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The Boxx Networking Event

25th April 2018 by admin

On Tuesday 24th April, we hosted the first ever Witan Studios Networking Event!

The theme of our event was ‘embracing a millennial workforce’ and we spoke about the advantages of a modern working environment.

We showcased some of our telephony systems that would help businesses achieve this as well as some solutions to working outside of the office.

But those aren’t the only reasons that embracing a millennial workforce is beneficial.

Our other way of embracing a millennial workforce is to have a ping pong table in your office!

We proved that it’s a great way to build connections and create enthusiasm in your workplace and we should know, we’re mad about Table Tennis here at Boxx!

To help show how fun table tennis is, we invited a special guest to the event; 2 x World Ping Pong Champion and Olympian Andrew Baggaley!

Andrew came down along with his brother/coach Stephen Baggaley to play against any takers for the chance of a free meal and to show off their skills, of which they have plenty!

We were also joined by T.sweetmap and The Rub BBQ who both brought some wonderful food with them. A huge thank you goes out to them!

All-in-all, the event was a success as we met some new indiviuals and we got them engaging with each other and with us.

Remember, the three ways to embrace a millennial workforce are:

Get the fastest and most reliable connection for your needs and budget.
Embrace flexible working and new technologies.
Learn to play Ping Pong!

5G – The Fifth Generation!

10th April 2018 by admin

It doesn’t feel like that long ago that 4G was rolled out in the UK and that’s because, it wasn’t!

City testing for 4G began at the end of 2012 before widespread 4G coverage was released around mid-2013.

Now, 5 years down the line, we are already talking about the introduction of 5G networks across the globe.

So what exactly is 5G…?

5G stands for ‘5th Generation’ and is the latest advancement in wireless phone technology, allowing for MUCH greater speeds!

All other networks, like 4G, use radiowaves to transfer information, whereas 5G utilises other areas of the Electromagnetic Spectrum to increase speeds. This is all thanks to new developments in receiver and transmitter technology.

It seems almost every new product can connect to the internet and items such as homes, cars and almost all wearables becoming ‘smart’.

The new 5G network will allow for more and more devices to connect to the internet, with greater amounts of data being able to travel and Gigabit speeds!

It’s fair to say that when it came to the rollout of 3G and 4G, the UK seemed to lag behind a lot of the world, with many areas of the UK still unable to access 3G.

But, the UK government has promised that this won’t happen when it comes to the rollout of 5G and they seem to be making some good steps towards it.

At the beginning of March this year, the government donated £25 million to 5G projects to boost efforts in speeding up the 5G process.

However, the biggest news regarding 5G came recently, with the auction of the 4G and 5G spectrums.

Now be prepared, because the numbers coming up may be confusing, but we’ll explain them the best that we can…

Only 40Mhz of the 4G were up for auction. To put that into context, EE currently holds 255Mhz of that spectrum, so not much was up for sale. In fact, O2 acquired all the spectrum that was up for auction and it cost them just over £200 million.

O2 bought the same amount (40Mhz) in the 5G spectrum. Due to the 5G spectrums ability to hold more data than others, the amount acquired by providers will increase the spectrum amount ready for mobile use compared to when 4G was released.

This sale for O2 was worth around £317 million showing just how invested in the new spectrum mobile providers are!

Vodafone were the company to gain the most of the 5G spectrum, buying 50Mhz.

In total, the sale numbers were worth around £1.3 billion which is double what was predicted at the start of the auction.

It’s all well and good us shouting numbers at you, but what exactly will we gain from this?

According to O2’s CEO Mark Evans:

• Households will save £450 a year on energy/food bills and council tax

• Councils will save up to £2.8 billion a year with the introduction of smart lighting and other infrastructures.

• There will be savings in staff time, saving the government up to £1.3 billion.

• Smart roads will be introduced, reducing you time stuck in traffic by an average of 10%.

There’s a lot to look forward to in the future, but when exactly will we see 5G be rolled out…?

Many phone manufacturers, 18 at the time of writing this, have announced they’re working with Qualcomm to produce 5G ready phones for next year!

However, 5G will most likely not be available to the masses until 2020 at the earliest.

That isn’t to far in the future though so we’re very excited. 5G can’t come quick enough!

Top 3 Strength & Fitness Apps

14th March 2018 by admin

In 2017, a reported 197 billion apps were downloaded.

With that kind of reach, it’s hardly surprising that there is an app for everything you can think of.

From “Cuddlr”, an app which helps you find people in your local area to cuddle – kind of creepy, to “Demotivational Pics”, which shows you just how bad things could be.

But we’re not here to talk cuddles or curious pics.

Today we’re talking phone apps to help you get (or stay) fit and strong all day long. These are my top 3 picks to download today.

I’ll also be throwing in some useful (I think) top tips along the way to help you maximise your fitness from your phone. Who says phones are all bad.

App #1 – Couch to 5K

• Best for: Beginners

• Useful for: Those new to running or who haven’t exercised in a long time

• Result: Will improve your fitness and build confidence to exercise for longer

• Cost: Free

A lot of people would like to run but just don’t get around to it. The thought of running can seem a little overwhelming if you’re not used to it. With Couch to 5K, your next run is never more than 1 tap away.

Built by the team at BBC Inspired, this app gives you a choice of 4 celebrities to coach you from (yes, you guessed it) your couch to running 5km without stopping.

Aimed at beginners, this really makes running easier for those new to it or those who would like to get their fitness back.

The instructions are simple, easy to understand and start off relatively easy. You’ll be doing a mixture of walking and running. The aim being to build up to 30 minutes constant running (approximately 5km) within 9 weeks, doing just 3 sessions per week.

You’ll be coached through each step of the journey by your virtual celebrity coach. You can listen to your own music and their voice will tell you when it’s time to run, rest and walk.

Top Tip: Sign up to a Park Run in your local area (it’s free) for a date in 10 weeks time. This will give you a deadline to work towards with your running. Without that deadline, it’s easy to skip sessions.

Personal Trainer’s Opinion

I really like this app because it makes running more accessible and game like. You check each run off as you do it, building your way up to 30 minutes.

The gradual increase from walking to more running makes it ideal for new runners of those with lower levels of fitness.

It also shows that a little time goes a long way. You can easily do this at lunchtime with work colleagues or in the evenings and weekends with friends.

If you’re already able to run 5km, check out this training guide on how to improve your 5km run time.

Top Tip: Get a good friend to agree to do it with you. You’ll be more motivated and less likely to skip sessions.

App #2 – Body Weight FreeLetics

• Best for: Intermediate to advanced level

• Useful for: Those who want to work out at home without a gym or equipment

• Result: Will develop strength, fitness and help you learn more exercises

• Cost: Free (optional coaching upgrade in app)

For those looking for a higher intensity workout, and definitely less running, the body weight workout program FreeLetics is a great option.

Delivering clear, easy to follow body weight only workouts, you don’t need any equipment or space. These workouts can be done at home or even in your bedroom or living room.

They are all relatively short but work the whole body. The app has a massive catalogue of exercises to complete, and best of all it organises them into workouts for you. All you have to do is put in a few details about your goal and fitness level and away you go.

Simply follow along with the trainer in the app and complete each exercise. If you are unsure how to complete a move, there are instructional videos showing you the key points to keep you safe.

Keeping it fresh

A neat feature is the Newsfeed where you can see new challenges that come up. For example, you can track how long it takes you to do 50 lunges. You get points for completing the challenge which unlocks other workouts.

You can comment and interact with other users on the app to make things way more social and engaging.

Top Tip: Invite your friends to do the workouts from within the app. If you’re competitive, you can see who’s the fastest.

If you’re not feeling the workouts in the app, you can find a range of HIIT YouTube video workouts which are free and easy to follow along with.

Upgrade to Coaching

As you’d expect from such a slick app, there is a paid version which can help you with both training and nutrition or just training.

The paid version is approximately £9 for just training and £13 for training and nutrition coaching per month.

Personal Trainer’s Opinion

A highly professional app which delivers huge value for free. Even without the paid version you can get great results if you complete the workouts regularly.

FreeLetics have a large number of users and a big community which makes it easier to stay motivated and allows you to interact with other members easily.

You still need a certain level of motivation to keep it up consistently, so that’s the only downside. But for free, it’s definitely worth a go to see if you like it.

App #3 – 5×5 Strong Lifts

• Best for: Intermediate to Advanced

• Useful for: Those who already lift weights and understand the techniques

• Result: Will develop full body strength

• Cost: Free (optional upgrade in app)

This app is specifically for those who want to lift weights, build strength and muscle. There are only 5 exercises you need to do.

You complete three of them per workout, and train 3 times per week. For each exercise you do 5 reps per set and 5 sets in total.

Top Tip: This should only be used by people who know what they are doing. It’s very easy to injure yourself lifting heavy weights incorrectly.

For example, you might do a squat using 30kg. You’d do 5 repetitions. Rest. Then repeat that 5 times. For a complete example and more details see their website.

The 5 core moves are:

• Squat

• Bench press

• Deadlift

• Overhead press

• Barbell row

At each workout the moves change and the idea is that you increase your weight regularly in order to see improvements in muscle size and strength. The ideal being to increase 2.5kg per week per exercise.

Top Tip: I’m a believer in quality over quantity, so try to avoid the temptation to always lift heavier. Using a lighter weight but with better technique will give you the desired results without the possibility of a bad back or injury.

Personal Trainer’s Opinion

A great app for those who want to keep it simple and short while adding muscle and getting stronger.

The 5 moves used will work every muscle in your body, building them stronger. This is more targeted towards men who want to get more muscular, but it’s good for women to use too.

Weight lifting is an ideal way for anyone to get in better shape, burn fat and get stronger. Not only will it build your muscles, but lifting weights also helps build stronger bones, ligaments and tendons. All of which can start to deteriorate as we get older.

To finish off

The above 3 apps are all excellent examples of effective ways to get people more active using their mobile phones. Although very different, each one offers many benefits when using it regularly.

Each one will be of use in a different situation, depending on your goal.

What is your goal? Do you want to get started with running? Fancy a shorter, high intensity workout? Or want to build muscle in an efficient way?

Choose your weapon wisely and keep it up consistently. Or, you could always use all three at the same time to become a super hero. Results not guaranteed…

About the author

Rob Jackson, of Minimal FiT, is a personal trainer in London. He specialises in body transformation programs for time-poor working professionals. While working in an office for 7 years he developed a range of time efficient yet effective training and meal plan strategies to get and stay in great shape. Check out his website for more information.

What is the GDPR? The key things you need to know

28th February 2018 by admin

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on May 25th, 2018 and will herald the biggest change in the way businesses handle customer data in decades.

While it is being implemented in the EU, replacing a raft of existing data protection laws including the one current UK law is based on, it also applies to any businesses with customers IN the EU, so in reality will have a worldwide impact.

The GDPR will harmonise data protection laws, as well as notably giving greater protection to individuals about how their personal data is used, and their rights over it.

In a nutshell, individuals have a raft of new rights to access the information companies hold about them. Businesses, in turn, are expected to comply with the new regulations – and will be subject to hefty fines if they don’t.

So, what does all this mean in practice? Essentially, if you handle customer data – and especially if you are already subject to the UK’s Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) – then GDPR will affect you.

Many of the new rules are around accountability in the wake of massive breaches such as those suffered by Yahoo and Equifax. So, companies handing personal data are expected to show that they are taking care of it, and how they are processing it – as well as notifying the relevant authority within 72 hours if they suffer any form of data breach.

Some bigger companies will also need to document details such as why people’s information is being collected, and what exactly is being held. Those that process large amounts of data will be required to employ a data protection officer (DPO).

After decades in which personal data has been seen as the new oil, and up for grabs by whoever can get to it, the GDPR also gives a lot more rights to individuals. So, they can request what information a company has on them, request companies remove their details under a new ‘right to be forgotten’ and also request their data in a machine-readable format for a move to another supplier, e.g. in telecoms.

Designed to be fit for purpose in an age in which so much more of our lives are online, the GDPR will be a game changer – but needn’t be feared.

Message on Hold has arrived!

5th February 2018 by admin

Did you know that, on average, 94% of a company’s marketing budget is spent trying to get people to call the business?

And when they call, do you want to greet customers with a boring recorded message – or worse, bleeps or no sound at all? No, you don’t!

Well that’s where our new Message on Hold service can help…

Message on Hold allows you to build a better customer experience with a professionally recorded multi-prompt message using customised scripts and music.

The scripts can vary in length and content and can be recorded with a specific type of voice. The music you choose alongside these scripts can reflect the nature of your company and industry, whether that is relaxed and calming or upbeat and motivational. The choice is up to you!

So, what exactly are we offering?

We are offering three different packages, all with different bespoke features.

Package 1, our ‘Basic Message’ package, will include a two-prompt on hold message that can be professionally recorded for you.

Package 2, the ‘Starter Package’, will include the above along with an auto-attendant and a night service message too.

Package 3, the ‘All-In Service’ package, will include everything mentioned as well as 2 x seasonal updates to your scripts or the option of an extended message – up to six prompts!

Now you may be saying “this is all well and good, but how exactly can this help me?” Below is just some of the many benefits of this product:

• Valuable tool in marketing your other products – you can use your message to advertise other areas of your business, such as your website.

• Keeping your customer’s attention – customers are far more likely to hang up when on hold if there is no message or music to keep them interested.

• Professionalism – Expertly recorded messages and music to suit will make your business sound more professional, ultimately leading to customers believing you’re a reliable business.

• Building a B2C relationship – updating your messages to suit special occasions or thanking your customers for their business and patience will build a personal connection between you and your clients – showing you care for your customers.

• Auto-attendant – Callers don’t need to talk to multiple employees to be directed to the correct department which is usually frustrating for both parties!

• Psychologically reduces your hold time – The use of music and messages will not bore customers, making time fly by for them!

Wow! Sounds like a cool product, right?

All the information and prices you need are summed up on our Message on Hold product page, check it out!

New Year’s plans

31st January 2018 by admin

Here at Boxx we like to stay transparent and keep you up to date with the latest news both in and out the office…

That’s why we want to share our plans for 2018 with you – a bit late we know, but what better time than the present to ready you for the year ahead, hey?!

Our first objective is to prepare everyone for the future disconnection of traditional ISDN (and PSTN) phone lines, by bringing our future-proof telecoms solutions to you.

These are a variety of IP (internet protocol) telephony products which use the internet to host calls, as opposed to a traditional landline. These include SIP Trunking, On-premise VoIP and Hosted VoIP.

If you’re worried about losing your number during the change, there’s no need – in fact one number can be attributed to multiple handsets. Handsets can include your mobile: with our Horizon voice app which pairs your landline with your mobile, making sure no call is missed when you’re out the office.

As well as the added flexibility, VoIP will save you money on calls while presenting the opportunity to add call-management features such as; an auto-attendant, music-on-hold, or a tailored voice-over.

Secondly, as we look to improve our call-management features, we’re introducing our very own, professional, voice-over and music-on-hold. To see the full potential of this service – check out our specially dedicated blog so that you know exactly what you’re getting!

As we look to improve your phone services it’s only right that we improve internet connectivity too!
That’s why we’re proud to be offer 1Gbps (1000Mbps) up and down in certain locations across the UK. This is ideal for businesses with extensive phone systems or just a high internet usage.

If 1Gb sounds a bit excessive but you like the idea – don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We have a vast range of FTTP, FTTC and EFM connections ranging from 10 Mb to 1000Mb upload and download speeds. We have no doubt that we have the perfect solution for your business!

Finally, following our office move we’re determined to maximise the potential of our new work environment by migrating towards a hot desk layout and totally flexible working plan. The first step has been the employment of Microsoft Office 365 alongside our pre-existing VoIP system which allows us to bounce calls round the office at the push of a button. The benefits – a more collaborative workforce!

If this sounds like something that you’d like to implement within your business then please, feel free to get in touch and we’ll help you on the way.

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The Boxx Networking Event

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5G – The Fifth Generation!

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Top 3 Strength & Fitness Apps

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What is the GDPR? The key things you need to know

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Message on Hold has arrived!

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New Year’s plans

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