Comms Business Magazine was invited to see their IT command centre based at the new Frankfurt stadium, one of the main venues for next years’ competition. Avaya has installed a wide range of applications that stretch across all six stadiums involved and together with partners Extreme Networks and Deutche Telecom will ensure FIFA officials and visiting journalists have up to date information at their fingertips.
Speaking to Comms Business Magazine, Avaya CEO Don Peterson said, “Avaya is among the world leaders in IP telephony and plans to move ahead in 2006. IP telephony started as a cost reduction benefit for organisations but is now progressing through business applications deployment to deliver both business and market transformation.”
Avaya say their worldwide market share of IP telephony reached 24% in 2004. A new joint venture with Nokia to put Avaya IP telephony functionality on to the Finnish vendors handsets so that these applications can be used on one phone in and out of the office.
Since 2001, the overall cost to Avaya of sponsorship and providing the communications for both the 2002 and 2006 World Cups is a staggering $100 million but the vendor will see a return in terms of increased credibility in the converged market having achieved a five nines reliability for their network and successfully keeping out virus’s and hackers.