Someone has got a little "rattled" judging by the nature of a few of the posts concerning Openview. It is possible to fundamentaly disagree with views of other posters without resorting to threats as has been done in recent posts.
So for the record, it was the case that Firstport would invite tenders from service providers unless as they state they wish to use a "connected" company in which case, they may use the "connected company. Residents will be informed that a "connected" company will be used.
This meant that the use of Apello/Cirrus wa effectively the default position for Firstport.
Of course the tendering process was used for the price fixing scandal where warden control/alarm systems were deemed obselete and stooge companies were invited to tender against Appello/Cirrus for the work.
Oddly, even though two of the companies were hundreds of miles away from New Milton, the quotes were given on paper supplied by Ace who have the contract to supply Firstport at New Milton?
All of a sudden, Firstport in a move to bring" value to residents" announce that the bulk of Appello work has gone out to competeitive tender and openview has been chosen.
But let us look at the background to this?
Appello was racking up huge unsustainable losses.
At the 2017 year ending Appello had a negative net worth of £-9,904,000.
Effectively they were bankrupt. That they continued to trade was due to their parent company Knight Square (financed by Electra) guaranteeing to support their debts.
In 2018, Electra pulled the plug on Knight Square who in turn spun themselves off from Firstport.
Now it was Firstport that would have to guarantee the Appello debt mountain, which was an unsustainable position given that at the time Firstport had a negative net worth of £-39,000,000
Firstport resolved their immediate funding crisis by having £9,600,000 pledged shares being written off and by selling off the leaseholds of house manager's flats.
But Appello with all their mounting losses was a drain on Firstport that could not be sustained.
Lo and Behold!
The loss making Appello work was put out to tender.
Openview won the tender.
Weeks later, they bought a substantial part of the "operating" company.
How many "independent" tender processes happen whilst the two tendering companies are negotiating a sale of one of the tendering companies to the other tendering company?
It has widely been reported that since the take-over costs to residents(who were already being overcharged by Appello rose in some instances of over 300%!
It has also been reported that Openview have linked up with Bold Communications, who specialise in developing warden/alarm call systems.
Not long now before the existing Apello systems are deemed to be "obselete"
