Data Voice Solutions

BT and Nortel (News - Alert) announced Friday that they have inked a new contract in order to launch a new VoIP, multimedia, instant messaging and mobile communications offering for enterprises in the UK.

The new, three-year agreement calls for Nortel and BT to converge multiple voice and data networks into a single IP-based network and develop new systems based on Nortel's portfolio and BT's networked IT services.

“BT’s customers are turning to convergence to improve the efficiency and flexibility of their businesses. To support them we must ensure that we have the right partners in place with leading-edge portfolios, the highest levels of commitment and a shared vision,” said BT Global Services' chief executive officer Andy Green. “Through this new agreement with Nortel we will be working closer together than ever to offer our customers fresh solutions and perspectives on how their business can thrive in the digital networked economy.”

BT and Nortel have been working together since 1990. The companies have been offering IP-based converged communications systems to businesses from various sizes across the UK. According to the companies’ news release, this new agreement is part of an “extensive review by BT of its vendor partnership strategy.”

“People are increasingly using Internet-based video, instant messaging and voice communications at home and on the move,” added Mike Zafirovski, Nortel’s president and CEO. “It’s vital that industry leaders like BT and Nortel demonstrate the benefits that similar capabilities can bring within enterprises and organizations.”

Today’s news comes on the heels of Nortel’s announcement about its deal with The New York Times Company to provide a complete suite of telecommunications services and products including VoIP-based telephony, IP phones, unified messaging, and a contact center for its new headquarters offices in Times Square.

The move will enable the Times’ reporters and editors to use Nortel’s IP-based equipment and their PCs to conduct instant “meet me” audio conferencing sessions to collaborate on stories in real-time with other writers.

Want to learn more about VoIP? Then be sure to check out TMCnet’s Whitepaper Library, which provides a selection of in-depth information on relevant topics affecting the IP Communications industry. The library offers whitepapers, case studies and other documents which are free to registered users.

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit her columnist page.