BT's broadband voice service offers low-cost calling over any broadband Internet
connection
Using MetaSwitch technology, the incumbent UK telephone service provider, BT, has
become one of the first major European operators to offer emulated PSTN services
using Voice over IP technology. BT's broadband voice service, which is targeted
at customers of the UK's cable operators as well as BT's own DSL subscribers, offers
low-cost national and international calling over any broadband Internet connection.
In addition, BT's Business Broadband Voice service brings the same Voice over IP
technology to small businesses.
The service is based on the MetaSwitch VP3500 Class 5 softswitch, integrated with
other components and an Operational Support System supplied by MetaSwitch's strategic
partner, Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe. Together with MetaSwitch's Web self-care
system, customers are able to register, manage profiles, credit their account and
control their telephone features all from the bt.com
website. The MetaSwitch broadband voice switch allows end-users to connect via a
Broadband Telephone Adaptor and use an extensive range of UK PSTN services over
a broadband connection. See the
online demo for more details on how the service works.
"Broadband Voice takes the battle for customers right to the door of our rivals,"
said Pierre Danon, chief executive of BT Retail. "This offer combines innovation
and value-for-money and not only will it offer cable customers an alternative voice
line from BT for the first time, but it will also provide them with potential savings
of up to £109 a year on their phone calls."
Craig Rowland, Managing Director, Business at BT Retail, said: "Broadband Voice
is an important step in getting smaller companies on to a level playing field with
their larger competitors, allowing them to take advantage of the same cost savings
from VoIP. It also offers more mobility for employees, as they can use the technology
either remotely or in the office."
According to an article
on Light Reading, BT spokesman Mike Jarvis said: "This is an aggressive
move from BT, and we're not preempting other services coming onto the market. We're
coming under pressure from carrier preselection, and we're fighting to protect our
market. This will be all incremental revenue for us, as it's targeted at customers
we don't currently have a relationship with."
What people are saying about the BT Broadband Voice service:
"BT [is] the first incumbent phone company in Europe or the United States to
launch a significant broadband voice service" - International Herald Tribune
"BT is being commended for its cleverness in launching the service" -
Light Reading
"The first UK mass-market service to encourage users to send voice calls over
the Internet is an aggressive move by BT against its cable rivals" - Graeme
Wearden, ZDNet UK
"BT's startlingly proactive jump into mass-market voice over IP is cleverer
than it looks. It presents an opportunity to take telephony share from the cable
operators, while testing the water for future VoIP deployments, all with a very
low risk of cannibalisation" - Jan Dawson, Ovum analyst
"It's easy to set up, has good call clarity and everything you need comes in
one package" -
Personal Computer World
