Category Archives: Domain Names

Domain registry GlobalR.com: Georgia’s .GE ccTLD represents an unrivaled opportunity for German business owners

GERMANY, 09-Aug-2016 — /EPR INTERNET NEWS/ — The success of thousands of German businesses is in jeopardy, hindered by the oversubscribed domain extension .DE. Soon, there will be no domains left for new businesses to register.

As the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Germany, the .DE domain extension represents a booming online marketplace serving a domestic population of over 82 million. The third most popular top-level domain (after .COM and .TK) the .DE zone has very few short or dictionary word domains left available. In no time at all, those looking to register their business online will have to choose between obscure names, misspellings, or random word combinations to secure a domain in the .DE zone. Their customers will never find them.

This is a serious problem that has the power to halt the growth of the German e-commerce industry, but there is a small group of marketers working tirelessly to address it – and they’ve found a solution.

According to GlobalR.com, a domain registry specializing in .GE domains, the entire English-speaking world knows Deutschland as Germany. To them, .DE is irrelevant and Georgia’s .GE ccTLD is the obvious choice for native German businesses. With barely 30,000 registered domains in the .GE zone, this under-utilized ccTLD represents an unrivaled opportunity for German business owners, giving them their pick of domain names and a ccTLD the majority of consumers automatically associate with Germany.

SOURCE: EuropaWire

Fasthosts Launches 32 Core Dedicated Server

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has launched a powerful new, high quality server to further bolster the Fasthosts Dedicated Server range. The new Fasthosts DS1200 server boasts Solid State Drives (SSD) and 2 x 2TB of storage, providing faster access speed, greater resilience, supreme reliability and amps of storage. The DS1200 can be run via a choice of operating systems including the latest CentOS 6 operating system, includes the Plesk 10 control panel, and features a generous allowance of storage space RAM with RAID1 protection, offering better security and performance for business users.

Dedicated Servers are the ideal solution for IT professionals and businesses that require robust server operations for applications and data storage without the capital expenditure or the physical space required for running hardware 24/7 on their premises. Fasthosts’ Dedicated Servers, currently with 50 per cent off for 3 months, offer enterprises a powerful and secure server platform and far greater flexibility than on-premise solutions.

The flagship DS1200 enables businesses to leverage a best in-class specification and performance without large CAPEX commitment. The server uses 2 x 2.4GHz AMD OpteronTM 16-core processors to deliver powerful, energy-efficient performance, meaning intensive programs can be run simultaneously without the need to slow down. Users enjoy guaranteed access to unlimited bandwidth, and retain complete hands-on (KVM) remote control of their server at all times. The DS1200 guarantees 99.99% network uptime, perfect for multiple complex calculations or to host large websites, mail or media, ensuring you and your customers get the best performance.

The Fasthosts DS1200 Dedicated Server solution also benefits from massive 64GB RAM, 2 x 120GB RAID 1 SSD hard-disk drives and 2 x 2TB RAID 1 SATA hard-disk drives.

Fasthosts also includes free SSL certificates for the first year and Plesk 10 can be added for a small monthly fee. Currently, all Fasthosts Windows Dedicated Servers are provided with 50GB of free Online Backup. For those not sure which specification would best fit their business needs, the Fasthosts website provides a guide to servers that highlights the features specifically suited to business tasks.

Especially important for business users, all data is hosted in Fasthosts’ highly secure state-of-the-art UK data centres, and receives Fasthosts’ unlimited bandwidth and 100Mbps high-speed virtual data pipe. Every Fasthosts server is maintained with the latest operating system updates to maximise efficiency and security. Technical support is provided 24/7 from the UK via the phone or online.

Claire Lewis, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said: “Our new 32 core server is an excellent opportunity to access huge processor power on an affordable basis. We are confident that even the most demanding professional users will be impressed with the performance and responsiveness. Our continued investment to build world-class UK-based infrastructure means Fasthosts servers continue to be a sound proposition for many businesses.”

As a leading web hosting provider, and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web services including domain name registrations, servers, online backup solutions, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. Fasthosts is well placed to deliver a high quality service.

Full details can be found at www.fasthosts.co.uk.

Via EPR Network
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Fasthosts Reveals Britons Not Considering How Mobile Working Can Help A New Business

Fasthosts has revealed that the majority of Britons do not consider how technology could shape a work/life balance when considering whether or not to launch their own business.

The survey of 1500 UK adults conducted by the web hosting company found that only 14 per cent would consider the impact of technology such as smartphones, notepads and Internet applications, before concluding whether or not to launch a business. Poor economic factors and fear of losing money remain the primary reasons for reluctance to start a new project. Fasthosts advises budding entrepreneurs to speak to technology providers from the very outset, as web-based tools and ecommerce can often enable far more flexible working than many realise.

As the UK economy slowly returns to growth, Fasthosts ‘Home Business Survey’* finds that there may be thousands of entrepreneurs currently ‘sitting on the fence’ over whether to launch their own business. The good news is that the vast majority of Britons (72 per cent) would consider or have considered having their own business project. However, the data suggests that a number may not take the plunge because they unaware of how much technology can help to design and manage their work.

When asked about the main factors for consideration in whether or not to launch a business project, only 14 per cent would look into what impact technology could make on their work patterns. This is despite 1 in 4 people having doubts about their ability to cope with running a business effectively. In scoping a business idea, the most popular groups to consult for strategic advice are banks (35 per cent), potential clients (31 per cent), stock suppliers (27 per cent) and then friends and family (25 per cent).

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, commented: “It is vital for anybody thinking of starting their own business to know what is technologically possible from the very start. Selling goods and even services online is often incorrectly regarded as beyond the reach of non-technical people. Family responsibilities and financial aspects are always pressures that need to be considered. However, the huge range of Internet-based tools available for mobile working means that work patterns can be far more flexible and mobile than ever before. It is vital that before deciding if a start-up project is achievable, one looks carefully at what technology is available to help.”

Of course, the decision to launch a business project should never be taken lightly. The most common factors deterring people at this time are primarily financial ones. The unattractive economic climate is most on people’s minds (36 per cent), as well as fear of losing capital (35 per cent), a lack of funding (25 per cent) and shortfalls in business knowledge (18 per cent).

Over the coming months, Fasthosts’ ‘Work Better Online’ campaign will provide information and helpful tips on working practices, tools and technologies that can help entrepreneurs to juggle a fledgling business alongside their lives. Topics will include time management, workspace design, meetings, office dynamics, productivity, communication, motivation and real life case studies discussed.

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Fasthosts, GameShadow and epic.LAN Join Forces For Online Gaming Tournament

Fasthosts, GameShadow and epic.LAN have joined forces to launch GameShadow Battles, a fantastic opportunity for gamers to win a combined prize fund of £10,000.

Launching on 14 May, GameShadow Battles invites gamers to take part in a series of challenges within two featured games: ‘Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Challenge’ and ‘Counter Strike: Source Challenge’.

Up to 128 teams will be able to take part in the tournament, with each team consisting of five players.

The prize fund, which is being provided by Fasthosts, will be divided equally between the two challenges, with each £5,000 prize to be shared between the top three finishing teams. The winning teams will collect £2,750, the runners up £1,500, and bronze medalists £750.

Additional prizes will also be on offer for teams who top the weekly scoreboards. The tournament brings together the best of the best with GameShadows’ significant following, Fasthosts world class hosting services and epic.LAN providing the gaming software and administering the tournament.

Mark Townsend, CEO of GameShadow commented: “We believe that this will be a thrilling battle with some of the best gamers around the UK teaming up to win not only a cash prize but also recognition in the gaming community. We are excited to be working with epic.LAN and Fasthosts, and are grateful to them for providing the support we need for such a substantial tournament. We can’t wait for the action to start.”

Steve Holford, Marketing Director of Fasthosts, stated: “We are delighted to support this inaugural GameShadow Battles tournament. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase to the gaming community the quality, performance and value of our range of hosted services and servers. Over a million customers rely on us every day to provide their websites, email and other online services, and as such this is a natural development and one we are delighted to partner with GameShadow and epic.LAN on.”

Jon Winkle, Managing Director at epic.LAN, commented: “We’re really excited to be involved in an online tournament on this scale. We hope that the gaming community will turn out in their droves. With the prizes on offer, it should be an unmissable opportunity for any gamer.”

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LIMA Networks Puts Autonet Insurance In The Fast Lane With New Storage Infrastructure

Independent IT solutions provider LIMA Networks has helped one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers to revamp its data storage infrastructure, resulting in greater flexibility and impressive cost savings.

Autonet Insurance Services Ltd, Britain’s biggest independently-owned broker in the consumer and business van insurance field, called on Manchester-based LIMA Networks to help it move away from a storage infrastructure solution that had become expensive to maintain and grow, and difficult to administer.

As a financial services company with more than five million customer enquiries per month and a need to comply with industry regulation concerning data management and recovery, Autonet needed LIMA Networks to provide an IT solution that met all of the company’s various needs. This was achieved through a NetApp and VMware virtualised solution, which saw Autonet switch from using 30 physical servers to 15 virtual servers.

As well as reducing the company’s server estate considerably and improving efficiency and manageability, through the use of NetApp Autonet now has flexible disaster recovery technology which helps ensure business continuity.

Nik Potts, head of IT at Autonet, said: “I now have I now have real flexibility and have been able to achieve 90 per cent cost savings from year to year. I would wholeheartedly recommend NetApp to other firms.

“I feel a giant weight has been taken off my mind. I’ve genuinely been better able to sleep at night. I know I now have a very reliable data storage function matched by a full disaster recovery capability.”

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College Hails ‘Future-Proofed’ ICT System

A college in Salford, Greater Manchester, says it has effectively future-proofed its ICT service to students and cut storage by half, after joining forces with Lima Networks to implement a restructuring of its IT system.

Salford City Academy, which accommodates 670 students from the Salford and Eccles area, approached Lima after coming to the conclusion that its existing infrastructure was ill-equipped to meet the future needs of its pupils. Among the concerns raised about the old system was that it was relatively slow to respond to users’ needs, meaning that staff and students alike were having to ensure an extended wait before being able to open network files.

Having been selected by the college as its solution partner, Lima Networks got to work on replacing the old infrastructure with a NetApp and VMware vSphere 4 configuration, which not only improved performance and consolidated storage, but also offers sufficient flexibility to ensure it continues to meet the requirements of students and staff well into the future. The installation was completed in August 2010 – right at the start of the academic year – and the new system has made a big difference to the way the college operates.

“What I particularly liked with this approach was the full disaster recovery suite that was included; this could really deal with some ongoing back-up issues,” said Salford City Academy’s network manager, Andrew Lawton.

Mr Lawton’s aim was to resolve the problem of physical limitations on storage, whilst also trying to make the college’s ICT capabilities more environmentally-friendly. There have been a number of benefits following the restructuring, with innovations such as virtual desktop infrastructure also helping to avoid the additional costs associated with forking out for replacement hardware.

“I think the engineering here was extremely good and the partner really understood our requirements. I have to say that at the outset our Principal was a bit nervous about all this but he’s very happy now – as are we all,” he added.

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Leading Construction Company Builds Virtual Reliability With Help From LIMA Networks

A world leading construction company has overhauled its IT systems with the help of IT solutions specialists LIMA Networks and, as a result, has cut its downtime and improved efficiency by no end.

The company, Tensar Technologies, is at the forefront of technology-driven civil engineering and road building and provides services that utilise modern technologies. Rather than following traditional methods of construction, Tensar is constantly searching for newer and better ways in which it can develop sustainable solutions for its clients. The Blackburn-based company employs over 800 people and has clients in many different countries.

However, due to its high-demand, Tensar requires a fully operational storage area network (SAN) system that is both flexible and stable, as well as giving a high standard of return on investment. According to Tensar’s Network Manager, Steve Carroll, its current SAN solution was ‘taking an unacceptably long time’, which led to downtime that cost the company money.

At this point, Tensar Technologies turned to LIMA Networks for help. As a NetApp Gold Partner, LIMA Networks was able to present a new SAN solution that would enable Tensar to achieve its desired levels of storage efficiency, storage utilisation, backup ability and virtual system changes.

LIMA Networks installed a new SAN architecture with a VMware vSphere 4.1 operating system that allowed Exchange and SQL databases to be accessed by all users. LIMA Networks also fitted a NetApp FAS2040 as a primary storage device and a FAS2020 as a secondary device, which was located at the disaster recovery site. These devices made backups take minutes rather than hours, making Tensar Technologies more efficient, and helped to improve storage utilisation by up to 40 per cent.

“We worked closely with LIMA Networks who understood our business requirements,” said Steve Carroll. “I can now be confident a user in China who needs servicing can be helped, no matter what time it is in the UK; the flexibility and reliability of the new solution absolutely enables us to maintain service delivery 24×7.”

LIMA Networks has helped Tensar Technologies in upgrading its IT systems to a level that allows the company to get a much better grip on its services. To find out more about LIMA Networks, visit www.limanetworks.com now.

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FastVision Web Hosting Success

FastVision the UK based hosting company in Cheltenham has been growing rapidly making it one of the fastest growing hosting companies in the UK. In its 10th year of Business FastVision has now not only won hosting awards but also the hearts of the customers. The great lengths that the customer service team and technical support guys have gone to is clear as FastVision has glowing reviews all over the internet when other Hosting providers seem to be struggling with negative reviews and even hate sites setup informing potential new customers about terrible experiences.

As with all business with company growth the most important factor of success is planning ahead and ensuring that the resources are available before the growth of clients and in the hosting environment this is far more important to get right than any other business.

Investment into hardware ensuring that the servers are running fast and load balancing clients across servers to keep the servers running optimal. Web services can be difficult to manage if the process is not controlled due to the nature of hosting as individuals or companies using shared hosting will be in control of uploading files that can potentially have problems. This is where most hosting companies fall over with failures to other clients due to one client doing something wrong.

Speaking with the Director of FastVision, he explained how his passion for success is fuelled by the glowing reviews and all the investment into new hardware, bespoke hosting software and data centre facilities has been a major part of the success story of FastVision as a business. He also explained that FastVision on a daily basis has people moving from other hosting providers to the FastVision network when the drop off of clients from FastVision is minimal and this gives a good indication that we are doing something right.

Customer service is something that every hosting company should invest in and yet the competitors appear to focus less on this, but this lack of customer care has helped with FastVision’s growth.

The FastVision network is one of the fastest hosting networks available in the shared and business hosting areas and this is something that FastVision work very hard to get right. The pricing structure is also one of the most competitive available with starter hosting at only £1.49 per month and this hosting package allows you to host unlimited websites within a single account, something no other hosting company can compete with.

The high end Business hosting is one of FastVision most popular accounts offer everything from 100,000 MB of web space and 200 IMAP / POP mail boxes with 400,000 MB of space for emails, 15 x MySQL Databases with 15,000 MB of storage space and to top it off the business hosting also comes with a FREE 2048 bit SSL certificate and all this for only £9.99 a month.

Dedicated server hosting and cloud hosting is something that FastVision are now pushing hard and it seems again that they have ticked all the boxes and the planning for the services before going live will make this a massive success.

For more information about the FastVision hosting services visit fastvision.com/Hosting.fvnx

FastVision are also starting to dominate the domain registrations of .co.uk domain names due to being selling domain names at the lowest prices available on the internet.

The domain name search checker page offers at a quick glance a list of all types of domains avaialble and registered.

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Fasthosts Urges Small Firms To Work More Closely With Their Tech Suppliers

Fasthosts has revealed that 48 per cent of firms regularly make substantial purchases of new technology without being certain they fully need them.

According to the new research from the UK web hosting provider, data from 788 UK small firms* found a huge divide in terms of success with using technology in the workplace. For 1 in 3 firms, implementing new business technology such as smartphones, notepads and computer software, has failed to improve efficiencies. Only 1 in 4 SMEs seeks advice from an IT professional. Furthermore, only 1 in 10 firms disappointed with a piece of technology has gone back to their technology supplier or IT advisor to ask for help. The study concludes that it is vital for businesses to plan technology investments properly, working with suppliers to ensure the correct systems are purchased to address the required needs. Firms can save money by evaluating their needs earlier in the process.

Fasthosts’ ‘Business Technology Audit’ found that too many firms today struggle with the way they buy and use technology for their work. Whilst the vast majority are upbeat about technology, many find success with new technology items to be rather hit-or-miss. A total of 35 per cent admit that their latest technology purchases have either led them to work longer hours or failed to impact their work efficiencies. Furthermore, only 41 per cent of respondents believe that staff find using technology to be enjoyable, and 1 in 5 firms employ staff who are frightened of receiving new technology. Some 48 per cent have indeed achieved more efficient or ‘smarter working’ through their use of technology.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, commented: “Busy business owners can struggle to find the time and advice needed to ensure all technology investments are well placed. A lacks approach to researching technology in relation to their needs can lead firms to waste money on solutions that simply do not perform”.

Alarmingly, only 11 per cent of UK small firms review whether a technology has worked well after every new piece is introduced. Only 1 in 10 disappointed with the impact a technology has made, has addressed this with either the supplier or IT advisor who provided it. Surprisingly, only 1 in 4 firms seek the advice of an IT professional before they make substantial investments in technology, a worrying trend which shows businesses should work with their suppliers before purchase to ensure they buy the right solution.

Holford added: “It is vital to plan technology investments properly, working with suppliers to ensure the correct systems are purchased to address the required needs. Knowledge is often the key, so contact suppliers to ask for advice, guidelines, case studies or examples of best-practice usage before an investment and on an on-going basis”.

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Fasthosts Reveals 1 In 3 Consumers Has Posted A Negative Review Of A Firm Online

Fasthosts, a leading UK web hosting provider, has revealed that one third of British consumers has posted negative material online relating to a company or product.

The survey of 1300 UK consumers* commissioned by the web hosting company found that it is now common place for Britons to express their gripes openly online, most commonly on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as online forums. Over half of young adults have published negative online reviews. Encouragingly for firms, the vast majority of consumers are willing to give a company a second chance if it responds well to their online complaints.

Whilst willingness to share frustrations online is equal across both genders, the issue ranges in frequency according to age. Younger Britons are far more likely to publish their grievances. Some 52 per cent of under 24 year olds have turned to the web in this way. 39 per cent aged 25-34, and 38 per cent of adults aged between 45-54 years have done so. 1 in 4 of those older (28 per cent) vented their concerns online. Geographical location also appears to be a driver, with the issue most common in the south east (38 per cent) and far north of England, such as North East (37 per cent).

However, some 84 per cent of consumers would forgive a company for mistakes and be willing to use it again if the firm engaged with their negative online review and discussed the issues with them.

It appears that few British companies are seeing the benefits of getting to grips with the issue of negative online material. Data from 400 UK small businesses** reveals that few UK companies choose to interact with customers who publish negative material about them. Despite the prevalence of online complaints, only 12 per cent of small firms have ever engaged with an online complaint.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, commented: “It is understandable that many business owners’ first instinct may be to shy away from their customers’ online complaints. However, addressing negative online material enables a company to learn about their customer experience as well as improve their customer retention and online reputation.”

Graham Jones, Internet Psychologist, added: “People who want to complain about a company are getting a sense of freedom and power as a result of social networks and feel encouraged to make such complaints. As a result, this is a growing problem for companies and is something they must do as a matter of routine. Interestingly, several studies show that when people have their complaints positively responded to they are more supportive of the business than they were before the complaint was made. Psychological research shows this is linked to the fact that when the complaint is responded to well, people feel as though they are being cared for, which produces positive emotional responses.”

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Namesco Urges Customers To Switch To Annual Packages

Leading Internet solutions company, Namesco, are urging customers to switch to annual payment packages on web hosting tools, as recent findings have shown consumers are generally paying too much for windows hosting packages on the open market.

A recent study, conducted by Namesco themselves, suggests that whilst monthly payment plans on web hosting products may seem cheaper, in reality users are ultimately paying more.

The company claims they could save their customers two months worth of monthly payments if they simply switched to their annual payment scheme- when upgrading their web hosting tools.

The study also showed that most Internet sites, selling web hosting products to consumers, displayed the price of their packages at a monthly rate, effecting purchasing behavior.

“It’s just a form of psychological pricing really.” said a spokesperson for Namesco, commenting on the findings. “Web hosting packages often seem cheap because the payment rates are shown ‘per month’ instead of ‘per year’. Of course, if consumers changed the price to ‘per year’ the price would seem a lot higher.”

“However, if consumers just did the calculations, they’d find that they’re in fact paying more when opting to pay on a monthly basis. We’re urging all our customers to switch from their monthly hosting plans to annual payments when they upgrade their web packages- they’ll get the equivalent of two months payment free.”

Customers, who currently own a registered Namesco account, can easily upgrade their web hosting package by logging-on to the company’s website.

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Fasthosts Launches New Dedicated Servers

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has launched two brand new high quality servers to further bolster the Fasthosts Dedicated Server range.

The new Fasthosts DS710i and DS910i both boast the new Sandy Bridge chipset and Intel Core i5 Processors, providing faster processing speeds and supreme reliability. Both solutions can be run via the latest CentOS 6 operating system and Plesk 10, and feature generous allowances of storage space, RAM and RAID1 protection. Fasthosts’ Dedicated Servers, currently with 50 per cent off for 2 months, offer enterprises a powerful and secure server platform and far greater flexibility than on-premise solutions.

Dedicated Servers are the ideal solution for IT professionals and businesses that require robust server operations for applications and data storage without the capital expenditure or the physical space required for running hardware 24/7 on their premises. Fasthosts servers use the latest Intel processors to deliver powerful, energy-efficient performance, meaning intensive programs can be run simultaneously without the need to slow down. Users enjoy guaranteed access to unlimited bandwidth, and retain complete hands on (KVM) remote control of their server at all times.

The Fasthosts DS710i Dedicated Server solution delivers high performance via its 2.8Ghz Intel Quad Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 2 x 1000GB RAID protected hard disk drives. Fasthosts DS910i offers even higher performance with a 3.1Ghz Intel Quad Core i5 processor, 12GB RAM and 2 x 2000GB RAID protected hard disk drives.

Fasthosts also includes free SSL certificates for the first year and Plesk 10 can be added at an additional cost. Currently, all servers are provided with 50GB of free Online Backup for Windows servers.

Especially important for business users, all data is hosted in Fasthosts’ highly secure state-of-the-art UK data centres, and receives Fasthosts’ unlimited bandwidth and 100Mbps high-speed virtual data pipe. Every Fasthosts server is maintained with the latest operating system updates to maximise efficiency and security. Technical support is provided 24/7 from the UK via the phone or online.

Steve Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said: “Our latest servers have been added to ensure we keep ahead of the competition. Our fusion of Intel Sandy Bridge Quad Core processors with world-class UK infrastructure means Fasthosts servers will be an excellent proposition for demanding users.”

As a leading web hosting provider, and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web services including domain name registrations, servers, online backup solutions, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. Fasthosts is well placed to deliver a high quality service.

Full details can be found at www.fasthosts.co.uk.

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Fasthosts Voted ‘Best Web Host’

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has announced that it has won ‘Best Web Host’ in the Computer Shopper Magazine Awards 2011. Fasthosts was chosen from a fiercely competitive market as the best UK provider of web hosting. The Award was secured entirely on votes cast by the readers of Computer Shopper magazine and expertreviews.co.uk. Fasthosts shook-off aggressive efforts from a number of hosts and ISPs.

Fasthosts has continued to launch innovative products during the past year such a Fasthosts Online Backup. The scope of Fasthosts’ products and services is a reflection of how vital the Web now is for businesses and individuals alike. Since 1999, Fasthosts has been at the forefront of developing powerful but intuitive and affordable hosted solutions for capitalizing on the Web.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been voted ‘Best Web Host’ in these popular awards. We are most pleased that it has been decided solely by the public. There are a number of strong providers in the UK web hosting market, which makes the award even more pleasing. Fasthosts is privileged to have shared in the online success of hundreds of thousands of its customers.”

“Fasthosts was the clear favourite web hosting provider in the Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews Reader Awards Survey 2011. More readers were satisfied with Fasthosts’ service than that of any other provider,” commented Chris Finnamore, Reviews Editor of Computer Shopper Magazine.

As well as packages for creating a web presence, such as domain names, shared and dedicated hosting, Fasthosts now delivers hosted solutions for flexible online business including virtual servers, online storage and back-up, and tools for ecommerce, online marketing and collaboration.

(DCoD) service, was recognised for providing outstanding virtualised solutions and service. The award further recognises Fasthosts’ ability to address end customers’ business challenges and utilise technology innovation to address these. The company has also won the Microsoft Hyper-V Cloud Partner Award 2011.

Holford added: “In today’s digital climate, providers like Fasthosts have an important part to play in bringing technologies enjoyed by large enterprises to within the grasp of every computer user. We will continue to invest heavily and leverage our technical experience to achieve this.”

As a leading web hosting provider, and Technology Sponsor of The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web solutions including domain name registrations, web hosting, dedicated and virtual servers, email hosting, secure online storage and back-up, online payment services, reseller hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. Fasthosts is well placed to deliver a high quality service.

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BT Offers Small Businesses A ‘Kickstart’

BT Business has launched a finance scheme offering start-ups the chance to lease up to £15,000 worth of technology and telecommunications solutions. Under the ‘Kick Start Scheme’, in conjunction with Shire Leasing, new businesses trading for under three years will be eligible for funding subject to credit vetting.

BT’s ‘KickStart Scheme’, available through BT Local Business, aims to help small businesses raise funds in a challenging economic climate and to avoid having to rely on bank loans, overdrafts or credit cards.

‘KickStart’ offers start-ups the opportunity to purchase a range of technology and communications products and services including business telephone systemsbusiness mobiles, handsets, connection charges, software licences and IT equipment such as laptops, as well as small business IT support. The scheme is open to all industry types and has very flexible underwriting, aimed at delivering higher acceptance levels for new-start companies. An average £3,000 loan will cost less than £20 per week and can be added to as the business grows.

Declan McGlone, general manager of BT Finance, BT Business said: “The UK has an average of 270,000 start-up businesses every year. In light of the current economic climate we want to help these businesses access the products and services they need to get their new venture up and running. Our ‘KickStart Scheme’ offers finance over a fixed term, at a fixed rate, making it easier for customers to budget.”

One business that has already benefitted from a similar scheme with Shire Leasing is A.I. Global Media Ltd. The publishing company, established in November 2010, needed funding to purchase a technology and communications solution for its eight staff working on a new corporate finance publication.

Jane Peter, director, A.I. Global Media Ltd, said: “When starting out, it was crucial to launch the business in the most cost effective way possible. We needed to install a BT Versatility phone and broadband system, so that staff could work on the magazine straight away, but couldn’t afford any major spend. The leasing scheme allowed us to get the equipment we needed at a fixed rate and also meant we keep what capital we had in the bank to ensure we had some cash flow. This scheme really helped us get our business off the ground and we now have over 53,000 subscribers to our magazine.”

Karina Knudsen, Head of Business Development at the British Chambers of Commerce also welcomed the launch: “The BCC has long called for more support for small businesses. Financing that specifically helps start and grow new ventures will considerably reduce the current credit difficulties that owners face.”

New and existing BT Business customers will be able to take up the ‘KickStart Scheme’ offers as long as they have been trading for under three years, subject to a credit check. For more information about ‘KickStart’ and other BT products and services, interested parties can contact BT Local Business at www.btlocalbusiness.co.uk.

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Fasthosts Warns Small Firms Not To Spam Their Customers

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has warned UK businesses not to spam their customers with unsolicited newsletters and marketing emails.

Over the past year, the company has seen an 88 per cent rise in the number of spam reports it has received, most commonly where consumers have reported business customers for allegedly sending spam to them. The data lends weight to the theory that the challenging economy and increasingly competitive online marketplace has perhaps led more small firms to cut corners with their email communication. The company recommends that small companies take necessary steps to ensure that emails are only sent to the right recipients who have opted-in to receive them.

As more UK firms are adopting email marketing as a valuable sales and communication channel, it would appear that the problem of business-related spam is escalating. According to Fasthosts, from June 2010 to June 2011 the company has received 88 per cent more reports from the public regarding genuine businesses who they believe have sent them unsolicited and unwanted emails. A proportion of cases required investigation and/or action by the provider such as a warning or locking of the relevant email account. In most cases, Fasthosts needed only to provide best practice email advice to the relevant business.

Stephen Holford, Marketing Director, Fasthosts Internet, said: “In a tough economy, small businesses may be tempted to be more aggressive with the frequency of mailings, or begin to take for granted their right to email a contact base. Every firm must respect the value that consumers place on their Inbox, and take the proper measures to ensure they use email professionally and ethically.”

Internet Psychologist Graham Jones said: “Unwanted email is a major issue which causes frustration, annoyance and stress. If a business emails people without paying proper attention to opt-in systems they can expect increased negativity from their customers and their prospects. And with the ease with which people can complain about companies on social networks, there is the obvious potential for reputational damage too.”

Jones added: “When people are asked to define spam they simply talk about emails they did not request – no matter who those messages come from. Many businesses think they are merely doing ’email marketing’ but their customers actually think they are spamming. There is a clear difference in thinking between many businesses and their customers – and that is bad for reputation and revenue.”

Whilst still rare, it is possible for businesses to become involved in the distribution of spam without even realising. Problems can arise as a result of their email becoming compromised locally, commonly through a virus or Trojan on their hardware such as a PC. It is vital that all businesses they keep mailboxes secure and regularly update passwords to minimise the risk of exploitation of their domain or mail servers.

Holford added: “Whilst spam is not new, the damage that it can do to business reputation and customer loyalty should definitely be cause for thought. The more responsibility a company shows towards their use of email, the more credible and rewarding email marketing will become as a channel.”

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Fasthosts Launches Hosted Microsoft Exchange 2010 Email Packages

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting provider, has launched a brand new range of high quality email packages based on Microsoft Exchange 2010. The solutions offer businesses and private users alike the very latest functionality for email, including mobile emailing and can improve productivity with shared calendars, tasks and contacts accessible from any computer. The feature-packed and robust email platform is ideal for small or medium sized businesses to equip their staff with varying levels of mailbox functionality for different types of user. In addition, Fasthosts new email packages deliver an efficient mobile email system which can lead to increased productivity and better response times for businesses in handling customer enquiries.

Fasthosts is a long-standing expert in delivering hosted Microsoft Exchange email solutions. The high quality features and reliability of the platform make it a popular choice for many UK firms. Fasthosts’ new Microsoft Exchange 2010 based packages provide ways to handle email more speedily and professionally. Free inclusive Microsoft Outlook software for PC or Mac enables users to synchronize email from multiple mailboxes, track email conversations, share calendar availability within groups, and manage work schedules with ease. Auto responders can be used to automatically respond to incoming emails. Forwarders and Catch-all Email can be used to distribute incoming emails effectively and manage which addresses are used as public-facing.

Remote access to email is now an important issue for many firms. All Fasthosts email packages now benefit from Microsoft Outlook 2010 Web App, a webmail solution for working flexibly from any computer. Email, contacts and calendars are updated in real-time so users always have the latest data to hand. Fasthosts Business email packages feature Microsoft ActiveSync, a simple to set up software that makes it easy to use the platform from a mobile device or tablet. The solution provides email, calendar, contacts and tasks synchronized directly to a mobile device.

For personal users, the Fasthosts Personal Email package is a highly affordable way to send professional, personalised email from a domain name. The 2 x 1GB virus and spam protected mailboxes are ideal for handling large attachments, an additional 5 x 100MB mailboxes included, and 10 email forwarders. For users whose mobile devices do not support full Exchange, IMAP Access enables users to access email in a slimmed down format on most handsets.

The Fasthosts Business email range now starts with the Business Standard package, which features 1 highest specification Professional mailbox, 5 Starter mailboxes and 20 email forwarders. The Business Premium package includes 3 Professional mailboxes, 2 Starter Plus mailboxes, a further unlimited Starter mailbox and unlimited email forwarders. Especially important for business users, all email data is hosted in Fasthosts’ highly secure state-of-the-art UK data centres, and benefits from industry-leading virus scanning and multi-level spam filtering. Fasthosts also provides the reassurance of a dedicated technical support team on hand 24/7.

Steve Holford, marketing director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said: “Firms of all sizes are learning that how email is handled can affect customer spend and loyalty. Our latest Exchange-powered packages enable a business to handle email and calendars more effectively across teams, and access important materials 24/7 from outside the workplace. The newest functionality can further help drive efficiencies and ensure that maximum value is had from every email sent and received”.

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A Domain Name And Web Hosting Expert Offers Customers The Chance To Build Their Own Site For Less Than £10 A Month

Names.co.uk is building on its reputation for top-quality professional web hosting – including superior linux hosting – with an improved, and easier to navigate Sitemaker area on its website, www.names.co.uk.

Curious would-be sitemakers can even take a free 14 day trial of the package, which allows up to 15 web pages to be created, as well as 20 MB of web storage space and 1GB monthly bandwidth.

Simply upgrading to £4.58 per month for the regular Sitemaker package immediately entitles customers to a free .uk domain name, 5 email accounts, 500 MB of email storage space – not to mention 500 MB of web storage space (doubled from 250 MB in 2011) and 10 GB monthly bandwidth.

Names.co.uk has also recently introduced its upgraded Sitemaker PRO package, which has doubled its offer of 500MB web storage to 1000 MB, and also offers 20 GB monthly bandwidth, unlimited web pages and a PayPal shop, as well as increased email storage space and addresses.

Names.co.uk is sure that these generous offers will be music to the ears of online entrepreneurs as well as bloggers and writers looking to professionalise their internet product.

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New website creation intensifies the importance for quality of web hosting confirm Names.co.uk

There are over 90 million .COM domain names on the World Wide Web. As each year passes more new websites are created, yet this number is decreasing, report Pingdom.com. In 2009, 47 million new websites were added to Webospshere, with only 21.4 added in 2010. An over 50% drop in new website creation points to a number of web-based factors. Despite the popularity of new website creation, it has become increasingly hard to get sites noticed, well hosted and picked up by search engines, online users or potential website customers. Names.co.uk offer effective web hosting for both personal and professional website platforms and provide expert advice for those hoping to set up and maintain their own web pages. In time where only well-developed sites will succeed, it is imperative to ensure your website stands out from the crowd.

With award-winning excellence since 1996 and voted the best for shared web hosting for three years running, Names.co.uk are among the UK’s top hosting companies. Whether you are looking to set up or get your website online, Names.co.uk provides all the right support and know-how to make your web hosting dreams happen. Choose between starter kits that are ideal for the personal and small company website, professional packages for powerful business hosting, premium hosting for high traffic business websites and platinum packages for developer and reseller hosting.

Each web hosting package from Names.co.uk comes equipped with the right technical features and support for the website in question. Each package also includes a free domain name, bandwidth, email accounts, web storage space and a free advertising voucher from Simply.com. Quality web hosting only comes with bespoke website maintenance and support. For this reason, Names.co.uk provide fast and friendly help from their expert UK-based team, plus all customers are guaranteed access to a 24/7 online support centre. Whilst the total number of websites sits at over 260 million, a rise from over the last two years, the importance of quality web site hosting and development has never been greater. Log onto Names.co.uk now to secure web hosting that will see your site sit above the rest.

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BT Openzone to enhance Internet services across Hilton Worldwide’s UK and Ireland hotels

BT Openzone has entered into a strategic agreement with Hilton Worldwide to provide a fully-managed suite of Wi-Fi and Internet services across hotels in the U.K. and Ireland. The new technology will provide a tenfold increase in bandwidth and an even more consistent, high-quality online experience for guests at nearly 100 Hilton Worldwide properties beginning in Autumn 2011.

This agreement provides guests with BT Openzone Wi-Fi access, high-speed broadband, conference and event services in more than 17,000 bedrooms, public areas and meeting and conference spaces, including 24-hour customer support. The new Wi-Fi service will be available free of charge to all Gold and Diamond Hilton HHonors members and over five million BT Total broadband customers. BT Openzone users and customers from iPass, AT&T and other BT Openzone roaming partners can also use the super-fast broadband when visiting the hotels.

“We are committed to providing our guests with access to the very latest technology, complementing our world class hospitality, and are delighted to collaborate with BT Openzone to deliver an outstanding service in the U.K. and Ireland,” said Robert Webb, Chief Information Officer, Hilton Worldwide. “This deal builds on last year’s agreement with AT&T in the United States and Canada as we look to partner with the very best technology providers around the world.”

Chris Bruce, CEO, BT Openzone, said: “The growing number of travellers with mobile devices such as tablet computers and smartphones, means guests increasingly expect to be able to log on wherever they are and with a fast and reliable connection. BT currently has 2.8 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the U.K. and Ireland. By expanding our coverage at Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of hotels, we are demonstrating our commitment in providing leading edge technology services to partners in a very demanding service environment.”

BT Openzone will use an ‘above property’, centralised cloud computing architecture, and will oversee network operations, guest Internet support, network engineering, software development and 24/7 network monitoring for Hilton Worldwide’s business Wi-Fi and Internet services.

Hilton Worldwide’s portfolio of six brands in the U.K. and Ireland includes Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Doubletree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton.

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Fasthosts Launches New Business Broadband Packages

Fasthosts Internet Ltd, a leading web hosting and Internet services provider, has announced a brand new range of ADSL packages specifically designed for business needs. The Fasthosts Broadband range is now faster and more feature-packed, with a 24Mb entry-level package. A new fibre optic package offers up to 40Mb downloads, over 7 times faster than the UK average, enabling businesses to increase productivity and fully benefit from hosted services and cloud computing.

The Fasthosts Business Broadband range now comprises: the entry-level ADSL Lite (with 20GB monthly usage), alongside unlimited plans ADSL Premium, and ADSL 2 Plus both featuring a download speed of up to 24Mb. Furthermore, Fasthosts’ new unlimited flagship VDSL Premium package uses fibre optic technology to deliver up to a massive 40Mb download connection, and up to 10Mb upload speeds. Packages benefit from free set-up, and up to 2 static IP addresses.

Fasthosts Business Broadband is equipped to deliver business users consistently high speed connections and value for money. With unlimited usage, businesses can download whatever they need to at all times, without the need to restrict users. Up to 40Mb speeds better equip firms to efficiently perform data intensive tasks such as sending and receiving large documents, graphics or media files, video conferencing or using web-based software. Faster ADSL can bring to life more flexible working with quicker VPN access to internal systems. By using the inclusive IP addresses, businesses can reduce their communications costs with IP and video calling.

Steve Holford, marketing director, Fasthosts Internet Ltd., said: “Many businesses prefer an all-in-one approach to buying their Internet services. For some, that means making-do with either sub-standard hosting or ADSL bolted-on by their ISP. With Fasthosts firms can benefit from truly business-class broadband alongside high performance and award-winning UK hosting services”.

Fasthosts provides UK-based business broadband experts, on hand to provide free support by telephone or online.

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