BT and Microsoft Collaborate on Hosted Lync Voice Pilot

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BT, in collaboration with Microsoft, has developed an enterprise-class platform to host dedicated Microsoft Lync Voice pilots in BT's Irving, Texas Operations Center for US-centric customers.

BT unveiled the shared pilot platform at the Microsoft 2011 Worldwide Partner Conference, where BT was chosen by the Microsoft Voice field as 2011 Alliance Partner of the Year.

The pilot augments BT's existing global Managed Lync services offering – part of the BT One portfolio offering. Each pilot instance can support up to 250 users, and offers a features-rich experience of this convergent technology including IM, presence, audio/web/video conferencing, as well as Lync's full Enterprise Voice capabilities.(1)

The environment and service is fully operational and we are ready to demonstrate BT's Lync service offerings in support of our pilot customer's business requirements. During the 90-day trial period, each customer will be offered the opportunity to test a complete range of production-class Lync functions. Key aspects of Lync features and functionality will be modeled and tested under customer-specific conditions. A specialized team will walk customers through implementation, planning and design, test and profile Lync-certified audio endpoint devices, then define next steps and assist the customer in selecting the best solution among the choice of BT's Lync service options. These include on-premise Lync system integration, on-premise Lync managed service, or hosted, managed Lync service.

"The pilot is a further expansion of our exceptional relationship with BT," said Kirk Gregerson, general manager, Microsoft Lync, Microsoft. "Our goal is to work together to maximize the benefits of converged communications to increase business growth for our customers."

"This pilot environment was designed to address the unique customer requirements for a Lync-based 'cloud' managed service," said Jason Cook, Chief Architect & CTO, CPG and US & Canada, BT Global Services. "We're excited to be able to introduce customers to a low-risk opportunity to evaluate a production-class Lync environment while benefiting from substantially lower costs and faster time-to-production of a pilot compared to a typical on-premise systems integration project.

Cook continued: "This pilot offering expands the consulting and services solutions we offer to US domestic customers and complements our global strategic approach by continuing to drive innovation and business value into our core network services."

BT established operations in North America more than 20 years ago and now employs around 4,000 people in 35 offices with headquarters in Irving, TX.

(1) During the pilot phase, performance is subject to access technologies and other factors that may impact service levels.

About 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 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, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was 20,076m pounds Sterling with profit before taxation of 1,717m pounds.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc 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.btplc.com.

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SOURCE BT