User:Massiveray/aql

aql

aql® was formed in 1998 at the beginning of the “internet boom”. By mid 2000, aql was listed in the top 3% of registries (sales by volume of .uk domain names, source – Nominet UK annual statistics 2000-03).

This position enabled aql to invest heavily into telecoms infrastructure expansion, entering the mobile messaging market in 1999 with direct connections to the UK mobile network providers.

Further expansion into wholesale telecommunications in 2003 allowed aql to create a telecommunications network capable of supplying UK PSTN numbering into the broadband industry to fulfill the growing demand for broadband voice “VoIP” services.

The aql Network

aql have a carrier grade delivery network, operating both in the IP and TDM domain, allowing aql to bring the service to operation.

The aql network is a national network spanning several sites. With a presence both in London and also significant out-of-london points of presence such as Leeds and Manchester, this allows aql to operate a heavily interconnected network with full geographic resilience.

aql Values

Channel focus – Support and maintain rather than compete Their partners manage the customer relationships, they manage the networks and infrastructure.

Board Structure

Dr Adam Beaumont [Managing Director]

Both a scientist and an electrical engineer, Adam started his career with a PhD in Physical Chemistry and a 3 year stint as Leeds University’s youngest lecturer, before moving into Secure Mobile Communications for the DERA. In 1998 Adam formed aql, offering domain registration services prior to the domain “boom”. He is a consistent innovator, providing one of the first API accessible mobile messaging platforms and more recently, the first wifi mobile voip service and in 2007, the UK’s main landline messaging hub. During his journey, he’s built datacentres, national networks, acquired 3 companies and has a prolific involvement in technology startups - His current involvements are a WiFi innovation company, a GSM engineering company, a digital rights management platform, a cafe-bar, a microbrewery and a whitelabel wholesale telecommunications operator.

Paul Greaves [Sales Director]

Paul is aql’s Director of Sales and has over 25 years experience in direct selling and building sales channels. Paul has taken several companies from zero to £40m+, one of which he sold to United Utilities plc a UK FTSE 100, where he continued to develop for 5 years as Channel Director of Intercell, at the time of sale Intercell was Vodafone’s third largest independent service provider/billing platform. The subsequent acquisition by THUS plc and then again by Cable and Wireless most recently has given Paul first hand experience of ‘Solution’ sales of converged voice, data and MPLS at tier 1 level, both directly and via his channels. Paul’s role at aql is to identify, recruit and train suitable partners, to package and develop the product portfolio and back office systems. Paul has a BSc in Engineering.

MVNO In 2010 aql launched an MVNE offering. This service would allow porting of geographic (land line) numbers onto SIM cards for use in mobile devices. This would allow wholesale providers to become an MVNO that would be able to sell on geo numbers allowing customers to manage their business landline via their mobile device.

Other services that can be offered as an MVNO:
• call recording
• voicemail
• call forwarding
• group calling
• multiple inbound numbers

aql effectively "unbundled" the Hutchison (Three) network to allow reselling of data and voice by their MVNO's.

JANET 3G In July 2011, aql launched (in partnership with Janet, the UK's education and research network)JANET 3G, a servcie that allows the UK academic community (organisations and students) access to their learning and research materials remotely. Meaning that people can access their remote study materials from anywhere that has network coverage, whereas previously they would have to be physically present on their university campus to access such things. The service is accessed via a supplied dongle (or MiFi unit) that will plug into any USb enabled computer and allow access to the services.

Alternatively there is a micro-SIM option that allows the service to be accessed via mobile devices such as the iPad.

References

Guardian Article

Yorkshire Evening Post Article

External links

• aql.com
• Janet 3G