BT launches unified comms system for SMEs

BT has launched a Cisco-based unified communications package for small to medium-sized businesses.

The Communications Complete system is an IP platform that can handle voice, video, data, security and wireless networking. According to a statement released by BT on Wednesday, the platform can be deployed alongside existing BT Business services such as IT Manager and Office Anywhere, as well as Microsoft Outlook.

"Unified communication solutions may be the difference between agility and fragility for SMEs in the battle to beat big business and respond to today's demanding consumers," said Bill Murphy, the managing director of BT Business. "BT Communications Complete offers SMEs access to a broad range of tools that improve customer and supplier engagement, as well as raise productivity. Enabling flexible and collaborative working practices, it can in turn help to attract and retain staff. Additionally, the delivery model brings lower IT and communications costs and improved business resilience."

Applications for remote working, unified messaging and call-centre capabilities are also included within the package.

According to a survey carried out by BT and Cisco, 85 percent of small to medium-sized companies "lose business to bigger competitors [partly because of] their lack of foresight in exploiting business communications effectively… limiting their agility and competitiveness".

A BT spokesperson told ZDNet.co.uk that it was difficult to give a typical price for the package, which is based on Cisco's UC500 IP phone system, as the cost would depend on tailoring the system to the customer's specific needs.

Last week Cisco revealed a security flaw in its Unified Communications Manager software, but the company has claimed that updates and workarounds address the vulnerability.