This article was written by ICA and published in the Stockport Times on Thursday 16th February 2012.

Whilst most of us have heard about the News of the World and their well publicised hacking into mobile phones through the voicemail, maybe not as many of us are aware that this phone hacking or phone phreaking is affecting businesses everyday. This is not limited to the UK but is a worldwide phenomenon, organised by major crime syndicates to create and launder money. It is estimated that this costs UK businesses between £1.3 billion and £1.5 billion each year!

Pre-Internet Beginnings

Prior to the internet the UK Post Office used to manage the telephone network before British Telecom was created and privatised. Hackers were able to hack into the telephone network using a series of tones to fool the system into allowing them to make free long distance calls. Often these hackers did it to prove that it could be done rather than any malicious attempt to create the industry that it now is. Now hackers access business telephony systems through the voicemail ports to make huge numbers of calls to other systems and abroad.

Facts and Figures

• The average monetary cost to a UK business is £10,000, though there is considerable time and effort spent afterwards resolving the situation too.
• Numbers called are abroad and Premium rate numbers, the most expensive
• Organisations are typically phreaked over night, or more likely, over the weekend.
• Notable organisations such as the White House and Scotland Yard have been victims previously. Companies are obviously reluctant to admit being phreaked!

What Can You Do?

There are a number of measures that can be taken to ensure that your telephone system is protected.

• Should you have more than one individual with access to the telephone system then make sure that they have different access codes.
• Immediately disable remote access codes if staff leave your organisation.
• Change your access codes and passwords from the default settings.
• Store your password information securely
• Do NOT use easy passwords such as 1234.
• Review itemised call bills
• Ask your provider about their monitoring policy.

ICA are able to provide anti-hacking software and installation for £695. Contact us now to discuss how we can prevent your business being hacked.

Here are the latest offers to Schools from May – August 2011

• 10% reduction on systems purchased
• or 3 months free on any new maintenance contract taken out before 31/07/2011.
• Money back rebate to Schools.

As total telecoms providers we have the ability to offer bespoke system packages to cater for your schools needs. We offer competitive packages for your maintenance, calls and lines, Broadband etc. We are able to tailor your telecoms requirements to meet your needs.

We have developed relationships with many schools and have coordinated upgrades and developments of systems, linking or re-locating sites with the skill and expertise earned from more than 15 years experience.

Cash Back For Schools

We offer very competitive calls, lines and mobile packages, and should you consider ICA as your chosen supplier we will return that support by financially supporting your school by giving back 1 penny in every pound to the school.

If you would like to consider a free telecoms review meeting with one of Business Development Managers, please email support@ica.co.uk or call 0845 074 3211.

Alcatel-lucent’s innovative and open IP phone that delivers the experience of a smartphone to the desk, is set to be a huge success and change the way we look at the deskphone.

Ok –  so that black thing on your desk with a reciever and buttons on is good for making and receiving calls, but wait until you see the new MyIC SDK (Software Development Kit) Phone from Alcatel-lucent.

What is it?

The My IC Phone is set be the most unique deskphone on the market combining the deskphone with smartphone technology and not to mention applications, customisation and access to API libraries. All these rolled into one means that this attractive, touch screen bit of equipment will allow you to engage a conference video call whilst composing an email and then turning the temperature down in the office all from one device. It is set to revolutionise the way we do day to day activities and can in some cases erradicate the use of a PC. You can even connect to programmes such as Skype and Facebook, and expect developers to produce downloadable content directly to your smart deskphone.

“This new device has the potential to be a game changer, transforming the role of the desktop phone from a static and closed device to becoming a more quick, convenient, and reliable alternative to complement smartphones and desktop computer”

Why will this phone be a success for hotels?

First of all it is set to simplify service options and allow guests to have instant and easy access to hotel services, communication options, entertainment choices, room controls and web applications, all through an intuitive, high resolution touch screen interface. The communication link to all the Hotel’s services straight to your room phone will allow guests to feel comfortable and in-control.

So you have just arrived at the hotel and given your room number. Once in the room and unpacked you may wish to set the A/C temperatures, Lighting ambiance and set your room to do not disturb. Just head to the Alcatel-lucent My IC Phone and do all of these options. Or maybe search the entertainment listing such as up coming TV programmes, Purchase live On Demand Films or listen to the radio or link your MP3 player to the phones dashboard.

Once you have settled in and watched copious amounts of on demand films possible, you may wish to see what the hotel has to offer. Select the Hotel Services tab and view the hotel’s listings and special offers like you would an advert on the television and book a time that suits you from your phone. The possibilities become endless.

This allows Hotels to lower overhead costs by channelling voice communications through the network, ensure guest loyalty by creating a unique service, create more brand impressions inside your hotel with a fully customisable interface and finally add revenue streams by making hotel services and multimedia content easily available and accessibile whilst making new opportunities for advertising.

The UK Telecommunication Services sector finally wriggled out of the depths of the recession in 2010, so what does this mean for 2011?

Well, without argument companies that are still feeling the pinch will look to save money and keep cost down, thus opting for convenient and reliable communication options available on the market this year. Without growth these companies will need to reduce overheads dramatically. Continue reading “What 2011 has in-store for Communications” »

The stylish new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 is the world’s first mobile device to have both a full touchscreen and the legendary BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard. We have power, we have style and we have innovation. The new BlackBerry Torch boasts an unrivalled user experience. Enjoy all the fantastic benefits of BlackBerry Torch. Slide out the full QWERTY keyboard and shoot off emails, text messages and Facebook™ status updates.

The BlackBerry Torch 9800 delivers a fantastic all round user experience with 5 Megapixel autofocus camera with flash and image stabilisation and great for social networking, web browsing and media playback.

All This For Free Continue reading “Light up your Christmas with the new Blackberry Torch” »

Download our Christmas Desktop Design.

• Select your screen resolution size
• When the image loads, right click and click ‘Save Image as’ and select a destination for your image to be saved.
• Locate the file, right click again and select ‘Set as Desktop Background’

1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, iPhone

May we take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, from all of us here at ICA. We thank you for your continued business and hope to continue to provide excellent service to you in 2011.

To get you in the Christmas spirit we have created a December Calendar Desktop Background. Please click on your screen resolution below. Instructions of how to set the image as your desktop background:

• Select your screen resolution size
• When the image loads, right click and click ‘Save Image as’ and select a destination for your image to be saved.
• Locate the file, right click again and select ‘Set as Desktop Background’

1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200, iPhone

Office Opening Hours

The times and dates stated below are our Christmas Period Opening Hours.

• December 24th  -  9am – 1pm.
• December 25th – 28th  -  Inclusive – Closed
• December 29th – 30th  -  9am – 5pm
• December 31st  -  9am – 1pm
• January 1st – 3rd   -  Closed
• January 4th   -  9am – 5pm

Once again, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Warmest Regards

ICA

Here at ICA we understand the business aims and objectives of the education sector differ from those faced by profit driven organisations.

The key success factors driving projects forward demand solutions that can deliver the latest technologies, unified communications and reduce costs but are often subject to budgets that can compromise the delivery of bespoke solutions.

ICA can offer viable options to meet the individual requirements of each establishment within the education sector from early years providers, primary and secondary schools to colleges and universities. Continue reading “ICA – Delivering Excellence to Education” »

Did you know that ICA now have a design team?

We have taken our communication skill set a step further by introducing a full design service. This new service now enables us to cater for all your design needs for things such as:

• Web Design
• Corporate
• Design for Print

We have in-house experts in grahic design, brand development, website design and printed communication. This will support our clients to stand out from the crowd by crafting considered solutions, wherther it is a logo, a brochure or a full interactive website.

If you feel your business needs to make an impact online or offline then give ICA design a call. We guarentee results that will push forward your corporate stance. With a friendly approach to design we will generate your inspiration and inject it into any project.

Call our design team now on 0161 443 5000 to discuss your requirements