BT HAS unveiled the latest stage in its growing collaboration with software giant Microsoft with a roll-out of products aimed at small firms.
A television and online advertising campaign featuring Gordon Ramsay will push products including new 'plug and play' voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications, web and video conferencing, and what BT describes as total broadband products.
Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Business, said the products are critical towards managing the technology of small to medium-sized firms so that they can concentrate on running their businesses.
BT has also launched an online software supermarket for UK companies that will enable independent software vendors (ISVs) to publish and promote themselves to small firms. Called BT Applications Marketplace and built on Microsoft's connected services framework, it is part of an £8m investment.
Karl Noakes, Microsoft's UK channel development director speaking at a showcase event in London's Covent Garden last week, said: "It's an example of how Microsoft's world-leading developer programme is brought together with BT's UK market reach.
"We're delighted to be working in partnership with BT, which in this case is to create an industry-leading 'shop front' for ISVs' hosted business applications which represents a new route to market."
In a strong hint that Microsoft's role in BT's future thinking is set to grow further, Murphy said that although BT did not have a software company within its group operations "we can partner with people to embed that software into the network on behalf of customers".
As networking assumes greater priority, he said it was imperative that a company like BT had the correct software in place.
"You need to know how all of it comes together and you need to be good at it, whether it involves small or large businesses throughout the UK," he said.
Murphy described the move by BT as a "big shift" and said that just as the group had in the past enjoyed relationships with hardware partners, now it was a case of striking up partnerships with software outfits.
Murphy claimed that half of small firms do not employ IT staff, but are constantly in need of expert help, "and if they suffer a technological breakdown this can often lead to severe and lasting damage to the business".
When this occurs, smaller firms can fall into the trap of hiring, on an ad hoc basis, the often expensive option of part-time IT back-up.
BT is laying great store by its ad advertising campaign featuring Ramsay, which gets its first airing on Tuesday.
It features the celebrity chef in one of his London restaurants and the chaotic results that ensue when he becomes distracted by IT instead of concentrating on what he does best - running his kitchen.
An IT industry source said: "The significance of this collaboration cannot be over-emphasised. It's been a rumour for sometime now that the two were looking to work closer together. Expect a ramp-up of activity, consisting of joint UK-wide initiatives with BT increasingly calling upon Microsoft's aid as it goes down the software trail."
The full article contains 525 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
