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A new ICM poll has revealed that up to half of us now reckon we can’t exist without our email!

When asked if they could carry on without access to email, 50% of 25-34 year-olds said no.  This age group is leading the way in adopting electronic communication as a vital way of keeping in touch with the office and with friends. 

Contrary to expectations, the latest technologies have not been monopolised by the younger generation.  Only 41% of teenagers admitted to relying on their email, whereas the 35-44 year-olds are embracing new technologies for communication much quicker with 44% saying that their email is vital to them.

The study, carried out by ICM Research for Nasstar plc, also revealed some interesting regional variations.  Respondents in the South-East place most importance on access to their emails with 43% saying they would struggle without.  By comparison, only 34% in Wales and the South-West admitted to relying on electronic communication.

The variation between males and females was, surprisingly, very little with 41% of all females admitting they would find it hard without email contact, compared to 38% of males.

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar plc, said: “The first wave was the mobile phone, and many of us would admit we rely on our mobile and can’t remember how we ever survived without it.

“This poll shows that the next phase is the growth of mobile email.  There’s an increasing demand for email on-the-go, and technology has developed to meet this demand.  Now with your mobile, or your Blackberry, you can have access to your email anywhere and everywhere.

“30 and 40-somethings have fitted email into their busy lives as a vital form of communication.  It’s not restricted by time, you can email at in the middle of the night without disturbing anyone.  And now it’s no longer restricted by location.”

”While teenagers are passionate about their mobile phones and texting in particular, the older generations are relying more and more on email because of its use in a business capacity.  Email really works for business people on the go.”

Editor’s Notes: Nasstar is a software broadcaster supplying Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).  Nasstar’s software broadcasting service distributes business software from a central source to end users so that businesses can access their software from anywhere on a subscription basis. Software broadcasting provides an innovative alternative to the traditional on-site local PC and perpetual license model of software delivery.

Nasstar Desktop is Nasstar’s core package enabling subscribers to access their ‘My Documents’, company data and software applications including Microsoft Office, accounts software, other applications from anywhere on a ‘pay monthly’ basis.

Nasstar Mail is a hosted exchange email service which enables subscribers to access their email, calendar and contacts from anywhere using Outlook, a web browser or a mobile device such as Windows mobile phones or BlackBerry.

Nasstar is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a BlackBerry Alliance Member and Cisco Partner.

Nasstar plc was admitted to the London Stock Exchange AIM in December 2005.  London Stock Exchange code: NASA.

Nasstar plc has solved the communication challenges of a growing company working from sites across the UK.

Miller Mitchell Burley Lane (MMBL) has staff spread across four offices, in Edinburgh, Norwich, London and Great Yarmouth, as well as telesales personnel working from home.

Using Nasstar plc’s software broadcasting system, Nasstar Desktop, MMBL’s project management staff is now able to access all relevant centralised data at the touch of a button.

MMBL is the project management arm of Howards Group, which is also involved in residential and commercial property sales, financial services and a wide range of specialised property services for both property professionals and the general public.  Howards Group has additionally licensed Nasstar’s Hosted Exchange for use by its head office staff.

Nasstar Desktop is at the forefront of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) revolution, offering companies the facility to have all their software and data hosted in a purpose-built centre rather than on a local network, with access provided over secure high speed connection.  The service is provided on a pay-monthly basis per-user, with a fully-managed service providing software upgrades, data backups and 24-hour telephone support.  Nasstar’s Hosted Exchange offers access to email, shared calendars and contacts from any internet connection or mobile device.

Martin Cunningham, chief executive of Howards Group, said: “The first reason for using Nasstar Desktop and Hosted Exchange was for the financial savings.  We have avoided the massive upfront cost of installing hardware at each site, as well as the IT staff to manage the systems.  The staff can concentrate on the core business.

“Since introducing the Nasstar Desktop and Hosted Exchange, mobile access has enhanced the company’s productivity.  The dead time while on a train or waiting for a meeting can now be used to check emails, and update diaries.  It’s taken geography out of the equation.”

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar plc, said: “MMBL is operating from four different sites with a team of staff who spend much of their time out of the office.  Nasstar Desktop is the perfect software broadcast solution, giving everyone access to email, calendars and office data from any location.

“Nasstar Desktop provides a business with a real alternative to the on-site server, and can offer a greener option with staff able to work easily from home, avoiding unnecessary journeys.”

ENDS

Editors’ Notes:
Nasstar is a software broadcaster supplying Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).  Nasstar’s software broadcasting service distributes business software from a central source to end users so that businesses can access their software from anywhere on a subscription basis. Software broadcasting provides an innovative alternative to the traditional on-site local PC and perpetual license model of software delivery.

Nasstar Desktop is Nasstar’s core package enabling subscribers to access their ‘My Documents’, company data and software applications including Microsoft Office, accounts software, other applications from anywhere on a ‘pay monthly’ basis.

Nasstar Mail is a hosted exchange email service which enables subscribers to access their email, calendar and contacts from anywhere using Outlook, a web browser or a mobile device such as Windows mobile phones or BlackBerry.

Nasstar is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a BlackBerry Alliance Member and Cisco Partner.

Nasstar plc was admitted to the London Stock Exchange AIM in December 2005.  London Stock Exchange code: NASA.

BRITISH business could save £78m in electricity bills and slash CO2 emissions by 485,000 tonnes a year by switching from PCs to thin clients, claim researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. Boffins at the think-tank came to their conclusion after using IGEL Technology thin clients to investigate the power and CO2 emissions of thin clients against traditional business PCs. they say they discovered ‘significant power, ecological and financial savings’. “Energy consumption when in operation was up to 50 percent lower than for conventional PCs,” said Dr Hartmut Pflaum, the Fraunhofer researcher. “While PCs consume 85 watts on average, thin clients get by with 40 to 50 watts. In view of climate change and the need to reduce CO2 emissions, this is an important factor.”

Stephen Yeo, strategic director of worldwide marketing for IGEL Technology, added: “Using a conservative estimate of 10 million business desktop PCs in operation around the UK, businesses could be saving a total of £78m a year and cutting CO2 emission by 485,000 tonnes. iThe financial savings are significant but the impact on cutting CO2 emissions is impressive.

“Saving 485,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions would remove the equivalent impact of 85,000 average UK households each year. Add to this the typical 25% TCO savings of buying and running a thin client compared to a PC and there can be no doubt that server-based computing is the economic and eco-friendly way forward.”

Nasstar plc has launched its new software broadcasting system which provides access to all your business’s software and documents from any location.

Nasstar Desktop is a dynamic alternative to local software installation, and at the forefront of the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) revolution.  It removes the need for in-house servers and local-based software installation, providing instant global access to your desktop, on a pay-monthly basis.

The Nasstar Desktop was launched by Charles Black, chief executive officer of Nasstar plc, at Microsoft’s Reading campus on Tuesday, March 27.  Nasstar plc has obtained Gold Certified Partner status from Microsoft Limited for its specialisation of hosting solutions, as well as advanced infrastructure and mobility solutions.

During the launch, Martin Walker, UK Software-as-a-Service manager for Microsoft Ltd, provided an insight into Microsoft’s Software+Services strategy.

Mr Walker said: “The market is continuing to evolve and customers are looking for different ways for software to be procured and delivered.  Quite simply the old model of perpetual on-premise will not be going away, but it will be complimented by a range of services providing customers with the choice of licensing and delivery model to fit their requirements. 

“Nasstar Desktop is at the forefront of Software-as-a-Service, and provides businesses with a real alternative to on-site perpetual software delivery.”

Charles Black, chief executive officer of Nasstar plc, added: “We’re delighted to be launching at Microsoft and value the support they have given our service.  Microsoft is actively promoting Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Nasstar Desktop translates this concept into a real commercial service. 

“By subscribing to Nasstar Desktop, not only can a business avoid the upfront capital expenditure on technology, but management time is not diverted from the core business.”