| New service offers affordable, easy access to data and applications |
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London, 25th September 2008: Star, the UK's largest independent business ISP, is launching a new managed private network service, Netstar IP. The new service offers small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) a single provider for managed voice and data services at an affordable monthly fee. Connection to Star's next generation network offers companies the chance for office based, remote and mobile workers to access their internal IT systems, data and applications over a secure, resilient network connection. |
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The Netstar IP managed service comes complete with 24x7 support, dedicated customer service, built-in resilience and a comprehensive SLA package. Customers signing up for the service are provided with a router and connectivity to Star's state-of-the-art data centre and choose either to take up a hosted service offering, where data and applications are housed in the data centre, or maintain their own applications and hardware at their own premises . Connecting to Star's next generation MPLS network eliminates the need for firewalls, PBXs or PSTN break outs at each site and allows the customer to save time and money by consolidating voice, data and networks with one supplier. It offers employees at different offices or remote or mobile workers secure access to company data and applications over a private IP connection in a consistent, user friendly manner. |
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A key benefit of this managed approach is that it is ultimately scaleable and quick, easy and cost effective to add new users or offices. The service also includes bandwidth monitoring and quality of service (QoS) capabilities to prioritise real time traffic like voice, over less critical traffic such as email. Additionally, should disaster strike, the service comes with built in redundancy so that in the event of a disaster like last year's floods, the workforce can continue working from a different location with continuous access to all voice and data services. |
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According to Hugo Harber, Head of Convergence and Network Strategy at Star, "There is currently a poor choice for companies that are keen to have a single supplier for all their voice and data connectivity requirements. Our research has shown us that customers value a personalised customer service with a single point of contact for all queries. We also believe that SMBs, like larger businesses, should have access to cutting edge technology, to improve their competitive advantage. Providing secure, prioritised high speed access to all employees - whether local, remote or mobile - means that vital data and applications are accessible as and when needed, giving huge productivity and customer experience benefits." |
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Star customer; Grant Robertson of Liberty Living, which offers an online website for student accommodation across the UK comments, "The challenge we faced was how to manage a widely distributed network of offices throughout the UK. We couldn't get out to manage them face to face as we would have liked, so rely instead on good, solid uptime from our wide area networking provider Star, to be able to do the majority of our work remotely." |
The new Netstar IP managed service will be available from October directly or via Star channel partners nationwide. For further details please visit www.star.net.uk |