|
BT
Exact is BT’s centre of excellence in IT and networking
technologies, providing the specialist technical skills
that BT needs to extend the reach of our broadband services,
operate our networks efficiently and deliver world-class
customer service.
BT
Exact also works with BT Retail, BT Wholesale and BT
Global Services to address the more complex needs of
our customers, extend our portfolio of products and
services and ensure that our customers gain full advantage
from the opportunities created by new technologies.
Specialist
technical services are also offered directly to telecommunications
equipment manufacturers and suppliers of the software
applications used in the core of the world’s public
communication networks. For example, BT Exact works
with companies such as Alcatel, Juniper Networks, Lucent
Technologies and Marconi to provide independent assessments
of their products’ performance and suitability for use
in public communications networks.
All
these aspects of BT Exact’s business are based on expertise
and insight created through our research programmes,
which focus on the next-generation internet, advanced
data services, information and network security, software
systems to support the management and integrity of networks
worldwide, and the future impact of advanced communications
on lifestyles, education and healthcare.
The
work undertaken by BT Exact is part of an investment
of £380 million in research and development that BT
made in the 2003 financial year. This compares with
£362 million and £364 million invested in the 2002 and
2001 financial years, respectively.
The
intellectual property created from this work is valuable
and BT Exact is responsible for the exploitation, management
and defence of the patents that result from our research
and development work, and has a policy of commercial
exploitation of our technology through patent licensing
(including a contract with ipValue to secure revenues
from US and Canadian companies), and the incubation
of new technology companies.
In
February 2003, BT Exact announced a partnership with
Coller Capital and New Venture Partners (NVP) to create
an independent corporate venturing partnership – NVP
Brightstar – in which BT has a minority stake.
NVP
Brightstar, which began operations in April 2003, has
the exclusive rights to create new, start-up businesses
with BT Exact, using our extensive and developing intellectual
property portfolio. NVP Brightstar
purchased the majority of the existing portfolio of
technology ventures developed by BT Exact’s corporate
incubator, Brightstar.
|
