March 2010 newsletter

Our latest newsletter looked back at 2011...

• Network Testing
  
• Femtocells
  
• Partnerships in strange places
  
• Meet Kevin Tillotson
  

Click Here to Read More!!!

Sometimes, in business, a relatively small change can lead to massive, and often unforeseen, consequences. The birth of the mobile phone is a good example. Who would have thought that simply by making a phone portable that it would so revolutionise the way we work? Mobile phones have come a long way since those chunky prototypes of the early 1980’s and are now changing out of all recognition into mini PC’s. But it is not just the physical phones that are changing – it is also how we are using phones in the business environment, and another revolution could be just around the corner.

Imagine for a moment having your own private and dedicated mobile network that can be accessed by all your staff and totally under your own control. Then imagine that the technology needed to manage that network could be hidden in a little white box mounted on a wall, the size of an A4 piece of paper?

Impossible? Unrealistic? Not so. The phone technology is already here and it is called ‘Fixed Mobile Convergence’ or ‘FMC’ for short. And it is set to revolutionise the way we do business.

It won’t happen overnight, but over time, using FMC is quite likely to change perceptions of how office space is allocated and this is perhaps the real ‘hidden’ benefit of this new technology. For example, today many organisations will allocate office space by creating groups of desks together that seat employees working within the same functional area, each desk with its own fixed phone line. With FMC this is no longer necessary. Employees can stay in constant contact with each other regardless of wherever in a large multi-floored building or office complex they happen to be. So, FMC technology is likely to remove a lot of restrictions associated with office planning and desk location. Take this concept to its logical conclusion and there are clearly some other longer term peripheral benefits for businesses including reducing costs in buildings, cabling, desks and even offsetting travel and meeting room expenses.

The best way to understand the benefits of this technology is to think about the way we currently behave in the business environment. In big offices we all seem to have got into the habit of using our mobile phones to call our colleagues even if they are in the same building and despite internal fixed phones on every desk. We tend to do this because:

a)     the phone numbers are already held on our mobiles and

b)     because if we are constantly on the move it becomes habitual and convenient.

One of the prime benefits of using FMC is that it complements this way of working rather than trying to fight against it. More and more people are relying on their mobile phone as their primary business tool because it combines the benefits of a traditional phone with an increasing number of business applications. In addition it is now being used as a mechanism for accessing social networking sites like Twitter, LinkedIn or for business blogging. Although business managers have historically viewed social networking as a ‘personal’ facility there has been a steady shift towards using such sites for business purposes. This change of mindset in how phones can be used in the business context sits nicely with the philosophy behind FMC.

There are many advantages of deploying this technology in different business environments and sectors. For example, in large retail stores, such as those we have recently installed for a client, the different floors of the building would be able to communicate quickly and effectively whether to sort out a customer or a stock order query. Also, individuals can be located quickly if they are needed urgently and messages can be quickly disseminated to all staff. Similarly, whether it is a large hotel, a conference complex, a shopping mall or a large multi-storey office the same benefits apply. This is because the technology allows people to move around and stay in touch whilst simultaneously keeping costs down. Yes, it’s different from the way we habitually communicate today but there are enormous advantages to having all staff linked to a single dedicated network. It’s a good way of maintaining team spirit and it gives more freedom and flexibility so it’s good for morale too.

Studies have shown that today approximately half of all business calls are made from mobile phones rather than fixed lines. Since the FMC network is deployed inside the building, it’s possible for FMC calls to be much cheaper than normal mobile calls. In fact calls to people in the same building or campus could be completely free, which is good news for any business. Not only that, but the single bill will provide a complete view of all your company’s calls. This will enable business owners and financial directors, to have visibility of how each employee is using their phone so that they can be held accountable for their own phone usage and encouraged to use the facility responsibly in order to keep costs down.  All that is required is the insertion of a replacement SIM card in the physical phones and then the users are up and running with all data and calls being routed through the organisations own secure network.

So how did FMC come about?

In 2006 Ofcom sold some additional spectrum licenses in an area that had traditionally been reserved with certain constraints attached - most notably that it could be used to transmit at a very low power. A customer of one of these licensees can therefore operate a dedicated in-building GSM network with all the functionality and cost benefits compared to existing DECT systems, or the use of mobiles on the main national networks. At the moment it is a legal requirement that no radio equipment is installed or used in the UK except under the authority of a licence granted by Ofcom. Today, all mobile phones operate in either the 900, 1800 Mhz and 2Gig bands, and that part of the spectrum is owned by the dominant mobile operators (O2, Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and 3.)Until recently the spectrum was considered fully allocated and no-one else could enter the market other than by partnering with one of these operators.

However, that has all now changed. In 2006 Ofcom released some additional spectrum in an area that had traditionally been reserved. An auction was held to assign these and the winners were duly awarded their specific allocation. That’s, however, where the similarity to previous auctions ended!

 Ofcom’s intention was that this release of spectrum would be used to provide ‘in-building solutions’ rather than traditional nationwide network coverage. Because of this constraint Ofcom felt that they could award the spectrum to many operators – and twelve organisations have now taken up the offer. For the successful applicants there are a number of different reasons and business models, several of which I have already mentioned, that make it worthwhile to own this asset. While development plans have been mostly kept under wraps, several of the licensees have been busy preparing and launching products to offer solutions in this lucrative market.

FMC enables the convergence of fixed line, data and mobile networks thus allowing businesses to move from costly disparate legacy networks to a single and all-embracing network solution. Put simply, your mobile calls use the same network as your data applications so whether you are using your mobile phone within the office environment to make a call, or outside the building but in the vicinity and sending data, all your calls will be routed via FMC. There is no change to the way you use your phone - it’s just cheaper!

Clearly then, there are a number of benefits to be derived by using one device from one supplier at a reduced cost. It makes sound economic and business sense. Add to this the advantages of a tried and trusted technology with one network, one supplier, one bill and one comprehensive service level agreement (plus the increased flexibility of working) and the benefits speak for themselves.

It may, of course, take time for the businesses investing in this technology to wake up to the benefits, and that in turn may well require changes to policy and procedures relating to how mobiles should be used in the office environment, but these are relatively easy issues to tackle. The bottom line though is clear – the potential for greater productivity at a cheaper cost. And that’s got to be a good thing.

Technically, FMC converges fixed line, mobile and data networks using IP technology that can convert existing legacy networks to a new single solution. Another advantage of FMC that many clients will appreciate is that it is scalable and can therefore be customised to meet specific business requirements rather than offering a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Also, with a dedicated web portal that allows the business owner to manage and make changes to the service a lot of control is given directly to the business. 

To ensure high quality voice service FMC uses GSM standards which means less ‘interference’ and a high level of security, two issues that can still be problems with WiFi.That’s because GSM phones use an encrypted technology that enables secure voice and data transfer during calls by using an algorithm to ensure the authenticity of the caller and the integrity of the channel.

Each FMC installation is uniquely designed and tailored for the clients own offices so that the network is truly customised rather than being a generic solution. Another important benefit is that if, for any reason, a network problem should manifest then the phones will automatically be re-routed through a national roaming partner’s network so that there is no drop in service. That too is a comforting thought for businesses relying on constant communication.

The only device that is needed to implement FMC is the installation of a small (about A4 size) stylish box on the wall of a designated building that is connected to the network. Once the unit is installed, fully tested and functional, the FMC device allows a business to supply each of their employees with a mobile / smart phone so that they can use one device with one number to keep in touch with colleagues and clients. Additional components of the FMC solution include the small GSM ‘pico cells’ that can be easily installed around the office buildings which help to ensure a high level of network ‘coverage’.

But before you rush out to buy a FMC kit be warned - the set up, installation and testing needs to be undertaken by qualified telecoms engineers who fully understand the technology. In many ways this is a routine activity that should not disrupt the business during the transition period, but it still needs to be done by an experienced team.

This certainly appears to be the ideal solution for large organisations who want to retain control of their communication costs and facilities but it does need careful planning. For example, it is quite possible that if two companies are using the same frequencies, and are also in close proximity geographically, there may well be interference. At best this could just be an irritation but at worst it could undermine the rationale for purchasing the frequency in the first place. This is maybe the biggest potential glitch that users have to deal with and it is not clear whether Ofcom thought this aspect of the technology through in any detail - or whether they left it to rival auction winners to ‘fight it out’.

On the positive side though, a group known as the “Mobile 200” Group was formed by the licensees that successfully bid for, and were allocated, spectrum. As well as all signing up to an agreement on engineering practices, each of the licensees is also required to register the spectrum they have used in specific physical locations so that other licensees can make the necessary adjustments to remove interference. In theory therefore, this potential ‘interference’ problem should be relatively easy to resolve.

 

FMC is undoubtedly an extremely powerful business tool that will very quickly provide organisations with a demonstrable return on investment as well as providing a host of other benefits. It enables flexible working both in-office and out-of-office and seamless communication with business colleagues, regardless of where in the building or buildings they are working. The indoor GSM pico cells will ensure that there are no reception ‘black spots’ so the quality of coverage will be excellent.

The other good news is that rather than involving a massive upheaval to existing technology the small wall unit is quick to install and unobtrusive. It can also be integrated into the existing technical infrastructure - so there are no walls to be ripped down or black boxes to be set up in corners.

Our teams are currently leading the way in designing and installing the in-building networks for the most active of the license winners. Currently, major roll-outs are underway nationwide for this solution which has the potential to fundamentally change the way businesses use mobile phone technology. So what does FMC mean for the next generation of businesses – Fixed Mobile Convergence or the Future of Mobile Communications – it will not be long before we find out!

Press Release

Further growth at Virtua ensures staff retention

Virtua UK, the fast growing provider of design and technology solutions to the mobile industry has retained a large number of top class engineers despite the conclusion of a major project.  As a people focused business, Virtua are committed to growth for the benefit of all staff and team members.

Virtua UK Ltd, managing director, Andy Watts:  “It’s in the nature of our sort of project based business that even the most complicated projects eventually come to an end. We’ve been fortunate to have such good new business growth over the last few years that each time a major project has finished we’ve had new ones starting so that we can keep the best engineers working at full speed.”

The conclusion of a major project in the North, providing infrastructure services to the emergency services was concluded late last year.  Several of the team involved were immediately re-assigned to alternative client projects, including two recent new business wins.  The remaining members have joined Virtua’s growing head office team, supporting several hundred field workers, engineers and telecoms experts across the UK.

Watts concludes: “2010 was an incredibly successful year for us, with growth across all client sectors and all services.  In particular, our bespoke design work has grown as both a standalone service delivered to a range of clients looking to improve their mobile networks as well as in support of our other installation and engineering contracts.”

(ends)

Press Release

Virtua’s work culture to include focus on high standards of health and safety

Virtua UK Ltd, a leading Swindon based supplier of expertise to the telecoms industry has been taking extraordinary steps in their health and safety practices that go far beyond the usual requirement of a company of their size.

Andy Watts, chief executive of Virtua comments: “For us people are our most important asset. As a telecoms company some of our staff do work in risk prone areas and we want to ensure that we take all measures to keep them safe. We don’t want health and safety to be just text book rules but want to incorporate it into our daily work culture.  This ensures everyone is aware of H&S requirements and has the resources and training necessary to not just deal with accidents but avoid them in the first place.”

The company is investing heavily in their staff health and safety by providing training and facilities that would be seen by many as radical steps, particularly in a company of less than 200 staff.  Some of the unusual steps taken by Virtua are as follows:

• The company has recently trained six members of staff in first aid, with plans to train others who show an interest in the subject.
• Virtua is sending its entire management team for IOSH training, which is a chartered body for health and safety professionals.

In addition to the above, the company has set up an in–house triathlon club to encourage employees to take up sports and maintain a healthy life style.  The club currently includes eleven staff members, including all three directors.

Andy Watts comments further on this: “Health and safety is about the well being of our employees wherever they are, which is why we are also encouraging them to maintain good health through sporting activities.  We even have a leader board in the office for times on the local measured 10 mile time trial route!  Above all we are focused on transforming health and safety from mere guidelines to part of Virtua’s work ethos.”

(ends)

Press Release

Virtua sets up a triathlon club to maintain staff health

Virtua UK Limited, a leading Swindon based supplier of expertise to the telecoms industry has set up a triathlon club. The club is made up of the employees of the company and is a part of wider scheme, invigorating the company‘s work culture with fun and sports.

Andy Watts said: “The tri-club has been set up in response to the fact that we now have around a dozen members of staff interested in the sport and even considering race entry.  As keen tri-athletes ourselves, the directors wanted to help develop staff members’ interest in the sport and allow them to progress beyond their own training regimes.  It is also part of our wider health and safety policy to encourage our employees to take up sports and remain healthy.”

Love for sports, in particular has been an integral part of Virtua’s growth as all three directors are keen athletes. Two of the company’s directors, Andy Watts and Brian Watt have competed in the Ironman triathlon in Switzerland, whilst Brian has also taken part in the London marathon 16 times in a row. 
Brian and Rob Brown (the third director) are also currently in training for a 250 mile charity bike ride for Multiple Sclerosis Research.

To help team members train and improve the company has also established a leader board in the office for times on the local measured 10 mile time trial route.

(ends)

Press Release

Virtua appoints a new business development director to maintain the fast growth of the company

Virtua, the Swindon based mobile telecoms experts, has appointed a new business development director, Kevin Tillotson as a part of their marketing and sales strategy.  Kevin has more than 20 years of experience across a variety of sectors and has helped businesses grow through his knowledge and expertise.
Kevin had worked with Virtua on a consultancy basis in the first quarter of 2010. During that period, the company achieved additional sales amounting to 20% of turnover.

On joining the company, Kevin said: “It is a pleasure to be able to lead the sales and marketing team for a company with whom I have been closely associated. My experience with the company enables me to have a clear vision of the things that we want to achieve. The company is growing fantastically and it will be my job to work with a variety of teams and clients to maintain this momentum.”

Andy Watts, chief executive of Virtua said: “Virtua prides itself in having some of the most talented and experienced people in the industry. Kevin’s appointment is another feather to our cap. Our success depends on our people, and to achieve this we always invest in the best people available, people with a passion and in-depth knowledge of the industry, the technology and the clients. Kevin has been instrumental in making some key business decisions for Virtua and we are very happy to have him on board as our full time member of staff.”

Virtua has also appointed Holly Atkins on a secondment from Morris Owen, a leading Swindon based accountancy practice. Holly will manage the company’s accounts division in the absence of accountant Joanne Carter, who is on a maternity leave.

Andy continues “We have a very strong relationship with Morris Owen. They have been a trustworthy and friendly partner and having someone from them to assist us gives us peace of mind, and the expertise necessary to continue our expansion plans. We welcome Holly and Kevin to the team and look forward to great long term relationships with them.”

(ends)

Andy was recently asked to comment again in HR Magazine.  His thoughts are detailed below:

PR or HR?

In some ways, it could be argued, it has never been easier to find a job. True, we are currently in the grip of a deep recession and in economic terms there is still a lot of unemployment around, but the mechanisms available to us for seeking work have actually never been better.

A few decades ago finding a job was a matter of joining the queue at the Labour Exchange (later to be relabelled as the ‘Job Centre’) or scouring the ‘Sits Vac’ section of local newspapers. Now this way of job seeking is becoming second rate due to the phenomenal growth of the internet. Today there are hundreds of web sites for job hunters to search as well as recruitment companies, job-related networking sites and CV promotion sites etc.

If a job is something that earns a wage however, then a career is something very different. A career is much more about following a deliberate path within a chosen field or profession which is more personally rewarding than taking any old job just to pay the mortgage.

Even well qualified, experienced individuals though, can find it difficult to secure the perfect position within their chosen vocation or field of endeavour. True, they can apply for specific advertised vacancies or trawl the relevant websites for any open positions but this can be a both time consuming and frustrating exercise.

The reverse position is also true. As an employer, how do you go about finding that unique individual that you might be looking for to grow and develop your business?
Yes – you can place costly adverts in magazines or newspapers, advertise on your website and on job seeker websites but how can you really be sure you are attracting the best people?

In my experience there is another way that can suit both employers and career seekers which is cost-effective, specific and proven to work. It’s all about harnessing the power of PR and using it to exploit a new method of recruiting good people. Good companies should work closely with good PR companies who are willing and able to raise the corporate profile through newsletters, features, press releases and specifically targeted industry articles.

This not only helps to raise awareness of a particular business in the community and the media but it also provides prospective employees with lots of useful information about the company. Those individuals who keep abreast of developments within their chosen industry or field of expertise are very likely to pick up on these articles and press releases and can sometimes turn this information to advantage.

I have personal experience of being contacted directly by individuals who have approached me after reading one of our marketing or PR releases. They realise that there is no instant guarantee of being offered a job but it opens the door to dialogue. Sometimes that initial discussion leads to an ongoing relationship and if the skill set is a good match then we agree to get back in touch the next time an opportunity arises. This direct approach really works, and for me personally has led to us recruiting some of our best people.

The bottom line is that there is nothing inherently wrong with using traditional methods of finding your dream career but sometimes it is also worth thinking “outside the box”. PR is not just about promoting the business. It is a way of reaching out to people who work in the same arena, people who might be the perfect fit for your business either now or in the future.

Our latest newsletterlooked back at 2010...

• Some new starters
  
• A strange breed
  
• Thanks to some great team members
• Meet Ian Jenkins
  

Click Here to Read More!!!

Andy recently wrote a piece for Contingency Today.  Some of his thoughts ar detailed below:

Communication can save lives

By Andy Watts, managing director, Virtua UK Ltd

In any form of emergency or security crisis it is usually the speed and quality of communication that can mean the literal difference between life and death. Something as simple as the temporary loss of a phone signal or a poor quality phone reception can lose vital seconds at a time when every second counts. For the emergency services therefore, 100% communications reliability is the target.

The importance of effective communication in any crisis or disaster is of paramount importance, not just in terms of co-ordinating life saving resources but also as a mechanism for information flow. From the early days of police whistles staggering advances in communication technology have given us CB  and ‘Ham’ radio, VHF radio and ‘walkie talkies’ through to internet based email services, PDA’s, mobile phones up to today’s iconic iPhone. While these types of devices have all served their purpose, when it comes to the emergency services the sophistication and reliability of any communications tool needs to be of a different order of magnitude.

For Public safety emergency (PSE) organisations and civil response agencies the need to be able to rely upon the tools they use is essential and it is reliability and interoperability that are the key system features needed for resilient communication systems. Accurate information needs to be efficiently delivered to first responders in real time and to a wide range of devices, both fixed and mobile. Also, integrated information and communication technology (ICT) systems for mission-critical multi-agency emergency services need to be secured from eavesdroppers or would-be interceptors through the use of sophisticated encryption techniques.

Mobile and integrated communications control systems (ICCS) are increasingly based on next generation, IP-based technology and application platforms. These technologies need to be able to interconnect with tiers of command at strategic, tactical and operational levels, in addition to the ground level mobile users. 

It was the catastrophic attack in New York on 11th September 2001 that changed perceptions about communications forever. This event was a severe test for all the emergency services highlighting the need for reliable and seamless communications across a wide variety of organisations and functions. Two specific lessons were learned from 9/11:

• Firstly, the importance of different services being able to communicate with each other (An integrated system is essential if there is to be a high level strategy and co-ordination plan.)
• Secondly, the way in which broadband communications can improve overall effectiveness was realised. For example, the ability of the “first on the scene” responders to send back pictures of situations or for those in control centres to see instantly the scale or nature of incidents.

There are many other public and private service operators such as H.M. Coastguard, security specialists, helicopter services etc that could also benefit from an integrated communications platform as ‘Interface systems’ to these services will enable them to cooperate more effectively. Also, there are many other organisations involved in the capture, access and dissemination of information relevant to those at the front-line, including Aid agencies, Logistics companies and News Service companies.

In the future there will undoubtedly be an increasing focus on international communication standards and international co-operation so that cross border services can be seamlessly connected.

Our job, as Telecoms professionals, is to ensure that everything works in the most seamless way possible by proving the technology, stretching its capabilities and making sure that it is available to the people that need it most when they need it most.

Our fourth newsletter really demonstrated some of the exciting changes here at Virtua...

• Our new office move
  
• Our new website
  
• Thanks to some great team members
• The importance of health and safety
  
• Andy's Corner - Education
• Meet Jo Carter

Click Here to Read More!!!

Press Release

Virtua moves on following 400% growth

With more than 400% growth in staff over the last two years, Virtua UK Ltd has today moved into new premises in Wiltshire.

Virtua UK ltd, managing director, Andy Watts: “We have seen some great growth over the last couple of years.  But we still have goals to achieve and are looking forward to the next stage of our growth plans.  We have also been lucky enough to increase both turnover and profit alongside the staffing requirement, which is great news.”

In addition to the extra desk space offered by their new offices, Virtua staff have used their own technical knowledge to create a bespoke work space that includes testing facilities and meeting spaces that will allow them to continue their customer focused growth plans.

The modern style offices and facilities are located at:
•    Virtua UK Ltd, Unit 5, Callow Park, Callow Hill, Brinkworth, SN15 5FD
•    The new main phone number is: 01666 511020

Andy Watts continues: “Our growth has been organic and generated through a number of key activities.  Exploration of new services has yielded a number of clients wins as has the employment of a business development manager.  Our work with Swindon based communications agency and reputation management agency Soaring Worldwide has also created a great deal of interest.” 

 “Above all else the key to our success remains our people.  They continue to be the best in the market, not just technically but in terms of attitude.  This has brought in new business through referrals and up-selling across the whole of our client portfolio.”

For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Press Release

Virtua prioritises staff with Health & Safety role.
 
Virtua, a leading provider of resources, expertise and bespoke service to the Telecoms and mobile telecoms industry based in Swindon, has recently been appointed Terry Welton (a Senior Telecoms Engineer) to the role of Health and Safety and Facilities Manager. 

Andy Watts, CEO at Virtua said: “Telecoms engineering can be a dangerous business. Driving to work is a dangerous business. Living is a dangerous business. Some people think Health and Safety guidance is a bureaucracy designed to stop people doing ordinary things. I don’t see it that way. I see it as a set of common-sense techniques and tools to reduce the risk of people getting injured or killed at work. 180 people were killed at work in the UK last year. 10,000 major injuries from slips and trips. That’s not bureaucracy, that’s avoidable”

“We’re proud of our record on Health and Safety, but that’s exactly why we should continue to improve. Our people, our customers and our partners are real people with lives and families. I don’t want anyone of them hurt while they’re at work. By giving Terry the full Health and Safety role, we can make sure we don’t miss a thing and we protect everyone as much as we can. Terry’s a proper engineer, he cares about safety and he has loads of common-sense. That’s a great mix of skills for the Health and Safety lead."

Terry’s new role and responsibilities will be wide ranging and include keeping records of all the Virtua staff in terms of their skill sets, qualifications, public liability insurance, security clearance status and any training courses they have attended.  In addition Terry will be responsible for ensuring that all staff are fully trained in the numerous safety aspects of their job including risk assessments, working at height, the use of protective equipment and dealing with hazardous substances.

In his Facilities Manager role Terry will be responsible for all aspects of premises maintenance and security, fire safety and asset control and protection. With many years of experience as an Engineer in the Telecoms Industry Terry is very much looking forward to taking on these new responsibilities commenting: “As our business grows the importance of high quality health and safety policies and awareness is paramount and I’m looking forward to working with the team to make us top of our game.”

Terry will also work very closely with Virtua’s expert consultant – Pia Parry at the Health and Safety Advisory Service (www.healthandsafetyadvisory.co.uk) who provides support on all the very latest expertise, tools and regulations.

For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Already onto our third newsletter and the positive feedback is flowing in...

In the June newsletter we look at:

• Expertise and "state of the art" technology - our partnership with Anite
• Thanks to Frank Hodder and the team at Greenwoods
• A dynamic world - The launch of the mobile wallet
• Congratulations to the Airwave teams in the North East
• Our growing team
• Andy's Corner - Delighting our customers
• Meet Rob Davies

Click Here to Read More!!!

Press Release:

Virtua and iBwave are changing the way business is done.


Mobile Telecoms specialists Virtua, in partnership with iBwave, are not only developing innovative communications solutions for their clients but they are also changing the way business is done.

Traditionally businesses tend to sit groups of people together based on their job roles and their need to be close to a fixed phone line. For most this is the standard way of working but it is not necessarily the most beneficial or productive way of running a business.

Virtua, chief executive, Andy Watts: "Today people tend to use their mobiles to conduct business and no longer need to be desk bound. Recognising this fact a number of forward thinking organisations are adopting a new type of telecoms facility called Fixed Mobile Convergence or FMC."

The technology works by installing a small box on the wall of an office enabling staff to communicate more easily using dedicated mobile handsets at much cheaper call rates.
This way of working could revolutionise the way businesses communicate by freeing up staff so that they can work anywhere within an office complex without the need for a fixed location.

Virtua are currently using their knowledge of the technology to set up the complete FMC solution for their clients and utilising iBwave’s unique set of technical tools to plan and implement the systems.

Watts concludes: “The most important element of these projects is in the planning and deployment phases and by using iBwave’s tools, coupled with our own experience, our clients can be sure of receiving a cost effective, optimised and robust phone system that will enable them to work more productively and more efficiently”.
 
For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Andy was once again asked to comment for HR Magazine...

Employers warned of legal risk as freelancers know nothing about health and safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Corporate Health and Safety Committee (CHSC) have now released their government approved plan for 2009 - 2012 which sets out three key themes that all organisations now need to be aware of and adhere to.

These are:-

• Providing strong leadership, active management and collective ownership
• Tackling risk priorities
• Developing Measurements and improving Monitoring
  
  

Click here to read the full article...

Press Release

Virtua and Anite use expertise and state-of-the-art tools to revolutionise business

Virtua UK Ltd, a leader in the provision of Telecoms specialists, has selected Anite’s Nemo Handy tool for testing mobile networks.
Virtua is pioneering the deployment of in-building Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solutions for retail and commercial properties.  To ensure that no detail is overlooked, Virtua uses the very best technical tools available, one example being Nemo Handy, supplied by voice and data experts Anite.

Virtua, chief executive, Andy Watts:  “Nemo Handy has set the standard for handheld network measurement devices since 2005 and continues to do so today. It is the most widely deployed handheld measurement tool in the world. Its extensive measurement capabilities are incorporated into a small mobile terminal that is ideal for performing measurements both outdoors and in busy and crowded indoor spaces - perfect for Virtua’s needs.”

With state-of-the-art real-time and customisable data views, Nemo Handy displays all the relevant network parameters on the terminal screen, at the same time recording all the important network parameters. Network information that is collected can be transmitted for post-processing in Nemo Analyze for further analysis.

Commenting on this partnership, Andy Watts said: “The combination of features offered by Nemo provides everything the Virtua teams need to deliver exceptional performance to our clients.  Working closely with Anite is proving to be an exciting process as we develop products and services together. The most important elements of these FMC projects are the planning and deployment phases - Anite’s tools, coupled with our own experience provide our clients with a cost effective, optimised and robust phone system that will enable them to work more productively and more efficiently”.

Heikki Koivuaho, senior vice president of global sales and marketing at Anite Finland Ltd commented:  “Virtua is pushing the boundaries of FMC and telecoms technological development.  Their team is designing and implementing systems in challenging environments so it is vital they have the right tools for the job.  They are consistently pushing our equipment’s capabilities and we are excited about their growth and ideas for the future which in turn allow us to investigate new technologies ourselves.”

(ends)


For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Following our business growth story, several local papers featured Virtua and our fantastic news. 

Click the links below to read more!!!

Wiltshire Times

Swindon Advertiser

Gazette and Herald

Wiltshire Business

Press Release

20% growth at Virtua results in staff investment.

Virtua UK Ltd, a leading supplier of expertise to the telecoms industry, achieved additional sales amounting to 20% of turnover in first four months of 2010. 

To meet the demands of this growth, Virtua has employed industry heavyweights –Rob Davies and Ian Jenkins as well as Kevin Tillotson in a business development role.

Virtua, chief executive, Andy Watts:  “These are exciting times for Virtua, we are seeing fantastic growth in all areas of the business.  In particular, since the new year, we have made changes to our marketing and sales strategy.  These have directly affected our new-business activity but we want to carry on expanding for the benefit of our team, clients and the industry as a whole.  To achieve this we are investing in some of the best people available, people with a passion and in-depth knowledge of the industry, the technology and our client’s needs.”

• Rob Davies takes on the role of senior systems architect.  After five years working for Ferranti and then twenty years in Motorola as a systems engineer Rob has a wealth of experience within the Telecoms industry specialising in cellular development.
• Ian Jenkins takes on the role of head of RF systems design.  After 10 years at Alan Dick & Co as a “cellular design antenna engineer” he focused on projects for Vodafone and 02 where he came to be considered the ‘design authority’.
• Kevin Tillotson takes on the role of Business Development Director.  With 20 years experience across a variety of sectors, he has grown businesses both organically and through acquisition.

Watts continues: “Virtua is a fast moving company going through exciting changes and performing at the top level of the telecoms and mobile telecoms industries.  To move forward we need to work with the best.  Rob, Ian and Kevin have the right attitude and are already working closely with both long-term and new clients. 

(ends)

For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Welcome to our second newsletter and thanks for all your great comments afterthe first.  We have made a few tweaks and hope you enjoy this just as much.

Included in our April Newsletter:

• Changing the way business is done
• The less a Project Manager knows about the project the better
• A warm welcome to...
• Thanks to...
• Andy's Corner - Ignore Health and Safety at your peril!
• Meet Mark Prictor

Click Here to Read More

Lack of knowledge makes perfect project manager

"Despite the impact of the recession many large global corporations still need to invest time and money into delivering critical projects.

These projects might be needed to meet new regulatory requirements, to gain competitive advantage, to install or replace new computer systems or embed new processes and procedures."

To read more of Andy's comment on Recruitment Today:

Click here

Press Release

Virtua UK Ltd Implements iBwave’s in-building design software to meet growing demand for indoor networks.
 
“60 to 80% of voice calls and especially data use is generated inside buildings.”

iBwave and Virtua UK Ltd have signed an agreement, making iBwave the in-building wireless solutions provider to Virtua UK Ltd.

Virtua UK Ltd, a leading player in the GSM market will extend its use of iBwave’s RF Design and planning software in its Low-Power GSM deployment business. 

iBwave, president and CEO, Mario Bouchard: “We are proud to help Virtua design and develop world leading systems.  As mobile networks shift indoors, with 60 to 80% of voice calls and especially data use generated inside buildings, iBwave Design will help Virtua automate their process and increase proficiency is the provision of optimal indoor wireless coverage.”

Virtua is leading the field in the deployment of GSM systems using the recently released GSM spectrum specific to in-building systems.  Using this technology, major UK businesses are able to improve mobility and costs by using mobile phones and smartphones to communicate with each other across their own network. Costs are reduced while these deployments give customers fantastic network coverage in their premises.

The radio spectrum used for this deployment is restricted in its power output and customers need to have the guarantee that the usage of such system is contained within their premises. With iBwave Design software, Virtua can be guarantee optimum locations and power of the GSM technology while they secure the lowest cost to its customers. 
Virtua, CEO, Andy Watts: “We choose iBwave as our design and planning automated software tool because our GSM deployments need to be perfect. Our customers depend heavily on these systems to run their businesses and we wanted to do everything we could establish robust systems. Our team includes the best radio designers and we wanted them to have the best tools to efficiently do their job. Choosing iBwave is part of that commitment.”

The new agreement with Virtua will further help iBwave to establish themselves as the in-building wireless solutions provider in the UK while ensuring steady growth in the European market.

(ends)

For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077

Good Project Manager are Hard to Find

"Anyone who regularly reads the newspapers or IT magazines will be familiar with the shocking track record of projects that have either completely failed to deliver or delivered late and over budget. The new NHS computer system project is a case in point. Costing millions it eventually ended up in complete failure and litigation with 'poor project management' being cited as one of the prime causes of the problem. So where is it all going wrong? And why?"

To reas the full comment from Andy Watt's as it was published on HR Magazine's website please:

Click here

Here it is, the firstever Virtua Newsletter.  We hope you enjoy and please feel free to let us know your thoughts.

Included in the newsletter:

• People. Passion. Performance - a new side to Virtua
• Femtocell: New technology bringing mass market 3G services
• What's that thing on the wall?
• Thanks to...
• Andy's Corner - Skip the interviews and just hire the right people!
• Meet Mel Dainton

Click Here to Read More

Press Release

 

Virtua get passionate about their people and performance following client feedback

Virtua, one of the UK’s leading providers of resources and solutions to the mobile telecoms industry are repositioning their offering with a raft of new marketing initiatives to better reflect their growth plans and commitment to clients.

The new initiatives have been led by extensive customer, engineer and staff research conducted in December 2009.  The campaign has been created and managed by Oxford based Soaring Worldwide, a communications and PR agency specialising in message creation and dissemination.

Andy Watts, director, Virtua UK Ltd: “We work in an incredibly fast moving industry and it is vital that our business reflects the pace with which our clients and potential clients are moving forward.  Our business is growing dramatically and this refinement in our market positioning and message better reflects the business we are now winning.”

From 17th February onwards, Virtua’s new strap-line will be:

People. Passion. Performance.

Virtua’s name will remain the same but communications and involvement with customers is set to increase with the introduction of newsletters to clients and engineers, a twitter campaign (@Virtuateamtalk) and regularly updated blog (www.virtuateamtalk.uk.com).  Additionally, Virtua will be conducting an ongoing PR campaign with the relevant media.
Virtua also intend to re-develop and improve their website over the course of the next few months.

Andy Watts: “Virtua is going through some exciting changes at the moment, driven by our customers.  This refinement is bringing our positioning more up to date with the evolution of our customers rather than a complete change of our positioning. We want to make sure our clients and staff embrace the new, whilst staying true to our core skills and services.”

“It’s not easy for a technology and people company like ours to get the right sort of support from a marketing agency. We wanted people who we could work with and who understood our business, whilst bringing the right creative edge.   Above all we wanted to do business with people.  Adam and his team are people we like to work with and have already demonstrated that they are great at what they do.”

Soaring Worldwide, managing director, Adam Baggs:  “It is so exciting to take an existing brand and really develop its potential.  The management team at Virtua are so enthusiastic and quite simply – great fun to work with.  The next few months will be full of exciting developments and we look forward to creating a long term relationship with Virtua.”

(ends)

For images and further press information please contact:
Adam Baggs or Rory Gear at Soaring Worldwide
Tel – 0845 371 7077