| | Online Publishing And Media Services Company Adopts WS_FTP Pro To Support Expansion
M2 Advocates Ipswitch Inc's Market-leading FTP Software
British-based M2 Communications Ltd is an international publishing and media services company, responsible for expanding the boundaries of electronic publishing through the provision of timely news reports and information around the world. M2's dedicated team of regular and freelance staff also provide consulting, publishing and ancillary support services to a global client-base, with much of its information being delivered by FTP using WS_FTP Pro, from Ipswitch Inc.
"All our clients rely on us for certain information, so we have to be accountable," explains Managing Director of M2 Communications Ltd, Darren Ingram. "IT is central to M2's activities and in recent times we have invested heavily to retain a competitive edge in this fast-moving market. Due to our reliance on IT, it is essential to have highly reliable products and services in place. We use FTP to deliver syndicated news materials to our many data partners for use within their own online systems and services. Multiple FTP sessions can be active transferring high-volume, time-sensitive material to services around the world. WS_FTP Pro provides us with a dependable system that we can use to service our clients effectively."
Issues that arose when delivering syndicated data to many publishing partners led the company to upgrade M2's previous distribution system, he continues. "Our IT consultant and also our directors had been aware of Ipswitch's products for a number of years. We knew enough about WS_FTP Pro to make this product a priority in our evaluation process. Once we had completed the necessary steps and assessed that Ipswitch's software matched our requirements, we felt there was no need to look elsewhere, as WS_FTP Pro matched our requirements."
WS_FTP Pro is a Windows-based file transfer client application that is used to transfer files between a user's local PC and a remote FTP server connected via a modem and telephone line or by a local area network.
With WS_FTP Pro, users can connect to any remote FTP server on the Internet, browse through directories and files, and transfer files in either direction. In addition, users can create, change, and remove remote directories and view, execute, rename, or delete remote files. WS_FTP Pro also supports anonymous logons, which allows users to access the vast store of information on publicly accessible FTP sites around the world.
"With this system in place, we have more reliability and less manual intervention than with our previous system," explains Ingram. "We also have greater means to examine failure reports to track down problems. This makes the lives of our software developers more straightforward as they can rely on WS_FTP Pro to get on with the job without constant attention, allowing them to work on more challenging development and system maintenance.
WS_FTP Pro is also available in a Software Developer's Kit, allowing the creation of custom applications. With a choice of languages that includes C++ and Visual Basic, developers can create standalone FTP applications or add network file transfer functionality to existing custom applications. For example, developers can use the development kit to write applications that post frequent updates to Internet or Intranet servers or automatically download documents or programs at separate times and intervals.
M2 has made significant cost savings with the implementation of WS_FTP Pro. "When you are transferring data files to and from both contributors and syndication partners, perhaps as often as every five minutes during the busy periods, our delivery system is central to the application," explains Ingram. "Any facility which helps us maximise the use of our transmission network and reduce downtime due to system failures or inefficient behaviour can affect the bottom line." Using WS_FTP Pro has significantly reduced our outgoings and saves us time in the data transfer process."
"Without FTP we could not run our online operations site or supply our services in such an efficient, hands-off manner.. With WS_FTP Pro, we not only do this effectively, but can rely on the solution to cope with the demands of our business."
About M2 Communications Ltd.
M2 Communications Ltd (M2) is a British-based privately-owned international publishing and media services company. Formed in 1993 (with previous origins in 1991 through a separate unregistered company), M2 strives to take the boundary of electronic publishing one stage further through the provision of timely news reports and information.
A host of many business-orientated news publications (including several daily services) such as Telecomworldwire, Nordic Business Report, Airline Industry Information and M2 Best Books are produced by M2. The company also operates M2 PressWIRE, the world's third-largest (and growing) electronic press release distribution service and provides consulting, publishing and ancillary support services to a global client-base.
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