BT today announced it has been awarded Frost & Sullivan's "2012 European Unified Communications Service Provider of the Year". This award comes as it announces a major update to BT One, its unified communications portfolio, including new cloud-based services designed to improve management effectiveness and collaboration within and between large organisations.
The Unified Communications Service Provider of the Year Award is conferred on the unified communications (UC) service provider that has shown exemplary performance in Europe in 2011. The contenders for this award were evaluated based on key criteria, including portfolio diversity, regional vision and strategy, and key achievements over the year. Based on the views of Frost & Sullivan's expert analysts and the final decision made by an independent judging panel, BT was selected as the worthy winner of this prestigious award.
According to Adrian Drozd, Research Director at Frost & Sullivan: "BT Global Services has an end-to-end UC portfolio, including global network infrastructure, professional and managed services, and comprehensive conferencing services. It has one of the industry-leading video conferencing and telepresence offers. BT has pioneered the development of Web-hosted video meeting services, launching video telepresence exchanges, and exchange-to-exchange video communication services. The provider's UC portfolio - now termed 'BT One' - has clear linkages to other areas across BT's service areas, setting it apart from many of its competitors. In addition, the company delivers customised solutions for a number of vertical markets, notably financial services, retail and pharma - such focused services place BT at a strong advantage among companies that are seeking a partner that has proven knowledge and expertise in their specific industry."
Neil Sutton, vice-president, global portfolio at BT Global Services, said: "We are very proud of this award. It comes as we invest further in our unified communications portfolio. We are working with our partners in Microsoft, Cisco and Avaya to roll out new industry-leading features for BT One, including cloud-based solutions with innovative pricing models. We are bringing high-definition video to the desktop, and we are trialling new high-definition audio-conferencing technologies with our partners from Dolby Laboratories. All of this comes in response to the requirements put forward by our customers, and will help reinforce our leadership position in the field of unified communications, in Europe and globally."
Notes to editors
BT One portfolio update
The BT One portfolio has been simplified and restructured around four key building blocks:
* BT One Voice brings voice, mobile and data to every desktop in any organisation with a single global network that gives the same reliable service wherever the user is located, with a focus on making things simpler and to generate substantial cost savings. One Voice is the first step for companies to bring all communications together with unified communication and collaboration (UCC) services.
* BT One Enterprise combines BT's accredited partnerships with Avaya, Cisco and Microsoft with components including core IP telephony, collaboration applications, messaging, high-definition video and end-user devices - all covered with a comprehensive managed services wrap.
* BT One Cloud is hosted by BT to make it easy and cost-effective for customers to set up across different sites and different countries, providing per user/per month billing on a wide range of unified communications services.
* BT One Collaborate delivers audio, video, Web conferencing and streaming, as integrated services to support an organisation's unified communications strategy. One Collaborate helps people collaborate more effectively, to speed up decision-making and reduce travel and associated costs. Ultimately, BT transforms how people work together, work with their customers and work with their partners.
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Frost & Sullivan enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's growth team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. It leverages 50 years' of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from over 40 offices on six continents.
BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its 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, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
In the year ended 31 March 2012, BT Group's revenue was lb18.897 million with profit before taxation of lb2.445 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 www.btplc.com.
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