Timico mobilises channel for SMB push

ISP unveils mobile device business unit and plans to open new £5m datacentre

ISP Timico has launched a new mobile services division to help its channel tap into the growing demand for tablet PCs and smartphone devices.

Launched at the start of this month, Timico Mobile Services (TMS) specialises in the provision of mobile handsets, applications and management tools to SMBs and mid-market firms, via its channel partners.

The services support a wide range of operating systems, including Android, Apple iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.

The launch if TMS follows Timico's acquisition of mobile applications specialist Handheld PCs last October.

Speaking to Channelweb, Neil Armstrong, marketing director at Timico, said TMS will help the channel take advantage of the growing use of mobile devices in the workplace.

"The bring-your-own-device trend shows no signs of stopping. It is a big headache for companies because they are being asked to provide support for multiple devices, but also need to guarantee the security of any business data stored on them," explained Armstrong.

To address this need, TMS has also launched its flagship Mobile Device Management service, which is based on the Sybase Afaria platform and available in the cloud or on premise.

The offering allows companies to remotely wipe devices that are lost or stolen, and regulate access to certain applications.

Using a single management console, IT staff can also set rules on how the devices are used within departments and in different locations.

"There is a definite opportunity for the channel because they are trusted by SMBs to provide independent and customer-specific support," said Armstrong. "Because of the wide variety of devices available, this is an area where the channel can really put these skills to use."

Armstrong also revealed that Timico is planning to open a new £5m datacentre facility in January at its Nottinghamshire headquarters.

The facility will be used to host an array of new hosted services, including cloud-based storage, and will free up space in its London, Manchester and Fareham datacentres, according to Armstrong.

"It is going to be a Tier 3 datacentre facility, with 150 racks and is a complete blank sheet, which is really exciting," he said. "Over the years, Timico has acquired six other businesses, so it also gives us an opportunity to consolidate some of the infrastructure we have acquired, and provide more capacity for our customers."