LONDON -- BTG (LSE:BGC), the global technology commercialisation company, today announced it has acquired rights to a portfolio of patents and patent applications relating to Video and Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies developed by Intelligence at Large, Inc. (IAL). These technologies are incorporated into the various international standards for multipoint, packet-based multimedia solutions enabling real-time communications over the Internet. The newly acquired portfolio covers key functions in audio, video and data transmissions, as well as Internet telephony. In particular, aspects of the portfolio relate to key features specified in H.323, a standard to promote compatibility in videoconference transmissions over packet networks. BTG's entrance into this arena raises prospects for value realisation in an already robust and continually growing market. According to the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), demand for VoIP will continue to increase as consumers better understand the technology and its uses. As further evidence of this sentiment, Synergy Research Group estimates that the VoIP market grew 21% over last year despite a marked technology recession. Anthony V. Lando, BTG's Chief Operating Officer, said, "BTG has strong capabilities and experience commercialising technologies that enable efficient distribution of multimedia, such as data compression and speech coding. We were seeking fundamental patents that define packet-based communications, and we are pleased BTG and IAL are partnering to develop and license packet-based audio and videoconferencing technology." This family of patents and patent applications arose from IAL's development of BeingThereTM, a Macintosh*-based videoconferencing product released in the early nineties. In addition, IAL developed a popular OEM-VoIP product called WebTalkTM for Quarterdeck Corporation. Cartright Reed, co-inventor of the VoIP technology and current President of Shipstone Group, IAL's consulting practice, added, "we developed communication technology for the Internet in its infancy, and we are excited to be working with BTG to put our IP portfolio to work. Through BTG, this fundamental portfolio will be licensed on a global basis to VoIP, semiconductor, and communications software companies, in addition to leading telecommunications providers." BTG plc