Can your business be without a Wireless LAN (WLAN) network?

A recent survey by Information Weekly said that of the 419 respondents 89% use 802.11n technologies as an access method for end users which is up from 76% in September 2010. A huge increase to the latest equipment. Nearly a quarter of the respondents also reported that traffic had exploded over the last year.

With smart, iphone and android devices being launched each week, the evolution to 4G well under way and the huge boost tablets have given to the wireless market, can companies afford not to be using the latest wireless equipment? Over 45% of those surveyed were planning to deploy the latest 802.11ac as soon as it was available.

But, do companies need to keep abreast of the latest wireless LAN developments? Or can they settle for their current technology? This, of course, depends on the extent of their wireless network. If their office phones and computers are supported by traditional connections and their wireless access is only acting as a support for mobile devices and laptops then there is an argument to say, stay put for a while, keep at the “n” standard and maintain a steady, if slightly slower connection.

However, if the office is a hive of hot desk activity, cloud based storage and tablet happy then can you afford not to upgrade? No. The initial cost of upgrading the equipment can be recouped in a short period of time, in some cases less than 6 months from initial installation, with the network already in place the upgrade can take as little as a day.

But can the financial outlay be justified? Yes, if you need your office space, distribution centre or even airport to supply a high speed network with almost zero downtime or drop in speed the cost takes care of itself. With tablets and smart phone technology changing quickly, renewal contracts shortening and refresh packages now commonplace, the usual 24 month contract is being replaced by 6, 12 or even monthly renewal periods.

And how do clients react to your network? From the survey 34% have 25% more client traffic sent or received over the wireless network. How will it affect business when the client logs on to your network, only to find the system can’t cope with the 5MB file they’re trying to upload to the office through your internal Wi-Fi access? People don’t expect to have to wait for file uploads or hook their laptop up to the internal cabled network, they expect to key in a code and bang, away the file, email or document goes with no hassle or interruption.

So make the necessary upgrades when available, after all, can you really afford not to? 37% of respondents see wireless networks replacing wired infrastructure within just five years that gives the likes of Apple, Samsung and other leading manufactures enough time to release even further developments!  

Free Wi-Fi at airports, browsing just got easier.

Soon the Premier Airport Network will open across 20 US airports offering its users free, yes, I said free Wi-Fi. Thanks to a deal with MediaShift, browsers will now be able to log on and utilise the free Wi-Fi. The only catch? During the consumers browsing time various paid adverts will appear.

Genius? Absolutely. What a better way to capture your target audience than when they’re cashing in on the free Wi-Fi scrolling through the social networking sites telling everyone where they’re going? Or the business men and women finishing off that last minute document using their current smart phone, cue pop up, oh look, there’s a new version and I can buy it on sale at the shop I’m about to walk in to? Again, genius.

Obviously, to the consumer the constantly stream of advertising can feel like an invasion of their privacy. But with the average traveller’s airport browsing session already at 57 minutes, the introduction of free Wi-Fi can only increase this time further.

“MediaShift provides the technology at no cost to the airports," Brendon Kensel, MediaShift's president, told Mashable. "For the first time, airports can participate in ad revenues that have traditionally eluded last mile online access providers. Airports receive incremental revenue with no start-up costs, investment or capital expenditure for airports.”

So what does this mean for companies around the selected airports? The potential to offer specific discounts, rates or offers. To promote the latest hotel or restaurant opening. Give clips of the shows, concerts and exhibitions in the city? And all while the consumer is relaxing waiting to board their flight.

For the consumer, the reduction in their data costs could mean the option to utilise the latest offer, consider the new technology the ad is talking about and even make a purchase.

They also have the capability to work at the airport. Those dead hours, waiting to board and clocking up the data charges can now be used to complete work, prepare for the next meeting and even conduct the actual meeting.

The Wi-Fi revolution is here, at the airport, on the plane itself, have airports become the new mobile office?

Wi-Fi in the air

Commuting is part and parcel of working life be this a short stroll to work for a very lucky few to the endless train or car journey to the office. For some, it may even involve hoping on a plane. One thing is for sure though, the time to and from work can be utilised to reduce the hours you have to spend in the office thanks to the addition of Wi-Fi hot spots.

For those that have to drive sadly there’s not much chance of finishing that last minute presentation but for those on public transport, the addition of Wi-Fi hot spots and connectivity has opened the gates for extra working hours.

Got to travel for business, still need to catch up on emails or send the presentation over before you land? No problem. Simply check if your flight has a Wi-Fi symbol next to it.... and you thought ordering your food choice was as complicated as it got?

You can even buy a wireless card courtesy of Go Go in-flight internet allowing you to surf till your heart’s content for a mere few dollars when pre purchased for US flights. 

Over 38% off domestic flights in the US now have Wi-Fi access which has grown from 5% to 7% per year. There is also set to be an even larger rate of increase as more company’s roll out the satellite based technology.

Now even 120 London underground tube stations also have access to the internet provided either through monthly contract with selected ISPs or a pre paid daily, weekly or monthly subscription.

But, is it worth it? Surely, when we have free internet access at work already or can pop to Starbucks or McDonalds at lunch and log on for free, are the commuter services just cashing in on our need for constant data? In one sense, yes, it does bring in extra revenue to the flight and rail services but the benefit to the customer can out way the cost.

With house prices still high in city locations despite the economic downturn, we have had to up sticks and join the waft of commuters filing onto the trains in the morning. With train journeys taking upwards of an hour, that extra time to finish documents, arrange meetings and clear down your inbox can be hugely beneficial.

Time travelling internationally used to eat into the working day, flights would be booked early to ensure the working day would not be affected but now, with on-board Wi-Fi your office can be tens of thousands of feet high in the sky and no one need be any wiser to your location.

Obviously, the time spent travelling does not have to be used for work. Catching up on the latest Apprentice episode, the news or instagram video can all be done while waiting for the train. And with many companies banning the use of social networking sites during working hours, the need to find out whose done what can be intense.

With smart phone and tablets already offering us connection via our data plans we can of course  just use our phones but there’s something alluring about turning the Wi-Fi on, the extra speed, potential cost saving when using free Wi-Fi and the capacity to send and receive higher bandwidths can be just too tempting.

So embrace the Wi-Fi revolution, log on where you can, buy the monthly cards to save you cash and of course, ensure your business has free Wi-Fi to bring in the punters. 

APC Solutions finalists for the 2013 Comms Business Awards - what a night it was

What a night the 20^th June was. APC attended, and was nominated for two categories of the Comms Business Awards which took place at The Lancaster Hotel in London’s Hyde Park.

The glittering event was hosted by Debra Stevenson and featured 19 categories. The national awards are a testament to the communication industry covering resellers, distributors, service providers, product and employee categories.

Independently judged, The Comms Business Awards are designed to genuinely recognise excellence in the Channel. Acknowledging the successes of the reseller community, the vendors, distributors and service providers as well as those successful individuals who truly set the standard, these Awards are the industry's most sought after accolade.

APC Solutions was finalists for the SMB Convergence Solutions category and its Director, David Bell was shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. The Comms awards are national and both APC and David were up against major players within the Comms industry. 

Reaching the finals of such prestigious and national awards is a huge testament to the APC team. David Bell comments: “When the nominations came out we were both shocked and proud to see just who we were up against. From our humble beginnings, APC is now competing with major national companies, many of whom have been around for many more years than APC.  All of our outstanding team are to thank for our nominations, I even credit the team for my own nomination as without them, I wouldn't have achieved what I have.

“Sadly, this year both APC and I were pipped to the post but we will be back next year. To our clients, suppliers and team thank you for your support in getting us this far and here’s to a big push for next year?”

The winners were:

1. Distributor of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Trust Distribution FINALISTS: - Capstan Communications Micro-P Nimans ScanSource Europe
2. Internet Service Provider of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Virtual1 FINALISTS: - Entanet Gamma Griffin Zen Internet
3. Network Operator of the Year - Reader Vote
WINNER: - Gamma FINALISTS: - BT Kcom O2 Virgin Media Business
Solutions Categories	Award Sponsors
4. SMB Convergence Solution
WINNER: - alwaysON Ltd FINALISTS: - APC Solutions Green Fields Technology M12 Solutions Switch Communications
5. Mid-Market Convergence Solution
WINNER: - Britannic Technologies FINALISTS: - Damovo UK Excell Group Foehn Gamma Business Communications
6. Enterprise Convergence Solution
WINNER: -Excell Group FINALISTS: - Channel Telecom Europacom.net Response Data Communications
Product Categories	Award Sponsors
7. Most Innovative Channel Product (Hardware)
WINNER: - Sennheiser UK FINALISTS: - Grandstream Neworks Inc Jabra Plantronics Talari Networks
8. Most Innovative Channel Product (On Premise Software Application)
WINNER: - Oak FINALISTS: - Kcom SpliceCom Limited Tollring Union Street Technologies
9. Most Innovative Channel Product (Professional Services)
WINNER: - Cirrus FINALISTS: - Atrium Telecom Channel Intellect IP-Netix Virtual1
10 . Most Innovative Channel Product (Cloud Based Solution Deployed)
WINNER: - Outsourcery FINALISTS: - Akixi ChannelCloud Cirrus PRD Technologies
11 . Channel Product of the Year - Overall
WINNER: - Outsourcery
People Categories	Award Sponsors
12. Channel Sales Person of Year
WINNER: - racie Wilkes of Frontier Voice & Data FINALISTS: - Adam Cathcart of Outsourcery Steve Harrington of tIPicall
13. Channel Entrepreneur of the Year
WINNER: - Tom O'Hagan of Virtual1 FINALISTS: - David Bell of APC Solutions Mark Gordon of Evolve Telecom Tony Cook of Union Street Technologies
14. Emerging Channel Company of the Year
WINNER: - tIPicall FINALISTS: - Cirrus Creation Application
Reseller Categories	Award Sponsors
15. Wholesale Service Provider
WINNER: - Virtual1 FINALISTS: - Channel Telecom Entanet Frontier Voice & Data Nine Group
16. Reseller of the Year (Small)
WINNER: - M12 Solutions FINALISTS: - EOS Communications Fusion Media Networks GHM Communications Ltd NetDatatel
17. Reseller of the Year (Medium)
WINNER: - Communicate Better FINALISTS: - 360 Solutions Incom Business Systems STL Communications TMS
18. Reseller of the Year (Large)
WINNER: - Excell Group FINALISTS: - Britannic Technologies Damovo UK Focus Group HighNet Telecoms
19. Overall Reseller of the Year
WINNER: - Excell Group