Parking Tag and Easytrip announce Connected Parking Services

Mobility solutions specialist, Easytrip, Ireland’s only electronic parking and tolling tag provider, is partnering with Parking Tag, a division of payment solutions provider Payzone, to enable customers to pay for parking on-street and in commercial car parks through a single parking service.

Drivers with Easytrip or Parking Tag accounts will now have access to over 60,000 parking spaces across both services offering faster, safer, and easier parking at enabled locations throughout Ireland.

The new partnership covers cashless parking solutions across Easytrip’s portfolio of 53 off-street carparks and Parking Tag’s 40,000 parking spaces across the country.

Commenting on the new partnership, CEO of Easytrip Ireland, Colin Delaney said: “We are excited to be partnering with Payzone, combining our respective parking payment networks to significantly simplify Irish motorists needs. We know that our customers value convenience, and this new, integrated ticketless parking payment service gives access to thousands of parking spaces nationwide in one place through the Easytrip App. It’s also a safe and easy way to pay as a cashless solution, meaning that drivers no longer need to physically interact with parking meters on streets or at car park ticket machines going forward.”

Jim Deignan, CEO of Payzone said: “Payzone want to make parking easier and more convenient for motorists. We have already transformed how thousands of customers park on streets all over Ireland and now in partnership with Easytrip we want to extend that service. We will be able to offer our customers the ability to use the Parking Tag Mobile Application to park in car parks nationwide thereby giving them faster, safer, and more effortless parking. We are delighted to be working with Easytrip and look forward to motorists availing of this new expanded service going forward.”

How Easytrip parking works

The Easytrip parking service offers hassle-free contactless parking to motorists with the use of an electronic tag or mobile App, with no need to take a ticket or queue at the paying station. In barrier car parks, the Easytrip tag is scanned on entry and exit to the car park and the fee is then automatically deducted from the tag holder’s account. To park on-street, customers use the Easytrip App. Motorists who sign up can avail of this seamless parking payment solution straight away and avail of daily, weekly and monthly rates. New and existing Easytrip customers can sign up for parking by downloading the Easytrip App, by calling Easytrip on 0818 67 67 67 or by logging onto Easytrip.ie .

How Parking Tag works

Parking Tag is a popular cashless mobile parking payments system with over 330,000 registered motorists. Operated by payments provider Payzone, the solution is available in 15 local authorities across Ireland. Motorists can register by visiting parkingtag.ie or by downloading the mobile App. Once registered, customers can park immediately and take advantage of daily or weekly rate parking, where available.

For those who prefer to park without registering for an account, they can choose the option to ‘Park Now’ on the website and pay with a debit or credit card, while the SMS and phone options allows for once-off payment to a debit or credit card. Parking Tag also offers a Charge to Mobile service which allows Three and Vodafone customers charge their parking to their mobile phone bill or credit. Motorists can avail of an optional SMS reminder which means no running back to the meter, they can park again from wherever they are. For more information on how to sign up, call the Parking Tag customer support team on 0818 300 161, visit parkingtag.ie or download the Parking Tag mobile App.

First look – iStorage datAshur SD the world’s first and only encrypted USB flash drive with removable iStorage microSD Card

The iStorage datAshur SD is a PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted, USB  Type-C flash drive designed to incorporate removable iStorage microSD Cards with capacities ranging from 32GB-1TB. Rather than incorporating fixed memory, the datAshur SD is designed with an integrated microSD Card slot making it a unique, ultra-secure and cost-effective solution that enables users to use one drive with as many iStorage microSD Cards as required, which are available in varying capacities, offering unlimited encrypted data storage. 

Furthermore, the patented iStorage datAshur SD KeyWriter software clones datAshur SD flash drives with the same encrypted encryption key enabling a secondary drive as a backup and also permits organisations to share encrypted iStorage microSD Cards with as many authorised users of cloned datAshur SD drives as required, without compromising on data security.  

All data stored on iStorage microSD Cards is encrypted (full disk encryption) using FIPS PUB 197 validated  AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption. In addition to the datAshur PRO2, the datAshur SD is the world’s only  encrypted USB flash drive to incorporate a secure microprocessor that is Common Criteria EAL 5+ certified, which  enhances security through true random number generation and built-in cryptography. The data encryption key  is protected by FIPS and Common Criteria validated wrapping algorithms and is securely stored on the secure  microprocessor, separate from the data. 

How does it work? 

Easy to use 

Insert your iStorage microSD Card into the datAshur SD microSD Card slot and simply enter your 8-64 digit PIN to authenticate  and use as a normal flash drive. When the drive is locked, all data on the iStorage microSD card is encrypted (full disk encryption)  using AES-XTS 256-bit hardware encryption (no software required). 

Product highlights 

  • Easy to use – 8-64 digit, PIN authenticated, hardware encrypted USB Type-C flash drive. 
  • Expand your datAshur SD capacity instantly. The microSD Card slot is designed to accept as many  encrypted iStorage microSD Cards, in varying capacities, as required. 
  • datAshur SD drives can be cloned with the same encrypted encryption key using the patented iStorage  datAshur SD KeyWriter software. This allows users with different datAshur SD drives to share encrypted  data stored on iStorage microSD Cards or to create a backup drive in case your datAshur SD drive is  lost or stolen. 
  • FIPS 140-3 Level 3 compliant, tamper proof and evident design.

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Kia EV6 Takes Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year Title for 2022

At an awards ceremony today at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, the Kia EV6 was named as the Continental Tyres Irish Car of the Year for 2022.

Kia took the top award with its latest EV6 model which also won the Continental Tyres Irish Large Car of the Year category award at the ceremony.  It is the second time that an electric vehicle has taken the award as Kia also won the 2020 Irish Car of the Year title with the all-electric Kia e-Soul.

Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, Anthony Conlon said: “The Kia EV6 is a great car and as the second electric vehicle to win the title, it is proof, if any proof was needed, that the era of electric motoring is already well and truly here in Ireland.  Just look at our field of runners for this year’s awards, more than half of the contenders are available as either partial or full electric vehicles”.

Joint-Chairman of the Irish Car of the Year Committee, Cathal Doyle said: “Congratulations to the Kia team on a very worthy win and what an achievement to score back-to-back titles with two great electric vehicles. The Kia EV6 came out as the clear winner and was hugely popular with my motoring journalist colleagues”.

Tom Dennigan from awards sponsor, Continental Tyres said: “After missing out on a 2021 Irish Car of the Year awards programme, we are delighted to be back with these awards for 2022 as the whole programme provides a great guide to Irish motorists on what the best and latest cars coming onto the Irish market are.  I am sure that the Kia EV6 will benefit hugely here from winning this much coveted award.”

The category winners:

  1. Continental Tyres Irish Compact Car of the Year: Dacia Sandero
  2. Continental Tyres Irish Medium Car of the Year: Citroen C4
  3. Continental Tyres Irish Small Crossover / SUV of the Year: Opel Mokka
  4. Continental Tyres Irish Medium Crossover / SUV of the Year: Renault Arkana
  5. Continental Tyres Irish Large Car of the Year: Kia EV6
  6. Continental Tyres Irish Luxury Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  7. Continental Tyres Irish Performance Car of the Year: BMW M3/M4

(Full details on all of the winners are available on the Irish Car of the Year website: caroftheyear.ie)

The Continental Tyres Irish Van of the Year title for 2022 was awarded to the joint entry Citroen e-Dispatch / Opel Vivaro-e / Peugeot e-Expert.

Header image photo – Anthony Conlon and Cathal Doyle, Joint Chairmen, Irish Car of the Year Committee; Ronan Flood, Kia Ireland; and Tom Dennigan, Continental Tyres Ireland

High-speed fibre internet continues its strong growth in OECD countries as DSL declines

High-speed fibre subscriptions grew by 15% across OECD countries from June 2020 to June 2021, as living and working under Covid-19 restrictions continued to drive demand for high-quality internet connections with the rapid upload and download speeds that fibre offers.

The latest update to the OECD’s broadband portal shows fibre now makes up 32% of fixed broadband subscriptions across the OECD’s 38 member countries, up from 12% a decade ago, and is by far the fastest-growing broadband technology, outpacing a 4.5% rise in overall fixed broadband subscriptions. While countries use different technology mixes, 23 OECD countries have now a higher share of fibre than copper-wire DSL in their total fixed broadband connections, up from 20 countries a year ago.

Cable showed more modest growth of 4% in the year to June 2021, and is now declining in 15 countries, yet it remains the main fixed broadband technology for nine OECD countries. DSL subscriptions declined by 6% over the same period, with several OECD countries showing sharp declines.

 

Fibre, DSL and cable subscriptions in total fixed broadband, June 2021

Latin American OECD countries saw significant increases in fibre with growth rates of 74% for Costa Rica, 71% for Chile, 43% for Colombia and 26% for Mexico. Other countries with impressive growth in fibre connections include Israel with 76%, Ireland with 54% and Italy with 53%. Seven countries now have a fibre share of above 70% of their fixed broadband subscriptions: Korea with 86%, Japan with 83%, Lithuania with 77%, Spain with 76%, Sweden with 76%, Iceland with 72% and Latvia with 71%.

Cable remains dominant in North and South America, accounting for 64% of subscriptions in the United States, 62% in Costa Rica, 61% in Colombia, 50% in Canada, 42% in Mexico and 41.4% in Chile, where fibre has overtaken it. In Europe cable is the dominant technology in Belgium (53%), Hungary (46.4%), and The Netherlands (46%).

DSL connections, meanwhile, saw sharp declines of over 30% in Chile (-37%), New Zealand (-32%), Norway (-40%), Spain (-32%), and Sweden (-31%).  Some operators in OECD countries are in the process of shutting down copper connections altogether, for instance in France, Japan, Estonia, Finland, Sweden and Spain.

Mobile broadband continued its inexorable growth with a 6.3% increase in subscriptions in the year to June 2021, a higher rate of growth than in the two previous periods (3.6% in June 2019-June 2020 and 5.8% in June 2018-June 2019.) In contrast, the number of data-only subscriptions declined in 17 out of 38 countries and this category experienced a 0.4% drop in subscriptions. This could be due to greater use of fixed networks at home during Covid-19, which tend to offer a better connection quality for work, education, and leisure.

M2M SIM cards have grown by an impressive 16%, with Sweden, Austria, Iceland and the Netherlands dominating the ranking, having 175.6, 82.5, 82.3 and 50.3 M2M cards respectively per 100 inhabitants.

Overall, fixed broadband subscriptions in OECD countries totalled 462.5 million as of June 2021, up from 443 million a year earlier, to average 33.8 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Mobile broadband subscriptions totalled 1.67 billion as of June 2021, up from 1.57 billion a year earlier, and averaged 122 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Download broadband data, charts and penetration maps by country at http://oe.cd/broadband.

How Can Tech Gurus Combine Their Business Ventures With Existing Brands on the Market

Many new business ventures are looking to make a name for themselves on the market and they often need to partner with other brands, either by licensing their names out or through some other means. There are plenty of ways businesses can combine their ventures with existing brands and make a profit. Let’s find out how. 

Franchising

Franchising is a term that has been used for decades and it applies to more than just the food industry. Many of you likely reading this article can think of at least one franchise company, but what does it mean? A franchise is essentially an agreement between an individual or company with a unique concept and another business (usually larger) that agrees to add their brand name to said concept in exchange for some form of payment. You can learn more about different franchise opportunities from the team at www.franchise.com. It’s important to note that while there is no official standard for franchising nomenclature, any business operating under such agreements will always be defined as a franchise. 

 

Many tech companies have taken to franchising not only because it helps them build up revenue and clientele faster than if they did everything on their own, but also because it acts as a form of advertisement for their brand names. This creates more chances to make money off of licensing deals and is one of the most common ways tech companies can get involved with an existing franchise company.

Licensing Out Your Name

In addition to franchising, tech companies can license out their names in much the same way. Licensing out your name is one of the simplest ways a tech company can get involved with an existing brand without going through the process of franchising. It’s also somewhat easier to do when you’re starting up a business because you don’t have to worry about investing too much money into a franchise that might not pay off in the end. 

 

Licensing out your name is often a less permanent option for tech companies because it allows them to choose from several different possibilities and pick one that fits best with what they have in mind. Tech companies should always keep in mind however that because this isn’t as long-term an agreement as franchising, there is a higher chance of loss and an increased need for negotiation.

Working With Existing Franchise Brands: A Pros and Cons List

As discussed earlier, tech companies often look to combine their business ventures with franchise brands because it helps them build up revenue and clientele faster than if they did everything on their own. If executed correctly, such agreements can benefit both the tech company and the existing brand (and even create more success for both). However, all parties involved must know what they’re getting into when they enter into such an agreement. This way everyone stands to gain; even if things don’t go as planned! Here are some pros and cons associated with working with an existing franchise company:

Pros

  • Revenue – Having a larger company backing you up is often enough to get new or struggling businesses off their feet and into steady profit territory. 
  • Brand Name – Partnering with an established franchise brand can help tech companies gain some recognition and notoriety by simply licensing their name and logo out. 
  • Advertising – Just like franchising, partnering your business with an existing franchise brand can create free advertising for both parties involved. For instance, if Tech Company A licenses out its name to Existing Franchise Brand B, those who see Existing Franchise Brand B’s advertisement (TV commercials, etc.) will also be reminded of Tech Company A even if they don’t realize it. This creates more chances to make money off of licensing deals.

Cons

  • Time – It takes time for franchise brands to put together or advertise their products and many tech companies don’t have the time to spare. 
  • Space – Franchise brands are used to operating out of larger spaces, while tech companies typically work out of smaller ones. This could lead to problems if both parties try using the same space at once. 
  • Money – As with any business venture, money is often an integral part of success. The tech company will likely have less bargaining power when it comes to negotiating financial matters because they are usually initially relying on the other party’s financial status, which means that ultimately there may be more expenses than profits for either party involved.

 

There are several reasons why tech companies should think about combining their ventures with existing franchise brands. However, as is the case with anything in business, such deals should only be executed after all possibilities have been considered and both parties are aware of what they’re getting into. This way everyone stands to gain – even if things don’t turn out as planned!

Tech Review – Ergotron JŪV Wall mounted workstation

With working from home now a thing the right tools for the job would be required for those who do so and now being a more permanent option for many as some do have the hybrid option this is a desk you should look at which comes in several forms and colours electric and non electric, this is part one of my review in its current state as I am waiting on new equipment to arrive however even as it is now it suits my needs and more and the rest just adds to the options you get with this company that thinks of everything.

I have been using their older sit stand desk for some time and this alone is another option for those who want the most robust equipment at their disposal, heavy yet portable this desk can be moved around the house too but I advise two people move it if doing so, the same applies to the latest table on offer which is a two man job to lift and install and it will take around an hour or so taking your time to get this right with the level it is set height wise and width wise so be sure to make sure you have the space and include all the optional extras that come with it.

The desk does fold away which is neat and does not look to out of place either you have a massive work space enough for two desktops or two laptops and there is also risers on the rear if you wish to avail of those, you also have an electric option to raise and lower the desk which is handy and the materials used are top notch as expected from the company and they will last and ny old sit stand table is testament to that which I have in another room.

Ergotron JUV wall mounted desk set up 2

As seen above and the header image is two examples of how I have been using the desk but there is many more ways to do so and we will see all this in a later review when the good arrive for my final permanent office space, what I like about this top is the space available at hand it can be split into two almost and have your work and in my case review space on the one desk and not having to worry about anything, behind the centre monitor is where all the cables go and you can also remove the cover where you can hide cables and more and this is where the risers can be fixed too for mounted monitors.

Designed with Ergotron’s patented Constant Force technology, the non-electric JŪV™ Wall mount supports agility by allowing users to move quickly and quietly from sit to stand, eight to ten times faster than traditional height-adjustable tables. It offers the full BIFMA ergonomic range – an industry-first for a non-electric adjustable surface – and is built with a fully concealed cable management system, giving users instant access to power and data without sacrificing aesthetics.

There is a difference here as there is no cut out if you will to lean in toward your workstation like the last one which I became custom to but after using this for some time now this is also fine and working with both is not really an issue now it would be down to personal preference I guess and what your needs are but both fine for me.

The JŪV™ Wall range is available in a variety of size and colour combinations; the JŪV engine in Graphite or Snow White, and the worksurface in Birch Wood or Icy White. Customers can always stay connected and work efficiently, thanks to direct access to power and charging adding the special JŪV power accessory. Next to that, they can complete their ergonomic experience with the monitor riser accessory available for up to two computer screens.

If you are working from home you should check out what the company has to offer and not only do they cater for folks working from home they also work with other fields such as medical and so on see Ergotron for more and what they can offer you

Role models essential to encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers — I Wish 2022 STEM Showcase

Over 70 influential leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are speaking at the I Wish 2022 STEM Showcase today (10 February), highlighting the power of female role models in inspiring teenage girls towards STEM careers. With seven in 10 Irish girls* wanting to hear more success stories from women in STEM to assist them in overcoming STEM barriers, over 17,000 young teenage female attendees from across the globe are now hearing from inspirational STEM professionals and gender equality advocates. Taking place ahead of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), speakers include first female President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson; and Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC, Orla Keane.

On the flagship I Wish event, co-founder of I Wish Caroline O’ Driscoll, who is also Technology Media & Telecommunications Tax leader at Deloitte North and South Europe, said: “It is critical for girls to have access to role models when choosing to pursue a career in STEM. If they can see it, they can be it. Worryingly, only 25% of STEM jobs in Ireland are currently held by females and this is why we hold the I Wish STEM Showcase every year, and why so many incredible women in STEM give up their time to be involved. It has never been more crucial to engage girls in STEM, as while the past two years has accelerated science and technological discovery, it has also exacerbated the gender divide, with women now at real risk of being excluded from the jobs of the future. Our mission is to ensure that every girl gets her chance to take her place at the table.”

The I Wish 2022 STEM Showcase is being broadcast live from the RDS and was opened by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and compèred by RTÉ TV Presenter Sinead Kennedy.

Speaking on gender equality, Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC, Orla Keane said: “I am honoured to be part of this landmark event. I Wish is an incredible Irish-based initiative that is dedicated to driving the power of STEM to female students across the globe. My career in the Department of Foreign Affairs has given me the opportunity to meet amazing women in all walks of life. It is crucially important that girls realise their full potential, both in education and in the workplace, including in the important area of STEM. Ireland has the youngest population in Europe and our Government is committed to nurturing talent in our society, encouraging innovation and equipping us for future challenges. Here in Washington DC, I see the dynamic relationships between Ireland and the US across so many sectors and want to encourage girls to be part of these incredible stories.”

Further speakers on the virtual stage sharing their stories and experiences include Ireland’s EU commissioner Mairead McGuinness; Anna Hill, Founder and CEO of River Cycleway Europe; Brenda Romero, an award-winning game designer; and Imelda Hurley, CEO at Coillte. International hockey star and mechanical engineer Nicci Daly is also speaking at the event while CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan is discussing the need for a diverse workforce to attract future foreign investment into Ireland.

Highlighting the global reach of the initiative, the I Wish 2022 Showcase welcomes Deputy Ambassador Orla Keane along with London Breed, the 45th Mayor of San Francisco. There are also empowering speakers from Deloitte, Arup, AWS in Communities, Dell Technologies, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, PepsiCo, Stripe and Stryker.

President and co-founder of Stripe, John Collison, said: “We’re all here because we have a shared goal to motivate and inspire more young women to pursue careers in STEM. That’s something that’s very important to Stripe, and to me.” 

Students from Presentation Secondary School in Ballyphehane, Cork and Loreto Community School in Milford, Donegal joined their US peers from Archbishop Riordan High School, San Francisco and Owen J Roberts High School, Pennsylvania in presenting at the event as part of the I Wish IVCA Twinning Xchange programme. This global STEM twinning initiative between Ireland and USA is being piloted this year and is part of an expanded offering from I Wish, which now engages girls year-round at key touch points in their lives. I Wish is running third level mentoring programmes and primary school classroom visits with young STEM professionals while the I Wish Senior Cycle includes the twinning programme and internships, and Junior Cycle provides aligned class materials. To learn more, visit iwish.ie.

HP Launches Sustainability Programme in Ireland

Today HP Inc. announced the launch of HP Amplify™ Impact in Ireland. HP Amplify Impact is a first of its kind partner assessment, resource, and training programme which provides over 10,000 partners across the globe with the opportunity to join HP in its efforts to generate meaningful impact on Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity. The programme will also be rolled out in Poland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Greece and Norway. 

Launched one year ago in support of HP’s goal to become the most sustainable and just technology company by 2030, the HP Amplify Impact Program has trained, educated and empowered over 1,400 global partners to drive change while maximising opportunities with sustainability as a key competitive differentiator. As part of its Climate Action targets, HP set an ambitious goal of enrolling at least 50 percent of its HP Amplify partners in the voluntary programme by 2025. To date, 20% of HP’s partners have signed the HP Amplify Impact pledge, exceeding the target of 10% for the first year of the programme, with HP’s commitment to Sustainable Impact helping the company to win more than $3.5 billion in new sales in fiscal year 21 representing a >3x annual increase. 

 “Our goal is to work with our partners to help drive a more circular and low-carbon economy, cultivate a more diverse, inclusive and equitable supply chain and improve the resilience of local communities,” said Neil Dover, Country Manager, Ireland at HP. “Through our Amplify Impact Program, we have a unique opportunity to share resources and best practices with our partners to drive meaningful change in the IT industry. Leveraging the strength and reach of our global ecosystem, our aim is to empower our partners in Ireland to make a greater difference by working together.” 

Creating an Ecosystem of Accountability  

The HP Amplify Impact programme helps to empower partners to set bold, long-term objectives to drive positive impact. Participating partners will be recognised via certification and an annual awards programme. The mission of the initiative is to drive accountability throughout the IT industry across the following key pillars:  

·                Planet: Drive toward a net-zero carbon, fully regenerative circular economy while creating the industry’s most sustainable portfolio of technology, services and solutions.  

·                People: Respecting human rights, enabling people across the value chain to thrive and cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DE&I) culture through initiatives such as the HP Racial Equality and Social Justice Task Force.  

·                Community: Empower communities through the power of technology. Help eliminate the digital divide that prevents too many from accessing the education, jobs and healthcare needed to thrive. 

A Resilient Path for HP Amplify Partners  

All HP Amplify partners can access HP’s world-class Sustainable Impact resources no matter where they are on their journey to a more sustainable world. HP will provide all HP Amplify partners with access to training, sales tools, marketing assets, and access to HP’s Sustainability & Compliance Centre (SCC), HP LIFE and HP Planet Partners. In addition, HP will work closely with partners in select countries on the initial roll out of two distinct tracks:  

·                Catalyst: Catalyst members will take the HP Amplify Impact Pledge, participate in a sustainability assessment, and report sales opportunities.  

·                Changemaker: The Changemaker track is optimised to assist partners that do not yet have a sustainability plan in place and commit to investing in the sustainability journey. HP will closely collaborate with and support Changemaker members in the development of a long-term sustainability plan which will put them on a path to be recognised as a business that is focused on creating meaningful change.  

The arrival of Amplify Impact in Ireland has been welcomed by HP partners who are committed to advancing sustainability: 

“The onus of responsibility remains with companies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to reduce their carbon footprint.  Sustainability in our supply chain is a priority for Datapac and the HP Amplify Impact program marks an important development in our relationship and one we are proud to support.”  Patrick Kickham, Director, Datapac. 

“As an environmentally conscious company, we strive to work with well established, reputable suppliers with a similar sustainability ethos. HP’s Amplify Impact program raises the bar on sustainability in business and we are proud to take the pledge and commit to the HP Amplify Impact journey for our customers and for our people.” Paul Sweetman, Chief Executive Officer, Stacked. 

“The Amplify Impact program from HP and its emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility has been invaluable in educating us further on our responsibilities to the customers and communities that we serve. We commend the initiative by HP to make the world a more sustainable place for us all to live and we look forward to playing our part with them in the journey ahead.” Robert White, Managing Director, Eurieka.ie. 

“Ergo is committed to embedding sustainability in every part of our business, and as a proud participant of HP’s Amplify Impact programme – and recipient of the HP Partner Sustainable Impact 5-star Award in 2021 – we have been able to strengthen that commitment and work even harder to have a positive societal impact on our customers.” Paul McCann, CEO, Ergo.

For additional details on HP Amplify Impact, visit our newsroom. Current HP Amplify partners can learn more about HP Amplify Impact by visiting the HP Partner Portal.  

Atom Studios launches range of sustainable Samsung phone cases following success of Apple collection

Atom Studios, a smartphone accessories brand formed in 2021 by a team of tech and accessory industry experts, has today launched a new case for Samsung phones following the success of its debut Apple range.

The new Samsung case, called Touch, is available for the S22 and S22+ Samsung Galaxy models and is designed with tactility in mind; the soft-touch silicone outer chosen by Atom Studios was designed to be touched and feels ultra-soft in hand. It also has a grippy finish that makes the case less likely to slip from hands and a microfibre interior lining softly cushions the phone from scratches and bumps.

While plastic, a material commonly used in phone cases, tends to be made from crude oil that’s extracted from the ground – a non-renewable resource – Atom Studios chose to use silicone which is made from silica, a substance easily found in sand. While this can’t be considered an unlimited resource, it’s certainly more abundant.

The case boasts a strong construction with a 1mm raised edge to protect the phone’s screen from contact damage when dropped. Atom Studios also designed Touch to be incredibly slim so it’s protective without adding bulk, ideal for those who like to keep their phone in their pocket.

The case is fully QI wireless charging compatible so users needn’t remove their phone from the case while charging.

 

 

Atom Studios initially launched to market in March 2021 with a range of iPhone and AirPods Pro cases and innovative universal charging cables and cable weights that hold cables in place while not in use. Following a successful launch into the UK, Europe and Asia, which included telecoms giant Three becoming a stockist, the brand diversified its range of products to include screen protectors for iPhones, universal charging plugs and now a range of Samsung cases.

“The natural progression of the Atom Studios brand is to expand our range of smartphone accessories so that we cater to all customer’s needs,” Akbar Ali, Creative Director at Atom Studios, “we started with Apple and now Samsung and we’re constantly adding new innovations to our range. Initially we were cautious, because starting a business during the pandemic came with a lot of challenges including the instability of retail opening, and shopper confidence fluctuating. But despite those challenges, the launch exceeded expectations. Multiple markets have shown strong interest in our products demonstrating that there is a rising consumer need for tech accessories that look great and perform brilliantly – all whilst being sustainable. You no longer need to choose between great design and sustainability.” 

Sustainability is a primary focus for Atom Studios across all areas of the business. From the long lasting eco materials they choose, to the right production and transportation methods, and also a full life cycle management process in which customers can return their Atom Studios cases when they’ve finished with them, so they can be properly disposed of or recycled.

Touch is available now from Atom Studios, Amazon and Three with an RRP of £34.99.