The new agreement aims to enhance the ability of BT's existing and new customers to exploit the opportunities for more easy to use, cost-effective communications made possible by the convergence of multiple voice and data networks into a single, efficient IP-based network. Nortel and BT are developing new solutions based on Nortel's portfolio and BT's networked IT services designed to evolve enterprise communications towards improved fixed-mobile convergence.
"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 Andy Green, chief executive officer, BT Global Services. "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."
"People are increasingly using Internet-based video, instant messaging and voice communications at home and on the move," said Mike Zafirovski, president and CEO, Nortel. "It's vital that industry leaders like BT and Nortel demonstrate the benefits that similar capabilities can bring within enterprises and organizations."
The signing of the new agreement between BT and Nortel is part of an extensive review by BT of its vendor partnership strategy. It supplements the companies' existing supplier relationship for voice and data equipment.
BT and Nortel have worked in partnership since 1990, delivering market-leading converged communications solutions to businesses in all sectors and of all sizes across the UK and beyond. BT is Nortel's largest EMEA enterprise partner and one of its three main global partners. BT is fully accredited as a Nortel Gold partner and has over 1,000 Nortel-trained technicians.
BT is the UK market leader for the supply of enterprise telephone systems (PBX/IP PBX), with a 27 percent share of total extensions for Q1 2006, according to researcher MZA. Nortel is the leading supplier of PBX/IP PBX equipment in the UK market with a 20 percent share in Q1 2006, according to the same research.
The new relationship adds further momentum to BT's drive to move this extensive installed base of Nortel telephony customers onto converged networks and applications and to win a greater share of the IP communications equipment and services market.