BT unveils converged enterprise product

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 11 May 2006 at 16:28

BT has announced it will offer a converged comms solution for the enterprise as its BT Fusion initiative gathers momentum.

BT Fusion allows a mobile phone to use a local fixed-line or mobile network for making calls depending on the environment - converging fixed line and mobile voice services.

With BT's Fixed-Mobile Converged (Enterprise FMC) service, the convergence proposition will be expanded to focus communications on a converged all-IP network, with commercial pilots expected early next year.

This will include fixed line, cellular and WiFi connections, with customers running a common set of applications and communications services in a single handset with connections being chosen on the basis of availability and cost.

Alcatel, which has worked with BT in developing its Fusion service and has been involved in building BT's next-generation 21CN network has been chosen as the development partner.

The service will allow the intelligent routing of calls, says BT, so that calls would be routed automatically to voicemail during periods when users had entered into their calendars that they will be in meetings.

Steven Evans, BTs Chief of Wireless Broadband and Future Products said: 'Large customers told us what they wanted and we have listened. This new service will harness the power of Wireless Broadband on customer's existing fixed infrastructure, BT's 21st Century Network and a new generation of dual-mode WiFi / GSM mobile phones.'

Evans told us that the roll out would take place with two phases; the initial phase would target mobile workforces, replacing the varying comms device with a single mobile handset capable of operating in a variety of environments and able to take advantage of new services enabled by integrating those services into an enterprise's PABX.

The second phase would involve making those new services and capabilities available to workers that would not normally be given a mobile phone: presence features and the benefits of a converged all-IP platform will introduce cost-savings and productivity gains to many office workers.

Migration to the new platform will allow companies to pick and choose the elements of BT's Enterprise FMC platform they need. In the case of new handsets, this will involve buying new and not upgrading existing devices.

'They're not off the shelf mobile handsets,' we were told. BT is looking at 'Tier 1' manufacturers to build handsets specifically configured to use the client software it uses.

BT is looking to target UK companies. It partners with Vodafone in the UK, running mobile services as an MVNO and will expand internationally through existing partners into France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Trials will begin toward the end of this year, while a commercial launch in early 2007.