BREAKING PROPERTY NEWS – 29/03/2022
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.
VTUK acquired by iamproperty Group in strategic tech consolidation move
As we predicted, 2022 will see a number of mergers and acquisitions in the proptech and fintech verticals, with residential and lettings leading the charge. So it comes as no great surprise that Ben Ridgway, MD of the iamproperty Group, an extremely switched on individual who I last met earlier this month, has announced the group’s acquisition of VTUK.
For those unfamiliar with VTUK, it is in some ways the elder statesperson in the technology stakes, which has pivoted its focus on what solutions it brings and to what sectors. In recent times though it has been servicing a large number of real estate facing businesses. So iamproperty in this strategic move obtain two things, more clients overnight and a vehicle that will be useful to develop new solutions.
The deal is also a great move for VTUK as Ben Ridgway and his c-suite team has a modern agile mindset, and super huge businesses are now being created by corporate bodies that have a vision of growth, and ways to execute that growth.
Peter Grant, who has been at the helm of VTUK for over three decades has built up a business that generates over £1 million in profit annually, and it’s a good time to pass the baton on, as in my analyst opinion with the resources of the iamproperty group, a five-times revenue should be achievable if the correct levers are operated.
As Peter Grant puts it: “A great deal of planning and care went into finding the right partner to take the business forward; we have built our product and service portfolio for over 30 years and know this move will create a bright future for VTUK and our team, allowing the company to accelerate with the dynamic support and innovation that is synonymous with iamproperty.”
In real terms, it will be business as usual, with the VTUK operation continuing as before, but it will now be part of a much bigger animal so its ability to scale up will be greatly enhanced.
Ben Ridgway comments that, “This is a great opportunity for our staff and customers, creating synergies that will benefit our mutual Partner Agent Network. Where we can add real value is through our support functions, to help accelerate growth and product innovation. For agents who want to continue to build their partnership with us, this will allow us to service even more of their day-to-day needs.”
Is your real estate business switched on for the big switch off?
The PSTN switch off: everything you need to know by Ringover
The countdown clock keeps ticking. We’re just three years away from turning off the public switched telephone network (PSTN), but many real estate businesses remain unprepared. While love for the traditional landline continues to dwindle, businesses remain unsure about their options for the future. Here, Ginelle Bell, UK country manager of VoIP phone system provider Ringover, outlines the future of telephony, and how real estate organisations can get switched on for the switch off.
The PSTN was first introduced in 1875 as the sole enabler of telephony. Even today, it still forms a large part of the UK’s telephony infrastructure, connecting voice calls using analogue signals. Over time it was partially digitalised with the introduction of the integrated services digital network (ISDN), which allowed digital signals to use the PSTN to transmit voice data.
Since the introduction of the ISDN, digital signals have typically been used to transmit voice calls, giving the impression that the nation’s telephony system is fully modernised. But ISDN still relies on the PSTN to operate — the same infrastructure that was installed in the 1800s. As digitalisation takes hold of all industries, telephony is no different, and BT has decided to switch off the PSTN and encourage all customers to go digital.
The end of the road for the PSTN
The PSTN will be completely switched off by December 2025. Although this is over three years away, BT has already started to wind down products and services across the UK. Salisbury and Mildenhall are both pilot locations for the switch off, and a stop sell of all PSTN-based products began in Salisbury in December 2020 and Mildenhall in May 2021. The PSTN will be completely withdrawn from both locations by December 2022.
When products that use the PSTN are no longer available it’s known as a stop sell. Openreach is gradually expanding the reach of the stop sell across the UK is planning to complete the national stop sell by September 2023. After this date, no new PSTN/ ISDN phone lines will be available to purchase. It won’t even be possible to change the address or business premise of an existing line.
The maturity of the PSTN and the development of new telephony technology means that it’s no longer necessary to have separate networks for the internet and phone lines. The PSTN is surplus to requirements. Instead, all services traditionally carried on the PSTN — voice data video and broadcasting — must switch to Internet Protocol (IP). So, for businesses currently using PSTN/ ISDN phone lines, it’s crucial to establish a withdrawal strategy now.
A new era of voice communication
The end of the PSTN means that real estate businesses need to find an internet-based alternative for their phone requirements. The answer lies in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
When you start a VoIP call, your phone communicates with the VoIP service provider and connects you to the desired party by exchanging data packets over the internet. Then, the VoIP phone converts the digital signals back into audio that you can hear. What’s more, with VoIP any device works as a phone. Desktops, laptops and tablets all work as VoIP devices as long as they have an internet connection.
The need for a new system is gaining traction across the country. Ringover predicts that the landline will become extinct by November 2028. Back in 2013 there were more than eight million landlines in the UK offices and workplaces, but this figure now sits at just 4.98 million. Numbers are predicted to fall below two million in spring 2024 and drop under one million in early 2026. VoIP is the technology that will replace the traditional landline.
Making the switch
As well as futureproofing your business and migrating away from the old PSTN, switching to VoIP also comes with several additional features and benefits. VoIP phone systems like Ringover are pieces of software, which means that there is no hardware installation or purchase costs. Adding new lines and scaling the system as your business grows takes just a few minutes.
With remote working taking a permanent seat at the table, switching to VoIP is a wise choice. It gives employees the flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as they have a device with the VoIP software downloaded. Companies can even adopt a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, meaning employees can use their own preferred device and still be contactable while travelling or working from a different location.
You might feel like the PSTN switch off is tomorrow’s problem, but making the switch now will prevent any unexpected disruption when migrating to internet-based phone system. The future of telephony is VoIP. All businesses will have to make the switch at some point it’s just a matter of when. But those that are switched on will do so sooner rather than later to avoid services being switched off.
If you have a view – please let us all know by emailing me at editor@stagingsite.estateagentnetworking.co.uk – Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward.
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