Fresh on the launch of Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, and after testing earlier this year, BT has announced they will expand their existing Unified Communications (News - Alert) and Collaboration (UCC) portfolio.

 

The announced expansion will be specifically based on Microsoft (News - Alert) Exchange Server 2007, Microsoft Office Live Meeting with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.

 
Michael Boustridge, President, BT USA & Canada commented in a statement to the press, "We see this as a very important product which incorporates advanced voice communications and web conferencing to the other features in Live Communications Server 2005 that many of our customers use. Office Communications Server 2007 also exposes presence controls as well as frequently-used applications such as the Microsoft Office suite of products."

 

With Microsoft's OCS 2007 release, which brings together e-mail, instant messaging, presence, Web conferencing and voice features, BT's approach to the UCC market is further strengthened.

 

BT's UCC services "enable organizations' communications infrastructure, mobility, desktop and applications to work together so that users can take part in almost any form of communication to anyone at any time, by securely linking voice, mobile and data services with desktop." In this way, enterprise customers can achieve the goal of improved efficiency and productivity while operating in a converged environment.

With a portfolio of capabilities and services, including UCC consultancy and professional services, BT is able to offer their customers increased flexibility by bringing together dispersed teams, as well as the ability get more work done-- better and faster, and reduce upfront technology investments.

Jeff Raikes, president, Microsoft Business Division, said, "As the next generation of Microsoft's unified communications products are delivered, BT's experience in voice technologies and their background and leadership in conferencing, instant messaging and Exchange-based messaging systems will fuel innovation and deliver significant benefits to customers, including lower costs and more choices."