AT&T and BT have connected their telepresence exchanges to enable their business customers to schedule telepresence meetings and to connect their telepresence endpoints seamlessly.
The new inter-provider exchange-to-exchange telepresence meeting capability allows customers to meet ‘face to face’ from their Cisco TelePresence endpoints with an expanded network of customers and suppliers.
The companies said that the new offering comes with an encrypted connection which will be available and can be established for highly sensitive meetings to ensure both the companies customers enjoy the same high level of security as today’s business-to-business telepresence meetings.
In addition, customers will also have access to a directory that will help them determine what other registered organisations and locations are accessible through the inter-provider connection.
BT Enterprise managing director Chris Clark said companies are looking for ways to make employees more productive, reduce carbon emissions, lower travel-related costs and create a competitive advantage.
"Being able to connect across telepresence networks greatly expands the reach and value of the service and maximises the business benefits and with this industry-first, BT and AT&T are changing the way businesses collaborate," Clark said.
