply click on a call link using a web portal.

David Little, telecoms supervisor for BLP, said: “We wanted to simplify the process of booking an audio conference call and could see the advantage of implementing a solution that could be fully customised and BLP branded."

"Key factors were MeetingZone’s ability to customise, so that it appears to our clients as our own BLP audio conferencing service, MeetingZone’s web portal which quickly and easily enables our users to book calls on line and the transparency of its billing procedures," he added.

Nuclear power insurers get secure web service

Ambrose McNevin — 2008-07-31T15:33:00.000Z

Ambrose McNevin, Computing, Thursday 31 July 2008 at 15:33:00

Power station underwriting body opts for data security

The association which provides insurance to nuclear power stations throughout the world has signed an email and web security deal with AT&T.

American Nuclear Insurers (ANI) gave AT&T the responsibility as its primary data services provider through the suppliers' email gateway and web security services.

"Because of the nature of our business, it is critical that we have email and network security measures in place, ensuring secure employee-customer communications and data backup," said Daniel Antion, vice president at ANI.

Should the email system fail, staff are automatically switched over to web-based mail.

ANI directly writes liability insurance for nuclear power stations in the US and assumes reinsurance shares on nuclear business written by other nuclear pools and mutual insurers throughout the world.

Anglian Water signs multimillion-pound communications deal

Janie Davies — 2008-07-29T16:48:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Tuesday 29 July 2008 at 16:48:00

Utility firm is enhancing customer services with two-year management contract

Anglian Water has signed a two-year, multimillion-pound contract for the management of its communications infrastructure.

The company handles more than two million calls a year from customers and needs service levels to be as efficient as possible. Anglian Water will work with IT supplier Solution 1 to develop a converged hosted IP platform which includes voice over IP and supporting infrastructure.

The system can link staff in different areas and meet the company's complex needs, said Chris Boucher, IS director at Anglian Water.

“We are confident we have chosen a provider who is able to meet all of our diverse telephony challenges” he said.

“The challenges we face range from the supply of connectivity services to a large number of field based staff, to ensuring we have reliable telephony connections to over 1000 treatment installations."

Femtocells - bringing cellular technology indoors

2008-07-15T18:13:00.000Z

Computing, Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 18:13:00

Examining the emerging technology of femtocells and the implications for businesses and service providers

In this video, from Computing partner NetEvents.tv, we hear how short-range cellular technology promises to transform the utility of handsets for enterprise users. A variety of experts and spokespeople from communications providers give their views.

Click here for more from Netevents TV: Examining the emerging technology of femtocells and the implications for businesses and service providers.

National Grid cuts carbon footprint with web conferencing

Janie Davies — 2008-07-15T16:11:00.000Z

Janie Davies, Computing, Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 16:11:00

Energy giant reduces dependency on travel by improving remote communications

The National Grid is rolling out audio and web conferencing to save money, boost productivity and cut carbon emissions.

Communications firm MeetingZone is working with the energy provider to promote the system to employees and encourage them to register for a conferencing account.

The tools have boosted collaboration and helped the company fulfill its environmental responsibility, said Sameira Ahmed from National Grid's IS and telecoms supply chain management.

“The system enables us to deliver business communications tools to approximately 12,000 of our employees in the UK, allowing them to quickly and easily communicate and collaborate with who they want, when they want, regardless of location," he said.

"We are committed to help tackle climate change and are continually looking at ways in which to make sure that business is sustainable and responsible. A reduction in business travel results in a reduction of our carbon footprint," he added.

ICANN opens the door to custom domains

Neon Kelly — 2008-06-26T17:30:00.000Z

Neon Kelly, Computing, Thursday 26 June 2008 at 17:30:00

Changes due next year will permit the creation of customised web addresses

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has voted in favour of relaxing controls on the classification of domain names, opening the door to a new generation of customised web addresses.

A unanimous vote by the regulator's members at a public meeting in Paris means that individuals and organisations will now be able to adopt domain names based on any combination of letters. Until now addresses have been limited by geography, as in .co.uk, for example, or by the type of organisation using the domain.

Individuals and companies will soon be allowed to register a domain based on words of their choice, as long as a "business plan and technical capacity" can be demonstrated to authorities.

At today's meeting, ICANN also approved plans to allow the use of Asian and Arabic characters in addresses, reducing the dominance of Roman typography.

The changes will be introduced next year.

Google phone plans delayed

Computing — 2008-06-23T10:08:00.000Z

Computing, Computing, Monday 23 June 2008 at 10:08:00

Software development issues hit schedule

Google is delaying the rollout of its mobile phone handsets until the end of the year.

The firm was planning to ship mobile phones based on its Android software in 2008. The Wall Street Journal reported that carriers were reporting problems meeting the schedule set by Google.

The paper said that Android had not won support from large mobile-software developers. It said sources reported issues including difficulty developing programs while Google makes changes as it finishes its own software.

The firm has deals with China Telecom, T-mobile and Deutsche Telekom.

Flexible working or I quit

Martin Courtney — 2008-06-11T14:43:00.000Z

Martin Courtney, Computing, Wednesday 11 June 2008 at 14:43:00

Employers have the technology to support flexible working practices, but lack the desire

Research commissioned by communications firm Avaya said 31 per cent of European employees would consider resigning if their employers do not provide flexible working opportunities.

Staff believe they are not being offered flexible working options despite employers have the technical ability to do so.

And while the UK is ahead of other European countries in offering flexible options, only 22 per cent of companies provide employees with any practical or technical assistance in setting up their remote offices.

Over a third (35 per cent) of European employees working for companies that do not offer flexible working believe their employer has the technology to make it happen but has chosen not to use it.

The research questioned 3,000 employees across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia. It defined flexible working as any situation in which employees were not expected to work during set hours or from their desks, but could set their own flexible working hours and work from the location they chose.

Other findings suggest that 30 per cent of senior managers felt allowing flexible working increased their company’s global competitiveness, with larger corporates (74 per cent) more likely to offer flexible working than SMEs (57 per cent).

Avaya is keen for companies to buy its IP telephony communications products to support remote workers, and has sponsored a number of previous surveys designed to identify patterns in flexible working arrangements.