BT gives multinational organisations their voice

Issued by BT Group

Johannesburg, 03 Sep 2010

BT today announced two further voice initiatives on its converged communications platform, BT Onevoice.

To enable larger organisations to accelerate the adoption of communications applications to the desktop, BT is launching SIP trunking in a number of countries, delivering a clear migration path to unified communications. At the same time, BT has the global Microsoft qualification of BT Onevoice for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

BT Onevoice's SIP trunking provides full connectivity between domestic country voice services and BT's Onevoice global VPN to help customers reduce telephony costs and rapidly deploy converged applications.

The service offers local numbering for both outgoing and incoming call traffic that can be delivered anywhere on a user's network. Already available in the UK, the services will be rolled out to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the US in the coming months, with further regions to follow. In addition, by utilising SIP trunking, customers can reduce rental for access lines, reduce call costs, and improve collaboration for users, whether they be office based, on the move or based remotely.

BT and Microsoft have deepened their longstanding collaboration following a qualification process, which means that voice services can now be connected directly from Office Communications Server 2007 R2 to BT Onevoice globally, opening new unified communications and collaboration (UCC) opportunities for customers. Office Communications Server 2007 R2 users can now streamline communications by combining presence and instant messaging interoperability with BT Onevoice conferencing, and software-powered voice over IP in a single, unified platform globally.

BT Onevoice is now a qualified SIP trunking service for interconnection with Office Communications Server 2007 R2.

"SIP trunking gives customers the capability to introduce collaboration applications, which increase productivity and save cost. The Microsoft qualification will open the door to further developments within the combined BT and Microsoft portfolio, creating a platform for innovation inside BT Onevoice all in a security-enhanced global environment," says Neil Sutton, Vice-President, Global Portfolio, BT Global Services.

"We are pleased that the SIP Trunking service of BT Onevoice is qualified for Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2," says Yancey Smith, Director of Product Management, Communications Server for Microsoft. "The BT Onevoice solution will expand the geographical coverage of SIP Trunking service for multinational customers of Office Communications Server 2007 R2."

These innovations confirm BT's goal to reposition telephony services as true applications and deliver high quality global solutions with predictable and flexible commercial packages. BT's Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) solutions include a combination of traditional voice services, next-generation voice services, including VOIP and IPT, BT professional services and support of key vendor platforms such as Cisco Systems, Avaya and Microsoft managed services.

Notes to editors

SIP is a signalling protocol that underpins a unified communication and collaboration (UCC) network infrastructure. It has the capability to manage additional communications other than voice over the IP Trunk, eg, instant messaging, application sharing, video, and presence etc. It is anticipated that SIP will ultimately replace the current H323 VOIP Protocol.

SIP trunking enables a customer to use their PBX to take advantage of their investment in IP-enabled telephony. Voice over IP (VOIP) can be used to make and receive calls from the Public Switched Telephony Network (PSTN), over a customer's existing IP network. SIP trunking provides access to new audio, IM, presence and video capabilities beyond the enterprise. SIP trunking is already available in the UK.

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 delivers important functionality that extends software-powered voice, particularly for remote and mobile workers; provides on-premise audio conferencing to help reduce operational costs; and includes new developer advances, including the ability to build communications-enabled business processes. These capabilities can improve business communications through a unified infrastructure and user experience.

Enquiries about this news release should 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

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 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 2010, BT Group's revenue was lb20.911 million. British Telecommunications (BT) is a wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit http://www.bt.com/aboutbt