Carphone Warehouse Research Articles

It's time to rethink DDoS protection

When you think of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, chances are you conjure up an image of an overwhelming flood of traffic that incapacitates a network. This kind of cyber attack is all about overt, brute force used to take a target down. Some hackers are a little smarter, using DDoS as a distraction while they simultaneously attempt a more targeted strike, as was the case with a Carphone Warehouse hack in 2015. 1 But in general, DDoS isn't subtle. Retailers are having to rethink how they approach distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection following the rise of a stealthier incarnation of the threat. There has been a significant increase in small-scale DDoS attacks and a corresponding reduction in conventional large-scale events. The hacker’s aim is to remain below the conventional ‘detect and alert’ threshold that could trigger a DDoS mitigation strategy. Roy Reynolds of Vodat International explains the nature of the threat and the steps organisations can take to protect themselves.

Music's hurt locker [record industry

Fifteen years ago, when digital storage technology and compression algorhythms became strong enough, the record industry suddenly found itself in a panic. It had to play catch-up with the computer industry and adjust how it managed its rights and how consumers were copying their CD collections to computers and portable devices.What they came up with was digital rights management a method of controlling how digital music could be downloaded, copied or streamed, primarily to protect their revenues. It has, at the very best, been a qualified success.Companies are developing services that enable consumers to upload their digital content to storage servers over the Internet and stream it on any device. Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse launched a digital locker service called Music Anywhere, which allows customers to store their music collection in the cloud to be accessed by different devices.

Is the iPad a game changer? [Tablet computer from Apple

Three years ago, netbooks exploded onto the scene revolutionising the IT sector, effectively killing Microsoft's Ultra-Mobile PC concept overnight and speeding up convergence between the technology and telecoms sectors. However, while everyone from Microsoft to Carphone Warehouse rushed to make the most of this new type of device, one company stood quietly on the sidelines: Apple. Despite having transformed from a computer manufacturer y to a mobile devices company in less than a decade, thanks largely to the ubiquitous iPod and iPhone brands, it refused to get involved with the netbook gold rush, even going as far as to describe them as 'junk'. Even at the launch of the iPad, the company's chief executive Steve Jobs attacked netbooks, describing them as nothing more than small, underpowered laptops and stating: If there is going to be a third category of device, then it has to be better at certain tasks than a laptop or a smart phone, otherwise it has no reason for being. It is clear that Apple believes that tablets are the future. This paper discuss about the new under powered laptop, tablet computer, iPad.

Training sets the right tone at the Carphone Warehouse

PurposeThe purpose of the paper is to explain how a robust training, development and certification framework is helping to improve performance at the Carphone Warehouse.Design/methodology/approachThe paper outlines the importance of training to the company, which operates in a highly dynamic market where innovation and creativity are crucial. Reveals that, with more than 140 trainers spread across Europe, all of whom are under pressure to deliver a huge number of programs to a high standard, sharing good practice was not happening as much as it should.FindingsThe paper details how 26 training managers, from across Europe, were enrolled on TAP delivery‐skills refresher course, which sought to remind them how to optimize the structure of a course. It highlights the change that occurred from a presentational style to a more interactive and discussion‐based mode of delivery.Practical implicationsThe paper argues that, while the people who attended the course were already confident in their skills, they emerged feeling better equipped to measure the performance of their own teams of trainers.Originality/valueThe paper describes how, after the course, training materials were rewritten to a new format and there was more collaboration and swapping of materials between business units.

Interim management helps Carphone Warehouse to get TalkTalk on track

PurposeThis article describes how an interim manager helped mobile‐telephone company Carphone Warehouse to transform its operations to cope with growing demand caused by the launch of its free‐to‐talk service, increasing its customer numbers from 385,000 to more than 500,000 in less than three months and hitting high performance targets for billing accuracy and timeliness.Design/methodology/approachHighlights resourcing challenges and how these were resolved through interim management.FindingsIllustrates the benefits of interim management not only to provide high‐quality recruitment cover but to buy in specialist experience and skills as and when they are needed.Practical implicationsHighlights the benefit of fast‐track recruitment to meet specific short‐term needs and projects.Originality/valueContains plenty to interest top management in major corporations who are considering how to minimize overheads and maximize flexibility.

The angst, anguish and ambitions of the teenage years

Stresses the importance of examining the changes that children go through in moving from “tweenagers” of eight to 12 years to the more difficult stage of teenagers, and also that teenager characteristics change between generations. Outlines some of these changes and concerns, and characteristics of teenagers such as daydreaming, the search for identity, and the high degree of techno‐literacy and communication skills ‐ featuring for example mobile phones. Describes a research study carried out for the Carphone Warehouse by Kids and Youth: this compared parents’ and teenagers’ views on why teenagers would contact a helpline, and other issues concerned with communication between teenagers and their parents. Observes that teenagers are not only consulted by their parents on marketing decisions over products like the internet and mobile phones, but they are becoming more altruistic and politically involved compared to earlier generations.