Redten web service cut after Watford collapses

Sister firm to struggling integrator announces ‘temporary suspension’ on Redten Internet service

By Laura Hailstone

19 Feb 2007

Be the first to comment

  • Digg
  • Tweet

The demise of Watford Electronics has had a knock-on effect on sister company Redten Communications, with a “temporary suspension” to its Redten Internet service put in place last week.

As reported by CRN, Watford Electronics entered administration owing almost £8m (CRN, 12 February).

Redten Internet was a separate enterprise launched in October by Watford in conjunction with BT Wholesale, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Lexmark, Belkin, and F-Secure, to provide a broadband package for £19.99 a month, over a three-year contract, with a free PC thrown in.

Shiraz Jessa, managing director of Watford Electronics, claimed last year that 100,000 end-users would join the scheme in the first 12 months (CRN, 23 October).

Last week a note appeared on Redten’s web site claiming that the company had “run out of free PCs” and the service had therefore been “temporarily suspended”.

As CRN went to press, Redten’s phoneline relayed the following message: “Our lines are currently closed. Due to the high demand of the new service with a free PC we are currently out of stock and awaiting a delivery.”

Smith & Williamson, Watford’s administrator, said in a statement: “We have received a number of queries regarding the status of other companies that are or have been associated with Watford Electronics, such as Redten Communications. We understand that these companies traded independently of Watford Electronics and are continuing to do so.”

Martin Prescott, managing director of VAR Red PC Services, said: “Redten was intended to be Watford’s lifeboat. The fact that Redten didn’t take off as anticipated could mean that Watford’s lifeboat didn’t save it.”

A creditors meeting for Watford has yet to be set.

Further reading:

Watford Electronics folds as debts approach £8m

display:none
Loading
We won't publish your address
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms & Conditions

Your comment will be moderated before publication.

Will Apple's attitude to the channel change in 2012?

50%

18%

31%

1%

CRN Partner Connect 2012

CRN Partner Connect logo

CRN's premier networking event is back on 17 May at the Ricoh Arena

Date: Thu 17 May 2012

CRN Fight Night 2012

One of the fights from CRN Fight Night 2010

Channel fighters preparing to square up once more on 24 May

Date: Thu 24 May 2012

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Submit your email address and we'll send a link to a personal newsletter control panel

fragment image

The mobile enterprise: Secure the data, not the device

The proliferation of endpoint devices within the enterprise has highlighted the shortcomings of one of the traditional approaches to data security

fragment image

Measuring the ROI of Google Apps

This Forrester report compares the costs and benefits of legacy email and productivity software with Google Apps


Dave the dealer blog

Dave the dealer

Clocking off

Dave discovers that rozzers are seemingly living in the technology dark ages

View from the channel

Views from the Channel

Departing CEO has done Dixons a service

Mark Needham, founder of distributor Widget, argues that John Browett leaves for Apple with Dixons in better shape than when he arrived

To send to more than one email address, simply separate each address with a comma.