Despite the 8,000% growth, it predicts operators will face challenges to secure an ROI into the creation of direct-to-cell networks.

“Direct-to-cell services enable cellular connections to access network services directly from satellites in orbit. These services are enabled by satellite-capable radios in devices and partnerships with satellite network operators,” the firm said.

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The study identified two key challenges in maximising return on investment:

- The low cost of low-power IoT connections
- The commoditisation of connectivity

Juniper Research’s report predicts lower-power connections will represent the most prominent case for direct-to-cell, owing to demand for connectivity and remote monitoring from nomadic industries such as maritime.

However, these connections will generate an average of less than $2 per month, diminishing operators’ ability to secure a return on investment.

Given the commoditisation of mobile connectivity, the study also predicts that operators will struggle to convince mobile subscribers to adopt an additional subscription for direct-to-cell services on top of existing cellular plans.

Juniper Research urges operators to focus on tailoring direct-to-cell services specifically to nomadic travellers and remote subscribers.

“Operators must promote the substantial coverage their direct-to-cell networks serve and apply premium pricing for data-intensive connections for broadband and consumer use cases,” remarked research author Sam Barker.

“This will attract users of profitable direct-to-cell services, such as mobile broadband and smartphone subscriptions.”

Spending, however, did improve by 4% from 1Q 2024, which saw the lowest total spending in nearly three years, Dell’Oro Group said.

“Cable operators continue to feel squeezed between fibre ISPs and Fixed Wireless providers who are siphoning away their valuable residential subscribers,” said Dell’Oro Group vice president Jeff Heynen.

“As a result, fixed wireless CPE unit shipments posted their fourth consecutive quarter of Y/Y growth, while Cable operators reduced their CPE purchases, pushing unit shipments to historically low levels,” explained Heynen.

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In its 2Q 2024 Broadband Access and Home Networking quarterly report, Dell’Oro Group listed the following:

Total PON equipment spending was down 6% from 2Q 2023, driven by an 18% decline in spending on PON OLTs.

2Q 2024 spending on fixed wireless CPE increased 32% Y/Y, driven once again by strong growth in 5G Sub-6 GHz unit shipments in North America.

Spending on Docsis infrastructure dropped 25% Y/Y, though total spending on DAA equipment (RPDs, RMDs, R-OLTs, and vCMTS platforms) was essentially flat Y/Y.

Spending on residential Wi-Fi routers jumped 13% Y/Y as consumers are consistently upgrading units and mesh systems they likely purchased during the pandemic.

Crayon notes that one of these expanded offerings is the Global ISV Innovation Hub, a program that delivers “unparalleled expertise and solutions management” to Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).

According to Crayon, the global ISV industry is projected to reach a market value of over $68 billion AUD by 2029- 2029[1], , presenting a huge opportunity for ISV partnerships - and building and selling technology services is not easy, and independent businesses face many challenges in this journey.

Crayon observes that it recognises that each ISV faces unique hurdles, from cloud readiness and AI application to infrastructure management and go-to-market planning - and supporting 1,400 ISVs globally, Crayon now provides new value for APAC partners with the ISV Hub’s customised, end-to-end solutions proven to drive innovation and growth.

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By leveraging ISV-specialised expertise and technical excellence, the Hub helps partners establish a competitive advantage, enabling ISVs to focus on their core strengths—creating market-leading software and expanding their footprint

“Having successfully supported many ISV partners around the world, we are proud to be able to extend this level of support to the APAC region,” said Rhonda Robati, Executive Vice President for Crayon APAC.

“Through the Innovation Hub, ISVs and partners have access to a wealth of advanced solutions that helps them overcome both technical and business challenges and complement their services, all backed by Crayon's expertise in IT services and business growth.”

Crayon says that while too many ISV founders and their teams find themselves “mired in day-to-day operations, limiting their ability to focus on innovation and expansion”, it’s ISV Hub shifts this paradigm, enabling leaders to work on their business rather than in it.

“Backed by a proven track record, the Hub offers a clear competitive advantage, through top-of-the-line support, which empowers ISVs to focus on strategic growth objectives, while the Crayon team takes care of the rest," says Crayon.

"The Hub’s emphasis on AI integration further drives expansion, ensuring that ISVs remain at the forefront of innovation and continue to deliver cutting-edge solutions to their clients.

“Navigating the complexities of the Microsoft marketplace can be daunting and time-consuming for many ISVs. Crayon’s long-standing global partnership with Microsoft, has been instrumental in shaping the future of technology for ISVs and is a prime example of the valued expertise the ISV Hub brings to the table.

“As the third largest Microsoft CSP Indirect Provider globally and one of the top three Global SPLA and Azure Expert Managed Service Providers (MSP), winning this year’s Global Microsoft Partner Award for Scale Solutions (LSP), Crayon is ideally situated to deliver expert consultancy while streamlining access to leading technology, services, devices, and AI innovation.”

Crayon also says its ISV Hub is closely aligned with Microsoft's ISV Success Program, “further enhancing this capability, and this relationship with Microsoft is a fundamental strength for partners, granting Crayon access to a comprehensive range of programs, which enables ISVs with valuable insight on profitability opportunities, available incentives, and best practices for managing partner sales and enablement sessions”.

“By leveraging our global capabilities and deep partnership with Microsoft, we aim to empower ISVs in the APAC region to accelerate innovation, streamline operations, and expand their market reach, confident in the full support of Crayon's industry-leading resources and services,” said Warren Nolan, Crayon's SVP of Channel.

For more information, visit Crayon's website: https://www.crayon.com/campaign/isv-innovation-hub/

The full day session will provide practical insights delivered by leaders within Cvent, customers and partners. Key areas of focus include the role of artificial intelligence, the latest trends and strategies shaping the future on the events industry.

The program sessions including:

• Opening keynote delivered by Amanda Johnstone, CEO, Transhuman
• Uncover the story of your meetings & events data
• AI and events: Debunking myths and embracing opportunities for success
• Customer spotlight: Enhancing efficiency and cost saving with event tech
• Roadmap showcase: How is Cvent evolving to help you success?
• Masterclass with HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International)
• What’s your event worth? Linking events to revenue
• Working Better Together: A Collaborative Venue Sourcing Workshop
• Scaling your event programme: Achieving growth with flat budgets and teams
• The future of event tech: Exploring the road ahead
• Innovative event design: Reflecting brand values through accessible, sustainable and inclusive experiences

There will also be two 30 minute technical tours showcasing Cvent technology. View the full agenda here.

Event details:

Thursday 18 July 2024

12pm – 6:30 PM AEST

Shangri-La Sydney (176 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000)

About Cvent:
Cvent is a leading meetings, events, and hospitality technology provider with 4,800+ employees and ~22,000 customers worldwide as of December 31, 2023. Founded in 1999, the company delivers a comprehensive event marketing and management platform and offers a global marketplace where event professionals collaborate with venues to create engaging, impactful experiences.
Cvent is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C., and has additional offices around the world to support its growing global customer base. The comprehensive Cvent event marketing and management platform offers software solutions to event organisers and marketers for online event registration, venue selection, event marketing and management, virtual and onsite solutions, and attendee engagement.
Hotels and venues use Cvent’s supplier and venue solutions to win more group and corporate travel business through Cvent’s sourcing platforms. Cvent solutions optimise the event management value chain and have enabled clients around the world to manage millions of meetings and events. For more information, please visit  Cvent.com.

Built on Sales Cloud, the StoreConnect POS includes an e-Commerce website, POS terminal, cash drawer and receipt printer, all of which now fully integrate with Tyro, and through this “Australian-first” with Tyro, business owners, particularly multi-site retailers with large inventories, can now accept payments natively within StoreConnect’s Salesforce POS.

According to Deanne Bannatyne, Chief Growth Officer at Tyro Payments, Tyro’s seamless payments integration with StoreConnect’s innovative POS means that Australian business owners using Salesforce as their CRM will be able to understand their customers better than ever before and streamline their operations.

“At Tyro, we believe nothing should get in the way of success for Australian businesses,” Bannatyne said.

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“We’re so thrilled to be able to work with StoreConnect to power this Australian first innovation, to help more merchants take payments seamlessly with an exciting all-in- one POS solution.” Mikel Lindsaar, founder and CEO of StoreConnect says,

“Small and medium sized businesses in the retail consumer goods space are facing an ever-increasing challenge of providing customer commerce to compete with retail goliaths even though they don’t have the same sized budget.

“We’ve been on a mission to build StoreConnect to be a powerful tool to help SMEs around the world to remain competitive, and we’ve delivered on that mission with our Point-of-Sale release here in Australia.”

When hearing FranConnect for the first time you might be excused for wondering who Fran is. Well, this 'Fran' is 'franchise', and as the name suggests, FranConnect helps you connect franchisers and franchisees ensuring great outcomes for both. It's a SaaS product that manages the agreement across sales, operations, and processing, from selling new franchises to helping them operate, ensure compliance, and collect royalties.

iTWire had the opportunity to speak with FranConnect chief product officer Jaffrey Ali who explained selling a franchise is one thing, but opening is another entirely. And here's where FranConnect proves its worth by aiding both sides to manage the franchise agreement and delivering a plethora of tools and expertise to ensure that franchises are best placed for success. It's why, Ali explains, despite having under 30% of the US franchise market, over 50% of all new franchise openings were performed with FranConnect.

Jaffrey Ali has worked in the B2B space for 20 years and FranConnect for the last six. He heads the overall product strategy, including mergers and acquisitions, integrations, and responsibility for the platform itself. He leads a multi-national team with product specialists across the United States, Australia, and India.

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Ali is ever conscious that FranConnect serves a specific industry vertical, and while the SaaS product equally serves multi-local businesses in addition to franchises, he must keep a watchful eye on what's driving the industry worldwide. While FranConnect has been serving the industry for two decades, it's "gone through multiple iterations," he explained.

"We have to anticipate where the market is going to go, what keeps the brands awake at night, how to sell units," Ali said. But one thing FranConnect has "done really well," he said, is to sell multi-location agreements. "Sales is different in franchises to other businesses. Instead of doing one-off sales, one location at a time, a multi-location agreement is a win/win that's brought in bigger enterprises."

Today, out of all sales performed using FranConnect, half are for multiple units. FranConnect anticipated this and built their platform with this capability early on.

And, while AI might seem to be the term of the day, popularised in the public eye by large language models, FranConnect also leveraged AI early in its history. "We worked with partners and made Sales Accelerator," Ali said. "It's a conversational AI chatbot that sets up the right appointment at the right time with a lead."

Now, a wealth of tools exists online; perhaps you could manage your franchise agreements through popular options such as HubSpot, Monday.com, or Asana. Yet, Ali explained, "the ultimate goal of franchise development is not to sell a unit, but to open" and there is no shortage of examples in history where a franchise sells but struggles to open due to a gulf in the data between their systems. "It's not that we have more sales tools or features than HubSpot, or that our project management has more capabilities than Asana or Monday, but the combination of these capabilities in FranConnect means we have more success with the franchise development process."

"Normal sales tools aren't designed for this use case," he said. "A sales tool only fills in the funnel. In FranConnect all customer and owner data is in our platform, and FranConnect can ensure compliance, and can identify who your best franchisees were to sell new units, and can support use cases and outcomes not possible with point solutions."

"This capability comes only from a platform-based approach."

Another example; let's say a new franchisee says they don't know how to set up the point of sale (POS) system. "I can assign training as a part of the franchisee tasks," Ali said. "Every time in the future, as I know some owners have problems with setting up the POS, I can assign mandatory training to the task. This ends up with an outcome where I can open units faster by eliminating friction."

"The FranConnect platform seamlessly ties together. There's no need to call your system integrator or IT department. It just works," he said.

Asking where he draws inspiration from yields an insightful answer into what Jaffrey Ali admires and values, and why he shapes FranConnect how he does. "It's easy to name the big guys like Microsoft or Google," he said. "But I admire Nvidia for solving hard problems. In the hardware business, they differentiated by implementing in software in a way that allowed them to dominate the chip industry."

A second example, "I have a lot of respect for Anthropic. When ChatGPT came out, people thought 'this game is over, OpenAI is going to run away with it' but Anthropic came in and raised the bar. They took longer to make sure their product was safe, and validated, and took a more deliberate approach, but they made OpenAI go back to the table. They did it through sheer hard work. They didn't just make AI a business winner, but came out with a better product."

"I respect companies solving hard problems in creative ways," Ali said.

Even so, iTWire questioned how Ali can ensure FranConnect applies to all the various sizes and shapes that franchise and multi-location businesses come in. Can one platform really serve them all?

The answer is yes; "FranConnect serves all the different types of franchise brands. Our customer base reflects the industry at large. 30% are restaurants, 5% are personal services, and so on," he said.

"The reason we could do this is because while each concept is unique - and we have extensions that only apply to certain verticals - there are some unique things that apply to all franchises. Just what you prioritise is different at different times."

"All franchising is about the agreement. What you are selling or marketing is an agreement. Whether it's a physical location, a territory, or a man in a van, it is an agreement that's signed with an individual or a corporation or an entity, and has a compliance and regulatory aspect," Ali explained.

"The foundation of the core components is the same. A brand sells an agreement, and the franchisee operates one or more locations on behalf of the brand, and is bound by certain agreements."

"Some brands may not need all the advanced capabilities that a large brand needs, and use a small portion of the product," Ali said. "But fundamentally they are similar more than they are dissimilar."

"We can serve from the really small to the large. A lot of customers started small and grew into household brands. A significant number started when they were small and grew. And a key to our growth is making sure you grow," he said.

Thus, when's the best time for a franchise owner to speak with FranConnect? "You're never too small to start, and never too large to outgrow," Ali said.

There’s no doubt the AI PC revolution is here. We’re as excited now about the future of the PC as we were when Michael founded the company 40 years ago. New transformative AI experiences will bring enhanced productivity and efficiency to the hands of consumers and professionals alike. Those with an AI PC will never look back, and everyone will want to be part of the action. We’re here to lead the way.

As part of the Dell AI Factory’s growing AI devices and infrastructure offerings, Dell expands our broad portfolio of AI PCs and workstations with the introduction of the most Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon® X Elite and Snadragon® X Plus processors.¹

This brand-new class of devices transforms your AI PC experience with extraordinary performance and battery life, upleveled productivity and powerful security. Our five new laptops, XPS 13, Inspiron 14 Plus, Inspiron 14, Latitude 7455 and Latitude 5455, offer a range of consumer and commercial options that deliver exceptional speed and AI performance to elevate computing and simplify tasks. So, whether you’re a business professional looking to spend more time on strategic work and less time on tedious to-dos, or you’re a student looking to prioritise your studies while being untethered to a desk, we have you covered.

With AI processing locally on the device across the custom-integrated Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, premium GPU and neural processing unit (NPU), Dell’s new AI PCs offer:

• Groundbreaking battery life, so you can search, create and communicate without a worry.
• 45 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of performance on the NPU, so you can run AI tasks more efficiently.
• Instantaneous results when searching your own content using on-device Copilot. This means you don’t need to worry about an internet connection or the cloud, making tasks more seamless, accessible and secure wherever you work or play on your Copilot+ PC.

Amplified Creativity, All Day Long

XPS 13 is our first XPS to feature Copilot+ powered by Snapdragon X Elite. The already iconic laptop now has powerful on-device AI that delivers cutting-edge responsiveness and impressive speed for navigating demanding workloads and freeing up time to be more creative, all the while extending time away from the outlet. XPS 13 is our thinnest and lightest² XPS and now has multi-day battery life with up to 27 hours,³ suitable for everyday productivity and content creation.

Consumers can also choose from two new Inspiron AI laptops with exceptional battery life, ideal for students and multitaskers. Both Inspiron 14 Plus (available in ice blue) and Inspiron 14 (available in titan grey) are crafted with lightweight, low-emissions aluminium and are energy efficient with EPEAT Gold rating.⁴

• Inspiron 14 Plus features the Snapdragon X Plus platform and all-day battery life with up to 15 hours,⁵enabling a faster and more efficient experience. The device offers an upleveled video and audio experience with quad speakers and a QHD+ display with 400nit brightness.
• Inspiron 14 is powered by Snapdragon X Plus and provides an easy-to-use platform with features like voice commands and a mechanical privacy shutter for extra security.

Unmatched Productivity for the Business Professional

New Latitude AI laptops with Copilot+ feature Snapdragon X Elite 12-core and Snapdragon X Plus 10-core processors, packing game-changing performance and exceptional battery life for today’s busy worker. You can operate efficiently and smoothly throughout the day without needing to charge, staying productive no matter where you work.

• The Latitude 7455 is a premium AI laptop with up to 21 hours of battery life,⁶stacked with a stunning 14-inch QHD+ touch display, quad speakers with AI noise reduction, Qualcomm® FastConnect™ Wi-Fi 7⁷and optional 5G⁸ for greater connectivity and collaboration. As our thinnest Latitude laptop ever⁹team members have the mobile form factor they need for productivity at the desk or on-the-go. The all-aluminium chassis is built with a combination of low emissions and recycled aluminium.¹⁰
• The Latitude 5455 packs performance in a mainstream AI business laptop option with a 16:10 FHD+ display and dual speakers. Multiple layers of hardware and firmware security features also protect your Latitudes, from rigorous controls at the supply chain to deep defences at the BIOS level.
• Beyond the device, new Dell Implementation Services for Microsoft Copilot solutions rapidly enable more efficient ways of working across the entire organisation, reducing risk and preparing the right users to fully adopt Copilot technologies.

New AI Experiences Mean More Time Back in Your Day

Our Copilot+ PCs take productivity, creativity and communication a step further. With new exclusive AI experiences powered by the Snapdragon X Series platforms, you can take back time in your day and focus on the tasks that matter most.

• Recall remembers everything you’ve done on your device and stores it securely on your PC, not in the cloud, making it quick and easy to pick up where you left off. Easily search for files and applications you were working on weeks ago using natural and descriptive language of what you remember to quickly get back to work.
• Using Cocreator, you can create AI-generated images using a combination of descriptive words and your brushstrokes. You can iterate the image in real time to make it exactly as you like for when you need visuals for a PowerPoint presentation or want to unlock your kids’ creativity.
• Live Captions adds the ability to translate any live or pre-recorded audio from 44 languages to English, making it even more seamless to connect with friends and colleagues on video calls.
• New Windows Studio effects adjust lighting and offer new creative filters to enhance call collaboration.
• Auto Super Resolution uses AI to upscale your videos and games in real-time for smooth streaming and gameplay.

An AI-Connected Ecosystem

Complete your AI ecosystem with one of two new keyboards, featuring a dedicated Copilot key for quick access to Copilot, your everyday AI companion.

• The Dell Silent Keyboard and Mouse (KM555)—ideal for open office environments—provides silent typing, clicking, scrolling and gliding, in a space-saving compact design and offers up to 36 months of battery life.¹¹
• The Dell Wired Collaboration Keyboard (KB525C), the world’s first wired collaboration keyboard for Zoom and Microsoft Teams,¹²features dedicated keys designed for seamless performance during conference calls including microphone mute/unmute, video on/off, screen share and chat.

As companies plan for the AI PC refresh, Dell recovery and recycling services provide a seamless and secure way for organisations to responsibly retire devices while addressing their own sustainability goals. Dell is also the only OEM to offer a personalised, real-time report, dynamically updated and aligned with ISO 14000 standards¹³with our Environmental Impact Report feature for Asset Recovery Services.

AI PCs have dominated headlines in 2024 with the introduction of the NPU, which we brought to our consumer, gaming and commercial devices earlier this year. And now, with our Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon, we’re delivering the next level of breakthrough AI experiences. The momentum is just building, and we’re not slowing down.

Check out our official Dell Technologies World press kit and this page for more information. Follow and stay connected with us Instagram, LinkedIn, X and //www.youtube.com/@DellTechnologies" YouTube.

“Leveraging Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus, Dell has created best-in-class products that can keep up with the AI use cases that will simplify consumer workflows. Together, we are delivering powerful and intelligent Copilot+ capabilities, and empowering customers. Together, it adds up to powerful performance, long battery life, and on-device generative AI. We are proud to power these products and enable Copilot+ for Dell users.”

– Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM, Compute & Gaming, Product Management – Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

“It’s a thrilling new era of AI PCs, and our collaboration with industry leaders like Dell enables us to develop innovative devices that seamlessly integrate new AI experiences, enhancing our customer’s productivity and creativity like never before. Our deep engineering collaboration has been crucial in delivering productive and secure PCs for commercial, consumer and gaming customers for decades. With Dell’s launch of their Copilot+ PCs spanning Inspiron, XPS, and Latitude series, we will bring new AI experiences to life for consumers and businesses alike, taking advantage of on-device and cloud AI to empower individuals and organisations to achieve more.” 

– Mark Linton, VP, Device Partner Sales – Microsoft Corp..

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.
Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm, Snapdragon, Qualcomm Oryon, FastConnect and Hexagon are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Footnotes:

¹ Based on third party analysis, May 2024.
²Based on internal analysis, December 2023.
³Multi-day battery life, up to 27 hours* based on XPS 13 tested with Snapdragon X1 Elite X1E-80-100, FHD+ display, 16GB, 512GB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in May 2024 with display brightness set to 150 nits (40%) and wireless enabled. Based on streaming Netflix 1080p content using the Netflix Windows 11 app. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time. The stated Watt Hour (WHr) is not an indication of battery life.
⁴ Based on internal analysis, March 2024.Based on EPEAT Climate+ Designations achieved in all applicable countries. EPEAT registered where applicable. EPEAT registration varies by country. See www.epeat.net for registration status and tier levels by country.
⁵ *All-day battery life: All-day battery life, up to 15 hours* based on Inspiron 14 Plus (7441) tested with Snapdragon® X Plus, X1P-64-100, QHD+ Display, 16GB, 512GB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in April 2024 with display brightness set to 150 nits and wireless enabled. Based on streaming Netflix 4K content using the Netflix Windows 11 app. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Tested configurations may not be available in all regions/countries at all times. Maximum battery life will decrease with time.
⁶Latitude 7455 tested with Snapdragon® X Elite, QHD+ display, 32GB, 1TB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in May 2024 using the Microsoft Movies & TV app. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Tested configurations may not be available in all regions/countries at all times. Maximum battery life will decrease with time.
⁷Wi-Fi7/6e which has the 6Ghz band requires Windows 11 Operating system and compatible router. Router requires a separate purchase. Wi-Fi 7/6E (6GHz) connectivity is only available in select locations. Check availability with your service provider. The Wi-Fi 7 card will operate on Wi-Fi 6E/6 speeds when Wi-Fi 7 is unavailable. Drivers for Wi-Fi 7 will be available mid-2024 (Win11 24H2 update). Dates are subject to change without notice. Ubuntu OS will not support Wi-Fi7 and will operate on Wi-Fi 6/6E speeds when configured for WiFi7. The Bluetooth wireless card version may vary depending on the operating system that is installed on your computer.
⁸Mobile Broadband antenna and module (for 2-in-1 devices) available only at time of system purchase. Mobile Broadband subject to service provider’s broadband subscription and coverage area; additional charges apply. eSim technology subject to regional carrier/service provider availability & service provider’s data plan subscription; additional charges apply. Check availability with your service provider.
⁹ Based on Dell product analysis, May 2024.
¹⁰Lid designed with 50% low emissions and 50% recycled aluminium. Bottom cover and palm rest are designed with 100% low emissions aluminium. Based on internal analysis, May 2024.
¹¹ Based on Dell analysis of battery life usage model calculations, Apr 2024. Results vary depending on use, operating conditions, and other factors.
¹²Based on Dell analysis of publicly available information of competitive wired keyboards, April 2024.
¹³Based on internal Dell analysis, January 2024. Report will be available June 2024.

HAT Distribution says CyberSmart is the UK’s leading provider of “complete cyber confidence to UK SMEs” and the partnership will provide businesses in Australia with “fast, hassle-free Essential Eight assessment and year-round assurance”.

“As cybercrime escalates in Australia, with 94,000 incidents reported in 2023 alone (equivalent to one report every 6 minutes!), completing Essential Eight – the recognised Australian government standard for cybersecurity – is not just advantageous but also crucial in certain industries. CyberSmart’s solutions are specifically designed to help businesses attain and maintain a government-approved standard of cybersecurity, reducing cyber risk,” HAT Distribution says.

“CyberSmart is the world’s first complete SME solution offering all-in-one cybersecurity monitoring, optimisation and training, proven to defend against cyber threats. With its user-friendly platform, simplified maturity framework, year-round protection and unlimited support, implementing Essential Eight controls has never been easier for Australian businesses.

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“The platform is tailored for MSPs and SMEs, who represent a critical segment in the economy but often face challenges with maintaining robust cyber defences due to limited resources and expertise. With CyberSmart, MSPs can enhance their service offerings by delivering comprehensive and cost-effective solutions to their clients, while SMEs gain access to straightforward Essential Eight assessment, without the need for extensive resources.”

Hat Distribution says Australian SMEs will also gain access to CyberSmart Active Protect, a “powerful on-device agent that delivers comprehensive endpoint monitoring, risk management, policy enforcement, and cybersecurity awareness training”.

“Active Protect regularly monitors and reports the status of a device by running through a series of security controls, identifying vulnerabilities and providing simple step-by-step walkthroughs on how to fix them.”

Josh Gammer, General Manager of HAT Distribution said, “Amidst the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape, we are thrilled to partner with CyberSmart, a leader in cybersecurity innovation, to help more Australian businesses comply with the government’s endorsed Essential Eight framework.

“With CyberSmart, even smaller players gain access to the tools required for assessment, and for MSPs, the partnership is a consultative business opportunity to guide their clients on a transformative journey toward stronger cyber defences.”

Jamie Ahktar, CEO at CyberSmart said, “We’re excited to expand into the Australian market with HAT Distribution. Cybercrime is a worldwide business, and the interconnected nature of global commerce in 2024 means that the more geographies we are able to offer SMBs complete cyber confidence in, the better. Almost half of Australians reported experiencing cybercrime in 2023, and we believe that the comprehensive protection we’re bringing to the Australian market will be able to limit both the success and impact of these incidents moving forward.”

For more information about CyberSmart’s cybersecurity solutions, visit https://www.cybersmart.com/au.

The company on Thursday announced quarterly earnings per diluted share of US$1.53 as iPhone sales were reported to have fallen by 10% to US$45.96 billion.

In China, sales of iPhones tumbled by 19.1% year-on-year for the first three months of 2024, according to the technology analyst firm Counterpoint Research.

The iPhone dropoff came as total smartphone sales for China grew by 1.5% year-on-year and 4.6% quarter-on-quarter, the second straight quarter of growth.

{loadposition sam08}The top sales spot for the quarter was taken by vivo, one of the brands owned by the giant B.B.K. Electronics which also owns the Oppo, OnePlus and iQoo brands. Apple took the third spot, with a 15.7% market share.

Apple chief executive Tim Cook referred to the fact that the quarter marked a revenue record for its Services business.

“Today Apple is reporting revenue of US$90.8 billion for the March quarter, including an all-time revenue record in Services,” said Cook.

“During the quarter, we were thrilled to launch Apple Vision Pro and to show the world the potential that spatial computing unlocks.

"We’re also looking forward to an exciting product announcement next week and an incredible Worldwide Developers Conference next month.

"As always, we are focused on providing the very best products and services for our customers, and doing so while living up to the core values that drive us.”

“Thanks to very high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, our active installed base of devices has reached a new all-time high across all products and all geographic segments, and our business performance drove a new EPS record for the March quarter,” said chief finance office Luca Maestri.

“Given our confidence in Apple’s future and the value we see in our stock, our board has authorised an additional US$110 billion for share repurchases. We are also raising our quarterly dividend for the 12th year in a row.”

The company reported net income of US$23.64 billion, or US$1.53 per share, down 2% from US$24.16 billion, or US$1.52 per share, in the corresponding period a year earlier.