BT Showcases New Capability in Video Conferencing Interoperability for Unified Communications

LONDON, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, BT demonstrated its leadership in the collaboration marketplace by showcasing a fully integrated collaboration and unified communications experience.  The collaboration event included a video conference that linked approximately 20 locations using different technology suppliers, equipment types and network connectivity.

Video sites in New York, Philadelphia, Denver, Atlanta, multiple London sites as well as additional UK sites in Brighton and Hawkurst incorporated multi-vendor immersive, high-definition, legacy standard-definition, desktop units and software codecs across multiple networks including corporate LAN and the public internet.  Audio and Web conferencing services were included to provide participants with a true unified communications experience. The event was streamed live over the internet to expand the experience to online participants.

Aaron McCormack, CEO, BT Conferencing said, "This innovation further demonstrates the value BT's managed services bring to our customers.  We enable organizations to connect over multiple networks using various equipment types, ensuring that our customers' technology investments are maximized while extending the reach, quality and effectiveness of communications."

This combination of video interoperability plus audio, web, and streaming services will be commercially available in December from the BT Global Video Exchange Family of Services, which provide managed and hosted communication services for a range of platforms from high level immersive room systems to enterprise desktop units utilizing enterprise and business-to-business communications.  Flat rate pricing will also be offered across these services for additional customer convenience.

BT provides a menu of offerings geared to the customer's requirements with a focus on making unified communications easy to use, reliable and cost effective.  Central to these communication services is BT's Onward Management System, which manages the different network connections, bridging infrastructure and new TIP protocol from Cisco to facilitate the video interoperability capability.  BT provides a simple interface as part of its management service, which automates the process via a single scheduling platform regardless of the customer's technology.

A full list of networks and technologies used in the interoperability demonstration are summarized below:

Multiple Diverse Networks

• multiple private enterprise MPLS
• corporate LAN
• public IP
• PSTN

Infrastructure

• MSE 8000
• TIP protocol
• Clustering – backplane cascading
• Telepresence Server/ ISDN GW
• Cisco CUCM
• Cisco Session Border Controller
• TANDBERG VCS Control
• TANDBERG VCS Expressway
• TANDBERG TMS
• Polycom Video Border Proxy (VBP)

Immersive Technology

• Cisco CTS 3000, CTS 1000, CTS 500
• Polycom RPX 408
• Polycom RPX 208
• TANDBERG T3

HD / SD Technology

• Lifesize 200
• Polycom HDX 4002, ViewStation 384
• TANDBERG T1700

Desktop Devices (appliance & software)

• Polycom HDX 4002
• TANDBERG T1700, Movi

For further information

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.btplc.com/News.

About BT Conferencing:

BT Conferencing is a leading global provider of audio, video and web collaboration services. BT is the foremost player in the UK's growing conferencing services market and the leading supplier of video conferencing services worldwide. Its partnerships with top technology companies and equipment vendors ensure it always has the best and latest solutions to offer its customers. For further information, please visit www.btconferencing.com.

About BT

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 20,911 million pounds Sterling.

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.bt.com/aboutbt.

SOURCE BT