News

Avaya Enhances Collaboration

Avaya has unveiled new product releases, customers and innovations in the small and medium business market that include the new version of Avaya’s communications solution for this market–Avaya IP Office 7.0–which drives improved savings, user experiences, and collaboration for a new generation of entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, and mid-size firms.

Avaya says IP Office 7.0 completes the integration of Nortel Enterprise Solutions (NES) IP and digital phones into the IP Office platform. This integration now enables approximately 14 million NES users to gain Avaya IP Office’s collaboration capabilities, and can drive 40 to 60 percent in savings for NES customers by enabling them to retain existing phones when upgrading to Avaya IP Office. This upgrade can be accelerated and simplified by a new Data Migration Tool that lets partners transfer a business’ existing data (i.e. voicemails, phone extensions) to their new systems, maintaining productivity without interruption.

Speaking to Comms Business Magazine, Jeremy Butt, Head of Worldwide Sales, said, “The significance of this announcement is the fact that Nortel Avaya has a single SME product now. There is a huge base around the world that is now unified going forward. We announced this program in January 2010 and delivered it on time.”

Avaya IP Office 7.0 also delivers an expanded portfolio of devices for multimedia collaboration, including sophisticated new colour touchscreen desktop phones that let users scroll through contacts or manage visual voicemail at the touch of a finger. Additionally, new conference room phones offer patented wide-band audio, call recording via SD card, and fast USB connectivity to a laptop for temporary set-ups. These are part of a portfolio that offers a range of advanced communications, such as HD videoconferencing via desktop PC with no added equipment required.

Nearly 60 percent of small and mid-size businesses state they use, are interested in, or are planning to use collaboration software.

Nigel Stagg, Managing Director, BT Business said, "One of BT's key priorities is to become the brand for business for UK based small and medium enterprises. A key angle for us is to provide the communications solutions that meet the specific business needs of SMEs. We are delighted to include Avaya's SME solutions as part of the BT Business portfolio, enabling us to offer SMEs high quality communications solutions with features previously only affordable to larger businesses. The latest Avaya SME solutions also enable BT to address a wider base of Avaya users and former Nortel Enterprise Solutions users."

Isabelle Guis, general manager, Avaya Small and Medium Enterprise Division, said, “As the economy shifts into a higher gear, today’s small and medium businesses need the best tools available to collaborate and compete effectively. Avaya IP Office 7.0 represents the pinnacle of advanced communications in this market, providing vast unified communications capabilities, with a focus on simplicity and savings.”

Speaking to Comms Business Magazine, Jeremy Butt, Vice President, Worldwide Channels, said, “The significance of this announcement is the fact that Nortel Avaya has a single SME product now. There is a huge base around the world that is now unified going forward. We announced this program in January 2010 and delivered it on time.”