Samenvatting persbericht:
BT introduceert IP Telefonie als managed service in Europa. Dit maakt de ICT-dienstverlener vandaag bekend op de CeBIT 2004 in Hannover. BT biedt managed IP Telefonie in twee varianten aan: bedrijven hebben de keuze tussen direct de hele infrastructuur omzetten, Multimedia Voice over IP (MM VoIP), of stapsgewijs in eigen tempo invoeren, VoIP Port. BT ontwikkelt MM VoIP voor Cisco's IP telefoons voor integratie van multimedia zoals whiteboard, unified messaging en file sharing. Met BT VoIP Port maken bedrijven gebruik maken van de voordelen van VoIP zonder vanaf de eerste dag te moeten investeren in IP apparatuur. VoIP Port werkt met bestaande PBX telefooncentrales en -toestellen van bedrijven.
BT levert nu al VoIP diensten en verwacht in het najaar ook managed IP Telefonie in Nederland aan te bieden, de dienst is vanaf deze zomer beschikbaar in Ierland en Spanje. Het volledige, Engelstalige persbericht is onderaan deze e-mail te vinden.
Over BT
BT Global Services richt zich op ICT-dienstverlening en telecommunicatie voor de grootzakelijke markt. BT biedt een wereldwijd geharmoniseerd portfolio van diensten op het gebied van applicatiehosting- en beheer, bandbreedte, broadcasting, data-VPN's, internet, voice en consulting.
Daarnaast verzorgt BT oplossingen op het gebied van e-business, e-CRM, mobility, desktopbeheer, security en connectivity. BT beschikt internationaal over tientallen datacenters en levert wereldwijd netwerktransport. BT Nederland is sinds 1989 actief en is onderdeel van BT Global Services.
March 18, 2004
CeBIT 2004 - Hanover - Press Release
BT LAUNCHES MANAGED IP TELEPHONY SERVICES IN EUROPE
BT today announced at the CeBIT the launch of a range of innovative, fully managed IP Telephony services in key European countries. As a result, businesses will be able to access the savings and convenience of having voice, data and video delivered all the way to the desktop, over a single IP network, without the headache or distraction of having to deploy and manage the technology themselves.
BT's portfolio of services also offers a migration path which enables companies to either have a total IP environment today, or transition to one at their own pace. The launch builds on BT's success in delivering IP Telephony services to corporates in the UK including leading financial services provider, Abbey, for whom BT delivered a world class example of IP Telephony deployment. The move also marks an important step in the company's strategy to provide corporate customers with a full range of IP Telephony services globally, delivering the best combination of performance, quality and reach.
The portfolio builds on BT's multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network, and combines the heritage and expertise of BT's voice and network operations with powerful end-end technology from leading suppliers such as Cisco. It comprises two pioneering products - both UK 'firsts' at their launch - which interoperate. BT Multimedia VoIP (MM VoIP) offers advanced multimedia communications via Cisco IP phones embedded with services such as real-time video-to-the-desktop, unified messaging, file sharing and white boarding. As an IP Centrex service, it does not require a PBX system. BT VoIP Port allows companies to gain the benefits of VoIP without having to invest in expensive IP equipment on day one as it works with companies' legacy TDM PBXs and handsets. Consequently, it provides an ideal and cost effective first step towards network convergence - either as part of a planned migration strategy or for companies wishing to 'test run' the benefits that VoIP can bring.
Both are fully managed with 24/7 service support enabling companies to deploy IP Telephony services at a reduced cost and without distraction from their core competencies.
John Blake, head of Hosted IP Telephony, BT Global Services said: "Now that IP networks are a firmly established part of the corporate infrastructure, companies are naturally looking to move their voice traffic and other applications, such as video and messaging, onto them. By introducing fully managed services, BT can now help companies easily migrate to this new technology, and remove the burden from them of any installation and management headaches. IP convergence will open the doors to a new era in corporate communications and radically improve the way businesses work through the new services they bring".
Phil Smith, managing director (BT Operations), Cisco Systems said: "IP Telephony is a powerful worldwide trend, but far from offering just voice, it is about a whole new way of collaborative working enabling advanced multimedia communications and real time applications. With its proven success in offering 'industry first' next generation IP Telephony services in the UK, and ongoing commitment to the future of the technology, BT is well placed to offer these services in Europe". BT's Multimedia VoIP and VoIP Port services will be available in Ireland and Spain in the summer of
2004 matching customer demand, with other countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, following later in the year. Both services offer break out to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and incorporate DSL access.
Customers can also select whether they prefer to manage the call manager themselves or can opt for BT to do so, providing total flexibility of service.
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About BT Global Services
BT Global Services is BT's business services and solutions division, serving customers worldwide. As an information and communications technology service provider, BT provides integrated data and value-added services to meet the needs of multi-site organisations with European operations.
Extensive global service capabilities and strong strategic partnerships also enable BT to serve customers in all key commercial centres of Europe, North America and Asia.
The BT Global Services portfolio ranges from desktop and network equipment and software, transport and connectivity, IP-based e-business solutions, managed network services and systems integration to consultancy for complex global requirements.
With 18 years of experience in global account management, BT has more than 8,000 people based outside the UK, serving our target customers around the world.