September 15, 2008 - BT today announced that it is introducing ground-breaking business-to-business Cisco® Telepresence services to global organisations. Already a global leader in managed services, BT will now be able to offer a global inter-company Cisco TelePresence solution to help users collaborate with customers, suppliers and partners worldwide.
With exchanges operational in London, and Denver, Colorado, BT's global inter-company communications service will be available across Europe and the United States from September 2008. The go-to-market plan for BT's new service calls for BT and Cisco to work together to highlight the benefits of Cisco TelePresence Services to a range of European-based multinational companies, and other organisations headquartered around the globe.
Cisco TelePresence already enables businesses to enhance collaboration, lower travel costs and reduce environmental impact. BT's One Source for Cisco TelePresence services simplify the solution with "concierge" support that optimises collaboration and delivers the best possible service. By providing a unique, in-person, experience through a combination of audio, video and environmental technologies, Cisco TelePresence allows people to interact face-to-face. This means that businesses can react faster, make better decisions, scale scarce expertise, and get closer to customers, partners and suppliers.
Luis Alvarez, president EMEA & Latin America, BT Global Services, commented: "The quality of audio and video conferencing services has rocketed over the last few years to meet the demands of today's global businesses. 'Virtual' face-to-face meetings enabled by Cisco TelePresence are becoming rapidly more and more popular and the emergence of an inter-company service can only accelerate this trend. Up until now, business has enjoyed these benefits only in internal meetings so by eliminating this technological barrier the benefits of telepresence will be enjoyed far more widely, enabling more effective collaboration between companies."
Ross Fowler, vice president, service provider, European Markets, Cisco, commented: "The cost, efficiency and environmental arguments for Cisco TelePresence are just too strong to ignore now, and we see strong growth opportunities for video communication across a range of sectors. BT's networked IT heritage and the reach and quality of its MPLS network means it is ideally placed to capitalise on this market demand. Today's announcement represents a first step towards 'anywhere anytime' Cisco TelePresence capabilities for BT's global customers."
BT's One Source for Cisco TelePresence Solution significantly boosts BT's presence in the conferencing market. BT Conferencing is already one of the leading players in the UK and European conferencing market and has a strong presence in the USA and Asia Pacific region. Today's announcement follows its acquisition of Wire One Communications in June this year, which significantly enhanced its video conferencing capabilities and service offerings in the USA market.
The BT and Cisco TelePresence go-to-market agreement also builds on BT's strong existing collaboration with Cisco. BT recently became the first service provider to complete the Cisco TelePresence Global Authorised Technology Provider (ATP) programme, helping ensure BT is well placed to deploy its Unified Communication video proposition. In July 2008, BT also announced that it has earned Cisco's Global Certification status by expanding the geographical scope of its existing Cisco specializations in unified communications, routing and switching, security and wireless. Additionally in June 2007, BT announced that it had earned the Cisco Powered TelePresence Connection certification.
Notes to editors
Tags / Keywords:
BT, Cisco, TelePresence, inter-company, Unified Communications, MPLS, IP NGN, Wire One, managed service provider
Links / URLs:
- BT Achieves Cisco Global Certification http://tinyurl.com/5zxlzx
- BT Demonstrates Inter-company Telepresence Service at Cisco Expo in Berlin http://tinyurl.com/5ljyks
- Cisco Certifies BT Infrastructure for TelePresence http://tinyurl.com/5tov8t
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2008, BT Group plc's revenue was £20,704 million with profit before taxation and specific items of £2,506 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
For further information about BT
Enquiries about this news release can be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre
