Avaya, the former Enterprise Networks Group of Lucent Technologies to be spun off September 30, has set a benchmark for delivering enterprise-class IP solutions by introducing six new products that provide the industry`s most reliable, feature-rich IP solutions to the widest range of enterprise customers.
Avaya already has provided communications solutions to almost a million customers worldwide, including 78 percent of the Fortune 500 companies, and its IP Communications Solutions are already deployed in hundreds of enterprises, helping thousands of business people work more efficiently and productively. [Background on current Avaya IP customers follows.]
The six new products are Avaya Enterprise Class IP Solutions, or Avaya ECLIPS products, meaning that each brings the reliability, voice quality, feature/functionality, interoperability and applications-richness of the company`s existing offers to the world of pure IP communications. The products are intended for enterprise customers ranging from startups to large multinational corporations.
"Avaya ECLIPS products give customers the confidence to stake their enterprises on our IP solutions," said Don Peterson, Avaya president and CEO. "Avaya is the only company that delivers 100 percent of PBX features over an IP infrastructure -- to any customer, of any size, in any location. That`s what we mean by communication without boundaries."
The products introduced today include the Avaya IP600 Internet Protocol Communications Server, a 19-inch rack-mounted, 100 percent IP solution with no compromises in reliability, voice quality, feature-functionality or network performance; the Avaya R300 Remote Office Communicator, which seamlessly extends the Avaya IP Communications Servers` robust features and applications to remote locations over the WAN with central administration, enabling companies to extend their customer contact centers, for example, to smaller branch offices; new Avaya DEFINITY IP Solutions software that provides improved traffic handling, superior voice quality over packet facilities, and advanced support for Avaya IP Telephones and Softphone; the enhanced Avaya Directory Gateway, a web access tool for streamlined workflow and information management in a converged voice/data environment; fully functional Avaya IP Telephones with superior sound quality and easy upgrades through downloadable firmware; and second-generation Avaya IP Softphone with support for seven languages. [Background on each new product follows.]
New York University, which has more than 110 locations and is currently using Avaya DEFINITY Enterprise Communications Servers, is looking forward to deploying the Avaya R300 Remote Office Communicator. "We are eager to gain the advantage that unified administration of all our locations can provide in terms of cost efficiencies," said Chuck Kuhlman, director of Telecommunications. "And at the same time, we`ll be able to provide the DEFINITY`s robust functionality to our users at all of our sites."
Avaya helps businesses leverage investments in existing PBX and LAN/WAN networks, business applications, people resources and training by bringing the scalability, ease of use, ubiquity and power of the voice network to the world of IP telephony. At the same time, Avaya eases concerns about migration by minimizing disruption to end users, building on current robust functionality, maintaining reliability of existing systems, and providing future investment protection.
"The difference in Avaya`s approach to IP communications is our understanding that voice is a mission-critical application, and our deep experience in providing IP Solutions that deliver on the real value of convergence to thousands of users around the world," said Peterson. "The products we`re introducing today clearly signal that Avaya ECLIPS products set the benchmark for putting mission-critical applications on IP networks."
All of the new offers will be generally available to customers in the United States within 60 days, and internationally beginning 30 days later. All will be demonstrated in real networked environments at Networld + Interop next week in Atlanta, USA, at Avaya`s booth (#6347).
"Since our introduction of the industry`s most comprehensive portfolio of enterprise Voice over IP solutions in May of 1999, we`ve provided thousands of users worldwide with Avaya`s rich, integrated solutions set -- including IP customer contact software and IP unified messaging -- from the desktop to the edge of the network," said Carl Wiese, Avaya Product Management vice president. "Avaya`s vision is that customers of all sizes will be able to gain the efficiency and cost savings of IP-based communications without compromising on reliability or functionality. Our customers` businesses depend on their communications. Avaya Enterprise-Class IP Solutions, based on open platforms and standards, are fully compatible with existing systems, applications and network infrastructure, and work the way customers want them to work."
Avaya ECLIPS products give telecommuters and road warriors the ability to log in from anywhere -- the airport telephone data jack, the hotel room modem -- to the Avaya server at the office through a laptop or IP Telephone, and begin functioning as an extension on that server. "Whether you`re an established company with a large investment in infrastructure or a startup eBusiness looking for state-of-the-art solutions, Avaya can provide you with converged networking at your own pace and on your own path," said Wiese.
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Avaya
Avaya, formerly the Enterprise Networks Group of Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., USA, is a leading provider of communications systems for enterprises, including businesses, government agencies and other organizations. Avaya offers voice, converged voice and data, customer relationship management, messaging, multi-service networking and structured cabling products and services. Avaya is a worldwide leader in sales of messaging and structured cabling systems and a U.S. leader in sales of enterprise voice communications and call center systems. Avaya intends to use its leadership positions in enterprise communications systems and software, its broad portfolio of products and services, and strategic alliances with other technology and consulting services leaders to offer its customers comprehensive eBusiness solutions. For more information about Avaya, visit its Web site at http://www.avaya.com.
Lucent Technologies
Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, designs and delivers the systems, software, silicon and services for next-generation communications networks for service providers and enterprises. Backed by the research and development of Bell Labs, Lucent focuses on high-growth areas such as broadband and mobile Internet infrastructure; communications software; communications semiconductors and optoelectronics; Web-based enterprise solutions that link private and public networks; and professional network design and consulting services. For more information on Lucent Technologies, visit its Web site at http://www.lucent.com.
Avaya B-roll
Avaya B-roll will be available on 9/20/00 from 1:00pm to 1:30pm Eastern Time Telstar 6 C Band Transponder 19 After 2:00pm Eastern Time, reporters can view the B-roll at http://www.PRNMedia.com by going to the Video News Reports section. It will be under Avaya B-roll.
Avaya IP600 Internet Protocol Communications Server The Avaya IP600 Internet Protocol Communications Server is a 100 percent IP Telephony server. The 19-inch rack-mounted IP Server brings features such as voice mail, six party conferencing, call coverage, attendant console support, multiple line appearances, bridged appearances and speed dialing to converged IP networks -- without the need for additional applications servers or adjuncts -- and does so with unmatched levels of efficiency, reliability and voice quality.
Developed by Avaya Labs, the Avaya IP600 delivers excellent IP network performance and traffic handling, leveraging IP architecture capabilities such as peer-to-peer communication between IP phones over the LAN or WAN. In support of virtual enterprise environments, IP600 seamlessly connects with Avaya and other QSIG-compliant switches over an IP network. It provides ubiquitous and transparent access to advanced applications throughout an IP network and, with the most robust set of application programming interfaces in the industry, provides best-in-class third-party as well as Avaya applications.
The Avaya IP600 is shipped with five popular applications built right onto a single processor: Avaya IP Solutions software, voice mail, fax messaging, Avaya Message Manager and Avaya Site Administration. In addition, the IP600 provides IP customer contact center functionality that supports advanced call routing. Additional applications such as wireless can be added via seven available universal card slots.
The IP600 is targeted for customers requiring between 20 and 200 IP endpoints at a single location with distributed growth to 12,000-plus total IP endpoints. Typical pricing is $500 to $750 per port, plus the endpoint (station or trunk). The Avaya IP600 will be available in 13 countries (Canada, UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil and Spain) 30 days after U.S. availability, with more countries to follow.
Avaya R300 Remote Office Communicator
The Avaya R300 Remote Office Communicator for branch offices is a low-cost, high-performance design that brings centralized Avaya IP Communications Server features -- essentially everything available at headquarters -- over the WAN to offices with fewer than 25 employees. The R300 Remote Office Communicator lowers the customer`s WAN costs by 40 percent to 60 percent by converging voice and data onto a single WAN facility. Its built-in data networking and routing capabilities include Firewall, VPN and Security features, with data concentration capabilities improving efficiency even further. The R300 offers up to 24 digital and two analog station ports; robust WAN options such as full and fractional T1/E1 and BRI; a bidirectional 10/100 Ethernet port; local analog and digital trunking; E911; PPP data routing to the corporate LAN; and dialtone even during WAN failure or power failure. The Avaya R300 will be available internationally after January 1, 2001. The Avaya R300 is priced at $500 to $1,100 per port, depending on the number of sites and number of ports (stations and trunks).
Avaya DEFINITY IP Solutions Software
All of Avaya`s DEFINITY Enterprise Communications Servers (ECS) now can be upgraded to the power of DEFINITY IP Solutions software for converged voice, data and video networks. Avaya eases concerns about migration to an IP infrastructure by minimizing disruption to end users, building on current robust functionality, maintaining reliability of existing systems and helping businesses evolve to virtual enterprises. The new software, developed by Avaya Labs, offers improved performance, increased capacities, additional remote office capabilities, and enhancements to IP Telephones and PC-based Softphones across Avaya`s complete line of DEFINITY Enterprise
Communications Servers
The software also improves traffic handling performance by enabling both parts of the call -- the content signal and the call control signal -- to pass directly through the LAN or WAN, but it can also move the call back to the server if the caller requests a feature, such as conferencing or music-on-hold, that requires it. This IP end-to-end feature is unique in the world of IP-PBXs.
With the new software, the system administrator can improve voice quality by setting parameters that allow data networking equipment to prioritize the audio stream at the IP level, providing the best possible end-to-end audio experience when all or part of the call is carried over packet facilities. Businesses requiring a high level of reliability, but wanting to take advantage of network efficiencies offered by IP have the flexibility of using the Differentiated Services option, along with the Avaya server`s Least Cost Routing and Class of Service features, to monitor the performance of the IP network. If at any time the IP network`s performance is not acceptable for voice or fax calls, the server can reroute the call over an alternative network.
The new software will be available internationally 30 days after U.S. availability, and will be shipped with all new DEFINITY systems. It is also available as an upgrade to all existing DEFINITY systems. Upgrades from the previous release of DEFINITY IP Solutions software range from $7,500 to $12,000, depending on system hardware and software.
Avaya Directory Gateway
The newly enhanced Avaya Directory Gateway provides web access for streamlined workflow and information management in a converged voice and data environment. This online directory management tool improves the accuracy of data by making all databases -- from HR to Payroll to voice mail and network access -- consistent. This single entry to multiple databases saves time and money. Directory Gateway joins Avaya`s Enterprise Directory Solutions, which also include directory lookup applications for enterprise users and phone attendants. List price for a single server connection (DEFINITY or Intuity AUDIX) is $4,995, with additional connections priced at $999. A gateway client user license for 50 users is $1,500.
Avaya IP Telephones
Avaya`s new 4612 and 4624 IP Telephones provide the complete Avaya feature set: full duplex speakerphone with echo cancellation for superior sound quality; a 10/100BaseT Ethernet connection; an integrated Ethernet connection to connect a PC to the telephone; G.711, G.723.1, G.723.1A, G.729A, & G.729B audio voice coders; and easy upgrades through downloadable firmware. They are also NetMeeting and hearing aid compatible, and come with Universal Serial Bus, Infrared and DSS ports to support future applications. IP Address assignment can be as a DHCP client or statically configured. List price for the 4612 is $575. List price for the 4624 is $769.
Avaya IP Softphone
Avaya`s second-generation IP Softphone delivers the full capabilities of Avaya servers via an intuitive interface for functions such as conference, transfer, send all calls and speed dialing. It supports seven languages (US English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Euro-French, German, Latin America Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese), emulates a variety of Avaya digital phone sets and provides enhanced audio performance with its well-integrated H.323 components. The new Service Link Audio Client gives the Softphone integrated audio in a single user interface with improved sound quality, eliminating the need for a separate application, such as Microsoft NetMeeting. It also provides a choice of graphical interfaces for call center, road warrior or telecommuter environments. The price for 12 licenses is $2,700, and the price for 30 licenses is $5,100. Upgrades from Release 1 are $80 per license.