Two technology giants are collaborating to develop a new platform for cloud communications that will allow users to communicate more expansively through their PCs.

BT and Microsoft (News - Alert) have developed an enterprise-class platform to host dedicated Microsoft Lync Voice pilots in BT’s Irving, Texas Operations Center for U.S.-based customers. Lync offers users numerous communications capabilities via a PC, including VoIP calls, video conferencing and instant messaging.

BT (News - Alert) unveiled the shared pilot platform at the Microsoft 2011 Worldwide Partner Conference this week, where BT was chosen by the Microsoft Voice field as 2011 Alliance Partner of the Year.

“The pilot is a further expansion of our exceptional relationship with BT,” said Kirk Gregerson, general manager, Microsoft Lync, Microsoft, in a statement. “Our goal is to work together to maximize the benefits of converged communications to increase business growth for our customers.”

Company officials said the pilot expands BT’s existing global Managed Lync services offering, part of the BT One portfolio offering. Each pilot instance can support up to 250 users, and offers a features-rich experience of this convergent technology including IM, presence, audio/web/video conferencing, as well as Lync’s full Enterprise Voice capabilities.

The pilot environment was designed to address the unique customer requirements for a Lync-based cloud managed service, according to Jason Cook, chief architect and CTO, CPG and US & Canada, BT Global Services (News - Alert).

“We’re excited to be able to introduce customers to a low-risk opportunity to evaluate a production-class Lync environment while benefiting from substantially lower costs and faster time-to-production of a pilot compared to a typical on-premise systems integration project,” Cook said.

During the 90-day trial period, each customer will be offered the opportunity to test a complete range of production-class Lync functions. The main aspects of Lync features and functionality will be modeled and tested under customer-specific conditions.

In addition, a specialized team will walk customers through implementation, planning and design, test and profile Lync-certified audio endpoint devices, then define next steps and assist the customer in selecting the best solution among the choice of BT’s Lync service options. These include on-premise Lync system integration, on-premise Lync managed service, or hosted, managed Lync service.

Want to learn more about cloud communications? Then be sure to attend the Cloud Communications Expo, collocated with TMC’s ITEXPO East 2012taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 3 2012, in Miami, FL. The Cloud Communications Expo will address a growing need of businesses to integrate and leverage cloud based communications applications, process enhancement techniques, and network based communications interfaces and architectures.

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