With rich audio and USB and 3.5 mm connectivity to your mobile phone, you can hear and be heard wherever work takes you.
CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS
AMAZING AUDIO QUALITY
DYNAMIC MUTE ALERT
COMPACT AND PORTABLE
Connect to your PC via USB and tablet and mobile devices via 3.5mm
Full-duplex audio with 360degree room coverage
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Includes a soft carrying case for easy storage and portability
DRONE TECH
PLUG IN TO EXERTIS
The rules, regulations and commercial opportunities of the rapidly emerging drone market.
It’s big, it’s back and it’s better than ever. Join us at Silverstone Circuit on the 16th May 2019.
issue 15.
Conference with confidence
business
Let Your Voice Be Heard
FUTURE
STAYCONNECTEDWARE
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Copyright ©Exertis (UK) Ltd 2019
The world is worth watching...
... see more with Samsung QE82N series available through Exertis
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14 STORAGE: WHAT’S HAPPENING?
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26 PLUG IN TO EXERTIS
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42 WI-FI 6 TO INCREASE SPEED, RANGE AND MORE
CONTENTS 05 WELCOME FROM EXERTIS Phil Brown introduces the spring edition of Future Business
08 NEWS IN BRIEF A quick look at what’s happening in the technology market
11 BUSINESS TRENDS DRIVING DEMAND A look at the current technology trends you should be aware of
14 NAND, FLASH, SSDS AND HDDS; WHAT’S HAPPENING? A view on what’s driving some of the storage options
16 RULES, REGULATIONS AND THE COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES Safety and privacy aside, drone technology is providing opportunities in many sectors
20 MORE FROM HYPERTEC Ergonomic products and assistive technology
22 WAF IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR WEBSITE AND WEB APPLICATIONS PROTECTION The consequences of not deploying a WAF are far greater than the implementation costs
26 PLUG IN TO EXERTIS More products, more solutions, more opportunities, more profit. More reasons than ever to join us at the channel event of the year
29 HEAT OR MICROWAVE… WHICH ONE WILL WIN THE STORAGE CAPACITY RACE? HAMR versus MAMR in more detail
31 IS REMOTE WORKING THE SOLUTION TO NOISE IN THE WORKPLACE? The greatest disruption to employee productivity is noise in the workplace
34 PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WHEN IT COMES TO 5G A game changer in the making but when will we see the benefit?
38 DIRECT-VIEW LED IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESELLERS In a growing market, applications both indoor and outdoor are endless
42 WI-FI 6 PROMISES INCREASED SPEED, RANGE, SECURITY AND UNDERSTANDING Resellers need to prepare for a more educated consumer armed with consumer-friendly terminology
46 HOT PICKS A range of best-selling products designed to make you more margin
50 B2B MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES Our top 10 recommended accessory products for business
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Publisher Exertis Editor Ed Grantham Design Shannon Dow
WELCOME FROM EXERTIS Welcome to the Spring edition of Future Business and a bumper issue packed full of opportunities for you to take advantage of some great products and solutions. Talking of opportunities, you’ll find details of our next Plug In To Exertis event to be held on 16th May at the Silverstone Circuit. Here’s where we would like to offer you more products, more solutions, more services and more profit. You can find out more about the event on pages 26-27 or by visiting our website at www.exertis.co.uk/ plugin. Don’t miss out on an excellent day for you and your business. There’s always something new in our industry. New standards, new versions, new technology and new markets. If you’ve ever been puzzled about the naming conventions for Wi-Fi, it’s about to get a lot easier. Wi-Fi 6 (previously 802.11ax) will help users and, in particular, consumers understand the terminology and, more importantly, whether their device or venue is running the latest standard. You can read about the changes and what it means on pages 42-43. The next generation of mobile internet connectivity is rarely out of the news. 5G is expected to be a game changer once it’s deployed and the mobile networks are busy running trials on a technology that promises much faster speeds, lower latency and the further use of IoT and other emerging trends. We’ve already seen 5G enabled devices announced at MWC. You can find out more about this topic on pages 34-35.
Whilst drones may not be considered new, their commercial use is steadily growing in many industries from agriculture to blue-light services. The UK has the opportunity to be at the forefront of this sector as we highlight on pages 16-17. In addition, advances in LED technology have opened up a number of applications and uses that were once dominated by LCD screens. It’s a great opportunity for resellers as you will note on pages 38-39. We’ve two articles relating to storage. One looks at what’s happening with NAND, Flash, SSD and HDD on page 14 and the other highlights the race between HAMR and MAMR in fixed drive capacities on page 29. We also look at two very different aspects of the modern workplace. One discusses how noise is impacting a more open plan office environment with remote working perhaps offering a respite on page 31. The other highlights how resellers can find out more about ergonomic products and assistive technology from Hypertec on page 20. Lastly, if your customers have a web presence, are they protecting this asset with a web application firewall? We explain why a WAF offers more than a traditional firewall and the solutions available from Exertis on pages 22-23. Of course, we have our regular news items, market stats and hot picks. So, plenty to read and act upon. Thank you for your continued support.
Phil Brown Sales and commercial director, Business
Website store.exertis.co.uk
Basingstoke Sales: 01256 707 070 Address: Ashwood Chineham Business Park Chineham Basingstoke Hampshire RG24 8EH To place an order please call 01256 707 070 between 9am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday Burnley Sales: 01282 776 776 Address: Technology House, Magnesium Way, Hapton, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 7BF To place an order please call 01282 776 776 between 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday
PowerEdge R740 Rack Server The perfect balance between storage, I/O and application acceleration. The Dell EMC PowerEdge R740 using the latest IntelÂŽ XeonÂŽ Scalable processors delivers the perfect balance of storage, I/O and application acceleration for demanding workloads. The R740 is part of a portfolio of new 14th Generation of PowerEdge rack servers, all with enhanced capabilities that include a scalable system architecture, intelligent automation for control of the IT lifecycle and integrated security.
PowerEdge T440 Tower Server Meet the dependable office workhorse, with the perfect balance of storage and performance The Dell EMC PowerEdge T440 offers the perfect balance of storage and performance in a quiet, compact platform for smallto mid-sized business and remote office/branch office sites. The T440 is an expandable, future-proof workhorse, with enhanced capabilities that include a scalable system architecture, intelligent automation for control of the IT lifecycle and integrated security that protects against unauthorised access and cyber-attack.
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GUEST AUTHENTICATION FOR HOTSPOTS AND WIRELESS ACCESS Exertis has announced an exclusive distribution agreement with MiWiFi, providers of a captive guest portal that manages and controls users’ access to the internet in public and private locations. “People expect Wi-Fi access wherever they visit - be it a hospitality venue or a business environment. Mi-WiFi provides a secure and managed internet access to guests with options to secure recurring revenues for a chargeable service or through marketing and advertising opportunities. It simply needs a decent internet connection and a SonicWall firewall, which offer great flexibility and features within Mi-WiFi, to provide a secure solution for guest wireless networks,” said Dominic Ryles, Exertis, senior business development manager.
KYOCERA IN DISTRIBUTION MOVE In its first change to distribution line-up for more than 10 years, KYOCERA’s range of transactional print hardware, accessories, warranties and document management apps are now available to Exertis resellers. “We are pleased to add KYOCERA to our portfolio. It provides our resellers with an excellent range of products that are renowned for their quality, reliability and low total cost of ownership. Their document management solutions bring innovation and increased productivity to SMB and enterprise office environments by automating the workflow and capturing documents efficiently and securely,” said Alistair Coyne, Exertis, general manager, print.
HARMAN PROFESSIONAL SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE FROM EXERTIS Exertis can now provide resellers and retailers with the collaboration and retail products offered by HARMAN Professional Solutions including a selection of AKG Audio, JBL Professional and Martin by HARMAN products, in addition to the entire AMX Acendo product family.
Exertis will offer transactional print hardware including colour, mono, A4 and A3 printer and multifunctional devices. KYOCERA printers and MFPs are suitable for the needs of small workgroups or large departments providing flexible solutions that are eco-friendly, easy to use, and with optional upgrades. Exertis has supplied genuine KYOCERA consumables since 2004 through its specialist supplies division.
EXERTIS IN PRINT MOVE
AKG is well known for its portfolio of microphones and headphones used in professional live music, recording and broadcast. JBL Professional provides high quality and innovative sound systems that are used in a wide variety of vertical markets from recording studios and concert venues to conference centres and educational facilities. Martin by HARMAN is a world leader in lighting and visual solutions for the entertainment and commercial sectors. AMX Acendo is a range of conferencing products designed to maximise productivity and collaboration in huddle spaces and small meeting environments.
Al Coyne has stepped up to lead Exertis’ print division, following the promotion of Jamie Brothwell to the newly created position of business development director. For the past four years, Brothwell has built a strong team with specialist expertise that has consistently enabled the print division to outgrow the market, expand its customer base and provide a compelling vendor portfolio. Coyne has successfully managed the Norfolk specialist print team and will now assume responsibility for the entire division. He also has extensive print industry experience having spent fifteen years in the sector.
Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | Burnley: 01282 776 776 | store.exertis.co.uk
ADDITIONS TO OUR PRO AV SOLUTIONS TEAM Exertis has announced two business manager appointments within its Exertis Pro AV division. David Scott has been recruited to head up and drive the accessories business and Carl Swatheridge will be responsible for the projection business. David will manage Exertis’ Pro AV Solutions range of AV accessories – mounts, brackets and supports from leading vendors. Carl becomes business manager responsible for our projection category, working with a number of leading brands.
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IDC/GARTNER DISAGREE ON PC LEADERSHIP AS MARKET DECLINE CONTINUES Whilst both analysts agree that the PC market declined in 2018, they can only concur that Dell was in third place behind either HP or Lenovo. While 2018 saw a positive Q2 and a flat Q3, overall the year was down. According to both firms, worldwide PC shipments came in at around 68 million units during Q4, declining either 3.7 per cent (IDC) or 4.3 percent (Gartner) year-over-year. PC shipments saw their biggest year-on-year dip since 2016 in Q4 2018. Lenovo, HP and Dell accounted for 63 per cent of Shipments in the fourth quarter. For the year Gartner estimates a 1.3 per cent decline while IDC is lower at 0.4 per cent. It’s worth noting that, while both firms saw the same overall trends, their exact numbers differ slightly. This comes down to the types of devices IDC and Gartner count as PC shipments.
CLOUD MIGRATIONS EMERGE AS TOP INVESTMENT AREA FOR IT DECISION-MAKERS Moving to the cloud will be the number one investment priority for UK IT decision-makers this year, according to the 2019 Computer Weekly/TechTarget IT Priorities survey. A deeper dive into exactly what enterprises plan to do in the cloud revealed a growing appetite among respondents for increasing their use of platform-as-a-service (PaaS) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) technologies over the next 12 months.
CTOUCH INCREASES ITS RANGE TO INCLUDE MICROSOFT TERMS: The CTOUCH Leddura 2Meet product range, aimed at Skype for Business users, has now been extended to include users of Microsoft Teams. The Leddura 2Meet for Teams, introduces a brand new incredibly intuitive interface for users who have migrated to Microsoft Teams from Skype for Business. The company now offers a solution for both. The Leddura 2Meet eliminates the often familiar first ten minutes of meetings where room set up is problematic. Without the need for connecting cables from devices to the display, users can cast any device to the 2Meet through a simple cloud based app, or through Barco Clickshare if this is already in place. The Leddura 2Meet will be available for delivery in June from Exertis.
ICX BROCADE CUSTOMERS: DID YOU KNOW? When ARRIS International completed its acquisition of Ruckus Wireless, it also acquired the ICX Switch business from Broadcom, formerly Brocade products, to form Ruckus Networks. These ICX switches work seamlessly with Ruckus Wi-Fi access points and Ruckus SmartZone network controllers to deliver the most performance and cost effective unified wired and wireless access solutions on the market today. For any legacy ICX Brocade customers, please get in touch with Exertis’ Security and Wireless teams who will be happy to help you.
Market watcher Gartner’s data suggests the public cloud services market will grow by 17.3% in 2019 to be worth $206.2bn. According to Gartner’s figures, the IaaS market is on course to grow by just over a quarter (27.6%) this year and will be worth $39.5bn, while the PaaS market is set for similar growth of 23.7% to $18.8bn. Further information: https://www.computerweekly.com/ news/252457846/IT-Priorities-2019-Cloud-migrations-emerge-astop-investment-area-for-IT-decision-makers
MORE TO DO IN WINDOWS 10 ADOPTION In the same survey, 52 per cent of the 134 people interviewed in the UK said they would migrate to Windows 10 this year. With less than a year to go before Microsoft ends support for Windows 7, it remains a top desktop priority with the clock ticking.
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BUSINESS TRENDS DRIVING DEMANDS
by 2020 100% of large
enterprises will have to
report to directors
on cybersecurity
by 2025
and tech risks,
up from 40% today (Gartner)
in 2018 the global market for technical consumer goods (tcg)
recorded sales of
€1.01 trillion (GFK)
55%
the number of 5g connections
is projected to grow to 2.7 billion worldwide (STATISTA)
BY
2021
40% of the world’s
population are predicted
to own a smartphone (Statista)
of smbs are slightly aware/ not aware of
windows 7 end of service (MICROSOFT CORPORATION)
Let your ideas flow Introducing Samsung Flip, the digital flipchart that helps you get the most out of your meetings.
Find out more.
An offer too good to refuse We’re pretty sure that your customers will love Flip – our new and innovative digital flipboard. It’s packed with clever features and designed to give boring business meetings a makeover, add pizzazz to presentations, clear the way for better colleague collaboration and help creativity to flow.
So what’s so good about Flip Flip is the future. It’s here to transform the way your customers’ businesses work and help teams and colleagues create and collaborate more effectively. Leave paper flipcharts in the past. Flip lets colleagues write, draw and create together on a digital display. And it feels as smooth and natural as pen and paper.
Contact your Exertis account manager for more details.
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NAND, FLASH, SSDS AND HDDS WHAT’S HAPPENING? It was only a year ago that a shortage of NAND, due to high demand from smartphone producers and a restructuring of manufacturing, meant SSD prices remained high, too high for many to consider them an alternative to HDDs for data storage. How times have changed. We now have a global over-supply of NAND, and it’s a supply that’s growing by 15% a year.
NAND NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage technology that does not require power in order to retain data. Unlike DRAM memory which must be powered continuously to retain data, NAND memory retains data even when the power is off, making it ideal as storage for portable devices. The technology is used in common storage devices such as flash drives, solidstate drives and memory cards. NAND flash memory is the most common type of memory being used in the mass market because of its affordability, storage density and access speeds.
Intel’s fabrication plant in Dalian, China is doubling its capacity. Samsung is increasing the output of its Chinese plant in Xian, due to come on stream next year and the firm’s new plant in Korea began production this year. There are many others coming on stream soon. As it costs in the region of $10bn to open a NAND fabrication plant, those suppliers splashing the cash are clearly serious about continuing supply at this level and must, therefore, expect to see demand continuing to grow. But will it? True, demand is currently growing by 5% a year. As the network of connected devices grows - the Internet of Things - demand for data storage rises and the very nature of the instantaneous, fast retrieval needed by IoT means NAND will be the method of choice. But that’s still some way behind the current growth in supply.
using HAMR technology. Western Digital₃ is putting its faith in the alternative technology MAMR.
HAMR AND MAMR Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) uses laser-powered heating power to reduce the local magnetic hardness when writing the data. Seagate uses the technology to increase density much further than it can be with traditional PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording), thereby increasing the overall areal density and storage capacity. Western Digital hopes to achieve similar increases in density using Microwave-Assisted Magnetic Recording (MAMR) - the magnetic write head also contains a spin torque oscillator (STO) which generates microwaves. They lower the surface resistance of the underlying recording media and make writing bits easier.
SSD prices are expected to start to drop as the producers’ strategy to get the price down to a comparable point to challenge HDDs kicks in. Few, however, expect we will see parity.
This innovation is much needed. According to IBM₄, the world creates 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. IDC’s recent report, Data Age 2025₅, predicts worldwide data creation will grow to an enormous 163 zettabytes (ZB) by 2025. That’s ten times the amount of data being produced in 2017. IDC believes that hard drives will be central in managing 70 percent of the datasphere so the future is very bright for hard drives, assuming the technology continues to offer massive capacity.
HDD providers are responding to this sector development by enhancing the advantage disks have over Flash; capacity. Storage density can be increased, for example, via the use of SMR₁ (Shingle Magnetic Recording) where data is stored on overlapping grooves.
As indicated, there is some high-level innovation taking place in the industry to ensure data storage continues to meet this fastgrowing demand and Exertis Hammer can provide you with the latest products, solutions and support for your customers.
Seagate and Western Digital are both investing heavily in HDDs, which is evidence that there are no immediate concerns that cheaper SSDs will steal the HDD market. While speed is the USP for Flash, it’s capacity that gives the disks their edge. As there will be no profit in selling, say, 4TB disks, the future lies in high capacity. Seagate is predicting₂ we will see 100TB HDDs by 2025,
Sources & Acknowledgements: ₁https://www.itpro.co.uk/cloud-storage/32232/western-digital-reveals-worlds-first-15tb-smr-hard-drive-aimed-at-datacentres ₂ https://hexus.net/tech/news/storage/123953-seagates-hdd-roadmap-teases-100tb-drives-2025/ ₃ https://www.extremetech.com/computing/283200-western-digital-plans-first-16gb-mamr-hdds-in-2019 ₄ https://www.itpro.co.uk/solid-state-storage-ssd/31387/what-the-future-holds-for-data-storage ₅ https://blog.seagate.com/business/enormous-growth-in-data-is-coming-how-to-prepare-for-it-and-prosper-from-it/
Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | Burnley: 01282 776 776 | store.exertis.co.uk
INTEL INSIDE AGILE NETWORKING OUTSIDE Reliable Networks. Exciting Possibilities. What does a fast network mean for businesses? It means greater agility, rapid service delivery, and a responsive network. In other words, everything a company needs to thrive. Help your customers fuel growth with Intel速 Ethernet.
WHY INTEL速 ETHERNET? Intel速 Ethernet products deliver a reliable out-of-the-box experience and proven interoperability for current and future networking infrastructures. High Compatibility and Broad Interoperability Fully tested network adapters and accessories (optics and cables) that support a broad selection of operating systems
Ease of Use Works out of the box with automatic and highly optimised configuration setups
Worldwide Product Support World-class pre- and post-sales support throughout the product lifecycle
Broad Product Selection and Accessories Supports all speeds (1/10/25/40GbE) and media types (BASE-T, Fibre, SFP+, QSFP+, SFP28, QSFP28, KR, XAUI, CAUI). Available in many different form factors
Performance Assurance Scalable and optimised for Intel速 architecture and broad OSV ecosystem
Want to know more? Talk to your Exertis Account Manager today, or visit intel.com/ethernet
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ASIDE, DRONE TECHNOLOGY IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES IN
MANY SECTORS Despite the recent poor publicity around the mischievous use of drones around airports, there is no doubt that this technology, used in the right way, has potential not just for the consumer market and hobbyists but more interestingly and importantly in a business and industrial context. According to a study widely reported last year by PwC, Drone technology could add £42bn to the UK economy by 2030 with the potential to increase GDP by 2 per cent with “significant opportunities” for economic gains across a number of sectors. The research maintained that there will be more than 76,000 drones in use in the UK by 2030 with more than a third deployed in the public sector in such areas as defence, health, blue-light services and education. PwC estimated that there could be more than half a million people employed in the drone industry within the next ten years with new jobs created in development, operation and regulation. At the time Elaine Whyte, the UK drones leader at PwC said, “The UK has the opportunity to be at the leading edge of exploiting this emerging technology, and now is the time for investments to be made in developing the use cases and trial projects needed to kickstart our drone industry. In order to realise the full potential from drones, the immediate focus must be on developing society’s confidence in the technology to help drive acceptance and increase adoption. While
drones are often currently viewed as more of a toy, by combining this emerging technology with the right business understanding and human insight there is a huge opportunity to help solve some of business and society’s most important problems.” Despite growing adoption, the commercial drone sector still has a number of challenges. Safety and privacy are on-going concerns. Complaints from the public about drones potentially flying over their property need to be considered, whether that’s about the potential risk of an accident or infringing on their privacy. However, there is unquestionably a positive side as well. The requirement for more legislation has been compounded by recent events at UK airports. There is already a requirement prohibiting drones from being flown above 400 feet or within 1km of an airport boundary (aka the DroneCode1). Acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or a person in an aircraft already carries a penalty of up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine or both. The legislation came into effect at the end of July last year. It coincided with findings from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that 77 per cent of the public felt that more drone regulation was needed. This was even echoed by the drone community themselves, with 75 per cent in agreement. Speaking on the findings at the time,
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Users who fail to register or sit the competency tests could face fines of up to £1,000. Police are also likely to have greater powers to down drones thought to be in danger of breaking the law. According to a Tech Crunch article2 Drone maker DJI also welcomed what it couched as a measured approach to regulation. “The Department for Transport’s updates to the regulatory framework strike a sensible balance between protecting public safety and bringing the benefits of drone technology to British businesses and the public at large,” said Christian Struwe, head of public policy Europe at DJI. “The vast majority of drone pilots fly safely and responsibly, and governments, aviation authorities and drone manufacturers agree we need to work together to ensure all drone pilots know basic safety rules. We are therefore particularly pleased about the Department for Transport’s commitment to accessible online testing as a way of helping drone users to comply with the law.” Aside from the legislation and safety concerns, the government has also funded a drone innovation project run by Nesta3 whereby five cities can gain support on R&D focused on using the tech to transform critical services, such as emergency health services and organ transport, essential infrastructure assessment and repair, and parcel delivery and logistics. The five use cases to be piloted are largely based around public services, a key area where drones can help save lives as well as money: • Medical delivery within London – a drone delivery network for carrying urgent medical products between NHS facilities, such as pathology samples, blood products and equipment over relatively short distances between hospitals • Traffic incident response in the West Midlands – to support the emergency services prior to their arrival and while they are on-site, allowing them to allocate the right resources and respond more effectively • Fire response in Bradford – emergency response drones to provide high-quality information to support emergency call handlers and fire ground commanders, arriving on the scene faster than is currently possible and helping staff plan an appropriate response for the seriousness of the incident • Construction and regeneration in Preston – drone services supporting construction work for urban projects using drones prior to and during construction, in order to survey sites and gather realtime information on the progress of works.
Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant Director at the UK CAA commented: “As recreational drone use becomes increasingly widespread across the UK it is heartening to see that awareness of the Dronecode has also continued to rise - a clear sign that most drone users take their responsibility seriously and are a credit to the community. Drones are here to stay, not only as a recreational pastime, but as a vital tool in many industries - from agriculture to blue-light services - so increasing public trust through safe drone flying is crucial.” The CAA research also maintained that mobile apps providing information on airspace and safety alerts, are quickly becoming a must have, with drone users citing them as crucial for regulating the sector and providing a platform for future communication and safety campaigns. Almost half of drone users (45 per cent) used a dronerelated app to help them fly more safely. Additional measures for owners of drones weighing 250 grams or more to register with the CAA and for drone pilots to take an online safety test come into force at the end of November this year.
• Medical delivery across the Solent – linking Southampton to the Isle of Wight using a delivery drone. Drones could carry light payloads of up to a few kilos over distances of around 20 miles, with medical deliveries of products being a key benefit. Whilst those using a drone commercially must be approved by the CAA, there is no shortage of use cases. Drones provide tremendous benefits for many industries and are being used today for a variety of commercial operations, such as pipeline and powerline monitoring, infrastructure inspection, newsgathering, aerial cinematography, construction site inspection, real estate photography, insurance inspection, facility surveillance, agricultural inspection, military and more. Indeed, their uses seem to increase in diversity daily from spotting migrant boats in the channel to exterminating rats on the Galapagos islands3. Drone technology provides opportunities for resellers to take advantage of a growing commercial market with a wide range of applications. Sources and Acknowledgements: Independent; techworld; CAA; PwC 1https://dronesafe.uk/ 2https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/31/uk-puts-legal-limits-on-drone-flight-heights-andairport-no-fly-zones/ 3https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/drones?CMP=ILC-refresh
Defence grade security built from the chip up
When it comes to security, Samsung follow an end-to-end design and production approach. So, their smartphones and tablets are protected by Knox from before they’re even turned on, and stay secure throughout their whole lifecycle. Not all Android smartphones and tablets come with equal security. Samsung Knox features are over and above the existing Android OS. These include leading virus protection, rooting prevention, secure folder, monitoring, data isolation and encryption. Speak to your account manager to ďŹ nd out more about Samsung Knox and the solution licenes we have available.
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Veriton X Series
SSD WORK FASTER
8th generation Intel® Celeron®, Pentium® or Core™ i3/i5/i7processors matched up with Intel® Optane™ technology PCIe, PCI and M.2 expansion slots Small Form Factor
Contact your Exertis account manager today for more information
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MORE FROM HYPERTEC Hypertec is well known by its resellers for providing a wide portfolio of memory, storage, PC peripherals and security products. It also provides a range of ownbrand products, some specially commissioned, where it sees a gap in the market and a requirement from end users. These are products that are also available to Exertis customers since our acquisition last year. The brands and products can be found at www.hypertec.co.uk However, it’s possible that their range of ergonomic products and assistive technology is less well known in the market. This is manged by a team of specialists from its Keytools arm who have been active in this area for over twenty years. Ergonomics in the workplace is a key issue for business as technology has transformed the design of today’s office and the devices used by employees. Nevertheless, it’s clear that an increase in employee comfort leads to better productivity and a lower risk of work-related injuries. Some 131.2 million working days were lost due to sickness in the UK in 2017, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). For the second successive year “musculoskeletal problems”, including back and joint pain, remained the second most common reason for sickness absence and attributed to 28.2 million days lost. As employees tend to spend most of their working time in the workplace, it’s clear that some organisations could do more to prevent such problems occurring by selecting the right equipment and providing solutions that can mitigate some of the issues. Hypertec can help resellers by providing their customers with a wide range of products that include: ergonomic mice; keyboards; foot, back and wrist supports; monitor risers; laptop stands and sitstand desks.
Hypertec has launched a complete range of cable and connectivity products under the brand ProConnectLite®. These present a great opportunity to ensure resellers can provide a complete solution including the necessary cables, connectors and adapters that can add margin to the sale.
Assistive technology is another important area that resellers may be less familiar with. Hypertec has a dedicated team of experts in
its Keytools arm especially focused on addressing productivity and inclusion within the workplace delivering products to users with varying requirements whether physical, hearing or visual impairments, speech and language support, dyslexia or even to accommodate an ageing workforce. Assistive technology is an umbrella term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities. Assistive technology is any object or system that increases or maintains the capabilities of people with disabilities whilst adaptive technology is any system or object that is specifically designed for the
Hypertec has launched ProDockExtreme®, a lightweight and portable docking station that is simple, effective and ideal for charging, data transfer and video displays from USB-C devices. Users can choose between single 4K HDMI, single 4K DisplayPort or dual screen, mirror and extend for video output with 100W power delivery from a USB-C port.
purpose of increasing or maintaining the capabilities of people with disabilities. To promote inclusivity, Hypertec Keytools regularly run “Assistive and Ergonomic Technology in the Workplace” events. These are attended by high profile companies whose delegates can gain a good understanding of the different devices essential to achieving an ergonomic workstation and how specialist technology can enhance access for those with disabilities. These events help corporates to establish a disability aware workforce and resellers can look for opportunities in this area safe in the knowledge that they have a great partner to work with who can provide the right products and solutions. For further information see our short video at https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Mc_SQSF0Kg0 Hypertec Keytools provides a range of Assistive Technology products to address inclusion for PC users in the workplace or within Education, providing solutions from manufacturers such as Dragon, Claro, GoldTouch, Contour, Herman Miller, Evoluent and Inspiration to name a few. Hypertec can be reached at: 01488 686844
Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | Burnley: 01282 776 776 | store.exertis.co.uk
Discover a richer, brighter, more detailed online experience with new LG IPS Monitors • • • •
16:9 aspect ratio Up to 250 cd/m2 brightness 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD IPS Display
Call today to find out more about the new range available at Exertis.
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ATHEWAF IS BEST SOLUTION FOR WEBSITE AND
WEB APPLICATIONS
PROTECTION
Whilst most companies have a web presence, not all protect that asset with a Website Application Firewall (WAF). Smaller companies are particularly susceptible since they often do not have the correct security technology and procedures in place to withstand this type of cyberattack. However, even larger organisations often rely on traditional firewalls only to find they have been compromised. A WAF is a highly specialist security tool specifically designed to protect against web application attacks which remain one of the most common forms of cybercrime according to data such as the annual Verizon Data Breach Report. The explosive growth of web applications in business has also led to growing concerns over security. Businesses can neither expect nor rely on their web development team to present flawless web applications. Anytime a web application software is deployed alongside the data it needs to access, it becomes a security risk. This is because it is a potential entry point for attackers who want to steal such data or gain further access to more sensitive parts of the network. Every web application deployed exposes organisations to a very large spectrum of potential web-based exploits and attacks. Unlike a traditional firewall which provides perimeter protection for an entire enterprise, a WAF resides at the outer edge of a network adding a layer of protection that sits between a website and the traffic it receives. Many network and local firewalls don’t offer sufficient protection when it comes to stopping malicious traffic from damaging a website, providing limited security from malware, attacks and other unauthorised activities. Whilst WAFs can’t perform the many functions of an all-purpose network firewall, they focus on one specific area – monitoring and blocking attacks targeted at websites, web-based applications and the web server infrastructure. Moreover, Intrusion Protection Systems (IPS), whilst capable of monitoring incoming network traffic, can only protect against a sub-set of webbased threats, hence why WAFs have become more widely adopted, offering more depth in their security offering. A WAF inspects each packet and focuses on the application layer (layer 7), filtering out potentially harmful traffic. Malicious attacks predominantly occur as SQL injections, cross-site scripting and file executions. WAFs are able to distinguish between fraudulent interactions and legitimate traffic. As most web traffic is encrypted, it’s a complex but vital task. A WAF accomplishes this by intercepting and analysing every HTTP request before it reaches the web application. Because a WAF stands between the public and the web application,
it is able to decouple the traffic between the web server and the internet. SSL certificates are hosted on the WAF, thus terminating the encrypted connection. Traffic is then forwarded to the web application in HTTP and analysed. A WAF can be either network-based, host based or cloud-based. The choice depends on the organisation and their infrastructure. Network-based WAFs are usually hardware-based and can reduce latency because they are installed locally, as close to the application as possible. Many WAFs also have integrated application acceleration features like load balancing, SSL offloading, connection multiplexing, caching and compression that can reduce the load on the application servers and deliver the applications faster to clients. Most major network-based WAF vendors allow replication of rules and settings across multiple appliances, making large scale deployment and configuration possible. Initial cost can be a prohibitor although maintenance costs are generally lower. Host-based WAFs have the benefit of being closest to the web apps, so it’s not so easy to bypass them. They are also less expensive to implement with minimal networking changes. However, they can be a challenge to manage because they require local libraries and depend on local servers to run effectively. Cloud based WAFs have become easy to deploy and are available on a subscription basis, often only requiring a simple DNS change to redirect application traffic. Most of these WAFs offer an integrated CDN which can be used to defend against DDoS attacks. However, because these WAFs are far removed from the servers, direct and insider attacks are not fully addressed by cloud-based WAFs. In addition, some organisations may not wish to pass the responsibility of filtering their web traffic to a third party provider. The consequences of not deploying a WAF are far greater than
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FUTURE
CDN A content delivery network (CDN) is a system of distributed servers (network) that deliver pages and other Web content to a user, based on the geographic locations of the user, the origin of the webpage and the content delivery server. This service is effective in speeding the delivery of content of websites with high traffic and websites that have global reach. The closer the CDN server is to the user geographically, the faster the content will be delivered to the user. CDNs also provide protection from large surges in traffic.
DNS The domain name system (DNS) connects URLs with their IP address. With DNS, it’s possible to type words instead of a string of numbers into a browser, allowing people to search for websites and send emails using familiar names. When you search for a domain name in a browser, it sends a query over the internet to match the domain with its corresponding IP. Once located, it uses the IP to retrieve the website’s content.
SSL Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser. This link ensures that all data passed between the web server and browsers remain private and integral. SSL is an industry standard and is used by millions of websites in the protection of their online transactions with their customers. To be able to create an SSL connection a web server requires an SSL Certificate
the implementation costs. These can include loss of sensitive data, reputational damage and a loss of revenue. GDPR fines could potentially put an organisation out of business. Having strong passwords and SSL certificates aren’t enough and whilst deploying a WAF cannot guarantee against a breach, it is an added layer of IT security that can help reduce the possibilities and manage the impact on an organisation. Exertis provides solutions from SonicWall and KEMP. The SonicWall WAF offers web application security, data leak protection and higher performance, on premise or in the cloud. It provides organisations with advanced web security tools and services to protect their data and web properties against modern, web-based threats. By applying deep packet inspection of Layer 7 web traffic against a regularly updated database of known signatures, it denies access upon detecting web application vulnerabilities and redirects users to an explanatory error page. This helps keep compliance data unexposed and web properties safe, undisrupted and in peak operating performance. KEMP’s Application Firewall Pack (AFP) combines Layer 7 Web Application Firewall protection with other application delivery services including intelligent load balancing, intrusion detection, intrusion prevention as well as edge security and authentication. The KEMP WAF provides continuous protection against vulnerabilities with daily rule updates based on threat intelligence and research from information security provider, Trustwave. For further information on WAF solutions, ask your account manager or our security team. Sources & Acknowledgements: TechTarget; Verizon: OWASP; Security Week https://www.sonicwall.com/en-us/products/web-application-firewall https://kemptechnologies.com/uk/kemp360/mela/waf-aws-azure-public-private-hybridcloud/
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CREATE A SECURITY ECOSYSTEM THAT’S ‘SAFE BY SWANN’ Patio
(outdoors)
Dog House
(outdoors, detached, within Wi-Fi range)
Kitchen (indoors)
Stairways
(indoors, hard to reach)
Deck
(outdoors)
Garage (indoors)
Front Door (outdoors)
Living Room (indoors)
Why Swann Smart Security?
Minimise error with Swann’s True Detect™ Technology
Speak to See with Google Assistant
Full HD 1080P Recording and Playback perfect for smart phone viewing
Smart Security Camera
Rechargeable Battery
100% Wire-free
Weatherproof
Feature highlights Weatherproof. Use it indoors or outdoors. Wire-free. Easily installed anywhere within Wi-Fi range including entrances, sheds, garages, kennels, stairways & roofs. Runs on battery. Mount wherever, no need for a power outlet nearby. Works during power outages. Records even if Wi-Fi is down, and uploads when connectivity is restored.
Outdoor Security Camera
Powered
Weatherproof
Has Ethernet Port
Feature highlights Weatherproof. Mount it outdoors. Powered. Set & forget. Always on. Records instantly upon detection. 60ft/18m power cable included. Has an Ethernet port in case the Wi-Fi reception is unreliable.
Indoor Security Camera
Powered
Indoor Only
2-Way Audio
Feature highlights 2-way audio. Interact with people & pets at home. Great indoor baby monitor, pet cam or elderly monitor. Powered/ Set & forget. Always on. Records instantly upon detection.
Viewable from a smartphone or tablet on the Safe By Swann App
Up to 40m night vision
Works with Alexa
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FUTURE
BUSINESS
IT’S BACK, BIGGER AND EVEN BETTER! WE’D LIKE TO OFFER YOU MORE
A MESSAGE FROM PAUL BRYAN, EXERTIS UK&I, MANAGING DIRECTOR Our third Plug In To Exertis channel event promises to be bigger and even better. Of course, we recognise that spending the day with us has to provide a return on investment for you. That’s why we try to ensure there’s something for everyone whether your interests lie in the consumer, business, AV or enterprise markets. As we cover a wide technology range, it’s also an opportunity for you to take a look at possible complementary areas to your business that you can add to your offering. Not just in product or solutions but also in services. I’ve heard it said that services are our best kept secret. If so, it’s time for that to change. We’ll be hosting seminars that will give you an insight into the plethora of specialist services that we offer for retailers and resellers, ranging from financial and logistical to consumer, AV and enterprise. We recognise that services are key to winning and retaining customers. Our services are designed to support your business either complementing what you already provide or as a complete outsourced service that you can white label. We’ve invested so you don’t have to. This year we will have specific exhibition areas for consumer, business, AV and enterprise, supported by our vendors and our specialist teams. You can find out more about what’s happening in each area by visiting our website. We’ll also be adding further details on guest speakers, event activities and our full seminar programme in due course. Of course, it’s not just a showcase event, you’ll be able to network and build relationships that can benefit your business. I am looking forward to meeting previous and new visitors to our event at Silverstone Circuit on 16th May. The venue is ideally located with plenty of on-site parking and close to major motorway networks. You can register at www.exertis.co.uk/plugin
More products, more solutions, more services, more opportunities and more profit. That’s what’s on offer for resellers and retailers at Plug In To Exertis on 16th May at Silverstone Circuit. It’s our third channel event and it promises to be even bigger and better. We’ve dedicated Consumer, Business, AV and Enterprise areas with market leading vendors ready to show you what’s hot, what’s trending and what’s emerging across technology that spans the living room to the datacentre. We’ve seminars focused on the specialist value-added services we provide for our resellers and retailers. Services that are designed to complement and support you as and when you need them. But that’s not all. You’ll get the chance to network with our specialist teams, take in a number of show-floor features and other exciting events throughout the day. For our Future Business readers, here’s what you can expect in our dedicated areas. However, we are continually adding more as we lead up to the event, so check out our website for the latest information and how to register: www.exertis.co.uk/plugin
BUSINESS: EVERYTHING FOR THE MODERN WORKPLACE If you’re interested in computing, print, mobile and components then our business area is a must. There are plenty of opportunities. Our PC vendors cater for every need from entry level to high end devices. With Windows 7 end of life support less than a year away, we’re here to help you transition your customers to Windows 10. Also, workstation is a growing PC category becoming far more applicable in many vertical markets and at a lower cost. Our print division continues to go from strength to strength adding key vendors and dedicated people. Come and discuss the opportunities in office automation, document management and scanning. In mobile, our Device as a Service (DaaS) offering is a great way to ensure your customers have the latest devices in the most affordable way. Come and see how you can benefit from this and other services including Android zero-touch enrolment for large scale enterprise deployments of mobile devices and second lifecycle solutions from MTR. Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | Burnley: 01282 776 776 | store.exertis.co.uk
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For components, we have the strongest and most complete line-up of vendors and products covering everything from storage to cases, PSUs, cooling, graphics, motherboards, CPUs, keyboards, mice, headsets and NUCs. In addition, with Hypertec we can provide even more choice for memory, security, storage and PC peripherals as well as a range of assistive technology products.
•
So, make it your business, to join us at Plug-In. •
PRO AV: IT’S ALL ABOUT SOLUTIONS When it comes to AV, we’ve a lot to shout about. We’ve steadily grown our division and capabilities through some significant acquisitions in the last couple of years: Medium, Stampede and Jam Industries. As a result: Everything is bigger and better! More vendors, more products, more solutions, more services and more experienced people. Working with our vendor partners to understand the most effective combinations of products for the most frequently needed solutions, we’ve created a series of entry level packages to fulfil your end user requirements. These packages are a starting point and are fully customisable to take into account the specific needs of your project. Solution areas range from digital signage and video wall control to audio, collaboration and emerging technologies like drones. What’s more, taking advantage of the convergence of AV and IT, we can truly offer our resellers an end-to-end solution. Other distributors can’t. In addition, we can provide a range of services in terms of: pre-sales technical support; project design and sales consultancy; deployment and management and end user training that leverages your customers’ investment in AV equipment. All available as a white label service. So, whether you’re an AV specialist or an IT reseller with an interest in AV, you should be talking to us. Come and experience the difference at this year’s event.
ENTERPRISE: TACKLING BUSINESS ISSUES WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY Our enterprise division goes from strength to strength. Now fully integrated with Exertis Hammer, we have a wider vendor portfolio together with an outstanding range of enterprise services that can support your business. We can offer enterprise solutions ranging from server, storage, networking and HCI to security, wireless, UC, software and the cloud. Come and talk to us about: •
•
• •
How HCI can bring operational efficiency, simplified implementation and management, and a faster ROI than traditional infrastructure. HCI adoption is increasing as the technology matures, with over 60% of datacentres adopting the technology. Exertis offers solutions for the SMB to the largest datacentres providing expert, impartial advice on the right solution as well as a comprehensive service wrap. Why edge computing is proving to be more efficient for companies distributing computing loads closer to the source and with micro data centres providing fast and secure access to data and compute resources. One is driving the other and it’s not just the compute that needs to be considered but also the infrastructure supporting it. How we can support you in providing solutions for the modern workplace that incorporate a collaborative environment, increase productivity, cut costs and reduce carbon footprint. With our specialist teams in UC and AV, Exertis is uniquely positioned to offer a complete solution with a portfolio that
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includes video conferencing, a range of monitors, interactive screens, cameras and audio equipment from leading vendors. Maintaining security for your customers against the everincreasing cyber threats. Cybersecurity continues to be a big issue. The three main areas of Cybersecurity: data protection and recovery, which includes standalone and cloud offerings; end-point security; and enterprise network security, all grew year on year. How we can help you build a first-rate Wi-Fi solution. In today’s always on, connected world, customers, guests, employees expect to have wireless access. Free, fast, reliable and secure. Adoption of Wave 2 and second-generation upgrades are driving growth in the wireless market. Businesses are discovering that Wi-Fi provides an opportunity to gain valuable customer insight and generate new revenue streams. Exertis offers a raft of expertise to help with quality Wi-Fi roll outs including heat maps, site surveys and configuration.
CONSUMER: ENABLING THE RETAIL REVOLUTION For consumer technology, there’s no need to shop around. From gaming to Smart Tech; premium audio and TV to mobile and accessories, we are the leading consumer distributor for a reason. We specialise in each of those areas. That’s why retailers of all types and sizes work with us and why our retail services are regarded as best in the business. We lead the Smart Tech sector. Being first to market has enabled us to build an enviable portfolio and provide retailers with the best opportunities to help consumers take advantage of a connected home. Come and visit our Smart House, see smart products in action and meet our smart people. Our Premium Audio and TV portfolio speaks volumes about our pedigree. We also know a thing or two about accessories. Plus, we’ve some great own brand accessory products from Exertis and from Kondor. Not forgetting mobile, where we are known as the House of Android due to our great line-up of smartphones from flagship to mid-range devices. We’ve something for every budget. Visit our website for further information on the consumer area.
See the highlights of 2018 and what our customers said about Plug In To Exertis at www.exertis.co.uk/plugin
Power as big as your ideas.
Dell Precision Mobile Workstations Experience unrestrained innovation
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To buy online: store.exertis.co.uk
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HEAT OR MICROWAVE… WHICH ONE WILL WIN THE STORAGE CAPACITY RACE? Two technologies, which have been developed over the past few years, have recently broken onto the market. Both promise to deliver a rapid increase in hard drive capacities, but can both be sustained, or will one emerge as triumphant? Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) is being developed by Seagate while Toshiba is investing in microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR). MAMR is also being developed independently by Western Digital₁ after it switched in 2017 from pursuing HAMR. MAMR is one of two energy-assisted technologies that Western Digital has been developing for years. The company recently innovated a breakthrough in material and process that provides the required reliable and predictable performance, as well as the manufacturability to accelerate real density and cost improvements to an estimated average of 15% per year. “Developments in the other energy-assisted technology, specifically HAMR, present new material science and reliability challenges that are not a factor in MAMR. Only MAMR demonstrates the reliability and cost profile that meets the demands of datacentre operators.” As the name suggests, HAMR uses heat to increase the amount of data that can be stored on hard drives. The drive surfaces are heated during writing, making them more receptive so allowing data to be stored on smaller segments. As Mark Re, Seagate’s Chief Technology Officer, stated₂: “HAMR is a technology designed to enable the next big increase in the amount of
data that can be stored on a hard drive. It uses a new kind of media magnetic technology on each disk that allows data bits, or grains, to become smaller and more densely packed than ever, while remaining magnetically stable. A small laser diode attached to each recording head heats a tiny spot on the disk, which enables the recording head to flip the magnetic polarity of each very stable bit, enabling data to be written.” Seagate says it is already shipping HAMR drives and according to The Register “Seagate has set a course to deliver a 48TB disk drive in 2023 using its HAMR technology, doubling areal density every 30 months, meaning 100TB could be possible by 2025/26.” MAMR is a much easier technology to implement than HAMR, says solutions engineer David Wachenschwanz. Thanks to MAMR, WD predicts that we will see 100TB drives in 10 years or so. The fact that Seagate has pegged its future to the HAMR mast, with Toshiba pursuing an MAMR alternative is interesting. That WD switched from one to the other really poses the question which one will win the storage capacity race; heat or microwave? Crucially, what will all this mean for the future of the HDD market? One thing that is for sure, Exertis Hammer will be keeping a watchful eye on the two technologies and will be best placed to offer insight and advice. Talk to your account manager today. ₁ https://www.westerndigital.com/company/newsroom/press-releases/2017/2017-10-11-western-digital-unveils-nextgeneration-technology-to-preserve-and-access-the-next-decade-of-big-data ₂ https://blog.seagate.com/intelligent/hamr-next-leap-forward-now/ ₃ https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/02/seagate_hamr_roadmap
VOYAGER VOYA V Y GER 4200 UC YA C SERIES SERIES Freedom Freed eedom to move while staying connected. Some office professionals prefer a stereo device to listen to media; others want a mono headset to hear their surroundings while on a call. But everyone expects crystal-clear audio and the ability to switch seamlessly between mobile phone and PC. Easy to use, easy to deploy and cost-effective, Voyager 4200 UC Series meets IT’s needs for headset solutions that support the company’s UC strategy. Learn more | https://info.exertis.co.uk/plantronics/ ©2018 Plantronics, Inc. All trade names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 9.18 254241
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IS REMOTE WORKING THE
SOLUTION TO NOISE IN
THE WORKPLACE The old-style offices of cubicles and partitions no longer feature in today’s modern office environments where open plan provides a more aesthetically pleasing design, more desk space and is more in line with the requirement for closer collaboration between teams and employees. Technology has fundamentally changed the workplace with the need to incorporate communication in a variety of different facets. Whilst noise in a busy call centre is to be expected, working in an open plan space with little or no separation, with fewer offices and with meeting rooms often at a premium, the greatest disruption to employee productivity is noise in the workplace. Phone conversations either at the desk or increasingly employees talking on the go on their mobiles, impromptu meetings at surrounding desks and other background noises all contribute to the decibel levels in the office. A large office space is estimated to account for about 50 decibels. Whilst, that noise level isn’t a danger to hearing (85 decibels or above, consistently, is deemed to be harmful), it can certainly lead to a loss of productivity. According to a 2016 study by Steelcase noisy workplaces have, in part, led to employees feeling disengaged. A further report that year by economic consultants Oxford Economics for Plantronics₁ found that employees above all else want a workplace free of distractions - access to amenities like free food is far less important. More than half of employees say ambient noise reduces their satisfaction at work, the report stated. “Many feel compelled to solve the problem on their own, blocking out distraction through visits to the breakroom, taking walks outside, or listening to white noise and music on headsets or headphones. Some of these tools can be effective to a degree, but a lot of these personal solutions can cause distraction or fatigue, and employees walling themselves off from others aren’t able to experience the benefits the collaborative space was specifically designed for.” However, perhaps there is another solution that both minimises the noise issue, retains collaboration and could actually increase productivity. It’s increasingly hard to dispute that remote working brought about by using the right technology has many benefits. It can prevent work distractions, illustrated above, putting an end to the coffee machine gossip, impromptu meetings around the desk and loud colleagues. A survey from SurePayroll₂ maintained that 86 per cent of people prefer to work alone to gain maximum productivity, 61 per cent said loud colleagues were the biggest distraction, with 41 per cent citing impromptu meeting as a major distraction. Of course, it would be naïve to believe that there aren’t distractions with remote working but as the same survey revealed employees spend 20 hours a week online and 5 hours surfing nonwork-related sites. Naturally, remote working requires discipline. A survey by Connect Solutions₃ maintained that of the 39 per cent of those surveyed who work remotely at least a few times per month,
77 per cent report greater productivity while working off site with 30 per cent accomplishing more in less time and 24 per cent accomplishing more in the same amount of time. In addition, 23 per cent are even willing to work longer hours than they normally would on site to accomplish more while 52% are less likely to take time off when working remotely-even when sick. When it comes to camaraderie and collaboration, 42 per cent of remote workers feel they’re just as connected with colleagues as if they were working on-premises, and 10 per cent feel even more connected. Another factor that’s heavily influencing progress in remote work is that employees want it, particularly millennials who are having a greater influence in workplace decision making. Indeed, it seems more and more companies are deploying the idea. According to UpWork’s Future Workforce Report₄, companies are embracing agile, remote teams with almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of companies today having remote workers. Another report released by Zug₅ shows 70 per cent of professionals work remotely at least one day a week, while 53 per cent work remotely for at least half of the week. The Upwork report predicts that employees will work predominantly remotely in the next ten years. With the use of existing technology and 5G on the horizon, that prediction could well be correct. Exertis can help resellers in the technology required for remote working as well as providing a range of noise-cancelling headphones. Sources and acknowledgements ₁https://newsroom.plantronics.com/press-release/corporate/new-global-research-oxford-economics-spells-out-howimprove-employee-satisfa ₂https://www.surepayroll.com/resources/blog/productivity-prohibitors-how-to-stop-them-in-their-tracks ₃http://www.cosocloud.com/press-release/connectsolutions-survey-shows-working-remotely-benefits-employers-andemployees ₄https://www.upwork.com/blog/2018/03/future-workforce-report-remote-work-mainstream/ ₅https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/30/70-percent-of-people-globally-work-remotely-at-least-once-a-week-iwg-study. html
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FUTURE
BUSINESS
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE
WHEN IT COMES
TO 5G There has been much hype, much expectation and some controversy around 5G. However, it is expected to be a game changer on many levels. 5G networks are the next generation of mobile internet connectivity, offering faster speeds and more reliable connections than ever before. It is predicted to offer connections that are many times faster than currently available (100 times faster than 4G and 10 times faster than average broadband), with average download speeds of around 1GBps expected to soon be the norm, although actual realworld performance may vary. To put some perspective to that, it can take around 10 minutes to download a HD movie on 4G, you should be able to swap the minutes for seconds with 5G. With development well underway, 5G networks are expected to launch across the world by 2020, working alongside existing 3G and 4G technology to provide speedier connections that stay online anytime and anywhere. In the UK, 5G is expected to see a widespread roll-out by 2020 – EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 have purchased the network capacity to support the next generation of mobile services. Indeed, these major UK mobile networks have revealed their 5G testing plans which are taking place in numerous locations at this very moment. Qualcomm predicted at CES (January) that as many as thirty 5G devices will be launched this year, most of which will be smartphones. That prediction is materialising as we are already seeing the launch of 5G enabled devices, such as those unveiled recently at Mobile World Congress. The GSMA estimates that by 2025, 1.2 billion people are set to have access to 5G networks – a third of them in China – coinciding with the new network infrastructure.
5G WILL IMPACT EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES Besides much faster speeds, the technology will also offer much lower latency – down to a theoretical 1ms from 45ms on 4G i.e. it will reduce delay or lag and provide greater capacity for networks to cope with many high-demand applications such as virtual reality and IoT devices. Indeed, many believe that 5G will have a huge impact in the growth of IoT where it will be capable of supporting massive quantities of lowthroughput connections compared to LTE. Smart connected homes,
hospitals, factories and cities along with autonomous vehicles will all benefit. The lower latency provided by 5G could, for example, enable essential information to be instantly transmitted to driverless cars thereby avoiding potential accidents. In addition, 5G is expected to further drive the adoption of emerging technologies such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence. This will undoubtedly have a knock-on effect for many sectors of the IT industry. With the consequential increase in data, there will be additional requirements for data processing and storage. In turn, this will create more demand for edge computing to reduce the burdens of traffic on the network and take advantage of speedier analytics rather than sending all of the data to the Cloud. Understandably it’s big business with analysts ResearchandMarkets expecting the global 5G market to reach $251 billion by 2015 with a CAGR of around 97 per cent from 2020. 5G will provide a major boost to many companies, particularly those technology players that are developing 5G hardware and the telecom providers supplying the networking infrastructure. Mobile operators will have to upgrade their networks with 5G products and services from the likes of Huawei, Ericsson, Samsung and Nokia, and handset manufacturers will have to include 5G chips from companies like Qualcomm, the dominant chipset manufacturer.
UK TRIALS. In the UK, 5G trials have been underway. In October last year, EE
Basingstoke: 01256 707 070 | Burnley: 01282 776 776 | store.exertis.co.uk
launched its first 5G trial in London’s Canary Wharf (Montgomery Square), which has around 150,000 visitors every day. Its concentration of high-volume data users was a key reason for the choice of venue along with the fact that it was said to be a relatively “clean” site in terms of deploying network equipment. EE used Huawei and the 3.4GHz spectrum it won at the Ofcom 5G auction. The operator also announced a more complex deployment in Shoreditch, dealing with partners and landlords as well as the challenges of building a 5G site. EE has also announced which six UK cities will be the first to get faster 5G mobile networks. Building on existing trials, EE will turn on 5G in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester by mid-2019. By the end of 2019, another 10 cities will get EE networks (Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield). O2’s test systems are based around the O2 arena in London and it is also running other trials in Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and London, essentially covering the four corners of the UK. Other parts of the UK are set to follow from 2020. Vodafone has recently launched what it describes as the UK’s first 5G connected airport, at their “blast pod” in terminal one in Manchester where visitors can replicate the expected user experience. Other locations are planned. This follows the operator’s first full 5G commercial trial in Salford – although no 5G phones were available of course. In addition, Vodafone and O2 have announced a decision to share 5G at joint radio network sites, a move which is expected to enable both networks to deploy 5G faster as well as offering 5G coverage and at a lower cost.
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The first 5G factory trial was recently announced with Worcester Bosch to test options such as increasing factory output, using IoT sensors for preventative maintenance and real-time feedback, and using data analytics to predict potential failure. Consumers are likely to find 5G VR and AR opportunities being trialled at major sporting venues. 5G could also enable customers to enjoy consistent and fast Wi-Fi connectivity on their train journey thanks to a partnership between rail operator FirstGroup and Blu Wireless which has just been announced. The operator claims that it will not only improve customer connectivity but also support the railway infrastructure. The new technology will enable reliable streaming, rapid browsing and connectivity to cloudbased applications like Office 365 and is expected to overcome the coverage limitations of 4G that make it difficult to provide consistent broadband connectivity on fast-moving trains. Trial services planned for the end of this year or early in 2020 will initially run on South Western Railway. The next few months will see even greater noise around 5G, particularly with devices starting to be released which are 5G enabled. Already, we know that the Samsung S10 will be 5G enabled along with the Huawei Mate X and the LG V50 5G with plenty of promises of more to follow. However, whilst the future could look very different with 5G connectivity, it isn’t quite there yet and any device is certainly going to be very expensive. Sources and Acknowledgements: TechRadar, Daily Telegraph, zdnet, GSMA, 5g.co.uk, techrepublic, Researchandmarkets
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 The hard-working business tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 is the ultimate hardwearing business tablet. It has a compact, light design, making it easy to carry and work on-the-go. And you don’t need to worry about dropping, bumping or scratching it—whether you’re in the office or out in the field. It’s the new standard in rugged business tools.
IP68 water and dust resistant. With IP68 water and dust resistance1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 is designed to withstand the most challenging environments. You can use it in dusty conditions, like a factory or building site. And if you get caught in a downpour, your tablet is fully protected from the elements.
MIL-STD 810G Certification. The tough durability of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 means you can carry it confidently, unafraid of knocks or bumps. With MIL-STD 810G certification, the tablet is built to withstand the shock from a 1-metre drop, or a 1.2-metre drop with the cover attached—so it won’t break should accidents happen.
S Pen. Input information when you’re working offsite, or capture customers’ digital signatures with the S Pen. The refined, comfortable grip makes it easy to take notes, sketch out ideas or work on digital documents on-the-go. Plus, it’s completely water resistant, and never needs charging.
Touch sensitivity. The Wet Mode and Glove Mode features on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 make it easier to use in tough conditions. If you work outside, or wear gloves to protect your hands, there’s no need to remove them—just carry on working as usual. Even if your hands are slippery or wet, the tablet’s screen still reacts to your touch.
Samsung Knox. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 is protected by Samsung Knox, our defence-grade security built from the chip up. No matter where you and your team go or what you do, you can be sure your business’ data stays secure with superior protection that’s easy to manage.
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DIRECT-VIEW LED IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR RESELLERS Technology never stands still and there’s no better example than in the LED market. Advances in LED technology have opened up a number of applications and uses that were once dominated by LCD screens. Together with a reduction in the cost, there is an increasing adoption of direct-view LED in both the indoor and outdoor display marketplace. Whilst there are many options that can create a video wall from tiled or discrete LCD flat panels to projection, LED displays deliver a number of important advantages over older technologies. The most obvious advantage is that direct-view LED technology can create very large digital canvases with no visible seams or gridlines. Despite the fact that LCD manufacturers have considerably reduced the bezel to almost wafer-thin proportions, for many they are still noticeable and a distraction – although the further away from an LCD videowall, the less evident they appear. However, direct-view LED displays do away with bezels altogether and have the advantage of greater flexibility when it comes to taking up a physical space. Indeed, direct-view LED displays offer various aspect ratios, sizes and shapes. The ability to provide a display that wraps around a curved space or a column presents great opportunities for organisations to display eye-catching content to attract audience attention.
WHAT IS LED? Direct-view LED is a flat-panel display type involving the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Here hundreds of tiny LEDs are mounted directly on a panel, and no liquid crystal or polarised glass is used. Instead of serving as a backlight (like they do in LCD displays), the LEDs in direct-view LED displays produce images themselves. Each LED is essentially a tiny light bulb that emits coloured light when a particular voltage is applied to it. Clusters of red, green, and blue LEDs are grouped on the panel, creating the full-colour pixels needed to produce an image. The development of smaller LEDs has made higher resolutions possible, enabling much smaller diodes to be packed into a smaller area, providing a fine pixel pitch that look good even from relatively close distances. Because the LEDs are an emissive light technology, they provide images that are brighter and higher in resolution than the transmissive technology of traditional LCD displays
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In terms of content, LED can display multiple signals and sources within pre-defined zones, allowing businesses to deliver more dynamic and impactful content than is typically available from more traditional displays. With a 160 degree viewing angle, an LED display can be seen from almost any vantage point. LEDs also provide more lighting power, eliminating issues caused by daylight and indoor building lights. LED videowalls can generate as much as twice the brightness of an LCD equivalent which maxes out at 800 lumens. By scheduling or using light sensors, directview LEDs can dynamically raise or lower brightness levels based on ambient lighting conditions to ensure optimum viewability as well as saving in power consumption. Whilst the cost of direct-view LED displays have come down in value, it would be misleading not to point out that their advantages come at a price. They are more expensive than LCD but, on the other hand, they also offer great longevity. Directview LEDs are rated for at least 100,000 hours of use, whereas commercial LCDs may be anything from a half to a third of that. So total cost of ownership should be taken into account. For instance, maintenance in a properly installed LED videowall is minimal whilst an equivalent LCD videowall often requires colour calibration by expert technicians which adds to their overall cost.
WHAT IS LCD? Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panels are composed of a layer of liquid crystal sandwiched between two pieces of polarised glass. Liquid crystal is a substance that flows like a liquid but has molecules that can be oriented like crystals. When an electric current is applied, the liquid crystals twist or reorient allowing light to pass through to create an image in colour or monochrome. Liquid crystals don’t produce their own light, so backlights are arranged behind the glass to illuminate the display. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are the most common type of backlight used today.
IN A GROWING MARKET, APPLICATIONS BOTH INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ARE ENDLESS. Applications both indoor and outdoor are endless with various pixel pitch options available to suit specific requirements ranging from 1.2mm up to 7.8mm so that the optimum display resolution can be achieved irrespective of viewing distance. Typically, direct-view LED displays are suitable for public spaces (indoor and outdoor entertainment venues), retail (in-store, malls) and transportation (airport, train or bus). Whilst LCD remains incredibly strong in traditional signage areas, there is a growing trend for LCD videowalls to transition to direct-view LEDs as awareness increases and prices become more competitive. That can only be good news for AV installers. Indeed, according to research from FutureSource Consulting LED displays will represent 44 per cent of all display sales by 2020 as resolutions continuously improve. “The LED display industry is riding an exciting wave of innovation with tighter pixel pitch designs challenging indoor display technologies and the pace of migration to digital solutions accelerating adoption in more traditional outdoor environments. New technologies are also allowing the technology to evolve and progress at a fast pace.” The analyst reported global sales of $4.5bn in 2016 up 7 per cent from the previous year with higher growth likely to continue. It’s a view shared by industry experts. Some analysts are forecasting the LED market share to surpass LFD by that date with significant
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growth said to be taking place in the Digital Out of Home (DOOH) sector. As more mainstream manufacturers enter the market and demand increases, pricing will inevitably continue to fall, making it a more affordable option for organisations of all sizes. The market is also being driven by the demand for digital signage. Crystal Market Research forecasted the market to be worth approximately $21.46b by 2022 while maintaining a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.98% during the ten year forecast period. In a later report, Orbis Research projected that the digital signage market would grow from $20.74bn in 2017 to $31.62 bn by 2023 at an estimated CAGR of 7.28 per cent. Organisations prefer digital signage as it offers the ability to quickly change what is being displayed without much effort in time and money, saving costs whilst delivering timely content that can include videos. Exertis Pro AV Solutions can provide resellers with a great range of direct-view LED displays from leading vendors that include Christie, Lighthouse and NanoLumens as well as digital signage solutions. Our pre and post sales technical services can help you to design and implement the best solution for your customers whether that’s for an individual requirement or a larger scale rollout, irrespective of their location. For further information on direct-view LEDs, ask your account manger or email: Kiel.Hillier@exertis.co.uk
2019 Wireless
Security
Edge Computing Servers
Monitoring
Power Infrastructure
Switching
Whilst the agility of cloud computing is great, it simply isn’t enough. Edge computing provides the networking framework that allows immediate access to time-sensitive data on the edge, while pushing refined data to the cloud for further processing. By performing analytics at the edge, data is processed at the source of data generation, reducing the communications bandwidth, decreasing application latency and lowering storage and maintenance costs. In turn, edge computing delivers real-time insights that can enable a clear path for scaling IOT applications.
Supporting you on the Edge of your Network. Make your Edge Computing deployments more reliable and grow your revenue with up to 12% off physical infrastructure components such as Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), racks and PDUs. Contact your Exertis account manager today!
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Talk to your Exertis Account Manager for more information.
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WI-FI 6 PROMISES INCREASED SPEED, RANGE, SECURITY AND UNDERSTANDING If the Wi-Fi naming conventions of the past were perhaps a little complicated, the Wi-Fi Alliance₁, a worldwide network of companies that define and certify wi-fi technologies and products, has now adopted an easier to follow numerical sequence. Industry designations of the past such as IEEE802.11ac will now be history. “For nearly two decades, Wi-Fi users have had to sort through technical naming conventions to determine if their devices support the latest Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi Alliance is excited to introduce Wi-Fi 6, and present a new naming scheme to help industry and Wi-Fi users easily understand the Wi-Fi generation supported by their device or connection,” said Edgar Figueroa, President and CEO of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
The new naming standards are as follows: • • •
Wi-Fi 6 identifies devices that support 802.11ax technology Wi-Fi 5 identifies devices that support 802.11ac technology Wi-Fi 4 identifies devices that support 802.11n technology
Like many technologies, wireless networking has moved through different ‘standards’ or versions over time, from 802.11a through to the latest 802.11ax technology. Each standard brings changes and benefits like throughput, reliability and performance. This terminology is rarely used by the consumer – some educated end users are aware of the wireless standards and what they mean, but most end users are not. Indeed, recent polling data by Wakefield Research on behalf of WiFi Alliance indicated that more than half of users want the latest technology in their devices, but nearly three-quarters of respondents
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venues. Dennis Huang, Ruckus, director of enterprise Wi-Fi product marketing said in Wi-Fi Now that “Wi-Fi is now going to places that we never expected, and many of the toughest challenges in Wi-Fi are linked to very high-density scenarios, such as stadiums or busy train stations and airports.” Wi-Fi 6’s ability to enhance performance in dense environments and Wi-Fi 6 networks enabling lower power consumption in smart home and IoT devices, are likely to be key drivers for future growth. Last year a study by market intelligence 650 Group maintained that the accelerated adoption of Wi-Fi based IoT would continue to help drive the market for the next few years. According to the Wi-Fi alliance, Wi-Fi 6 devices will enhance the user experience in both consumer and enterprise applications and will be particularly useful in: homes; smart cars; businesses running large-scale mission critical deployments; e-Learning and IoT. WiFi 6 will support a range of use cases in these scenarios, including high-definition streaming, virtual reality, interactive HD and 4K video, asset tracking and sensors, and more efficient uploading and downloading capabilities. Wi-Fi 6 will also provide carriers and public Wi-Fi operators with more capabilities to support next generation connectivity uses in retail settings, stadiums, and transportation hubs, including a growing array of location-based applications and services and bandwidth intensive applications. Whilst the Wi-Fi Alliance officially announced at CES 2019 that the certification programme for Wi-Fi 6 known as Wi-Fi certified 6 will be ready by the third quarter of this year, Wi-Fi 6 products were featured at the show including access points and a range of routers. Wi-Fi 6 capable smartphones, tablets and laptops will undoubtedly follow. Resellers need to prepare for a more educated consumer armed with consumer-friendly terminology. and from customers looking to upgrade their networks. Exertis has a dedicated wireless team and distributes products from Ruckus Networks. The Ruckus R730 was the first IOT and LTE-ready Wi-Fi 6 AP commercially available in the market – winning the Best Wireless Network Infrastructure Award from the Wi-Fi Broadband Alliance (WBA) – and is ideal for high density environments. For pricing and stock availability, call your account manager. Free heat mapping, pre-sales support and services from our 24/7/365 TAC are also available. Sources and acknowledgements: Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi Now ₁ https://www.wi-fi.org/who-we-are
avoid buying devices when it is too difficult to understand technical labels and descriptions. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, new generational terminology will help consumers more easily identify devices with the latest Wi-Fi technology and better understand if devices will deliver the expected Wi-Fi experience. Over time, the generational Wi-Fi standard will be displayed on the device screen, meaning the consumer will know what standard of Wi-Fi their device can support and the standard they are connected to at their venue or location. Additionally, organisations will have greater awareness of what they’re looking for in their technology investment. When tendering for equipment, they can easily say ‘the wireless network must be Wi-Fi 6-compatible’. With Wi-Fi growth continuing to grow at a staggering rate with 9 billion devices outnumbering the 7.6 billion people in the world and wi-fi carrying the majority of traffic, it remains a great opportunity for wi-fi resellers. Wi-Fi 6 will continue that trend. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the latest standard is expected to provide a number of key benefits including: • • • •
Higher data rates Increased capacity Performance in environments with many connected devices Improved power efficiency
Wi-Fi 6 is expected to provide the capacity, coverage and performance required by users even in environments where there are many connected devices such as in stadiums, airports and other public
BUY ONCE. BUY WISE.
Ruckus ticks all the boxes – high-performing, scalable, secure wireless networking solutions at an affordable price! To get the most out of a wireless investment, customers should not just consider their immediate networking requirements, but also the challenges they might face over the next 3-5 years. Ruckus hits the mark every time: •
High Performance - With patented technologies like BeamFlex and ChannelFly for strong, pervasive coverage, and the latest 802.11ax technology for ultra-high throughput.
•
Dependability - Reliable and stable enough to support mission-critical applications, such as teaching & learning or onboarding of guests.
•
Investment Protection - Migrate from Unleashed to Cloud-based management without any additional investment in AP hardware.
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Small printers. Big performance. New compact, connected and affordable Lexmark printers and MFPs coming soon! Small. Easy to use. Great value. These new powerful, affordable and easy to use printers and MFPs from Lexmark give you the features and speed you need to get more done. Lexmark’s comprehensive full-spectrum security keeps your information safe on the document, on the device and over the network. To learn more about what Lexmark printers and MFPs can do
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BUSINESS
HOT PICKS SONY XPERIA XA3
TOP 5 MOBILITY PRODUCTS
Introducing the 21:9 Experience with the Xperia 10’s 21:9 Wide display. Multi-task with ease and watch films in the aspect ratio of the cinema.
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Part Code S10238775 Black
SAMSUNG GALAXY S10 The Galaxy S10 takes the classic S series a giant leap further. It features a large curved-edge screen and puts vault-like security at your fingertips with its new Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner.
NOKIA 7.1 Running on powerful processors, Galaxy S7 Edge runs smoothly and quickly, handling every bit of the additional data on the microSD card with confidence. Even with the bigger battery, charging’s still fast. Available in black and gold.
Part Code S10245730 (128GB Black)
Part Code SAMG935PKGLD
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TOP NEW PRODUCTS JBL EON ONE PRO PORTABLE PA SYSTEM
CTOUCH NEW
NEC C651Q
EON ONE PRO optimises sound dispersion so your audience can hear your performance from all angles – even from behind. EON ONE PRO even recalibrates its sound depending on the number of highfrequency height spacers you choose when setting up.
iCTOUCH, one of the market leaders in Interactive Flat Panel Displays for Education, recently revealed an extension to their corporate range of products, introducing the Leddura 2Meet for teams.
With industry leading experience in superior design and customer focus, the 65” NEC C651Q allows for clear, detailed imagery for unobtrusive digital signage.
Part Code EON ONE PRO/230
Call for more information
Part Code S10232312
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TOP 5 BEST-SELLING BUSINESS PRODUCTS
LENOVO THINKCENTRE M600 These compact desktops pack a powerful punch and will deliver a turbo boost to your productivity while remaining as versatile as ever.
DELL EMC VXRAIL Don’t just deploy a server, transform your customer’s infrastructure. VxRail Appliances deliver highly predictable performance across millions of configuration options to meet any HCI use case. Call For Config
D-LINK LTE CAT4 VPN ROUTER
LG 98LS95D
The D-Link DWM-312 4G LTE M2M Router is an easy to deploy, high-performance 3G/4G Router designed for connectivity where you need it most.
Ultra HD screens deliver an immersive viewing experience and have high definition picture quality that is four times higher than FHD. Effective in large spaces including airports, conference rooms, and building lobbies, this optimised signage will grab attention and deliver information in more productive and impactful ways.
Part Code S10196198
ASUS MB16AC ZENSCREEN ASUS ZenScreen Go MB16Ac is designed to keep you productive, wherever you are. It’s the world’s first portable monitor with a hybrid-signal solution, which means that it only needs a single USB connector cable to be fully compatible with almost any laptop.
Part Code S10153941
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PROMETHEAN ACTIVPANEL
Part Code S10222108
The award-winning ActivPanel is the premium interactive display for immersive learning, providing a tablet-like experience at the front of the classroom. Part Code AP6-65A-4K
ASUS UX391UA Slim. Stunning. Supreme. ZenBook S has effortless portability, powerful performance and nocompromise connectivity that lets you get things done without fuss, without drama. Part Code S10206126
LENOVO SMART HUB 500 Easy to deploy and use, this all-in-one, purpose-built Skype Room Systems device is the key to more efficient meetings. Start on time, every time with one tap of your finger. Part Code S10234895
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DELL XPS 13 9365 The world’s smallest* 13inch 2-in-1 with InfinityEdge display for virtually borderless viewing and gorgeous detail with the latest 8th gen Intel® processors and optional UltraSharp QHD+. Part Code S10177817
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Unleash your creative vision The world’s smallest 13”, 14” and 15” laptops* Everything in the elegant new ZenBook series is designed to empower your creativity. Enjoy the breathtaking new frameless NanoEdge display, appreciate the tremendous power of the up to 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and high performance NVIDIA discrete graphics, marvel at the unique ErgoLift hinge and exclusive NumberPad touchpad, and admire the timeless beauty of the ultracompact design. ZenBook is waiting: are you ready to unleash your creative vision? Intel® Core™ i7 processor Contact your account manager for more information
Intel’s most powerful processor for what’s coming Powered by Intel ® Core™ i7 processor Found at www.asus.com/Laptops/ZenBook-Home/ Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.
FUTURE
B2B MUST HAVE ACCESSORIES
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SMARTMOUNT UNIVERSAL ARTICULATING WALL ARM
From any angle, this wall arm mount reflects remarkable form and function. Extending the flat panel screen up to 27.55 inches from the wall and allowing for a full 180 degrees of side-to-side motion for perfect view positioning of screens up to 60 inch. Part Code: PLSSA761PU/BK
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CONXEASY SB603 SOUNDBAR
The ConXeasy™ SB603 soundbar is a high efficiency, high output power audio solution that delivers excellent value for money and is the perfect complement to interactive whiteboards or interactive flat panels. The ConXeasy SB603 can be mounted directly to the wall using the wall mounting kit or placed directly on a surface with the included rubberised feet. Part Code: S10156440
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AVER U50 VISUALISER The AVerVision U50 visualiser features exceptional portability and conveniences as well as the ability to run solely off power from the computer. The lag-free 30fps frame rate, 5-megapixel camera sensor, more than full HD1080p output resolution and built-in microphone make it an excellent choice during video chats.
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SEWS240RWSF-ATR10
Adjustable channel fixing L-brackets make ceiling or wall installations extremely easy with simple clip-on bracket installation, adjustable from left to right. With a sleek design, the screen works effortlessly in entertainment venues as well as at home, in office or education spaces. Part Code: SEWS240RWSF-ATR10
Part Code: 40AAP0U1BA2N
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KENSINGTON SMARTFIT LAPTOP RISER WITH QI
Combining comfort and convenience, the Laptop Riser blends 20 years of ergonomic expertise with the latest in reliable wireless charging technology.
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TARGUS CITYGEAR 14” LAPTOP BACKPACK
RDX QUIKSTATION 4
The Tandberg Data RDX® QuikStation™ 4 is an iSCSI network-attached removable disk array designed to provide a flexible platform for data protection and off-site disaster recovery for physical or virtual SMB and SME environments as well as HybridCloud applications.
The Targus City Gear Backpack is the perfect commuter bag; users can carry their tech in this slim backpack with casual styling, clever capacity and comfortable carrying.
Part Code: TAN8922-RDX
RRP: £59.99 Colour: Black Part Code: TCG655EU
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Featuring the latest in Lithium Polymer Battery technology as well as Qi Wireless advancements. RRP: £69.95 Colour: Black Part Code: CY2526PBCHE
RRP: £134.66 Colour: Black Part Code: K52784WW
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CYGNETT 10K WIRELESS QI PORTABLE POWER BANK
DW 9000 SLIM
The CHERRY DW 9000 SLIM set features rechargeable lithium batteries that allow you to work throughout the week. The mouse and keyboard can be connected using the 2.4 GHz wireless USB receiver included with the set, or by Bluetooth® – both with AES-128 encryption.
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ARC TOUCH BLUETRACK USB MOUSE
Curve for Comfort, Flatten to Pack, Experience the Arc Touch Mouse: there is no equal in look, feel, and performance. With a dramatic design and easy elegance, this stylish mouse is a perfect fit for your lifestyle. Part Code: MSRVF-00050
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Connect, serve and entertain guests
with Samsung’s state-of-the-art hospitality displays HG65EJ series available through Exertis
Home entertainment projectors
Step into the action Using the world’s most advanced techniques and technologies, Epson’s projectors allow you to discover the ultimate in home entertainment. When watching the latest movie or TV show step into the action with clear, sharp, life-like images from the comfort of your living room. www.epson.co.uk/home-cinema