BTEXACT TECHNOLOGIES UNVEILS ITS SPORTING TALENT

BTexact to focus a range technology and expertise on sports and events management opportunities

BTexact to focus a range technology and expertise on sports and events management opportunities

BTexact Technologies, BT's advanced research and technology business, announced today that it will be bringing together a range of its patented technology and expertise to position itself as Europe's leading provider of events management systems to sports event organisers across the world.

BTexact has taken this step as part of its remit to develop external business. Before April 2001, it was solely responsible for providing research and technology for BT Group. BTexact's current events management capability, developed from working on BT-sponsored events and alongside other BT businesses, includes world-leading experts in content management, satellite communications and voice and video coding, as well as its own patented events management technology. By its very nature, event management is highly visible part of the business - one that has significant potential in its market place.

BTexact's bid for market leadership draws on long-established relationships with the world's leading suppliers of hardware, software and other components integral to events management, including Compaq, Sun Microsystems, Inmarsat, IBM, Sony and Olympus. In addition, BTexact will be building on extensive experience developed by working closely with high-profile sponsors, event organisers, media organisations, advertising and sponsorship agencies, sponsors and sports governing bodies, including the BBC, BSkyB, Meridian, GMTV, TWI and Volvo.

BTexact's event management systems have been used successfully to manage a number of high-profile events which include, amongst others, the BT Global Challenge yacht race, 1999 Rugby World Cup and the 1998 Camel Trophy Land Rover rally across the north-African desert. Logistically, the BT Global Challenge proved the most challenging for the BTexact team, which created a system to provide e-mail, Internet access, TV-quality video cameras, tracking, telemetry and digital stills facilities on the yachts as well as the web site for enthusiasts to follow the race.

The team provided an Internet and communications package for 1999 Rugby World Cup and GPS and Inmarsat D+ services and 24/7 tracking of Land Rovers through an online map for the 1998 Camel Trophy.

BTexact is currently providing a race management system for the Volvo Ocean Race, 2001-2. Its events management package enables: satellite tracking of the yachts, e-mails to and from the yachts and crews to gather information about weather conditions and competitors' progress. The system also allows the event's organisers to distribute information on the race's progress to media outlets, including the website.

One of the main contributory factors to BTexact's success in winning the Volvo bid was its formidable expertise in this niche area, built up over more than a decade, providing event and race management systems for other high-profile events.

Stewart Davies, BTexact's CEO said: "This is one of the most exciting parts of BTexact's portfolio and it has already demonstrated just how important cutting-edge technology can be to running a successful event for sporting participants, fans and sponsors. Communications technology is the cornerstone of effective event management systems; we can provide a comprehensive package of solutions tailored to specific needs - from online marketing through to on-board navigation systems, tracking and telemetry.

"With the communications technology available today, every event potentially has a global audience. However, ensuring that potential is fully utilised is not as simple as mailing out a few press releases. It's about making sure that access is available between the event and all of its audiences, all the time. Our technology is totally focused on getting that right. We're looking forward to a big share of the sports events market as our technology, experience and expertise gains the reputation it deserves."

Michael Woods, Volvo's director of race operations, said: " We chose BTexact Technologies' race management system because we wanted a system that was completely dependable and a support team that we could rely on. BTexact's system and its team has matched these requirements absolutely. Its flexibility and knowledge have been demonstrated many times by coping with everything that the race, has thrown at it!"

ENDS

About BTexact Technologies

BTexact Technologies, BT's advanced research and technology business, offers expertise and experience in communications technology and e-business, backed by a team of more than 3000 technologists and one of the world's largest communications research and development facilities. As the centre of technical expertise for the BT Group, BTexact has established a record of world-first achievement and of successful delivery of projects, large and small. It has also created an intellectual property portfolio of some 14,000 patents based on almost 2000 inventions , some of which are being converted into valuable new businesses by BTexact's Brightstar incubator.

BTexact helps businesses and organisations inside and outside BT Group gain maximum advantage from communications technology. It creates value and competitive advantage by combining a deep knowledge of networks and networked applications with proven skills in business consulting, change management and innovation. Its services are focused to help customers assess the value and performance of communication technologies and systems, identify potential risks and ensure they gain maximum advantage from investments in communications technologies and applications.

BTexact's employees include many who are world leaders in their specialist fields, working at the forefront of standards development and new technologies in areas including multimedia, IP and data networks, mobile communications, network design and management, and business applications. Services are offered to customers directly or through world-class business partners, which include BT Group businesses such as BT Retail, BT Wholesale and BT Ignite.

BTexact is headquartered at Adastral Park, at one end of the Cambridge-2-Ipswich Hi Tech Corridor, and is a founder member of the Cambridge Network. It has offices and laboratories worldwide including locations across the UK and in Asia, continental Europe, and North America.

For more information about BTexact Technologies, please go to www.btexact.com.

For further information, contact:

BTexact Technologies

David Pincott, Pirate Communications, T: 0207 760 7052, Mob: 07866 261198 or email: mailto:david@piratecomms.com

Justine Manché, Pirate Communications, T: 0207 760 7053, Mob: 07811 164724 or email: mailto:justine@piratecomms.com

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