NetAlly has launched the LinkRunner AT 1500 network link and cable tester, expanding its LinkRunner range for frontline network technicians, IT teams and managed service providers.

The device is intended for routine troubleshooting, moves, adds and changes, and fault isolation on copper network links and cables. It is designed to help technicians validate connectivity and identify faults more quickly without relying on a laptop or specialist training.

The tester checks connectivity, link speed, VLAN and Power over Ethernet in a single action. It also automatically uploads results and screenshots to Link-Live, NetAlly’s reporting and analysis platform, helping site staff share findings with colleagues and remote experts.

According to NetAlly, the unit tests several parts of a network link, including cable length, common miswires and distance to fault, and can identify the nearest switch name and port.

It also verifies link speed and duplex up to 10 Gig, validates VLANs and network services, and checks connectivity to devices on and off the network. For power testing, it measures PoE voltage, wattage and active pairs, including validation of full 90W PoE performance for equipment that requires PoE++.

Dan Klimke, Director of Product Marketing at NetAlly, outlined the company’s positioning for the device and its target users. “The 1500 brings pro-level testing to frontline techs at just £1,140 MSRP. It draws on our twenty-five-plus years of experience building innovative troubleshooting tools for network engineers and technicians,” he said.

NetAlly linked the product to growing power and network demands in connected buildings and device deployments. “The goal is simple: put fast, definitive answers in the hands of the technicians closest to the problem, so issues get solved at the source, not escalated up the chain. With Wi-Fi 7 access points, smart building systems, and modern IoT devices increasingly demanding higher power levels that only PoE++ can deliver, the LinkRunner AT 1500 validates full 90W PoE performance to ensure those devices are fully powered upon deployment,” Klimke said.

Speed claims

NetAlly also cited customer survey data to support the case for handheld testing tools in day-to-day network work. In a 2025 survey, customers reported completing installs and repairs up to 60% faster using its tools, according to the company.

The claim reflects the operational pressure on IT teams managing more complex wired and wireless environments with limited staffing. Products that let less experienced technicians capture and share structured test results have become a bigger part of network operations, particularly for distributed sites and service providers managing multiple customer estates.

Channel focus

NetAlly sells its products only through authorised channel partners. In the UK, Full Control Networks is one of those partners and, according to the company, has worked with NetAlly for more than 25 years.

Full Control Networks describes itself as an independent supplier of network products and services, offering support on product selection and training for IT teams. That long-standing relationship gives NetAlly an established route to UK customers seeking network testing and diagnostic tools.

The launch comes as network teams face growing pressure to prove not only basic connectivity but also correct power delivery and service availability before devices go live. As enterprises roll out higher-powered wireless access points, smart building systems and a wider range of connected devices, handheld testers that combine cable checks, switch discovery and PoE validation are becoming more relevant in field operations.

NetAlly said the LinkRunner AT 1500 is priced at £1,140 MSRP.

Hammer has launched Hammer AI Works, a programme for UK channel partners working on artificial intelligence projects.

The initiative combines a partner portal, a laboratory for demonstrations and proof-of-concept work, and access to specialist support across sales, technical design and data science. It is designed to address common barriers to AI deployment, including fragmented data, skills shortages and infrastructure complexity.

Through the launch, Hammer is repositioning its role beyond hardware and software distribution by building a broader network around AI delivery. That network includes vendors, resellers, integrators, AI consultants and independent software vendors, with an emphasis on linking strategy, design, implementation and deployment.

At the centre of the programme is the Hammer AI Works Portal, described as a community hub for collaboration, knowledge sharing and opportunity development. Alongside it is the Hammer AI Works Labouratory, where partners can run live demonstrations, test proof-of-concept projects and validate AI architectures before wider deployment.

The laboratory is intended to give partners a practical setting to assess use cases and reduce the risk of design failures. The programme also provides access to pre-sales solution architects, dedicated AI specialists, and a network of data science and AI consultants.

Channel focus

The launch reflects a wider shift in the technology channel as distributors and service providers move from supplying products to supporting complete project delivery. In AI, that shift has become more urgent as customers try to move systems from early experiments into day-to-day operations.

Many organisations have struggled to move beyond pilot projects. The market has been marked by a large number of limited trials that have not translated into production systems, often because data readiness, infrastructure demands and specialist expertise have proved harder to resolve than expected.

Hammer is positioning AI Works as a way to bring those elements together in a single structure. The programme also includes access to vertically focused software vendors and support from the Hammer Integration Centre for integration, hardware and networking design.

Adam Blackwell, Director of AI, Server, and Advanced Technology, Hammer, said: “AI has moved from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a strategic imperative, yet the complexity of the landscape remains a significant barrier. With Hammer AI Works, we aren’t just distributing technology; we are providing the roadmap and the engine. Our new Labouratory and ecosystem of specialists allow our partners to stop experimenting in isolation and start delivering production-ready solutions at scale.”

Broader model

For channel partners, the model is intended to create a route from opportunity identification to technical validation and deployment support. That matters in AI projects, where commercial discussions often begin before customers have clear views on data quality, compute requirements, model integration or sector-specific software needs.

By bringing alliances, technical advisory staff and external consultants together under one programme, Hammer is aiming to make it easier for partners to access the range of expertise a typical AI project requires. The inclusion of specialist consultancies and industry-focused software providers suggests the company sees sector use cases as an important part of moving AI deals from concept to implementation.

The laboratory is likely to be one of the most visible parts of the launch. In practical terms, facilities for running demonstrations and testing architectures can help partners show customers how systems might work before larger spending decisions are made. That could also reduce reliance on slide-based pitches in a market where buyers increasingly want evidence that projects can be deployed and maintained.

The partner portal serves a different function by creating a shared environment for the various participants in the ecosystem. If used actively, it could help distributors, resellers, integrators and software suppliers exchange information on opportunities and technical requirements more quickly.

Skills gap

The launch also highlights a shortage of specialist AI skills. Many resellers and infrastructure partners are still building internal expertise in data science, model deployment and AI governance, creating openings for distributors and consultancies to provide support.

AI Works includes dedicated specialists across alliances, sales and technical advisory, as well as pre-sales solution architects. It also provides access to data science and AI consultants, reflecting the fact that many projects need outside expertise at the design stage as well as during implementation.

The wider aim is to help partners guide customers through strategy, architecture and deployment without having to source every element themselves. That approach may appeal particularly to mid-market channel firms that have customer relationships and infrastructure knowledge but lack large in-house AI teams.

Partners using the laboratory will be able to run live demonstrations, validate AI use cases and architectures, engage customers through guided sessions, and build confidence in solution design and delivery.

Cooper & Franklin Limited, based in the village of Fencott near Kidlington, has gone into members’ voluntary liquidation after its owners resolved to close the company.

The firm, incorporated in May 2007, specialised in the development of building projects and was registered and trading from a Kidlington address.

A general meeting of shareholders on Friday, March 27, passed resolutions to wind up the company voluntarily and appoint insolvency specialists Antony Batty & Co as joint liquidators.

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Lawrence King and Matthew Waghorn, of Antony Batty & Co’s Thames Valley office in Little Baldon, near Oxford, were appointed as joint liquidators on the same day.

Their appointment was formally recorded in the London Gazette on 1 April.

According to statutory notices, directors have made a declaration of solvency, meaning all known creditors are expected to be paid in full despite the closure.

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Creditors have been told to submit details of any claims to the liquidators by Friday, April 24, ahead of a first and final distribution, after which any remaining funds will be returned to shareholders.

The notices do not give any further details about the reasons for the liquidation beyond the formal resolutions and declaration of solvency.

This newspaper has approached Cooper & Franklin for comment on the liquidation.