Latest News and Updates
Last Updated 11th November 2024
11th November
2024
Unexpected Windows Server 2022 Updates to "2025" Raise Concerns in IT
IT administrators across various sectors are reporting unexpected behaviour in their Windows Server 2022 environments, with some servers being automatically upgraded to a version labelled "Windows Server 2025." This has sparked confusion and concern, as Microsoft typically maintains strict control over server updates and has not announced an automatic upgrade path to a new server operating system.
Several administrators have noticed that their Windows Server 2022 systems have seemingly received upgrades to a "2025" version, potentially through Windows Update. This behaviour is unexpected, as Microsoft doesn’t typically roll out major server version upgrades automatically—especially not to production environments without administrator authorisation. Reports have emerged from a range of industries, with IT departments scrambling to understand the cause and potential impact.
Microsoft has not yet released an official statement on these reports, but experts believe the company may address the issue with clearer guidelines or patches if a widespread problem is confirmed.
7th November
2024
New Hosted Telephony Offering
At SM Unified Solutions, we’re excited to announce that we now offer a new level of hosted telephony services designed to meet the demands of modern businesses. By partnering with a number of UK providers, we deliver a robust, scalable, and feature rich communication system, ensuring your team stays connected and efficient.
6th November
2024
Grandstream GCC Series
Grandstream have recently launched its GCC Series, an integrated communication solution aimed at small to medium-sized businesses. This new series allows organisations to manage unified communications, networking, and security from a single platform. Designed for streamlined deployment, the GCC Series is compatible with Grandstream’s IP phones, network switches, and surveillance systems, all of which can be managed centrally via the Grandstream Device Management System.
The series offers comprehensive control over their communication and security infrastructure.
5th November
2024
Exciting Partnerships on the Horizon – Stay Tuned!
We're thrilled to announce that some exciting partnerships are in the works, bringing new opportunities and value to our community. Keep an eye on our website out for updates, as we'll be sharing more details as soon as we finalize these agreements. We can't wait to reveal what’s in store!
5th November
2024
Vodafone & Three merger could get the gree light.
The planned merger between Vodafone and Three, set to create the UK’s largest mobile network, is one step closer to approval as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) indicates it could back the deal. However, the CMA is demanding firm commitments on 5G pricing and service quality before granting final approval.
The regulator’s main concern is that the merger might reduce competition, leading to higher prices and fewer options for consumers. Vodafone and Three are expected to address these concerns by pledging not to raise prices unfairly and by ensuring that the quality of 5G services remains high.
If approved, the merger would reshape the UK telecoms landscape, consolidating market power but, ideally, without compromising customer choice and affordability.
1st November
2024
Gang jailed for £1m BT Cable Theft.
A gang responsible for stealing almost £1 million worth of BT Openreach network cable has been jailed for a combined total of 14 years.
Why this matters:
- Disruption to 16,000 customer phone lines
- More than £750,000 in losses to businesses and victims
- Vulnerable people being cut off from emergency services
- Widespread services outage across four counties, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Wrexham
3rd September
2024
Exciting News!
We’ve just released our brand new business cards, and we want you to be part of the fun! If you come across one of our cards, snap a photo, show us where you found it, and tag us in your post! accross all of our socials.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and see where our cards have traveled. Whether it’s in your favorite coffee shop or your go-to spot, share the moment with us!
Thank you for supporting us, and we can’t wait to see where our cards pop up!
#BusinessCardHunt #TagUs #CommunitySupport
11th October
2024
Ofcom Clamps down on millions of scam calls from abroad.
Millions more scam calls from abroad that use spoofed UK landline numbers are to be blocked after the telecoms regulator finally ordered a long-overdue clampdown.
From Monday all phone companies will have six months to identify and block calls from abroad that falsely display a UK telephone number under strengthened guidance from Ofcom.
10th October
2024
BT Indentifying 2,000 Signals a second indicating possible cyber-attacks.
BT identifies 2,000 signals indicating a potential cyber-attack across its networks every second, it has revealed, amid an “AI arms” race between businesses bolstering their defences and increasingly sophisticated hackers.
The telecoms company – which owns the mobile operator EE and Openreach, which has the biggest broadband network in the UK and international business operations – said hackers were attempting to weaponise AI for cybercrime and affecting some hosted telecommunication connections by slow internet speeds, dropped calls, and buffering during peak usage times due to network congestion.
11th October
2024
BT Pocket £105m in first ever recycling deal for surplus copper cables.
BT has received £105m as an upfront prepayment for the sale of surplus copper cables from its old network which it is replacing in a £15bn rollout of high-speed full-fibre broadband to 25m homes in one of the UK’s biggest private national infrastructure programmes.
3rd September
2024
Halloween Update
Spooky season is upon us! Keep an eye on our socials for some hair-raising Halloween surprises coming your way soon. You won't want to miss the tricks, treats, and maybe a few thrills we've got in store. Stay tuned! #Halloween2024 #SpookySurprises
26th August
2024
MASSIVE UPDATE!
Established in 2002, SM Communications has rebranded as SM Unified Solutions Limited to better reflect its expanded focus on delivering comprehensive, integrated technology services. Building on over 30 years of expertise, the company continues to bring leading technology to businesses, offering tailored solutions in CCTV, door entry, on-site and hosted telephony solutions, nurse call systems, and much more. This rebranding marks the company's evolution from a traditional telecommunications provider to a holistic technology partner, committed to driving innovation and seamless connectivity across industries.
22nd July
2024
BT Fined by Ofcom
BT has been fined £17.5 million by Ofcom following a significant network outage that affected the 999 emergency call service last summer. The regulator criticized BT for being ill-prepared to handle the failure of its emergency call handling service, describing the situation as "catastrophic." This fine highlights the critical importance of reliability in emergency communication infrastructure and the severe repercussions when such systems fail.
19th July
2024
Global IT Outage
Have you experienced disruptions in your telephony services due to today's IT outage? If so, consider switching to SM Unified Solutions for a more stable and reliable solution.
We offer on-site Unified Solutions designed to maintain business continuity even during IT disruptions. Our systems are robust and tailored to meet the specific needs of your business, ensuring seamless communication at all times.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you avoid future outages and keep your business running smoothly.
7th July
2024
On Site Power Outage
On Sunday, we received a notification on our management software about a power failure at one of our care home clients. We immediately jumped into action and started running our diagnostic protocol to identify the issue. Approximately five minutes later, the client called to inform us of the problems they were facing. Recognizing the nature of the issue, we prepared for a potential site visit as a precautionary measure. Within 30 minutes of the initial notification, the system was back up and running smoothly.
10th May
2024
The End Of NEC Onsite Solutions
NEC's have decided to exit on-premise UC operations outside of Japan in the coming years. This decision applies to all on-premise UC products, while our NEC Univerge Blue offerings remain unaffected.
We're committed to fulfilling our existing contractual obligations with you. However, please be aware of the following changes effective immediately:
- We will not accept any new Purchase Orders after December 31, 2024, nor will we engage in new commitments, renewals, or extensions beyond that date.
- Purchase Orders with a delivery date after March 31, 2025, will not be accepted.
- Hardware and software support services will cease after March 31, 2026, except for existing contractual obligations.
Our target completion date for the last shipment of products related to accepted Purchase Orders received between April 15, 2024, and December 31, 2024, is March 31, 2025.
3rd Febuary
2024
Our Very Own Tailored Training Programs
SM Communications comprehensive training program! Our tailored sessions are crafted to equip participants with the essential skills to effectively utilize our phones and installed products. Through hands-on demonstrations and interactive learning modules, participants will learn the ins and outs of our systems, including setup, troubleshooting, and advanced features. Our training emphasizes practical application, ensuring participants gain confidence in using our products efficiently.
22nd January
2024
New Company Clothing
We want to express our sincere gratitude for the exquisite personallied t-shirts you created for us. Your craftsmanship is truly exceptional, and we are thrilled with the personalized touch you've added to our attire.
The attention to detail and the artistry involved in your work have not gone unnoticed. It's evident that you put a great deal of care and skill into every project, making our work clothing truly unique and reflective of our brand.
Thank you for your dedication to quality and for contributing to the professional image of SM Communications. We look forward to proudly wearing our clothing, knowing it carries a touch of your talent.
At SM Communications, we are thrilled to support brilliant local businesses. Their dedication to excellence aligns with our values, and we believe in fostering a strong community that thrives on collaboration and mutual success. Together, we contribute to the growth and prosperity of our local business ecosystem.
10th October
2023
Emergency call out
We had an emergency call out in October, A power outage in the area causing damage to the phone system CPU. As soon as we got notification of this, we had an engineer sent to site 195 miles away, who got the Philips Sopho IS3000 back online as soon as possible, showcasing the importance of having skilled and responsive personnel in place for such situations.
Having a quick response to such emergencies is crucial to minimizing downtime and ensuring that business operations can resume as soon as possible.
©Copyright. All rights reserved.
Registered Office: 10 Spire Chase, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1PZ. Registered in England & Wales with Company No: 15910310
We need your consent to load the translations
We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.