September 24, 2008 - Deal takes Converged into new territory
The deals include a £60,000 win from ABSL Power Solutions. Converged will be providing high-speed internet connections and disaster recovery functions between ABSL's Thurso and Oxfordshire sites. This win sees Converged entering the defence, space and aerospace sectors and diversifying from the oil and gas industry. Andy Pearson, business development director, said: "We are delighted to have won this contract which allows Converged to service a new client in an exciting new sector. We will be providing high reliability and high speed connections between ABSL Power Solutions' two sites with the ability to add further sites also. We are also providing offsite backup and disaster recovery functions." Martin Bridge, IT Manager, ABSL Power, added: "Due to the nature and location of our offices we require reliable and high speed internet connections and feel Converged is best placed to provide this service. It also gives us the ability to expand our offices with the security of knowing they will be connected and reliable during the expansion. ABSL Power Solutions designs develops and manufactures advanced portable power solutions for customers who demand the best. Our main markets include defense and homeland security, aerospace, marine and medical where performance and reliability are critical and consequently the underlying network infrastructure needs to be equally reliable, fast and secure." Converged Communication Solutions, established by Andy Pearson and Neil Christie in 2006, has developed innovative communication services for a variety of businesses, from smaller firms to blue-chip companies, on a local, national and international level. Converged is on target for a turnover of £1.5million next year, after reporting steady growth throughout 2008.
August 15, 2008 - All's well for Converged Deal
The work included all SPD's infrastructure, such as internet and telecommunications, plus structured cabling at a new office in Aberdeen. Andy Pearson, a director at Converged, said: "This was an exciting project for us as we created SPD's ICT infrastructure within the new office. Our innovative methods were highlighted in this project." SPD's Neil Robertson said: "We are looking forward to having continued support from Converged in the future." Converged were short-listed for the 2007 Northern Star business awards in the category for 'best use of ICT' and have successfully developed innovative communication solutions for several blue-chip companies on a local, national and international level.
February 5, 2008 - Converged Help AFC Get Better Connected
Converged successfully secured the contract to provide all internet connections and provision to AFC at the end of 2007. Andy said: "AFC, like many organisations, increasingly relies on the internet to keep their clients/customers informed on company developments. In AFC's case, the fast and easy purchase of match tickets is vital to the success of their website, something that Converged was able to help with as we provide the best local connectivity." An estimated 13.9million households (57 percent) in Great Britain could access the Internet between January-April 2006 according to the National Statistics Omnibus Survey. This means that over half UK homes provide a gateway to businesses on the Internet and the products/services they offer. AFC IT manager David Bowman added: "We understand how important the internet is to the development of AFC, our website provides up-to-the-minute news, features and now RedTV - where fans can watch match highlights, interviews and features online - which means that we need the very best connection to the net. Converged are able to offer us this and we are also happy that we have been able to awarded the contract to a local SME." Andy concluded: "An important consideration for businesses when going online or improving upon the online service they already provide, is to think in the long-term – make sure you pick the best provider of access to the internet and that they are easily and readily available should you encounter any problems. Unlike other support companies, Converged do everything in-house. Our team don’t just sell Internet provision services, we actually own and maintain our own infrastructure. If our customers have any problems, they come through directly to one of our support team, not to a frustrating call centre." Converged were short-listed for the 2007 Northern Star business awards in the category for 'best use of ICT' and have successfully developed innovative communication solutions for several blue-chip companies on a local, national and international level.
January 28, 2008 - Converged Scores with Club Website
Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions is helping Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) get better connected. Converged landed the contract to provide all internet connections and provision to AFC at the end of 2007. Andy Pearson, business development director with Converged, said: "AFC, like many organisations, increasingly relies on the internet to keep their clients/customers informed on company developments. "In AFC's case, the fast and easy purchase of match tickets is vital to the success of their website, something that Converged was able to help with as we provide the best local connectivity." AFC IT manager David Bowman added: "We understand how important the internet is to the development of AFC. "Our website provides up-to-the-minute news, features and now RedTV - where fans can watch match highlights, interviews and features online - which means that we need the very best connection to the net."
August 16, 2007 - Technology Assists International Growth
Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions has announced the successful completion of a £200,000 contract with leading independent specialist consultancy for the global oil and gas industry, Xodus Group. Due to rapid expansion Xodus Group required Converged to provide support and streamlining of communication systems for all of its international locations including Aberdeen, Orkney, London and Australia. Andy Pearson, business development director of Converged, said: "This project has enabled us to demonstrate how effective it can be to outsource your IT, telecoms and internet services to a single company. We maintain the connections and security between all international sites, meaning the client has only one point of contact to deal with any issues that may arise; resulting in a faster more effective level of service." Ken Rundell, consultant engineer, Xodus said: "The IP telephony system installed by Converged allows everyone who is connected to our network to communicate for free - even between Aberdeen and Australia. It is extremely positive to see a young Aberdeen based company, such as Converged, working on a global scale delivering real benefits to a rapidly expanding organisation such as ourselves." The young technology company is celebrating being short-listed for the Northern Star business awards
in the category for "Best use of ITC". Converged have successfully developed innovative communication
solutions for many organisations, both nationally and internationally; as well as the provision of DSL,
Leased Line and Ethernet Delivered Internet.
June 26, 2007 - Converged into Northern Star Business Awards Finals
Converged's Business Development Director, Andrew Pearson comments "We [Converged] are absolutely thrilled to have made it to the final and to be in such great company. We have gone from strength to strength since we started up with many great achievements under our belt but this is certainly right up there with any of them. Regardless of who wins on the night it has been a major boon to us to have got this far. Having been to the awards ceremony before I was looking forward to the night anyway, but now I can’t wait!” The winners will be announced at the Northern Star Business Awards ceremony on September 27 2007, in the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre.
February 21, 2007 - Small Company Shows It Can Think Big With Global Wins
Converged Communication Solutions was set up by Andy Pearson and Neil Christie, who both previously worked in the Granite City at another ISP. Mr Pearson said: "We set up Converged to offer businesses innovative solutions to their communication requirements. "Our first year has seen us win contracts both locally and internationally. "As a local SME (small to medium-size enterprise), we feel it is important to demonstrate that a company of our size can enjoy growth through competing on a global scale." At the moment, Converged has just three employees, however, it plans to add another three this year. It is also targeting turnover of more than £1million in 2007.
February 9, 2007 - Converged VOIP Q&A
Q: What is VOIP? A: VOIP stands for Voice over IP or Voice over Internet Protocol. Simply put, that is voice communications transmitted over the Internet - phone calls and faxes over the Internet with no loss in functionality, reliability or voice quality. For those with technical knowledge, VOIP consists of a number of processes that interconnect and then convert a traditional voice signal into a stream of data packets that are distributed over a packet network and then back. Q: Why use VOIP? A: VOIP technology can have a significant influence on the work-life balance; calls can be directed from your office direct dial number to your home very simply. Business calls made from your home can be added to your office phone bill and give the appearance, to the customer, of originating from within the office. Q: What other benefits does VOIP have? A: There is no doubt that the way in which VOIP services are delivered is revolutionary, other major benefits include the ability to have unanswered
calls from international offices ring through to Aberdeen, ensuring that no calls are missed and assisting communication across different time zones.
VOIP facilities enable staff working abroad to dial a local number in that country to contact the UK office, business associates and their families without costly international call rates.
Converged was the first Scottish-based Internet Service Provider to offer businesses the fastest nationally available broadband package – the Converged MAX
DSL. It's service enables organisations to download and upload data up to 4 times faster than current market offerings.
The firm also offer an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, VOIP and telephony services specialising in providing businesses with innovative
solutions for all their communication requirements.
December 21, 2006 - Samaritans seek renovation help
Several local companies have already donated thousands of pounds in products and services to aid the charity through the early stages of the £230,000 project. Samaritans project co-ordinator, Linda Pritchard said: “The facilities available to us are, at the moment, very basic. We desperately need to refurbish the building to a high standard to giving our dedicated volunteers the working environment they deserve.” The Samaritans three story building, situated in Aberdeen’s Dee Street, is in varying states of disrepair, requiring substantial construction work as well as fresh decoration and disabled access. Although the refurbishment project is still in the early stages of securing funding, two local companies – Accommodation Services Management (ASM) and Converged Communication Solutions have already offered their expertise and support to the project. Isobel Maughan, Director of ASM, said: “Our design team has supported the Samaritans throughout the planning stages. Once the structural work is complete we hope to be able to assist the Samaritans furnish their new and improved premises.” Converged - a young technology company that offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services - has donated over £4000 to the charity in the form of a new telephone system, two new computers with web cams and a new structured cabling network. Andy Pearson, Director of Converged, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to help the Samaritans this Christmas. The technology that we are
implementing should make a huge difference to the training facilities; the new system will allow calls to be handled much more efficiently and with the
new PC’s and webcams the volunteers will be able to train more effectively. We have also been able to advise on the most appropriate call plan so as
to keep cost down in the long term.”
November 17, 2006 - FT REPORT - UNDERSTANDING MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS: Functional convergence to help the bottom line
Like e-mail, mobile telecommunications have become a routine part of the business day. It is remarkable how pervasive and convenient mobile phones have become in just a few years. But the experts say that the mobile revolution has only just begun. Or, to put it another way, the potential business benefits of mobility have only been partially realised. Convergence is the buzzword here - the idea that greater productivity can be achieved by moving all mobile communications on to a single device. There are two elements to consider. First, the reduction in travel costs that mobile communications enables.
And second, whether convergence will itself initiate new ways of more efficiently organising business processes.
First, travel costs. This is clearly a significant issue. The obvious example is business travellers stuck in hotels
and airports but being able to conduct their business as normal regardless of location. "Extending that further,
[a businessman] could be sitting in an airport, in the US, for instance, and using a wireless hotspot there, calling
clients and suppliers here in the UK via soft-phone and only costing your company the price of a local call,"
says Andrew Pearson, director of Converged Communications Solutions, a hosting service. "These costs may seem
inconsequential at first glance but think about oil executives who may be away for long periods and need to keep
in touch with projects at home. These costs can easily rack up."
November 2, 2006 - Top honours for local firm in UK-wide competition
Converged Communication Solutions has been recognised as the top North-East re-seller of Mitel phone system equipment. The start-up firm is now on target to turn over more than £500,000 in its first year. Converged took top honours in a UK wide competition ran by Nimans. The local company beat off stiff competition from experienced, well established companies throughout the UK securing the second highest percentage sales over target amongst dealers in Nimans' national Mitel reseller network. Andrew Pearson, business development director, said "The Mitel sales have contributed significantly towards us being on target to turn over more than £500k in our first year. As a start-up firm, it is great to be recognised as such a successful supplier against other older and more established businesses within our industry." The Mitel products have enabled Converged to offer a high standard of service to SME's in the North-east at an affordable cost. As runners up they will collect performance car driving days with Palmer Sport. Converged offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services. The company
was founded by Neil Christie (27) and Andrew Pearson (30) who have significant experience in ISP services,
IP telephony and fully integrated networking at both LAN and WAN levels.
September 30, 2006 - Converged Communications Solutions Gets Reel
Reel Group - a multi-disciplinary services company in the oil and gas sector - operates from offices in West Africa, North and South America as well as the UK. Converged deployed a system that combined the latest developments in hardware capabilities with a Mitel VOIP package, including remote handsets, to facilitate all of Reel's communications requirements. Andy Pearson, business development director, said: "We are delighted to be working with Reel Group; their willingness to engage with the most current and innovative technologies is particularly refreshing. The infrastructure is now in place to enable the company to maximize its development and we look forward to facilitating further growth in years to come". Russell Ritchie, managing director, Reel Group, said: "We needed a supplier that took the time to understand our requirements and build a system that would help move the business forward in a streamlined manner. Converged got to know the company and our requirements and this meant that I was able to trust the recommendations they made. It is essential that we have an efficient communications infrastructure in place for our future plans for expansion." Converged offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services.
The company was founded by Neil Christie and Andy Pearson who have significant experience in ISP
services, IP telephony and fully integrated networking at both LAN and WAN levels.
June 27, 2006 - Aberdeen Start-up Assists Oil Firm With International Expansion
Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions has secured a £50,000 contract with international oil and gas consultancy, Abalt Solutions. Founded 6 months ago, Converged is going from strength to strength after securing over £130,000 of contracts in the month of June. Converged, a communications solutions provider, has revitalised the global communications set up of Abalt Solutions - an oil and gas consultancy with five worldwide offices. Based in Aberdeen, Abalt has teams of engineers in temporary project offices in Venezuela, Mexico, Moscow and the US. To ensure efficient information exchange between all offices, Converged implemented a video and voice conferencing platform to allow for real time communication. This required a high level of bandwidth as well as a stable infrastructure in each location. Converged now hosts Abalt’s server within its secure facility in London which is not only more cost effective but also eliminates down-time when Abalt expands to a larger premises. Andrew Pearson, business development director, Converged, said: "We have been able to tailor a package for Abalt to suit the firm's exact needs. The solution we have implemented is more cost effective and allows our client to expand internationally without worrying about communication issues. An unforeseen benefit of co-location will be that as the server will be hosted in our facility, no down time will be experienced when the firm moves premises, thus minimising business disruption." As an additional contract, Converged will also be providing a 2Mb Internet leased line and a new Mitel 3300 IP telephony platform for the new office. The Mitel System is a fully integrated, feature-rich IP platform allowing remote handsets to work off the office system. Handsets are to be deployed in all the worldwide offices, allowing inter-site calls via VPN back to the main site - significantly reducing global communications costs. CCS have also been tasked with providing the ISDN 30 and call plan for the new office. Rafael V. Jaramillo, Senior Project Development Manager for Abalt Solutions, said: "When choosing our communications partner it was important to find a company who were able to look at the global picture without taking their eye off local operations. Converged have already proven their worth through their expertise and service and we see them as an integral part of our global communications strategy for the future". Converged offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services.
The company was founded by Neil Christie and Andrew Pearson who have significant experience in ISP
services, IP telephony and fully integrated networking at both LAN and WAN levels.
May 22, 2006 - Aberdeen Start-up first in Scotland to offer fastest broadband ever
Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions (CSS) is the first Scottish-based Internet Service Provider to offer businesses the fastest ever broadband package. The new service enables organisations to download and upload data up to 4 times faster than current market offerings. Named 'Converged Max DSL', the service is an innovation for business users and will greatly improve the normal broadband service. Businesses can experience download speeds of up to 8Mb and upload speeds of up to 800kb - this is 4 times faster than regular 2Mb ADSL. Companies have previously had to implement expensive leased lines to allow greater upload speeds for remote access solutions. Andy Pearson, business development director, said: "Broadband has moved to the next stage in its evolution with the introduction of Converged MAX DSL. We are proud to be the first Scottish ISP to offer these packages to our clients and it will enable the best performance available for business users. We are implementing this new service at the same cost as competitors' slower 2Mb package so our clients are able to experience greater efficiency with long term cost savings also." "CCS was only founded this year and this service highlights the fact that we are constantly ahead of the industry norms by providing the best technology and services available. We set up CCS to offer businesses innovative solutions to all their communication requirements and the new broadband service we offer will help our clients' businesses run smoother and, in turn, improve their productivity and capabilities." CCS also offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services. The
company was founded by Neil Christie and Andy Pearson who have significant experience in ISP services,
IP telephony and fully integrated networking at both LAN and WAN levels.
March 6, 2006 - Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce magazine
A new telecoms and Internet service provider has opened in Aberdeen, with the aim of providing the most up-to-date and cost effective voice and data connectivity solutions to the rapidly expanding Scottish market. Converged Communication Solutions (CCS) is a joint venture between Neil Christie and Andy Pearson, both highly regarded in their fields by the business community. Neil, Technical Director, says of their decision to go into business, "It seemed the logical thing to do: both Andy and I were aware that there was a gap in the market for a company offering the range of services that we do, and we felt that now was the time to go to market". The wide range of products that the company offers is something they feel to be a particular strength: as well as being an Internet Service Provider, the company also offers an extensive portfolio of inter-site networking, voice and IP Telephony services. But, while this is an advantage CCS definitely has over competitors, Business Development Director Andy Pearson does not believe that this is the company's only advantage. "Our central focus will always be the needs of our clients. We believe that what sets us apart from other companies is that we do everything in-house therefore avoiding the usual pitfalls of sub-contracting". Neil and Andy have both worked in the IT and telecoms sector for many years, and have significant experience in ISP services, with a later focus on IP telephony and fully integrated networking at both LAN and WAN levels.
|
Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions said yesterday it had landed more than £160,000 worth of contracts last month.
A challenging £70,000 contract for well engineering company SPD has been completed by Converged Communications Solutions.
Ten years ago, very few people knew what the internet was and fewer still saw the benefits to business. Today the internet is not only a vital part of everyday working life for some and a powerful business tool for many, it can be the life-line between a company and its customers. Andy Pearson, of Aberdeen-based Converged Communication Solutions, explains how Converged are helping Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) get better connected.
The finalists of the Northern Star Business Awards were announced today, and Converged Communication Solutions have been selected in the "Best use of ICT"
category for their connectivity solutions involving IP Telephony, VPNs, WAN and ISP services.
A Small Aberdeen company providing communications services for firms in the international oil and gas industry has celebrated its first year in
business by achieving turnover in excess of £500,000.
For those not quite up to speed with advances in the telecoms industry, VOIP - Voice over Internet Protocol - is widely regarded as the technology of the
century as it has so many benefits. Neil Christie, technical director at Aberdeen-based communication specialist Converged, talks us through why many
companies are becoming switched on to this new advance.
Aberdeen-based Converged Communications Solutions has secured a five figure contract with
Reel Group. The start-up firm has assisted Reel Group with a complete update of its
communications infrastructure to aid future expansion.
