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altcom has been delivering bespoke software and web design and development services since 1995. Based in South West England altcom is ISO9001:2000 certified for "software design and development" and specialises in content management systems (CMS), new media applications, database solutions , eCommerce integration and online stores .
Consultancy
The key staff have wide ranging business experience working for major corporates and third sector organisations. This helps ensure that the focus stays on the business requirements and not the technology.
Our approach is to listen, understand and deliver benchmarked ICT solutions to achieve the best results for the client business. Read more...
Web Development
altcom specialises in corporate scale CMS solutions and web application frameworks. These are frequently integrated with bespoke eCommerce solutions ranging from B2C online stores and shopping baskets to B2B payment systems. We've worked extensively with the Educational, public and third sectors.
Whilst we happily work with proprietary products, like Lotus Domino and ASP, we champion use of Open Source software. Our favoured technologies are Java, PHP, XHTML, XML, CSS, C++, MySQL and Oracle. Read more...
Bespoke Software
altcom is a software development house and since 1995 has provided bespoke software solutions. These can include standalone applications, corporate intranets and extranets, content mangagement systems , middleware to increase office productivity.
We have also worked extensively for global information providers, delivering multiple format/language data streams into standard/proprietary XML output for web based information systems. We are experts at content aggregation and delivery. Read more...
altcom also has a substantial track record in delivering web solutions integrating XML content feeds into knowledge management and business intelligence workflow.
Organisations using altcom produced software include the UK Department of Trade and Industry, the UK Environment Agency, Reuters plc, Factiva, Universities, local authorities and economic development agencies.
altcom's success has been built on its ability to deliver appropriate software on time, on budget and through its commitment to service. The company's philosophy is simple; existing customers are the best source of new business so keep them happy.
Web design case study: University College Falmouth
altcom nurtures a well-founded zeal when it comes to standards-based web
development. We craft websites that meet the most stringent principles
of best practice. A website's visual design has an enormous part to play in
ensuring we meet these standards and our web design team is well versed in realising
usable, accessible and elegant designs based on any creative source.
In the case of University College Falmouth, the yearly design overhaul is driven by the latest prospectus. We are extremely proud to announce the launch of V.4 - merged with content from the former Dartington College of Arts website and packed full of innovative "Web 2.0" wizardry.
Click on the prospectuses to discover more about the three most recent incarnations of www.falmouth.ac.uk.
Prospectus 2007In 2006, altcom teamed up with local brand development agency Nixon. The design employed a vibrant colour palette, improved site navigation and an ingenious technique to allow for the use of non-web fonts for headings, enabling tight intergration with the prospectus.
Prospectus 2008The 2007 treatment was the work of altcom's new dedicated creative team. Again, taking inspiration from the latest prospectus, we produced a visually uncluttered yet stunning template featuring a sophisticated animated navigation bar and a rotating, letterbox student art showcase in the masthead.
Prospectus 2009"University College Falmouth merged with Dartington college of arts on 6 April 2008. The coming together of two such prestigious institutions heralds an exciting new era for arts education in the south west." This years overhaul was more of a design challenge than usual considering the volume of information to be imported from Dartington's website. More content demanded more space, and after some deliberation we widened the page and made sure that important information was kept to the left of the browser for the small minority of users with lower resolution monitors. Other pioneering techniques have been employed to conserve on vertical space. Take a look for yourself!
