Category: Tech News

Meet HMD – Human Mobile Devices… and say hi to Barbie!

HMD has today revealed what life will look like as Human Mobile Devices. As part of its evolution, HMD is about making phones that are affordable, beautiful, desirable, and repairable. Or, to keep it simple, they help you get what you need without breaking the bank. That means creating devices that help tackle human tech challenges like e-waste and digital fatigue and make your life that little bit better.

In short, the makers of Nokia phones since 2016 will create new HMD original devices, continue to sell Nokia phones, and work with exciting partners you definitely know as part of a multi-brand vision.

“In our seven-year journey, collaboration and support has allowed us to achieve so much. And we have plans to do so much more as we introduce the world to the new HMD. We want to be a catalyst for positive and profitable change by embracing a multi-brand strategy: crafting new HMD original devices, creating Nokia phones and collaborating with well- known global partners.”
Jean-Francois Baril, HMD Co-founder, Chairman and CEO

Transformation to profit

For the first time ever, the mobile market declined two years in a row in the face of challenging economic conditions, yet HMD bucked the trend thanks to its major transformation project allowing for a significant improvement in operational profitability YoY in 20231. This success is all thanks to fresh, energetic leadership, a sharp focus on strategy, staying nimble, and getting better at keeping costs down.

Repping repair-at-home devices this summer

E-waste is one of today’s most important issues for tech makers and tech users. HMD crafts phones that don’t just turn heads, but also aim to be kinder to the planet and your bank balance.

We make award winning repairable devices (we didn’t say it, TIME Magazine did2) and phones that last longer. HMD is pushing boundaries to make the repairability experience accessible to everyone.

Did you know on average 66% of people in the UK currently live with a smashed screen?3 In Europe and ANZ, repairable devices made up 1:4 of HMD smartphone sales in 20234. This year we expect that to grow to 3:4 devices in Europe and ANZ and we expect half of the smartphone devices we sell globally to be repairable.

This summer, HMD repairability goes to the next level, substantially reducing the number of steps it takes to fix the screen. You can say goodbye to phone separation due to a broken screen and get swept up in the ‘FIY’ (Fix it Yourself) movement.

“One year ago, we introduced our first repairable phone to a great response. 12 months on, we are determined to continue to push the boundaries to reimagine repairability. As more and more people seek out easy to repair devices so they can keep their phone longer – and save hassle or delays when fixes are needed – we’re excited to make that process as easy as possible, starting this summer.”

James Robinson, HMD VP Europe, Americas and Enterprise

Purposefully leaving a lot to the imagination

HMD is all about human innovation. That means making normally expensive digital tools globally accessible and affordable. Whether that’s introducing new payment options to feature phones or adding microfinancing capabilities to smartphones, HMD already has a tradition of human innovation with purpose.

This summer, we are launching a smartphone that is a platform for innovation, making technology more accessible to more communities around the world.

Today, we are releasing a first version toolkit for developers and businesses, which contains design files and information on software integration, that is available now on our website.  We are embracing open innovation, making sure people and businesses can augment their phone to fit their needs.

We want to champion many people’s creativity- which is leaps and bounds beyond what we can achieve solo. The potential is endless.

These could be as simple as a fashionable outfit, an outfit with an extended battery, a payment terminal, barcode scanners, or even portable, connected medical equipment, it really is a blank canvas for creativity.

Multi-brand for the things you expect, and the things you don’t

As Human Mobile Devices, HMD aims to redefine screen time, champion repairability, and forge meaningful partnerships as part of a multi-brand vision. 

You’ll continue to see Nokia phones and we will bring back an iconic phone this summer. You’ll also see a stellar line up of exciting new brands coming to you this year.

“Our commitment to human-centred innovation has spurred our expansion, unlocking new prospects for us and our collaborators, and has been a driving force behind our adoption of a multi-brand strategy. We take pride working with remarkable partners and are excited about extending our collaborative efforts with dynamic new partners like Mattel. Barbie and HMD are on a mission to shake things up with a new flip phone coming this summer”.

Lars Silberbauer, HMD CMO

Speaking of which… 

Hi, Barbie! 

As we venture into new partnerships, HMD will be guided by its core values, seeking collaborations that resonate with its mission. On that note, *drumroll please*, it is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Mattel and with Barbie, highlighting our joint dedication to shake things up, empower connections and enable some quiet amidst digital noise and interruptions.

The Barbie Flip Phone will arrive this summer 2024. Promising style, nostalgia and a much-needed digital detox, this retro feature phone will flip the script on smartphone culture and will be this summer’s hottest accessory. 

Head of Consumer Products, Publishing, and LBE, Mattel EMEA, Ruth Henriquez said “At the heart of Mattel is design and innovation, and this latest collaboration is another step forward in that direction. The Barbie x HMD launch promises to be an exciting moment for Barbie fans of all ages, we’re excited to flip the switch and unveil it to the world at Mobile World Congress.”

Unplug and Play, The Barbie Flip Phone this Summers hottest accessory

Human Mobile Devices, Europe’s largest and leading smartphone manufacturer, partners with Mattel, a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest portfolios of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world, to create the Barbie Flip Phone arriving this summer 2024.

Barbie is an icon of design, from the chevron stripes of No. 1 Barbie released in 1959 to the bold styling of Totally Hair Barbie which hit the market in 1992.  This device promises to embody the vintage chic of the original girl empowerment brand with a dash of pink and of course, sparkle.

Human Mobile Devices Chief Marketing Office, Lars Silberbauer, said: “Is it time to swap reel life for real life and take a breather from all the interruptions of notifications? We’re thrilled to partner with Mattel, a company that shares our commitment to meaningful innovation and societal change.”

Head of Consumer Products, Publishing, and LBE, Mattel EMEA, Ruth Henriquez said “At the heart of Mattel is design and innovation, and this latest collaboration is another step forward in that direction. The Barbie x HMD launch promises to be an exciting moment for Barbie fans of all ages, we’re excited to flip the switch and unveil it to the world at Mobile World Congress.”.

Flip phones are beloved for offering a solution for a digital detox in a world where almost four in ten (38%) of 16-24 year-olds worry they spend too much time on their smartphone.  In the US alone, a third of Gen Z are actively trying to limit time on social media, and their fear of missing out (FOMO) is creeping down. Gen Z are the only generation whose daily time on social media has fallen since Q1 2021 for the better. Since 2021 talking to friends online dropped 13%, while seeing friends in-person increased to 28%.

Feature phones are on the rise as Gen Z and millennials are choosing to limit their screen time for their own mental health. Self-named ‘screenagers’ took to TikTok with #bringbackflipphones garnering 60.2 million views.

But it’s not just a generational shift, it’s a cultural movement. The great switch-off trend, initiated in 2021, is gaining momentum as people of all ages seek balance in an increasingly digital world. Feature phones are making a comeback with HMD reporting Flip Phone sales alone more than doubled in Europe (2022 vs 2023) and expects further growth in 2024.

Even celebrities are jumping on board, with Michael Cera,  opting for a flip phone lifestyle.

Arne Mathiasen, advocate of the feature phone movement works with young people in Denmark to help them switch off and enjoy the present.  So far he has converted over 1500 university students from a smartphone to a feature phone. He said: “My students take part in experiments where they switch to a feature phone for ten days. The students noticeably chatted more with each other, reported better sleep and also said their anxiety levels dropped. It’s all about the balance; I like to say to my students, use your smartphone like a tablet, use it for what you need, then put it away, don’t get lost in it.”

Stay tuned for updates https://www.hmd.com

Empowering Voices: VoiceAbility Ushers in New Era of Digital Communication with Sabio Group

VoiceAbility, a leading voice and rights charity supporting vulnerable people for over forty years, has partnered with customer experience experts Sabio Group to implement innovative Amazon Connect and Salesforce technologies.

This digital transformation project has enhanced VoiceAbility’s communication capabilities, improving efficiency and empowering the charity to better serve its clients.

The 13-week implementation overseen by Sabio seamlessly integrated Amazon Connect with the Salesforce Service Cloud Voice and Experience Cloud platforms.

Paul Harding, Commercial Director for Sabio’s Salesforce Practice, said: “VoiceAbility handles incredibly sensitive cases on a daily basis. Their previous telephony system was deemed no longer fit for purpose and so they wanted to implement leading-edge solutions from a trusted partner who understood their ethos – Sabio ticked those boxes.

“With integrated voice, chat and voicemail functionality, single sign-on security, and AI-powered analytics, VoiceAbility can now detect caller sentiment, spot trends and respond faster to deliver more meaningful support.”

In a recently published case study by Sabio, key features of the project included:

    • Intelligent voicemail routing and transcription for quick, context-rich responses
    • Callback queue buster to promptly return calls, improving customer service
    • Voice automation flows with caller history for personalised conversations
    • Sentiment analysis providing insights into emotions behind calls
    • Custom caller ID mapping attuned to individual needs
    • Enhanced disaster recovery protocols ensuring uninterrupted service
    • Powerful cloud-based reporting for data-driven decisions

Danny Seaborne, Managing Director for the UK & South Africa at Sabio Group, added: “We’re delighted to collaborate with forward-thinking partners like VoiceAbility.

“With niche expertise across customer engagement technologies, we understand the unique requirements of non-profits managing sensitive communications. This implementation showcases the immense potential of human-centric digital transformation to drive meaningful progress.”

The switch has already shown tremendous results for VoiceAbility, including:

    • 5% increase in service level performance
    • 20-second reduction in average handling times
    • Faster reporting for real-time operational adjustments
    • 50% less staff turnover owing to simplified systems
    • Enhanced staff onboarding and training capabilities

As VoiceAbility continues its ambitious mission of inclusive societal change, this new chapter of intuitive, integrated communication promises more efficient operations and deeper human connections – ultimately translating to better lives for the people they serve.

You can read Sabio and Voiceability’s case study in full here.

Piceasoft introduces new, unique solutions to extend the lifecycle of mobile devices and advance the circular economy

Finnish circular economy company Piceasoft introduces major updates to its unique-to-the-industry PiceaOnline platform to boost circular economy, increase customer choices, and broaden retailer business and sustainability program opportunities in the used mobile phones market.

Mobile phones are one the most common electronic devices, but at the same time, one of the least recycled or resold. According to the International Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) forum, 5.3 billion mobile phones were thrown away in the year 2022 alone. With many of these potentially reusable, better access to mobile reselling opportunities could significantly reduce the 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste produced annually, a significant amount of which comes from discarded mobile devices.

Also, there is a chronic shortage of pre-owned mobile phones in Europe, so the sales of used phones are severely limited by supply. Used phones are exported from the USA, which partly meets the demand. But US devices are not CE marked, and only phones with CE approval can officially be sold in Europe. While compliance with CE standards varies across Europe, this further complicates the availability of used devices.

Despite the many mobile phone trade-in programs from operators and retailers, it is estimated that less than 20% of consumers recycle their phones. One major reason is the lack of transparency in the trade-in process: many times, the actual trade price for the old phone can be significantly lower than the original estimation due to the shortcomings in accuracy and lack of transparency of the diagnostics and evaluation process. These issues limit consumer options, demotivate them to recycle phones, and hinder trust towards the whole trade-in process.

Now through major developments to the PiceaOnline platform, Piceasoft is bringing unique features and benefits currently missing from the mobile trade-in business. These advancements make recycling phones and extending their life cycle easier and more valuable to both consumers and retailers.

“The mobile phone industry is one the largest in the world, but still in the starting blocks regarding circular economy. Now it is the time to start walking the talk, since the current system is broken and not fair to the customers. Old phones and other consumer electronics create a lot of waste. In fact, waste streams equivalent to more than 300,000 double-decker buses are created every year by smartphones and similar devices sent to waste and buried underground. Also, the consumer awareness of reselling your old phone is still quite low, and the whole value chain needs to take more responsibility in changing this,” says Kristian Järnefelt, the CEO of Piceasoft.

An operating system for circular economy

Usually, when reselling their phones, operators and major retailers only have the option to provide offers from only one trade-in partner program. PiceaOnline’s Multi-partner trade-in increases the value of mobile phone trade-in programs by offering fair and best prices for consumers from multiple trade-in partners, so consumers can benefit from the best and highest-value option for their reselling. Also, the operators and retailers can decide to sell devices matching their self-defined criteria directly to their customers instead of shipping them to the trade-in partner.

“Consumers, trade-in partners, and other retailers can see us as an operating system for the circular economy: we bring concrete, fair, and easy-to-use circular economy choices to every consumer interaction when they are buying a new phone, whether in digital or in stores. PiceaOnline platform merges mobile device lifecycle management technology and consumer-facing services into one easy-to-use business platform. We aim to make Piceasoft Europe’s leading platform to extend the lifecycle of mobile devices,” Kristian Järnefelt continues.

One of the bottlenecks in mobile phone recycling and reselling is the accuracy of grading devices to check their condition. It is estimated that around 78% of consumers lose interest if grading their device requires installing a new app on their smartphone. PiceaOnline’s new Web-based diagnostics make the trade-in process easier for consumers by accurately grading the devices without the need to install an app. Also, more automated diagnostics help to grade the devices in more detail, resulting in concrete value estimates that consumers can trust will be the price they get from their old phone.

PiceaOnline’s new Mobile SDK makes it possible to enhance the reach and value of trade-in programs by integrating PiceaOnline’s trade-in capabilities into retailers’ or mobile operator’s apps. By integrating the PiceaOnline Mobile SDK into their applications, operators, and retailers can directly engage with mobile device consumers, enhance user experience, and provide seamless trade-in experiences and instant trade-in quotes—all within the existing apps. Similarly, the PiceaOnline Mobile SDK can be utilized for self-support use cases.

Piceasoft is showcasing PiceaOnline and how it connects business opportunities to mobile devices’ circular economy with its new features at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona 26.-29. February 2024.

Senao Networks Unveils SX904 SmartNIC: A Breakthrough in High-Performance Networking

Senao Networks, a leading network solution provider, proudly announces its launch of SX904 SmartNIC based on the Intel NetSec Accelerator Reference Design. This cutting-edge NIC, harnessing the power of PCIe Gen4 technology and fueled by the Intel XeonD processor, sets an unprecedented standard in high-performance network computing. Senao will showcase a system demonstration at the Intel booth during the upcoming MWC in Barcelona, 26th to 29th of February, 2024.

As transformative shift in networking edge, enterprises are increasingly leaning on scalable edge infrastructure. In order to cater the demands of workloads, low latency, local data processing, and robust security, SX904 marks a significant leap forward.

The combination of Intel XeonD processor, PCIe Gen4 technology, dual 25G SFP28 support, and DDR4 ECC memory support enables the SX904 to achieve unparalleled data transfer rates and maximum bandwidth utilization, ideal for modern server architectures. It provides higher performance from the latest Intel Xeon D processor and Intel Ethernet Controller E810 and supports the latest Intel Platform Firmware Resilience, BMC, and TPM2.0. SX904 enables the seamless offload of applications optimized for Intel architecture with zero changes, optimizing performance transmission effortlessly into an Intel-based server in PCIe add-in-card form factor.

“Senao Networks is proud to introduce the groundbreaking SX904 SmartNIC, setting a new standard in high-performance networking. Our collaboration with Intel has propelled us to redefine industry benchmarks, delivering unparalleled excellence in networking technology.” –  Bou Lin, President of Senao Networks.

48 mobile €12.99 plan now includes 5G at no extra cost

Ireland’s mobile network of the year, has now added 5G access to the current €12.99 plan at no extra cost, adding further credence to offering Ireland’s best value Prepay plan. New customers and those currently on the €12.99 plan will now have access to 5G, along with all data, calls and texts and all powered by the Three network, subject to having a 5G phone and being in a Three 5G coverage area.

48 is also offering a one month free for new customers on SIMs ordered up to Monday, 15th April 2024 with customers needing to purchase their first plan before 6th May 2024. 

Speaking about the new initiative, Elin McLean, General Manager, 48 said; “48 is a brand that is constantly looking to provide smart value to customers and is committed to offering the best possible service.  This is continuing with the addition of 5G to the €12.99 plan at no extra cost, really emphasizing the incredible value on the plan, so our customers know they’re making a ‘Good Call’ by joining 48.”

To know more about 5G visit the Community here.

DAACI Launches Open Beta Community – Welcoming Users to Join the Next Level of Musical Innovation

DAACI is welcoming users to their new open beta community, to help give input and ideas and join the journey as they shape the future of AI music tools. Open beta users can now access DAACI’s first creator plugin, Natural Drums. DAACI’s creator-led approach to generative tool development puts the users at the centre of the experience. With this in mind, the open beta community is an engaging and active part of the process of development.

Natural Drums is an assistive AI co-pilot plugin that creates drum grooves in real time, as if a session drummer is right there with you in your studio, bringing your ideas to life.
Whether you’re a new beatmaker or a seasoned producer looking for the quickest way to get to the heart of your creativity, Natural Drums integrates seamlessly into your existing DAW workflow and gives you endless options for amazing beats, fast.

Natural Drums assists creativity, it doesn’t replace it, and the genesis of every new beat always comes from you. Start with an idea and let the plugin enhance your initial input, generating new grooves in front of your eyes. Like working with a real drummer, you can jam along and make changes in real time, try things out, and create an end result that is entirely yours.

As part of the DAACI Natural Series, Natural Drums is created by expert drummers and draws on their many years of experience playing music in live settings. In line with DAACI’s approach to generative AI and unlike other drum sequencers, Natural Drums doesn’t pull from a list of static precomposed patterns or utilise pure randomness. It thinks like a musician and rapidly creates beats that are entirely bespoke and unique to you.

Rachel Lyske, DAACI CEO, comments, “This is an incredibly exciting time for DAACI as we start to put our tools into the hands of the people who we value the most — musicians, artists and composers. Music shapes us, it allows us to communicate, it creates community and collaboration. The DAACI team is no different, our solutions are built by musicians for musicians and now we are inviting people to get involved and help shape the future.

“Natural Drums is a perfect start to the pulse of this beta community. Over 30 years ago, at the start of my creative journey, the first thing I wrote was a simple drum beat. The challenge then was to express the complexity I was hearing in my head. How could I vary it? How could I expand it, make it interesting and make it work with other instruments? I had to write it all out by hand and I didn’t have the tools to bring my ideas to life. Now, Natural Drums is in the hands of our users and they can benefit from DAACI’s unique approach and system.”

The Natural Drums open beta gives users the inside track on Natural Drums and DAACI’s Natural Series for a low price, including:

  • Early access to a beta licence key ahead of full product release
  • Discounts on future betas and full product licences
  • Full technical support and knowledge base
  • Insider access to the DAACI team
  • Be at the centre of DAACI’s development process
  • Sneak peeks at upcoming products in the DAACI Natural Series
  • Exclusive beta user events

Product Features of Natural Drums

Shuffle Every Loop: 
Set the global shuffle to “Shuffle Every Loop” and watch as Natural Drums recalculates at the start of every pattern based on your configuration, the same way a real drummer would start to subtly improvise around a rhythmic idea over the course of a piece of music.

Trapifier: 
Find the Trapifier option in the Hi Hat drop down menu and fill your pattern with trap-style hi hats. Use the half-time button alongside the Trapifier. Adjust the parameters to generate bespoke hi hat patterns with huge amounts of flexibility and variation right at your fingertips.

Structural Variation:
Create detailed rhythmic variety throughout your beats with structural variation. Experiment with different patterns to vary rhythms throughout the loop, saving you time on programming while reaching a richer final result that is all based on your original idea.

Lyske concludes, “We have an incredibly dedicated team at DAACI and I’d like to thank them for sharing their expertise, creativity and vision as we strive to build the tools we always wanted for ourselves. We all make music in different ways so we are excited to see how people use this first tool. I can’t wait to hear the amazing music that will come out of it.”

To find out more: www.daaci.com/natural-drums
Price £18/$18/18EUR

Full Lineup Revealed For Belfast XR Festival With Top Extended Reality Experiences On The Bill

An innovative arts festival is set to once again merge technology and art to create a unique virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience for attendees.

Belfast XR, now in its third year, specialises in curating worldclass immersive technology content that takes the art of storytelling to a new level.

Extended Reality or ‘XR’ is the collective name for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is a computer-generated artificial environment with scenes that appear to be real, while AR is a digital overlay onto the real world, which is viewed through your phone or an iPad.

This year’s lineup has been confirmed to include three unique paid for experiences along with an additional three free bonus experiences available for visitors to the festival.

Appearing at the festival will be the magical VR journey through the work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí in Gaudí, The Atelier of the Divine.

Attendees will take part in a 20 minute experience designed for small groups of six.

The story will take festival goers back to 1926 when, weakened by age and feeling his death approaching, Gaudí invites his new assistants to discover his studio, to understand his vision and complete his work.

The heart-wrenching voyage of survival Stay Alive My Son is also one of the key events, based on the internationally acclaimed memoirs of Pin Yathay, this immersive 60 minute story thrusts audiences into the shoes of a pained father forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to abandon his six-year-old son to survive during the Cambodian genocide.

The final headline experience will be Eternal, the profound exploration of eternal life, where during this 20 minute experience attendees will step into the realm of eternity with a mesmerising audio journey designed exclusively for one person, in the comfort of their own bed.

As intimate audiences of just two people per time slot climb into a bed they will delve into a profound exploration of eternal life and contemplate the sacrifices one might make for immortality.

Deepa Mann-Kler, director and curator for Belfast XR Festival which is an annual gathering for the XR arts – storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, dance, literature and theatre, said bringing virtual and augmented reality content to new audiences locally is something the team at Belfast XR are passionate about.

She said: “Our ambition is to create an unmissable annual gathering for XR that inspires storytelling and our passion is to bring the best global virtual and augmented reality content to new local audiences. You don’t need to have used a virtual reality headset before, as our team will guide you through the whole process.”

For attendees who purchase tickets for any of the headline events this year they will have exclusive access to three additional free experiences.

Emperor is a 40 minute long captivating virtual reality experience that delves into the mind of a father grappling with aphasia. Attendees will witness the poignant journey of a daughter striving to connect with her speechless father, uncovering the depths of his memories along the way.

Flow is a 15 minute experience where users will be swept away by the winds through what appears to be an ordinary day filled with turbulence. Encounter the sensations of smells, heat and breath, as the air currents unveil hidden presences and reveal captivating events in the life of a woman.

SEN is also a 15 minute experience where attendees will enter the mystical realm of the traditional Japanese tea room, where they’ll meet SEN, the tea spirit. As disaster strikes and SEN dissolves into the universe, it discovers unity with all beings, bringing calm to the tea room.

Running on Wednesday February 28 and Thursday 29 this year’s festival theme is Legacy which will offer attendees the chance to experience world history in captivating ways allowing audiences to step into the past, interact with historical figures, and explore significant events firsthand.

Belfast XR Festival is both for XR enthusiasts and those who haven’t experienced any form of XR in the past.

Deepa explained: “The Festival is aimed at 16+ years of age and is open to everyone. You don’t need to have experienced AR, VR or any of these types of experiences before. We  have an amazing team who will guide you through the whole process from the  minute you step into The Black Box.

“I want people to have memorable experiences. I want them to be altered, in a good way. I want them to talk about how it made them feel. I want to increase their appetite to experience more.

The Belfast XR Festival is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It is also supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Digital Catapult NI, Future Screens NI and Ulster Screen Academy.

For more information follow Belfast XR Festival on social media or go to belfastxrfestival.com

Evolve IP Accelerate Partner Growth Strategy

Fast-growing Unified Communications service provider, Evolve IP, has added a new name to its flourishing reseller recruitment drive – building on a record 12 months of success.

Mercury Maynard is the latest company to take advantage of Evolve IP’s extensive white label as-a-service and hardware portfolio, which attracted unprecedented numbers of new partners last year.

The IT and network support provider has over 25 years’ industry experience – and joins Evolve IP’s enterprise-grade cloud collaboration suite to add the ‘missing link’ to its integrated solutions ethos.

Evolve IP offers partners two natively integrated voice solutions; Cisco by Webex and Microsoft Teams. These leading technologies are complemented by a range of value add propositions within the Evolve IP Anywhere Product Suite that enable any business to streamline and optimise their communication strategies. 

Aligns

Jamie Hughes, UK Sales Director at Evolve IP, highlighted how Mercury Maynard aligns with Evolve IP’s values by offering their customers innovative, reliable, and cost-effective end-to-end solutions that empower customers to drive efficiencies and ‘work from anywhere’.

“Gaining a partner like Mercury Maynard is extremely valuable to us and increases our presence in Essex and East Anglia. They thrive from providing excellent service and care to their customers,” he pointed out.

“Evolve IP is joining them at a time when they are looking to grow within the hosted telephony space, and we are all looking forward to seeing them prosper in the cloud collaboration sector with our support.”

He added: “Evolve IP continues its growth, onboarding innovative partners who have big targets in 2024. Leading the way by providing partners with best-of-breed technologies and keeping things simple for them to deliver great service, is at the centre of everything we do.”

Jamie Hughes, UK Sales Director, Evolve IP

Enthused

Ian Taylor, Founder/Owner of Mercury Maynard, enthused: “As a Managed Service Provider, the only offering missing from our portfolio was telephony. We are excited about the journey ahead, growing with Evolve IP and enhancing our technology services to better support the businesses already in our care. 

“Our shared commitment to a personal approach is at the core of Mercury Maynard’s values and we eagerly anticipate the future where Evolve IP will help take us to the next level and ensure our customers stay ahead of the curve.”

‍About Evolve IP

Evolve IP boasts an international carrier grade Unified Communications platform. It delivers integrated white-label remote workforce technologies, that enable employees to work anywhere – remotely and securely from any location.

Evolve IP’s work anywhere philosophy differentiates its partner channel by breaking down barriers in a challenging communications market by providing industry leading solutions from global technology vendors. This enables partners to deliver uniform, customer focused solutions across the globe backed by a sustainability programme.

Find out more about Evolve IP here