BT platforms streamline UCC deployments for Microsoft and Cisco users

BT has made available a line of cloud-based systems designed to help enterprises integrate unified communications and collaboration (UCC) tools and services from various suppliers over a “cloud of clouds” infrastructure.

Its One Cloud systems promise more freedom of choice when it comes to establishing a UCC deployment, more security options and a better user experience, said BT.

One Cloud Microsoft will enable BT to support Skype for Business by bringing together the Skype experience with the additional compliance, control and security features of Lync. The product is already available on a global basis.

One Cloud Cisco, meanwhile, will address the needs of businesses that have previously invested in incompatible voice and desktop technology by bridging the gaps that exist in their comms infrastructure.

It will enable enterprises to add more advanced collaboration services such as BT MeetMe, Cisco WebEx and Cisco Collaboration Meeting Rooms to their licence as needed. It will also be available worldwide.

Additionally, BT has launched One Cloud video, designed to “prevent the traps of video islands that are unable to interconnect”. This service will simplify scheduling and joining video conferences from different platforms and devices, allowing cross-over between BT MeetMe, Microsoft Skype and Cisco WebEx.

Launch customer Nutreco, a Netherlands-based animal nutrition specialist, has already deployed One Cloud Microsoft across its business, streamlining its telephony, presence, instant messaging and conferencing capabilities onto a pay-per-use cloud platform supporting 5,000 users.

Nutreco, which is part of €15bn Dutch multinational SHV Holdings, is currently attempting to expand into Latin America and Asia-Pacific. It is looking to BT to bring significant savings on its international call plans by underpinning the service with session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking features that bring cost-effective call routing, and lessen costs by reducing the need to invest in hardware.

“BT’s enterprise-grade cloud services help us avoid additional investments and are a good business case compared with the old PABX world,” said Nutreco CIO Henry van de Ven.

“Their technology will improve the working conditions of our employees by enabling real-time, global collaboration and reducing the need to travel,” he added.

BT Global Services vice-president of unified communications and customer relationship management, Andrew Small, said: “Our customers want choice, security, a great user experience and a single way of managing their options, but they do not want the complexity. For that, integration is the key.”

Small said that by making it simpler to integrate a diverse range of UCC tools, platforms and devices across both fixed and mobile, the cloud of clouds technology would help address these needs.