Traditionally the only real difference was that TUA operated corporate membership whereas CMA’s members were the individual telecom managers. Over the last ten years convergence has meant that there is no longer a single telecoms manager and that IT or ICT departments now manage the enterprise networks and communications systems. These are at the very heart of any company’s business development plans and the growth in the public sector has been substantial. Companies now need unified communications, managed services and mobility strategies. As a result for the past two years CMA has also offered corporate membership for enterprise users only alongside its individual professional membership.
With effect from October 1st CMA will now take over the provision of TUA member services to TUA members and provide TUA members with the full benefits of CMA Corporate membership. Through its 1400 individual members CMA already represents over 600 enterprises in both the public and private sectors. The combined corporate membership of two organisations’ now brings the total number of corporate members to almost 100 and this is expected to rise to over 150 by mid 2008.
CMA Chief Executive Glenn Powell said “CMA has grown in strength over the past five years. We had the advantage of the springboard of the old TMA Brighton convention and we still hold a strong annual conference with over four hundred delegates earlier this year. Our annual members’ survey is highly respected as the definitive view on key ICT issues and challenges for the enterprise user. Our Forums are active and constantly evolving with two new ones covering ‘Future Fibres’ and ‘Sustainability’. We also face new challenges. BT’s 21CN, international NGN interconnects, universal access to broadband, the digital switchover and of course sustainability and carbon reduction. This is therefore the right time for TUA and CMA to combine forces to meet these challenges on behalf of the enterprise user”.
TUA Director Bill Mieran said “We believe this arrangement will improve membership benefits significantly and due to the combined CMA and TUA corporate membership bring the advantage of a single organisation representing user interests from a position of increased influence”.
CMA Chairman Carolyn Kimber said “I am delighted that TUA Director , Bill Mieran and our Chief Executive Glenn Powell will be working together over the coming months to ensure that TUA and CMA come together effectively and for the benefit of the members of both organisations and the industry as a whole. We represent the enterprise user view to Ofcom, the Commission and through Intug internationally. Our voice is not only listened to but respected and acted upon. With our combined strength we can both do an even better job to support the global aspirations of UK enterprises”.