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Testing times - the background to BT Exact's Blue Stamp of approval

In August 2001, BTexact announced the launch of its independent, carrier-grade IP-testing test and evaluation facility and, in October 2002, it launched its ‘Blue Stamp' accreditation scheme. BTexact is now also providing test and evaluation facilities for the burgeoning SIP equipment market.

BTexact Technologies, BT's advanced research and technology business, tests and evaluates products and services for companies across the communications industry, including equipment suppliers, fixed and mobile network operators, application developers, service providers and large-scale technology users. In August 2001, BTexact announced the launch of its independent, carrier-grade IP-testing test and evaluation facility and, in October 2002, it launched its ‘Blue Stamp' accreditation scheme. BTexact is now also providing test and evaluation facilities for the burgeoning SIP equipment market.

BTexact has always carried out carrier grade testing. What's different now is that it isn't just for BT Group businesses. It has spent the last year turning this effective internal operation into an external-facing, commercially astute, world-class business. And it's a business that offers unique facilities and expertise to the market, including the ability to replicate the conditions that exist in most public and private communication networks and test well beyond established parameters, defining the upper limits of performance.

The result is a proposition that many customers really value. It's captured a great deal of business in what can, at best, be described as hard times for the industry and its visibility is increasing rapidly as a result.

The extent to which industry is prepared to sit up and listen to BTexact's test and evaluation team was demonstrated by the massive response to its recent white paper, entitled "Carrier Requirements for Core Routers".

Aimed at the global market, the paper outlined the performance standards vendors' router products would have to meet if their products were to be used in public communications networks. To back up its claims, the white paper included a survey of carriers, their levels of satisfaction and thoughts for the future of core requirements. It also contained a very detailed technical description of what was needed to satisfy those requirements. Essentially, it was asking vendors if they could ‘come up to the mark?' And the response was overwhelming. A stake was put in the ground and Avici Systems was the first company to respond. Its product has now successfully completed testing against the new benchmark, and other companies are now following.

By SuperComm 2002, BTexact's place in the core router world was firmly established. Three of the major players in the market – Avici Systems, Juniper Networks and Alcatel – all made product announcements that cited evaluation in BTexact's independent testing facility. The number of customers on the books now means that BTexact is hoping to double its test and evaluation business in the next six months.

As well as the vendors, who want verification of their products in a public market, BTexact also works with customers in start-up development phase. They may be building new prototypes or new products and want feedback on whether the performance is there or whether they have all the features and functionality they need prior to launch. BTexact's test and evaluation services help these customers to hit the market running.

Taken together, these achievements are the first steps on the way to turning BTexact's facilities into what is envisaged as the first natural choice for every vendor when it comes to independent testing. BTexact views what it does in this space as consultancy, and very high-value consultancy at that. To ensure the work is done properly, BTexact employs engineers who are world-leaders in their own right. This ensure they can really add value to its customers, advising them on what they should be looking for, how they should be doing it and what features and functions they might need. And unlike most consultancy organisations in this industry, with its depth of expertise, it knows it can back up what it says. BTexact can test and evaluate products because it has the deep engineering understanding required. It's a powerful combination.

Equipment that can deliver SIP applications is now being looked at in great depth by BTexact. Obviously, this is such a new area that expertise is comparatively rare. However, BTexact is at the forefront of many of the developments related to this standard so has developed a formidable knowledge, which is greatly valued by vendors.

Testing and evaluation is not just about the performance of individual products though; BTexact also carries out due diligence functions advising customers, sometimes established vendors, sometimes start-ups, sometimes venture capitalists, what it thinks of a product or technology and how it rates it against market expectations. The hard, frank facts that allow people to make key strategic decisions about products and their likely markets. These influence decisions that might change a company's developmental road map or an investment decision. These decisions could make or break a company. That's how serious it is. And BTexact doesn't take it lightly.

David Pincott is a publicity manager for BT Exact.