BIXOLON Demonstrates its Complete Range of Retail Printing Solutions at EuroShop 2026

BIXOLON Co., Ltd, a leading global Mobile, Label and POS Printer Manufacturer, welcomes visitors onto stand 6A32 throughout the show, where it will be showcasing its sophisticated range of Retail printing solutions to the European market.

Key exhibition product highlights will include:

POS Printers – Displaying its leading range of Point-of-Sale printing technology, BIXOLON will showcase the SRP-S200 2-inch (58 mm) and recently launched SRP-S300II 3-inch (80 mm) receipt and linerless label printers. Alongside the SRP-Q300 3-inch (80 mm) ultra-compact front-exit printer for space-constrained environments. The ultra-fast, feature rich SRP-380plus 3-inch (80 mm) desktop POS printer, and the best-selling SRP-350plusV 3-inch (80 mm) receipt printer known for proven reliability across retail applications.

BIXOLON will also present its kiosk POS printing models, including the BK5-31 3-inch (80 mm), BK3-31 3-inch (80 mm), and BK3-21 2-inch (60 mm), delivering dependable, high-performance printing for self-service and unattended retail environments.

Mobile Printers – Multi-award-winning manufacturer BIXOLON will showcase its XM7 mobile printer series, available in 2-inch, 3-inch and 4-inch (58 / 80 / 112 mm) models supporting linerless label and receipt printing for diverse retail needs from product markdown labelling to e-commerce labelling. Highlights include the XM7-40R 4-inch (112 mm) RFID mobile label printer, which combines fast printing with encoding capabilities for efficient RFID label management. The range is complemented by BIXOLON’s mobile printers, including the SPP-R200III 2-inch (58 mm) and the durable SPP-L310 3-inch (80 mm) and SPP-L410 4-inch (112 mm) mobile label printers, delivering reliable performance across retail environments.

Industrial and Desktop Label Printers – BIXOLON will unveil its NEW XD5-40II Series 4-inch (112 mm) including RFID-enabled model and healthcare-optimised models for mission critical, retail and medical labelling. Also featured is the XT5-40 4-inch (112 mm) industrial RFID label printer and the XL5-40 4-inch (112 mm) linerless printer supporting sustainable labelling. Plus the XD3-40 4-inch (112 mm) cost-effective desktop label printer and the XQ-840II 4-inch (112 mm) all-in-one touchscreen printer, all delivering reliable, value-driven performance across a variety of industrial and desktop applications.

BIXOLON also celebrates being joined on the stand by a selection of market-leading partners who will be showcasing the latest in software and hardware technology working in conjunction with BIXOLON’s printing solutions. These include plastic card printing from Maxicard, a full-service provider specialising in the printing, production, and personalisation of credit card-sized cards, delivering high-quality and secure card solutions for a wide range of applications. Plus interactive kiosks and software solutions from K2 CORP, a French designer of interactive kiosks and a developer of innovative software solutions.

“Retail is entering a new era where flexibility, automation and data-driven accuracy are no longer optional but essential” Paul Kim, Managing Director of BIXOLON Europe GmbH, explained to That's Business. 

“EuroShop gives us the opportunity to engage directly with retailers and partners, understand their evolving challenges and show how BIXOLON’s innovations can empower them to operate smarter, faster and more sustainably.”

To find out more, visit BIXOLON at www.BIXOLON.com or contact sales@bixolon.de to make an appointment to meet the team.

The first comprehensive performance test of UK mobile operators and their MVNOs

The UK’s four mobile operators, Three, O2, Vodafone and EE, offer a slightly better service than the cheaper third party operators using their networks but most customers are unlikely to notice the difference. 

This is the key finding of the first large-scale performance test to compare the performance of the UK's mobile network operators (MNOs) against the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) using their infrastructure.

40,000 tests were carried out using the SignalTracker mobile app across the UK in a range of urban, suburban and rural locations.

SignalTracker, a partner service from spectrum policy experts PolicyTracker, compared Vodafone to Lebara Mobile, EE to LycaMobile, Three to iD Mobile and O2 to giffgaff to find out just how download speed (Mbps) differs between these providers. 

All the tested MVNOs use the existing networks of the mobile network operators (MNOs) and are generally cheaper.

Their tests focused on Central London as an urban case study; south London and south Birmingham as suburban tests and the Isle of Skye, Lincolnshire and Cumbria for their rural tests. 

They found that in the urban and suburban tests, all networks are consistently achieving more than the 20 Mbps download speed needed for everyday usage.

In simple terms, it's unlikely consumers would notice the difference between network operators and MVNOs, as download speeds are often separated by less than 10 Mbps.

However, Three and O2 were considerably faster than their partner MVNOs. In their suburban tests Three averaged 105 Mbps download speed against just 26 Mbps from iD Mobile. Similarly, giffgaff fell consistently short of the service provided by O2.

In their suburban tests, O2 averaged 56 Mbps download speed against just 41 Mbps on giffgaff: the MVNO was also beaten for speed in the urban tests by O2. Overall, their fastest speeds were on Three and our slowest were on iD.

Regarding reliability, they found that MVNOs were more likely to suffer failed tests than MNOs. When this metric is taken into account, MNOs offer a better service even though their download speeds are very similar.

In the case of Vodafone, they experienced test failure in 1% of cases across their urban and rural test areas. On its MVNO Lebara, this rose to 24% and 19%. More noticeable was the difference between O2 and giffgaff, with only 4% average test failure across all O2 tests versus 43% average test failure on giffgaff - close to half.

The performance gap between network operators and MVNOs is inconsistent – in South London O2 and giffgaff had similar speeds but O2 massively outpaced giffgaff in their Birmingham tests.

SignalTracker also analysed the mobile bands being used by network operators and their MVNOs to see if this explained differences in performance. iD has slower speeds than Three because it lacks access to the best performing mobile bands but in other pairings, this doesn’t seem to affect overall performance.

For consumers, what matters the most is value – their report highlights several MVNOs who offer a very similar service to MNOs at much cheaper prices.

While they do believe MVNOs offer generally better value, they also factored in the existence of 5G standalone (5G SA), the ultra-fast service offered by EE, Vodafone and O2.

No MVNO currently has access to 5G SA and when they add those results into their comparison, it makes a big difference and can even see average download speeds topping 100 Mbps.

For customers streaming, using VR and AR technology, looking to game on the go or download large files frequently, 5G standalone provides an advantage for these tasks over any MVNO.

https://signal-tracker.net

How to Run Your Business on the Go Using Just Your Smartphone or Tablet

Running a business no longer means being tied to a desk or a brick-and-mortar location. 

Thanks to mobile technology, it’s entirely possible to manage most, if not all, aspects of your business from your smartphone or tablet. 

Whether you're travelling for meetings, working remotely, or simply stepping out for coffee, your device can keep your operations running smoothly wherever you are.

Here’s how to make your smartphone or tablet a fully-fledged business command centre.

1. Choose the Right Apps for Your Business Needs

The backbone of mobile business management is having the right apps installed. Here are some essentials by category:

Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, WhatsApp Business

File Management: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive

Finance & Invoicing: QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, PayPal Business

Social Media: Meta Business Suite, Canva, Buffer, Later

Project Management: Trello, Asana, ClickUp, Notion

E-commerce: Shopify, Etsy Seller, WooCommerce

Choose apps that integrate well with your current systems and are user-friendly on smaller screens.

2. Use Cloud-Based Services

Cloud computing is what makes mobile business possible. Make sure all your documents, project files, and business data are saved in the cloud so you can access them anywhere.

Benefits include:

Real-time collaboration with your team or clients

Automatic backups

Cross-device syncing

Cloud-based accounting, CRMs, and inventory systems are particularly useful for managing customer relationships and sales on the go.

3. Automate Where Possible

Time-saving automation tools are perfect for business owners constantly on the move. Use them to:

Schedule social media posts in advance

Automate email responses or drip campaigns

Generate recurring invoices

Set reminders for meetings and deadlines

Zapier and IFTTT are fantastic tools for automating actions across different apps.

4. Stay Connected with Reliable Internet and Power

It may seem obvious, but solid Wi-Fi or mobile data and access to power are non-negotiables when working remotely. Consider the following:

Invest in a portable charger or power bank

Use mobile hotspots or tethering options if Wi-Fi isn’t available

Keep chargers for all devices in your bag

You might also want to check café or co-working apps like Workfrom or Croissant to find suitable work-friendly locations wherever you go.

5. Maintain Digital Security

Operating your business from a mobile device comes with some risks, so it’s vital to secure your data:

Use strong passwords and enable biometric authentication

Install antivirus and VPN apps

Keep your software and apps updated

Avoid public Wi-Fi without encryption

Also, consider using password managers like 1Password or LastPass to manage your login details securely.

6. Stay Organised and Set Boundaries

While it’s convenient to have your business at your fingertips, being always-on can lead to burnout. Here’s how to stay in control:

Set business hours and stick to them

Use a digital planner or calendar to manage your day

Turn off notifications when you’re off duty

Remember: working on the go should enhance flexibility, not extend your working hours indefinitely.

7. Take Advantage of Voice and Video Features

Don’t underestimate the power of voice-to-text, dictation, or even video content creation directly from your mobile. You can:

Record meeting notes

Create social media videos

Dictate blog post ideas or emails

Host video calls from virtually anywhere

Modern smartphones and tablets offer surprisingly robust tools for content creation and communication.

Final Thoughts

Running your business from a smartphone or tablet is more feasible now than ever. With the right tools and a few best practices, you can stay productive, responsive, and in control – even while on the move. Whether you’re travelling for work or enjoying a change of scenery, mobile business management can help you maintain momentum without missing a beat.

Are you already managing your business on the go? Share your favourite mobile tools or tips in the comments!

Navigating Mobile Phone Services for SMEs: A Guide to Choosing the Right Provider

In today's digital age, the importance of a reliable mobile phone service for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot be overstated. 

Whether it's staying connected with clients, managing remote teams, or accessing crucial business applications on the go, having a dependable mobile network is essential for smooth operations. 

However, with a plethora of options available in the market, selecting the right mobile phone service can be a daunting task for SME owners. To alleviate this challenge, we've compiled a comprehensive guide to help SMEs navigate through the process of selecting the most suitable mobile phone service provider.

Assess Your Business Needs:

Before diving into the sea of mobile phone service providers, it's crucial to evaluate your business requirements. Consider factors such as the number of employees who require mobile connections, the frequency of international calls, data usage patterns, and the need for additional features like mobile hotspot tethering or international roaming. Understanding your specific needs will provide clarity when comparing different service providers.

Research and Compare Providers:

Once you've identified your business needs, conduct thorough research on the various mobile phone service providers available in your region. Pay attention to factors such as network coverage, reliability, pricing plans, customer service reputation, and additional perks or benefits offered. Utilize online comparison tools and read customer reviews to gain insights into the experiences of other businesses with each provider.

Consider Network Coverage and Reliability:

For SMEs, having consistent network coverage and reliable connectivity is paramount. Evaluate the coverage maps provided by different service providers to ensure that your business operations are adequately supported, especially if you have remote or field-based employees. Additionally, consider factors such as network speeds, data congestion during peak hours, and the reliability of voice call connections.

Analyse Pricing Plans and Flexibility:

Cost-effectiveness is a significant consideration for SMEs when selecting a mobile phone service provider. Compare the pricing plans offered by different providers, taking into account factors such as monthly fees, data allowances, call and text quotas, and any additional charges or hidden fees. Look for providers that offer flexible plans allowing you to scale up or down as your business needs evolve, without incurring hefty penalties.

Evaluate Customer Support and Service Quality:

In the event of technical issues or account queries, reliable customer support can make a significant difference in ensuring uninterrupted business operations. Prioritize service providers known for their responsive customer support teams and efficient resolution of issues. Consider reaching out to each provider's customer service channels to assess their responsiveness and level of assistance.

Explore Value-Added Services and Benefits:

Many mobile phone service providers offer value-added services and benefits that can enhance the overall productivity and efficiency of your business. These may include complimentary access to business productivity apps, device management tools, discounted hardware purchases, or priority customer support for business customers. Evaluate these additional offerings to determine their relevance and potential value to your SME.

Seek Recommendations and Referrals:

Don't hesitate to seek recommendations and referrals from fellow SME owners, industry peers, or business networking groups. Personal experiences and insights can provide valuable guidance in selecting the right mobile phone service provider for your business. Ask about their experiences with different providers, including any challenges faced or standout features that they found particularly beneficial.

In conclusion, selecting the right mobile phone service provider for your SME requires careful consideration of your business needs, thorough research, and a comparative analysis of available options. By evaluating factors such as network coverage, pricing plans, customer support quality, and additional benefits, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives and ensures seamless connectivity for your team. Remember, choosing the right mobile phone service provider is an investment in the efficiency and productivity of your SME.

Phones Limited reaches 4.5 million deals milestone

One of the UK's foremost mobile phone price comparison websites has reached a major milestone in the number of contract, pay as you go and SIM free deals they offer to mobile phone consumers.

Phones Limited is regarded as one of the most comprehensive price comparison websites for mobile phone deals and now has over 4.5 million listed in its database.

"The recent increase in the number of deals we are currently listing is in part thanks to a raft of new handset releases" explains Andrew Ramsey, head of marketing, "as rival manufacturers continue to launch new and exciting smart phones and retailers add free gifts to their contract packages we have seen an explosion of deals over the past few weeks."

"We operate very differently to many of our competition in that we are completely transparent in the way in which we list our deals, there is no manipulation of data to favour any one retailer or network but simple organisation based on visitors activity."

"All of our 'most popular' mobile phone deals are generated by users of the website by counting clicks, the deals with the most clicks make it to our homepage as well as being listed as 'best deals' on our product pages".

Phones Limited was established in 1999 and when first launched listed only 300,000 mobile phone deals, this has steadily increased as the company has negotiated to bring on more and more partners to offer an even more comprehensive database of deals.

Deals are listed in order of line rental prices rather than 'steering' consumers with widgets like 'sliders' or listing the deals in order of overall expenditure over the minimum term contract period.

Andrew went on to explain, "We like to keep the options available to consumers as simple as possible, the way in which we list our mobile phone deals allows them to browse the entire catalogue of available tariffs rather than limiting their choices to just a few deals based on pre-chosen variables".

"With so many mobile phone deals available it is all too easy to guide a consumer to a deal that may not be right for them, by listing all available tariffs together in one place they have a far better idea of what's available to them and can then make their decision with far more knowledge of the overall market."

Recent handsets additions to the websites database include the new flagship HTC One X, mid-range One S and budget One V from HTC's new 'One' series, the new Sony Xperia S, P and U from Sony's 'NXT' series and the Nokia Lumia 900 in both black and white colour schemes.

http://www.phoneslimited.co.uk/
http://blog.phoneslimited.co.uk/

Conerned about unexpectedly high mobile phone bills? So is Ofcom

On the 1st of March, Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, set out an action plan to tackle the problem of consumers being hit with unexpectedly high phone bills.

After conducting a review into the causes of 'bill shock', it was revealed that as many as 1.4 million mobile phone contract customers were affected in the past 6 months. As a result of the findings Ofcom are now looking to work with those in the mobile industry to address the main issues that were identified.

Andy Steele, Head of Dial Through Services, at cheap international calls company Firstnumber points out: “Ever since the introduction of data roaming and consistently high costs of calling and texting when abroad, countless consumers have fallen victim to high phone bills that were completely unexpected. As suggested by Ofcom, further clarity is vital in order to educate consumers so that the no other person within the UK has to face an alarming shock on receiving their phone bill.”

As covered by the extensive review into 'bill shock' the main causes were identified as:

- Downloading data, primarily while travelling outside the EU, but also when using data in the UK

- Using mobile voice services in the UK, mainly by exceeding inclusive allowances or calling numbers outside of allowances.

- Lost or stolen phones – where the number of consumers affected is low, but the level of financial harm can be substantial.

The plan now set out by Ofcom to protect consumers include the following actions that they believe will solve the problem of unexpectedly high bills. Firstly, to extend EU roaming regulation, encouraging providers to set financial caps, exploring the introduction of maximum liability limits, and to remind providers to make tariffs more transparent.

Andy Steele also stated: “At Firstnumber we promote a high level of transparency to our customers by ensuring there are no hidden costs or subscription fees. Nobody should face high phone bills just for calling friends and love ones regardless of where they are in the world.”

Firstnumber support Ofcom by calling on all telecom providers to educate consumers, increase consumer awareness, and achieve the overall goal of reducing 'bill shock' throughout the UK.

For more information on cheap international calls visit Firstnumber at: www.firstnumber.co.uk

FACTFILE:

Firstnumber.co.uk is an online phone directory offering direct dial access codes that reduce the cost of making international calls from a UK landline. Providing cheap international calls to over 500 countries that include cheap calls to South Africa, South Africa, Germany, France, Italy and many more.

Firstnumber.co.uk was launched in 2004 and is a trading style of Wavecrest.

Contact Details:

First Number / WaveCrest, 1st Floor,
Bishopsgate Court,
4-12 Norton Folgate,
London
E1 6DB
Enquiries: 0870 801 7800

Swyx-It! Mobile now available on App Store and Android Market

Swyx launches App for iPhone and Android "Fast Dial" feature ensures speedier call set-up

Swyx, a  vendor of Unified Communications (UC) for SMEs now provides its customers with an application for iPhone and Android smartphones.

With the new "SwyxIt! Mobile" app, SwyxWare users can provide a single contact number and receive and make calls via the Swyx-IT soft client on their iPhone or Android device. Each contact also displays detailed information such as status, phone numbers, e-mail address and/or picture.

Thanks to the "Fast Dial" function, call set-up is 50% faster because the number is identified before the actual call setup via the IP connection to the server.

App with Single Number concept - connect via GPRS, 3G or WiFi

SwyxIt! Mobile is based on a GPRS, 3G or WiFi connection to the central Swyx server. After registration, users have full access to global and personal phone books as well as their individual call and redial lists.

Presence information can also be accessed, showing the current status of other colleagues and they can also update their own status via their smartphones. All outgoing and incoming calls use a single number concept so SwyxIt! Mobile users can be reached using just one number.

The prerequisite for using SwyxIt! Mobile is SwyxWare 2011 R2 with SwyxWare SwyxWebAccess 2011 R2 and corresponding SwyxMobile licences. The SwyxIt! Mobile is available now in Apple's App Store and the Android Market.

For more information visit - www.swyx.com.

If your mobile phone is controlling your life, time to take the control back

If your mobile phone is controlling your life, time to take the control back

If your mobile is controlling you and ruling your life, take control with this amazing new app that costs less than a bottle of water! MaziPhone will become your personal assistant, screening calls and sending polite messages when you’re busy or relaxing.

Then, when you’re ready for business, check your calls and get back to chat. MaziPhone works on all Android phones (2.2 and up) and is designed to put you back in charge without offending anyone. MaziPhone will allow selected callers to get through whilst going into voicemail and sending a text message to others if you choose. Or it can simply block and text all callers for as long as you want. So, whether you’re having lunch, in a meeting or just chilling out, MaziPhone won’t let you lose that business deal, relationship or juicy bit of gossip! It ensures you keep business contacts, loved ones and friends happy and up to speed with where you are until you’re available.

There are four ways to let MaziPhone take the stress out of your mobile:

1. Set MaziPhone to hang up then send a text to the caller. You might say something funny such as, ‘Hey, I’m having a nap right now, will call you when I’m up!’ or use a serious message - ‘I’m in a meeting, if this is urgent please call my home number, thank you.’ Pre-set messages can be up to 160 characters.

2. If you prefer, MaziPhone can just hang up, send no text message and put the caller straight through to your voicemail.

3. Or it can do nothing. This means MaziPhone won't hang up and the last call will be recorded on the homepage widget screen for easy and speedy viewing. Most phones need 2 to 4 clicks to get call history.

4. Or why not select your favourite contacts? This brilliant filter setting allows you to place a check against the contacts you do not wish MaziPhone to block. That means calls from friends, family or important business will come through while others are texted.

If you want to get your life back, put MaziPhone on your mobile. Find out more at www.maziphone.com