Yahoo! and BT Join Forces to Build Yahoo! Messenger with BT Communicator, a Next Generation Communications Offering.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers SUNNYVALE, Calif. & LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 2004 Innovative Integrated Call Management Product to Include Voice over IP Functionality, Based on Yahoo! Messenger Yahoo!'s instant messaging (IM) service, which includes text messaging, voice calling and file sharing. The IM client includes Internet radio and the regular phone calling at rates as low as one cent per minute. Starting with Version 8. Platform Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO YHOO Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ symbol) ) and British Telecommunications plc today announced that the companies are creating a next-generation call management offering based on the Yahoo! Messenger platform. This agreement represents the first time that a major Internet company and an established telecommunications company See telecom company. have come together to build an integrated call management offering, including voice over IP, for the mainstream consumer. The announcement builds upon the proven success of the existing alliance between Yahoo! and BT to offer co-branded Internet services. Yahoo! Messenger with BT Communicator is an integrated call management offering that takes the features and functionality of Yahoo! Messenger and integrates telephony capabilities, such as PC to phone calling, Internet call waiting Internet Call Waiting is a technology that allows you to accept incoming calls while connected to a 56k Internet dialup connection. While online, a software application displays users the Caller ID of the incoming call, and gives users the opportunity to screen the incoming , directory lookup A data search performed within a predefined table of values (array, matrix, etc.) or within a data file. and more. All calls made using Yahoo! Messenger with BT Communicator will be billed directly to the customer's home phone bill. The service will be distributed both on the Yahoo! network and through a wide variety of BT channels, thus expanding the already robust community of Yahoo! Messenger users in the U.K. The service is expected to launch later this year and Yahoo! and BT plan to embark on a significant, coordinated joint marketing effort to support the new offering. The companies will make BT Communicator a part of all Yahoo! Messenger clients distributed in the U.K. In future, the companies also plan to include expanded functionality. "Yahoo! and BT are both focused on innovation and delivering exciting products that bring the power of the Internet directly to consumers. It is fitting that our two companies are the first to take Internet telephony Another term for IP telephony and VoIP. In the late 1990s, some people made a distinction between Internet Telephony and VoIP: Internet telephony referred to voice over the public Internet, while VoIP referred to voice over private IP networks. mainstream in the U.K.," said Jim Brock brock n. Chiefly British A badger. [Middle English brok, from Old English broc, of Celtic origin.] , senior vice president of Communications and Consumer Services Consumer Services refers to the formulation, deformulation, technical consulting and testing of most consumer products, such as food, herbs, beverages, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, hair products, household cleaners, [paints, plastics, metals, waxes, coatings, minerals, , Yahoo! Inc. "We believe that the secret to success in Internet call management, and a key differentiator for Yahoo!, is our ability to integrate with leading web-based communications tools. Yahoo!'s proven ability to partner successfully and integrate quickly ensures that we are well positioned to be a key partner for this kind of application on a global basis." "Yahoo!'s technological expertise and strong brand appeal, partnered with BT's reach into the homes of UK Internet users creates a powerful combination," said Andrew Burke, Director of Online Services, BT Retail. "By leveraging the existing Yahoo! Messenger base in the U.K., we will be able to make BT Communicator available to millions of users very quickly." Yahoo! Messenger currently provides access to messaging, information, communications, and notification services, and is one of the leading instant messaging Exchanging text messages in real time between two or more people logged into a particular instant messaging (IM) service. Instant messaging is more interactive than e-mail because messages are sent immediately, whereas e-mail messages can be queued up in a mail server for seconds or services in the world Yahoo! is focused on ensuring that Yahoo! Messenger continues to build upon its position as an essential communications hub on the Internet. Yahoo! plans the introduction of compelling new telephony functionality for Yahoo! Messenger on a global basis in conjunction with leading telecommunications companies like BT. Today's announcement builds on the success of the BT Yahoo! alliance, which was announced in June of last year. Together the companies have brought to market BT Yahoo! Broadband and narrowband service, which package Internet access See how to access the Internet. with an exclusive co-branded Internet experience and Yahoo!'s leading tools and services. About Yahoo! Yahoo! Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive online products and services to consumers and businesses worldwide. Yahoo! is the No. 1 Internet brand globally and the most trafficked Internet destination worldwide. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Yahoo!'s global network includes 25 World properties and is available in 13 languages. About BT BT is the UK's leading communications service provider A Communications Service Provider or CSP is a company that transports information electronically. The term encompasses public and private companies in the wireline, wireless, Internet, cable, satellite, and managed services businesses. and the prime channel to market for the other businesses in the Group. It has 21 million residential and business customers, a turnover of GBP GBP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the British Pound. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 12.1bn (in the last full financial year) and around 50,000 employees. Yahoo! and the Yahoo! logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Yahoo! Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
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