Business Broadband with Midland Networks

At Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, we understand that a fast and reliable internet connection is critical to your business. We offer a range of business broadband packages to cater for the diverse needs of different businesses.

We will take the time to understand the unique needs of your business, so that we can tailor our broadband packages accordingly. Our business broadband starts from as little as £15 per month and even our standard service is a business-class up to 24Mb broadband.

Subject to availability, we can offer superfast fibre broadband with up to 80Mb download and 20Mb upload speeds. Fibre broadband is ideal for the latest VoIP business telephone systems and with superfast broadband, voice quality will be excellent.

If a reliable internet connection is absolutely critical to your business, we can offer leased lines on a bespoke basis. Leased lines are perfect for businesses that have a need for high-end connectivity. Our leased lines give you the flexibility to decide the bandwidth you need, so you benefit from a fully customised package and only pay for what you actually need.

We also offer EFM services, for business seeking a fast and reliable connection, without the higher cost of a leased line. EFM is a cost-effective solution that offers an uncontended connection with fast installation times.

At Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, we are part of the connection vouchers scheme. This is a government grant initiative to boost business broadband services nationwide. If you are looking for business broadband in Birmingham, West Midlands, you can benefit from a grant of up to £3000 for faster, improved, broadband.

If you are looking for a premium business internet connection, at a competitive price, then contact Midland Telecom Networks Ltd today on 0800 849 8585. 

Why Choose Midland Networks for Hosted Telephony?

At Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, we are experts in business telephone systems. We have many years of experience in all aspects of business communications, from supply and installation through to telephone system maintenance and support. We believe that this makes us the best choice for hosted telephone systems.

A hosted telephone system is a cost-effective option that gives you complete peace of mind that your communications are supported by an experienced team of experts. Our hosted telephony solutions offer a simple way to retain all of the features of a high-end telephone system, at a fraction of the cost.

With our unique hosted telephony service, you will benefit from advanced features such as call recording and unified messaging, free voicemail and faxing to the desk. You will save money as there will be no initial capital outlay, no maintenance costs and no expensive telephone lines. You will also benefit from superior call quality and free handset upgrades. Should you relocate to new premises, you will benefit from business continuity by keeping your existing telephone number, regardless of the location you move to.

With a hosted system from Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, all ongoing support and maintenance services – including remote changes and reconfiguring – come at no additional cost. All of the equipment is housed in our data centre, which is supported by our in-house engineers. This means that you have complete peace of mind with full technical management. This can save you money over the long term, as you won’t have the additional expense of a maintenance and support contract, or emergency engineers if a fault occurs.

So, if you are looking for a hassle-free solution to your business communications then contact Midland Telecom Networks Ltd today on 0800 849 8585, to find out how your business can benefit from our hosted telephony solutions.

VoIP Phone Systems for Small Businesses

In the past, the latest technologies were often financially out of reach for small businesses. However, innovations in communications technology in recent years have led to circumstances in which the latest technologies are not only within the reach of small businesses, but can even be the most financially viable option. This is particularly true with VoIP phone systems for small businesses. Many small businesses may be reluctant to migrate to VoIP, because it is still a relatively new technology. However, small businesses that have made the switch are now enjoying all the business benefits this technology offers. In this article, we cover the main benefits of switching to a VoIP phone system for small businesses.

Advanced features

With a VoIP phone system, you can benefit from the kind of advanced features that were previously only available with high-end business telephone systems. This includes voicemail, auto attendant, call forwarding, caller ID, conference calling and many more. Armed with advanced features your business can create a professional image, deliver a better service to customers, reduce costs and increase efficiency and productivity. This will ultimately enable you to compete with larger companies, increase your revenue and achieve faster growth. With all the benefits that advanced features bring, you could see a substantial return on your investment in short space of time.

Simplified communications

A VoIP phone system can offer simplified communications by combining data, voice and video into a single service. This way, your communications are easy to use and easy to manage. A combined network can reduce costs by eliminating the need for extensive cabling and reducing the costs that are associated with paying for separate services. It is also easier to secure a combined network and it can offer greater flexibility to your employees, with easy network access from a variety of locations. This means that you can support remote working, which is a great way for small businesses to reduce costs. Simplified communications also help to speed up working processes for greater efficiency and productivity.

Lower costs

Cost-efficiency is particularly important for small businesses with limited capital and a VoIP phone system can reduce costs in several ways. Firstly, it is typically much cheaper to install a VoIP phone system compared to a traditional telephone system. This is because the same extensive cabling and costly equipment is not required. It is even possible to integrate VoIP into your existing system using an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adapter).

Secondly, you can save money on the cost of your calls with a VoIP phone system as calls tend to be much cheaper than with traditional charge-per-minute telephone lines. It is even cheaper to make long distance and international calls. Money saved on the cost of calls can add up to a significant amount over the course of a few weeks or months.

Another way to save money with VoIP is by opting for a hosted VoIP phone system. With a hosted phone system, all of the larger and more expensive equipment is housed by the service provider. This means that you won’t have any initial costs, but instead you will pay a regular charge for the service. The service will include all ongoing maintenance and support, freeing you from all technical tasks and the extra cost of annual support contracts. A hosted VoIP phone system is the ideal solution for small businesses with less space and fewer resources.

For more information about VoIP phone systems for small businesses, contact Midland Networks today on 0800 849 8585. 

Leased Lines

Does your business have a need for high-end connectivity? If the answer is yes, then it might be time to invest in a leased line. Modern businesses, in general, require fast and reliable broadband connections in order to operate. There are many different types of business broadband connections that can offer speed and reliability, but the levels of speed and reliability do vary depending on the connection you choose. With leased lines, you can benefit from the highest possible speeds and a reliable service that is guaranteed. Businesses can incur significant losses as a result of downtime, so if the internet is absolutely essential to the daily operations of your business, then a leased line could be the best option for you.

Fibre Optic Cabling

As opposed to many alternatives, leased lines use fibre optic cabling instead of copper wires. Whereas conventional copper cables transmit data using electrical signals, fibre cables use pulses of light so data is transmitted as light signals and at light speeds in a fibre optic network. Fibre optic cabling carries more bandwidth than copper alternatives, allowing you to transport more data over the network. Fibre cables are composed of transparent thin glass or plastic fibres, and these are surrounded by a glass sheath or cladding and a protective coating. These differences mean that fibre optic cabling offers a superior network performance, compared to copper alternatives.

Fibre cables are also much more reliable, compared to copper cabling, because they are unaffected by electromagnetic interference. This reduces signal degradation and results in an enhanced network performance. Additionally, fibre optic cabling is one of the most secure mediums for carrying data, meaning that your business will benefit from enhanced data security. This makes leased lines a great option for connecting multi-site offices.

Dedicated connection

Leased lines offer a dedicated, or uncontended, connection. Unlike contended connections, you will benefit from the full data bandwidth all of the time because the connection is not shared with any other users. This means that you won’t suffer reduced performance at peak times. And, the speeds that are offered by your service provider will be guaranteed in the contract because a leased line is dedicated service.

Bespoke packages

Because leased lines are designed to provide fast bi-directional internet access, they commonly provide a symmetric connection. However, this can vary because you benefit from bespoke packages when you opt for a leased line. This means that your internet connection can be tailored to the exact needs of your business. For many businesses, the high degree of flexibility is one of the main attractions of leased lines because it means that they only pay for the service they need. You can choose whether to have higher upload or download speeds, or opt for symmetric speeds. The bandwidth can always be altered later down the line to meet the changing demands of your business.

Guaranteed service

When you opt for a leased line, your connection will be guaranteed with a strict SLA (Service Level Agreement). This guarantees strict uptime of between 99-100% and ensures full cover for issues with the network and circuit. It includes guaranteed fix times in case you experience a fault and usually includes a compensation clause to ensure that you are reimbursed for any losses as a result of downtime or reduced performance. This acts as a form of insurance for those businesses for which high-end connectivity is mission-critical.

A leased line is a premium service, so it will cost more than a standard business broadband connection. Since leased lines are offered on a bespoke basis, the exact cost will depend on the specific requirements of your business and will largely be determined by the speed of the connection and the distance of the fibre line. Although they are more costly than alternatives, many businesses deem leased lines to be a smart investment due to the unrivalled benefits they offer. With high-speed connectivity and guaranteed reliability, a leased line could deliver a fast return on investment through efficiency and productivity gains. Plus, losses as a result of downtime will be significantly reduced if not eliminated entirely.

Cloud Phone Systems

Have you considered switching your business telephone system to a cloud-based alternative? Using VoIP technology, cloud phone systems bring advanced features to your business, whilst reducing operational costs. With all the benefits that cloud phone systems offer, it’s no surprise that businesses are migrating to the cloud in large numbers. In this article, we consider all the benefits of cloud phone systems for those who have not yet made the switch.

Hosted telephony

Cloud phone systems are hosted remotely by a provider. This means that all of the equipment is housed by them and you won’t have any initial capital outlay. Your provider will also be responsible for all ongoing maintenance and support so you will be free from all of the traditional equipment, expensive telephone lines and additional maintenance and support contracts.

Easy installation

Cloud phone systems are much easier to install than traditional business telephone systems, as they don’t require the labour-intensive cabling work. This means that your cloud phone system can be up and running in very little time and you will save a fortune on the cost of installation.

Scalability

Cloud phone systems can be extended easily. Unlike conventional business telephone systems, you won’t need an engineer to install additional lines as they can simply be added instantly through an admin web portal. This will save you a considerable amount of time and money as your business grows and your needs change.

Advanced features

Cloud phone systems allow you to benefit from all of the advanced features of a high-end telephone system, but at no additional cost. Advanced features can benefit your business in several ways. They can help to create a professional image of your company to callers and enhance the level of service you are able to offer your customers. As a result, your customer retention rates will increase and so will your revenue. Having advanced features also helps to boost efficiency and productivity within your organisation, which is a great way to reduce operational costs. Some of the features available with cloud phone systems include:

• Voicemail
• Call transfer
• Call queuing
• Caller ID
• Auto attendant
• Call recording
• Conference calling
• Online call history
• Voicemail to Email
• Do Not Disturb
• Fax to Email
• And many more!

Increased flexibility

Modern businesses require a high level of flexibility from their telephone systems. As workers become increasingly mobile, you need communications infrastructure that can support this. A cloud phone system provides increased flexibility at no additional cost. Your employees will have the flexibility to work from any location and still take calls when they are away from their desks, as mobiles can be used as an extension to your phone system. Cloud phone systems are ideal for businesses that operate across multiple sites, as extensions can be run through to various sites and calls between them can be made free of charge. And if you ever relocate to new premises, your move will be hassle-free because you will only have minimal equipment and you can also keep your existing numbers for business continuity, even if you move to a new area.

Simple budget planning

When you switch to a cloud phone system, you will typically pay a fixed monthly charge for the service. This includes all ongoing maintenance and support, regular system updates and equipment upgrades. As a result, you will no longer have to pay for expensive equipment and additional maintenance contracts. And, you will no longer have to deal with the unpredictable costs involved when things go wrong. So, planning your finances will be much more straightforward and stress-free.

Reduced costs

With a cloud phone system, you will no longer have the expenses associated with a fixed line network. With VoIP technology, call costs are substantially lower because voice calls are made over your internet connection rather than the conventional charge per minute phone lines. Even long distance and international calls cost much less. Operational costs will also be reduced as a result of the efficiency gains that come from the benefit of advanced features. And, you will save money on the cost of equipment as well because you will have no initial capital outlay and won’t have to foot the bill for server upgrades. With everything that’s included, cloud phone systems are an extremely cost-effective option.

If you would like to find out more about cloud phone systems, contact Midland Networks today on 0800 849 8585.

Office Phone Systems

Over the years, office phone systems have evolved significantly. These days, there is more choice available than ever before and modern office phone systems offer a wide range of business benefits that go far beyond simply making and receiving phone calls. There are office phone systems to suit the diverse needs of businesses of all sizes and all sectors. If you’re looking for an office phone system, Midland Networks can help you to find the perfect solution for your business.

Small business office phone systems

If you run a small business then you probably have much less capital to invest in expensive hardware than your larger competitors. Despite this, you will still want an office phone system that offers great features and provides the tools that you need to compete with larger companies. Midland Networks has a range of solutions that will provide powerful communications and advanced features, without compromising your budget. You can benefit from a phone system that is fully scalable, so it will be able to meet the needs of your growing business now and in the future. The team at Midland Networks always goes the extra mile to make sure that small businesses have the communications equipment they need to compete with larger companies. That’s why they offer a range of options to help you spread the cost of your office phone system, including leasing, finance and hosted telephony.

Medium to large business office phone systems

If you run a medium or large business, it is likely that you will have greater demands from your communications than small businesses, whilst still being keen to keep costs down. The team at Midland Networks will go the extra mile to understand the specific needs of your business, so that they can tailor integrated solutions designed to help you meet the unique challenges of running a larger business. Midland Networks can help you to streamline your entire communications, by delivering solutions capable of integrating mobile workers and offices across multiple sites.

Hosted telephone systems

Have you ever considered a hosted phone system? Midland Networks offer fully hosted cloud-based office phone systems, which deliver high-end technology for much less than it costs to run an equivalent on-premises phone system. Your phone system will be hosted remotely by Midland Networks who will house all of the equipment, provide ongoing support and carry out regular maintenance. If you choose to switch to hosted telephony with Midland Networks, there will be no upfront costs to pay. You will pay a service charge which includes the hosting of your phone system, system updates, ongoing maintenance and support and regular upgrades. Cloud phone systems bring many business benefits including much cheaper call rates and lots of advanced features. Midland Networks even offers a free 30 day trial of hosted telephony, for businesses that are unsure about making the switch. If you decide that it’s not right for your business then you can simply return it after 30 days, as there’s no obligation to buy.

Products and services to compliment your office phone system

Midland Networks offers a full range of communications equipment and services. Call management software is the perfect accompaniment to your office phone system, which can help you to run your contact centre much more efficiently. It allows you to monitor all call activity and keep records of missed calls, call duration and caller waiting times. Having this information allows you to make improvements, where necessary, and deliver better staff training.

You can also benefit from maintenance and support of your office phone system at highly competitive prices. Midland Networks’ maintenance contracts include regular system maintenance, system updates, up to 24/7 support and emergency engineers when needed, making it an excellent value for money investment.

For more information about office phone systems, give Midland Networks a call on 0800 849 8585.

Have You Considered a Hosted Desktop?

Cloud computing has revolutionised the way that businesses operate. Switching to a hosted desktop is a smart move that can save you money and enhance your network performance. Businesses are making the switch to cloud computing in large numbers, primarily because it allows them to benefit from high-end technology at a fraction of the cost of an on-premises solution. With a hosted desktop, you can take advantage of all the benefits of cloud computing inclusive of ongoing maintenance and support for a reliable network performance. In this article, we outline all the benefits of cloud computing for those who are yet to consider switching to a hosted desktop.

How do hosted desktops work?

A hosted desktop is a cloud computing service offered by communications and IT providers. You may currently have rooms full of equipment such as servers, switches, routers and cables. With a hosted desktop service, all of this equipment will be housed remotely by your provider. Specialist providers have the physical space and resources to invest in high-end equipment, which they upgrade regularly to ensure optimum performance. This means that you don’t have to invest in expensive equipment and find the space to house it on your premises. With a hosted desktop service, your provider will carry out all ongoing maintenance and support. This frees you from annual maintenance and support contracts, on-site support staff and the cost of emergency engineers, repairs and replacement equipment. With a hosted desktop, you will pay a regular fixed charge for the service inclusive of all the benefits it offers.

Why opt for a hosted desktop?

A hosted desktop will revolutionise your business operations and offer many benefits, which are outlined below.

• Business protection

A hosted desktop offers outstanding business protection. You will no longer need to have complex disaster recovery plans as that will be taken care of, by your provider. All of your data will be backed up and your files replicated for added protection. When your data is stored in the cloud, it will not be lost if a company device is stolen or lost and you will still be able to access it. Specialist providers have engineers on-site around the clock to respond to any issues as they arise. With a fast response to technical issues, your business is protected against the cost of downtime.  

• Infinite capacity

Hosted desktops are an extremely flexible option, allowing you to benefit from an infinite data capacity. This means that increasing demands for bandwidth and storage can be met instantly, for complete convenience.

• Increased performance

When you switch to cloud computing, it is likely that you will notice a huge uplift in performance because hosted desktops tend to offer much greater bandwidth than on-premises solutions. As a result, you will enjoy faster responses to web page requests and lightning-fast application speeds. Consequently, you will benefit from increased productivity and efficiency.

• Flexible working

Cloud-based applications can be accessed from multiple devices and any location where there is an internet connection. This allows you to support more flexible working and benefit from the increased efficiency and reduced costs this brings.

• Combat obsolescence

With a hosted desktop, you can combat the shortening cycles of obsolescence associated with rapid advances in technology. Your provider will pay the cost of upgrades every few years, saving you money and allowing you to still benefit from the latest technology for optimum performance.

• Inclusive maintenance and support

With a hosted desktop, all ongoing maintenance and support is carried out by your provider. This makes it highly cost-effective as you won’t need additional maintenance contracts or on-site support staff and you won’t have to pay out for any emergency assistance, repairs or upgrades. When you have any questions or requests, you can log them easily via a support portal and your provider will respond to them.

• Value for money

With everything that’s included, it’s clear that hosted desktops are great value for money. There’s no initial capital outlay, no additional maintenance contracts and no expensive upgrades. You simply benefit from high-end technology with all maintenance and support included, for one simple monthly payment.

Hosted desktops are a great option for businesses of all sizes. Small businesses tend to have fewer resources to invest in expensive equipment, and so they can benefit from high-end technology that they may not otherwise be able to afford. Larger businesses have much larger costs when it comes to expensive equipment and these costs are only increasing with the shortening cycle of obsolescence. Since this can be combated by switching to cloud computing, hosted desktops are a great solution for larger businesses too.  

If you would like more information about hosted desktops, contact Midland Networks on 0800 849 8585. 

Cabling Services from Midland Networks

At Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, we offer a range of cabling services for all of your networks needs. Whether you need your entire cabling infrastructure designed and installed or your existing cables upgraded, we can be of assistance. Our range of cables includes CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6a, telecoms cabling, fibre optics and more.

We come from an engineering background and have many years of experience in the industry. This enables us to offer the best advice on the perfect cabling solutions to meet the needs of your business, as well as key infrastructure considerations. We always use the highest quality components and data cabling from the market leading brands, to ensure your networks remain reliable and secure for many years to come.

There’s never been a better time to upgrade your existing cabling. With so much choice available, we can provide the latest CAT6 cabling solutions or even fibre optics, for significantly enhanced data transfer. Upgrading your cabling network can be a great way to enhance your business operations and increase productivity, allowing you to do much more, much faster!

We also offer a range of wireless network installation and support services. Whether you want to get more out of your existing wireless connections or have an entirely new wireless network installed, we can be of assistance. Whether you need a single wireless access point or a 1000-user wireless cloud, we can find the perfect solution for your business and your budget.

All of our engineers hold industry and manufacturer qualifications, so you can rest assured that your cables will be installed to the highest possible standards. We also offer maintenance and support services, at highly competitive prices, to ensure that your cabling network is looked after way beyond installation. Contact Midland Telecom Networks Ltd today, for all of your cabling and network needs.

Benefit from the Latest Cloud Technology with Midland Telecom Networks Ltd

Cloud computing has revolutionised the way businesses access data and applications. Now it is beginning to transform the way businesses communicate. At Midland Telecom Networks Ltd, we offer a range of cloud-based solutions including hosted cloud computing and cloud phone systems.

If you switch to cloud computing with Midland Networks, you could see a huge uplift in performance. Productivity can be greatly increased as a result of lightening fast speeds, both for running applications and for internet browsing. Our hosted desktops are fully supported, so if you have any questions or requests they can be logged via the support portal for a quick response. Cloud-based applications and services can be accessed from anywhere, on virtually any device with an internet connection. This makes it a great option for remote and mobile working. Your business can benefit from a greater bandwidth than the traditional on-premise solution as well as an infinite capacity, so you will never run out of space.

Cloud computing with Midland Networks can save you a fortune over the long term by cutting down on the cost of support and maintenance of equipment, IT support and insurance.  It also offers complete peace of mind as disaster recovery is built into the desktop, so all of your files will be backed up and replicated. Our cloud computing service is entirely future proof; your service will always be run on the latest equipment with servers replaced every few years.

We also offer feature-rich cloud phone systems. A cloud phone system is a reliable and cost-effect solution. Unlike traditional phone systems, it doesn’t require expensive equipment or complicated installation. Cloud telephony can also be integrated with your current telephone system, to offer an extensive range of options. Our cloud phone systems offer unified communications to streamline your operations. The entire phone system is virtually hosted in the cloud, which means it doesn’t require any hardware. Cloud phone systems are entirely scalable, so they can easily be extended as your business grows.

Contact Midland Telecom Networks Ltd today, for information about our cloud-based solutions. With many years of experience in the industry, we can help you find the perfect solution for your business.