Month: June 2024

Telefónica Tech supports encompass in the roll-out of digital patient records for the UK’s largest trust

Telefónica Tech UK&I has reached a significant milestone in its delivery of a five-year IT managed services contract to support encompass, the health and social care programme that is creating a single digital care record for every citizen who receives health and social care in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Trust, the largest of its kind in the UK, went live this month, replacing paper processes with the new digital patient record system. It follows the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which was the first Trust to Go-Live under the contract in November 2023, with encompass then rolling out across all Trusts in Northern Ireland over a two-year period.

Telefónica Tech, which employs 330 people in Belfast and has created 20 highly skilled and technically accredited locally-based jobs to support the work, is providing the specialist IT hosting and managed services strategic expertise required to underpin encompass.

This involved building and managing all of the back-end IT infrastructure, including for the hosting and deployment of Epic, the market-leading health record management software, and then supporting the roll-out to all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

Ellen Dickson, VP, Enterprise Health Services at Telefónica Tech UK&I, said: “encompass is a transformational project from an operational and medical point of view, making Northern Ireland the first part of the UK where patients have a single integrated care record. It is a highly complex project and critical to the health and wellbeing of service users in Northern Ireland. It will require the highest levels of service to support the approximately 70,000 staff members who will use the system once it is implemented across all the Trusts. We are very proud to contribute to its implementation in the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, and most recently in the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, the largest Trust of its kind in the UK.”

Dr. Dermot Hughes, the Senior Responsible Owner for the encompass programme, recognised the significant contributions of Telefónica Tech to the successful Go-Live at South Eastern and Belfast Trust: “Telefónica Tech have contributed significantly to the successful implementation of the Epic Platform in Northern Ireland. Their dedicated Healthcare focused team have brought experience and a collegiate partnership to the encompass programme. They have grown their Belfast based workforce and have done so by opening opportunities to all.”

Belfast-based Telefónica Tech UK&I has a dedicated team for enterprise health services and provides IT managed services to major health trusts across the UK and Ireland, including Cambridge University Hospitals Trust.

emporia ME.6 smartphone first look and walkthrough

The emporiaME.6 is a top smartphone with the latest 5G technology, Android 13, triple main camera and Camera Pro, lightning-fast processor, NFC, fingerprint sensor, voice input, ASHA support (particularly good hearing quality even with a hearing aid), etc. This device follows on from the SMART.6 we reviewed last year.

And yet it stands out from the crowd in three respects:

1) The user makes the decision: clear, easy user interface or conventional Android mode.  The emporiaME.6 starts up in the familiar Android mode by default. The mobile phone can be switched to the clear, reduced easy mode with just two presses. Or straight back again. It is a conscious decision that YOU make.

2) The Info Centre, which is only available in simple mode.  This is where all notifications come together in one place. Whether it’s a missed call, new email, WhatsApp message or a notification from Facebook Messenger, you can keep an eye on everything here.

3) The external, directly accessible panic button. Press firmly once and help is automatically called. Good to know if you’re walking home alone at night, for example. Or if you are planning a lonely mountain tour. 360 hours (15 days!) of standby time should be enough even in this case.

So much technology packed into just 209 grams, available for less than 300 euros and with a 2-year warranty? The European smartphone manufacturer emporia shows how it’s done.

We will be checking this phone out over the next few weeks so if you have any questions feel free to ask and stay tuned for more with our full review soon, check out the unboxing and walkthrough below and some image and video samples to date.

Image and video samples 

 

Features

  • 5G smartphone, 6.58-inch touchscreen
  • Physical panic button with 999 / Quick-key
  • Triple-lens 50+2+TOF-MP back camera
  • 8 MP selfie camera
  • Fingerprint sensor for biometric identification
  • NFC for contactless payments
  • Optional easy mode

BUY

Unboxing video

Bluewater unveils world’s most advanced coffee brewing solution at World of Coffee trade show in Copenhagen

World-leading water purification and beverage innovator Bluewater will unveil a ground-breaking professional water purification and mineralization system exclusively designed for baristas at the World of Coffee trade show in Copenhagen from June 27 – 29. The Bluewater Café Station™ – designed to help quality-minded baristas enhance the flavors of coffee to new levels of perfection – can be tried on Booth DE-013 at Europe’s most exciting annual specialty coffee show.

“Bluewater is empowering baristas – from the smallest bistro to the largest café chain – to take full control over the water they use to make the perfect coffee,” said Maximillian Lundin, a former Swedish chef who heads Bluewater’s coffee division. Noting that water is crucial to brewing great coffee, Maximillian said the Bluewater Café Station uniquely helps transform the bean-to-taste bud journey.

“We have applied Bluewater’s water and mineral science expertise to ensure baristas can consistently brew up a storm to satisfy the most discerning coffee lovers regardless of local water quality,” Maximillian said.

The Bluewater Café Station™ helps coffee brewing professionals deliver a perfect brew every time by adapting to the coffee beans used to bring out their unique flavors. The Bluewater coffee brewing solution ensures that no matter where you drink your coffee, it will always have the same perfect taste.

“Coffee is one of the most popular and social beverages on the planet, with around 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed daily, yet the quality of water is often overlooked, something Bluewater fixes with our unique Café Station,” Maximillian explains. He said the Bluewater professional coffee brewing station not only ensures water is purified to perfection but also adds uniquely individualized blends of minerals to bring out the best flavors of each bean.

Key benefits of the Bluewater Café Station

• Water purified up to 10x Cleaner than Traditional Carbon Filters: Bluewater proprietary SuperiorOsmosis™ Technology removes contaminants like PFAS, microplastics, and toxic metals for purer water, giving better-tasting coffee.

• Planet friendlier with 3x less water wasted compared to other reverse osmosis systems.

• Liquid Rock™: The world’s only mineral solution that doesn’t cause scaling during water heating, a crucial function when brewing coffee. Harvested from high-quality Swedish mountain rock, Bluewater Liquid Rock™ provides the only TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) needed in the water.

• Customize Your Minerals in Real Time: Using the Bluewater App, you can customize the minerals in your water to suit your beans.

• The Bluewater Café Station is currently being introduced in key markets across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. Additional launches in key markets are planned after the summer.

ISPCC honoured with award for ‘hard-hitting campaign that exposed truth about childhood in Ireland

ISPCC has received the top accolade for the Best Short-Term Media Campaign at the Awards for Excellence in Public Relations for its campaign ‘For some children, Christmas doesn’t happen’.

The awards, which have been co-hosted by the Public Relations Consultants Association Ireland (PRCA) and the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) for the past 30 years, recognise the best in Irish public relations, public affairs and internal communications across the public and private sectors.

There had been an initial 37 submissions in ISPCC’s category, which was then short-listed to a group of five finalists.

The judges said that it was a close contest, “but the winning entry was a hard-hitting campaign that showed no fear of exposing harsh truths about childhood in Ireland.”

They added that “this was a strategic and well-planned campaign, with excellent use of research and timing. Challenging objectives were clearly achieved with tangible results.

Kudos to an in-house team that surely worked long hours over the holidays period.”

Deirdre McNamara, ISPCC Head of Marketing and Communications, said that “ISPCC was delighted to see our campaign recognised by our peers. This achievement is testament to the amazing work of everyone at ISPCC.

“For too many children and young people, Christmas is sadly just another day. For some, the issues they encounter all year can worsen. It can mean abuse, neglect and loneliness.

For others, Christmas can present new worries and concerns.  Whatever the reason, they turn to Childline for support and for someone to listen.”

“At Childline we rely heavily on public generosity to help us to be here for every child who needs us.  We depend on this generosity to keep us listening 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.”

  • To support Childline and help keep volunteers listening to children and young people, please support the Childline Summer appeal and donate at www.ispcc.ie.

Dell Technologies and Ericsson Form Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Telecom Network Cloud Transformation

Dell Technologies  announce a strategic partnership to combine their deep industry expertise with telecom software, solutions and support, to guide communications service providers (CSPs) through their radio access network (RAN) cloud transformation journeys.

CSPs are looking to network cloud and operations transformation to achieve improved economics and agility, while maintaining network reliability. According to a new MeriTalk study released today, sponsored by Dell Technologies, nine in 10 CSPs say network transformation is critical to their organization’s survival. However, 96 percent of CSPs surveyed say their network transformation vision is lagging due to a variety of factors including limited time and budget, as well as reliability and security concerns, ultimately holding them back from giving their customers a modern network.1

Dell and Ericsson’s partnership aims to address these concerns by working alongside CSPs to develop simple and reliable Open RAN-based network cloud transformation strategies, using Dell and Ericsson integrated solutions and support.

“Communications service providers have a crucial window of opportunity to lay the foundation for network cloud transformation and drive business growth,” says Dennis Hoffman, senior vice president and general manager, Telecom Systems Business, Dell Technologies. “Our collaboration with Ericsson, combined with our decades of digital transformation expertise, will provide network operators the full plan and technologies they need to accelerate their network and operation transformations to positively impact the trajectory of their businesses.”

“Working closer with Dell Technologies will help further develop cloud-native programmable networks that bring new ideas and practices to the telecom market,” says Fredrik Jejdling, Executive Vice President and Head of Business Area Networks, Ericsson. “Building upon years of collaboration, this strategic partnership will strengthen our cloudification efforts as we gear up to launch Open RAN-based commercial solutions. The cloud-native network will enable frequent updates and the rollout of new features using continuous deployment. It will ease the adoption of Cloud RAN technologies and prepare both companies’ portfolios for new markets.”

Through the new agreement, Dell and Ericsson will:

  • Collaborate to develop tailored network cloud transformation plans and advise CSPs on network architectures and operating models, while also reducing the risks associated with deploying on open, multi-vendor environments. Dell and Ericsson plan to co-create solutions that drive energy efficiencies and innovate on Cloud RAN infrastructure operations.
  • Commercially introduce Ericsson Cloud RAN software on Dell PowerEdge servers. The solution will offer continuous integration testing and lifecycle management to speed deployment and de-risk day-2 operations around updates and upgrades, with Dell as a solution partner.
  • Co-develop services that simplify the entire deployment process from factory validation to installation and ongoing operational management, backed by Dell and Ericsson’s joint support for any integrated solution.

“To accelerate cloud-based open networks, the telecom industry needs vendors to come together to develop solutions that deliver more growth opportunities with minimal risk,” says Chris Sambar, Head of Network, AT&T. “We look forward to the continued innovation and collaboration as we continue our Open RAN journey.”

In 2023, Ericsson and Dell Technologies began a collaboration to develop Cloud RAN solutions, leveraging Ericsson Cloud RAN software and RAN equipment paired with Dell Technologies infrastructure, with the common goal of broadening the ecosystem and bringing more flexibility to customers.

Ericsson is participating in the Network X Americas event in Irving, Texas, with keynote speeches by Dr. Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line Cloud and Purpose-built 5G RAN and Paul Challoner, CTO at Global Customer Unit AT&T.

Together with other Ericsson representatives they are at the event to share insights on the latest progress in the Cloud RAN and Open RAN market and how Ericsson is working with key partners and customers to drive the Open RAN industry forward. Discussion topics include the evolution of wireless networks, defining key performance indicators for sustainable growth into future networks, Open RAN industrialization, and more.

Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s Glastonbury 2024 performances to be livestreamed globally on BBC.com

For the first time, the BBC will livestream headline Glastonbury performances to a global audience, with Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s 2024 Pyramid Stage sets available to view on the recently relaunched BBC.com. 

Music fans around the world can tune into the stream, which is produced by BBC Studios, to watch Dua Lipa’s headline performance on Friday 28th June from 11pm-12.45am CEST and Coldplay’s headline set on Saturday 29th June from 10.45pm-12.45am CEST, both at BBC.com/pages/Glastonbury-live. Fans can also follow along with festival highlights, updates and analysis on BBC.com throughout the weekend. 

Tara Maitra, Chief Commercial Officer at BBC Studios says: “The Glastonbury Festival is an icon of British culture, and this livestream will give fans around the globe a front row seat to headline performances like never before. This is just the latest example of our focus on bringing more cultural-defining moments like Glastonbury to fans on our platforms outside the U.K. so users can experience the best of British culture wherever they may be.”  

Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music says: “At the BBC, we bring Glastonbury to you, and we’re incredibly proud of our coverage. It enables millions of people to access the magic of Emily and Michael Eavis’ festival each year. The global streams of Dua Lipa and Coldplay’s performances are another exciting addition to our offer, allowing us not only to unite music fans across the country, but across the world with the opportunity to experience these world class performances as they happen.” 

Seven-time BRIT and three-time GRAMMY Award winner Dua Lipa is making her first ever appearance on the famous Pyramid Stage, while seven-time GRAMMY Award winner Coldplay returns to headline Glastonbury for the fifth time, and for the first time since 2016. 

The BBC has been bringing Glastonbury Festival to UK audiences since 1997 and in 2024, returns with extensive coverage of the festival – including Pyramid Stage, headline performances from Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA – across its platforms. There will be over 90 hours of live performances from the five main stages on BBC iPlayer, 90 hours of radio programmes broadcast live from Worthy Farm, extensive coverage on TV and much more to discover on BBC Sounds.

More information about the BBC’s 2024 UK broadcast – a six-week long celebration of Glastonbury – is available here. 

Treemetrics and AXA Climate Announce Global Partnership to Launch Innovative Forestry Insurance Product

AXA Climate, a leader in climate risk management, and Treemetrics, a pioneering forest management company, have announced a strategic global partnership aimed at delivering an innovative forestry insurance product.

This new insurance solution is designed to provide comprehensive cover for forestry fires and storms, addressing the escalating concerns of forestry owners and investors about the impacts of climate change.

As the frequency and severity of natural disasters continue to rise, driven by climate change, the need for robust and reliable insurance products has never been greater.

This partnership leverages the expertise of both companies to offer a product that not only provides financial protection but also employs cutting-edge technology and scientific insights to better understand and mitigate these risks.

Enda Keane, CEO of Treemetrics, highlighted the critical timing of this product launch, stating, “Over our past 19 years in business across the globe, we have observed firsthand the ever-increasing rise in catastrophic storms and fires. Our collaboration with AXA Climate aims to address these challenges head-on, providing forest owners with the security and peace of mind they need to manage their investments effectively.”

Quentin Voituron, speaking on behalf of AXA Climate, emphasized the innovative approach of the partnership, saying, “We look forward to partnering with Treemetrics to come up with a  fine-grained product that makes sense to forest owners and forest managers, at the right price!”

This partnership marks a significant step forward in providing comprehensive and technologically advanced solutions to the forestry sector, ensuring that forest owners can protect their assets and invest with confidence in a changing climate.

Revolut announces debit card loyalty programme, RevPoints, in Ireland

Revolut, the global financial app with more than 40 million customers worldwide has today announced RevPoints, a pan-European debit card loyalty programme across several EEA markets, including Revolut’s 2.8 million plus customers in Ireland.

This new initiative allows customers to turn their everyday spending into extraordinary rewards, including airline miles and exclusive discounts on travel, accommodation, experiences and more.

RevPoints offers broad and accessible redemption options that cater to a variety of lifestyles and preferences — without needing a credit card.

Customers can transfer their RevPoints to more than 30 airline loyalty programmes, including Flying Blue, making travel more attainable than ever in spite of surging flight prices.

Additionally, RevPoints can be redeemed for significant discounts on premium holiday accommodation and unforgettable experiences through the Lifestyle tab within the Revolut app.

For everyday convenience and rewards, points can also be used for discounts at top Irish brands such as O’Neills and DID Electrical when shopping online with Revolut Pay, ensuring that Revolut customers can make use of every point earned.

Depending on their plan, users can earn up to 1 point per euro spent, and even accelerate their earnings by converting spare change into points, completing fun in-app challenges or on in-app bookings for Stays and Experiences.*

New users can jump-start their journey with 3,000 points (equivalent to 3,000 air miles or up to €60 in travel discounts) after making 150 eligible transactions. Plus, customers can pocket up to 10,000 bonus points by upgrading their plan and meeting spending thresholds within the first 90 days.

For those on Revolut’s Ultra plan, the rewards skyrocket. Customers who spend €2,500 a month could earn up to 30,000 RevPoints annually – enough for a free round trip from Europe to New York or a €600 hotel discount.

Since the trial launch in September 2023, over 1 billion RevPoints have been earned and nearly 120 million points redeemed by Revolut users across seven European markets.

Christopher Guttridge, General Manager of Lifestyle Products at Revolut, said: “At Revolut we’re all about helping people get more for their money. RevPoints is set to transform everyday spending into things and experiences people love, by converting routine purchases into rewards.

Unlike many loyalty programmes, we make RevPoints accessible to all by ensuring customers can maximise the benefits of using Revolut as their primary bank account without requiring a credit card.”

Revolut customers on Premium, Metal, and Ultra plans not only get rewarded with extra RevPoints for their daily spending, but also a variety of subscriptions which include the Financial Times, Deliveroo, Tinder, ClassPass, NordVPN, and more.

Since launch, Revolut has continued to expand the partner benefits available, with more subscriptions coming coon.

Revolut was recently recognised by financial comparison site Bonkers.ie as ‘Ireland’s Best Consumer Business’ and ‘provider of the Best Current Account’, whilst it ranked 9th as part of the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study earlier this year.

For more information, visit: www.revolut.com/en-IE

Okta invests in cybersecurity team to expand presence in Ireland

Okta has announced that it will be expanding its footprint in Ireland by further investing in its cybersecurity workforce in the region. The new high level security roles to be hired in Dublin is part of Okta’s ambition to recruit world leading cybersecurity talent, combating the growing threat landscape and building a robust security culture.

Part of Okta’s recently announced Secure Identity Commitment, the cybersecurity specific roles will focus on product development, vulnerability detection, hardening Okta’s own corporate infrastructure and onboarding critical applications. They are part of continued expansion in Ireland with additional roles to be hired in sales, marketing, legal and HR.

“Identity-based attacks have become a top method for nation-state hackers and cybercriminals.  As the leading neutral identity provider, it is important for us to recruit the best talent to support our customers, partners and our own workforce,” said David Bradbury, Chief Security Officer at Okta.

“These new hires reflect our long term commitment to lead the industry in the fight against identity attacks, and leverage Ireland’s diverse and unique talent pool to accelerate our vision of enabling everyone to safely use any technology, continued Bradbury.”

The new roles and growth of the Ireland team come as Okta opens a new office in the heart of Dublin. The new 14,000 square foot LEED Gold certified office will support Okta’s investment in new headcount and provide a green and energy efficient place for employees, customers, prospects, and partners to gather and collaborate. Opening in June 2024, Okta’s Dublin office will continue to serve as an international hub, is on target for WELL Silver certification, and will be a leading pillar of sustainability in the community.

“I am thrilled that we are continuing to grow our team in Ireland, and investing in critical cybersecurity roles in our Dublin office”, commented Jimmy Kehoe, Vice President of Emerging and Ireland GM. We have built a world-class culture in Ireland. With a new and sustainable office space, our team will be able to continue to flourish and we will be able to enable our customers and business across EMEA to realise the power of identity and safely use any technology, continued Kehoe.”

For further information about Okta’s Dublin office and to explore career opportunities, visit Okta Ireland.