Source: www.voip-news.com

Vulnerabilities? What vulnerabilities?

That would have been the easy response for Avaya and Cisco when they were faced with a report exposing problems with their VoIP systems. But they didn’t. Instead, the company is facing them head-on, or seems to be.

According to Network World:

Avaya says it knows about the problems and is issuing advisories to customers and providing service-pack updates that address some of them. “Ongoing updates and service packs addressing this will continue to be made accessible on our support site,” an Avaya spokesman says.

Cisco is releasing software updates that address the vulnerabilities at no extra charge for customers with service contracts Nortel did not respond to questions about their response to the VoIPshield warnings.

Brava.

Source: www.voip-news.com

Traditional voice call providers aren’t the only ones with lobbyists working in their interest to help Congress see the light. Avaya, a company that provides solutions for IP Telephony, Unified Communications, Contact Centers and Communications-Enabled Business Processes, now has their own lobbyists.

The company has retained The Madison Group to represent them before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security.

Among the topics that The Madison Group will focus on are telecommunications issues like Voice over Internet Protocol and emergency communications.

Source: gigaom.com

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Broadcom VoIP Technology Enables State-of-the-Art IP Phones with the Features and Price Points that Satisfy Multiple Avaya Customer Segments

IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Broadcom Corporation , a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced that Avaya, a global leader in business communications applications, software and services, has selected Broadcom’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology for two award-winning lines of Avaya one-X(TM) Deskphone Internet Protocol (IP) telephones. This includes Avaya’s 9600 series that leverages Broadcom’s most advanced VoIP solutions to deliver full-featured IP phones for enterprise customers, and the 1600 series that utilizes Broadcom’s low cost VoIP platform for highly functional, cost efficient IP phones that satisfy a variety of business needs. The breadth and flexibility of the Broadcom(R) VoIP portfolio, coupled with its common software development platform, enable manufacturers to deliver a full line of IP phones with the features, capabilities and price points that satisfy multiple customer segments.

"Broadcom’s expansive VoIP portfolio and unique integration capabilities helped us to quickly build an entire line of IP phones for a variety of enterprise and small business customers," said Paul Weismantel, Director of the Communications Appliances Division at Avaya. "As more small businesses transition to IP telephony and their larger companies deploy Gigabit IP networks, our Avaya one-X Deskphone line will serve the broad needs of each of these growing markets."

According to industry research, the number of IP phones sold worldwide is expected to double by 2011, led by the widespread use of IP communications in large enterprises. As the leading silicon supplier for these phones, with over 50 percent market share in 2006, Broadcom’s technology leadership stems from its ability to integrate core VoIP technologies, as well as a variety of audio processing, connectivity and processing functions, into a single silicon die. Additionally, all of Broadcom’s VoIP chips support the PhonexChange(TM) software development environment, which speeds time-to-market by allowing customers to leverage software development efforts across multiple products.

"Today’s IP phones offer a wide range of features that traditional telephones simply cannot match, as it is no longer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ market," said Bill Boora, Senior Product Line Manager from Broadcom’s VoIP line of business. "Avaya one-X Deskphone products are innovative, full-featured and intuitive phones that will accelerate the deployment of VoIP across several market segments."

Industry’s Most Popular Gigabit Solutions for Enterprise Phones

The Avaya 9600 series one-X Deskphone Edition phones are built upon Broadcom’s most advanced VoIP processor, the BCM1103. In addition to the unparalleled performance provided by the integrated MIPS(R) and digital signal processing (DSP) processors, Gigabit Ethernet switch and Fast Ethernet physical layer devices (PHYs), the BCM1103 enables the delivery of features that are critical for enterprise deployments, including high-fidelity audio, end-to-end security and advanced quality of service (QoS).

Several of Avaya’s enterprise IP phones also include Broadcom’s BCM5482 single-chip Gigabit Ethernet transceiver, which maximizes the functionality of the BCM1103 VoIP processor for phones used on Gigabit Ethernet networks. The dual-port BCM5482 transceiver reduces bill-of-material (BOM) costs and utilizes less board space than competing solutions that use two single-port transceivers. This enables Broadcom’s customers to build smaller and more cost effective IP phones.

High-Quality Solutions for Cost-Conscious Businesses

Avaya has also selected Broadcom VoIP solutions for its Avaya one-X Deskphone Value Edition (1600 series), which is a low cost family of phones designed to meet a range of end-user needs. The high-end model features Broadcom’s BCM1104 VoIP processor, which enables advanced IP telephony features at price points that are attractive to cost-conscious customers. The innovative BCM1104 processor also integrates a Gigabit Ethernet switch and Fast Ethernet PHYs, and runs all control and signal processing tasks on the MIPS processor core rather than employing a costly embedded digital signal processor.

Included in the 1600 series lineup are two additional phones that include Broadcom’s BCM1190 IP phone chip. By delivering cost effective IP phones with the same voice quality and security features as higher-end models, Avaya is providing small-and-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with greater choices for deploying IP telephony across the board.

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

Raju Shanbhag of TMCnet reports that Avaya and Nokia have teamed up to provide a Dual mode SIP client.

" The Eseries handset from Nokia received a boost as Nokia and Avaya launched a dual-mode softphone client for Eseries handsets. The users can now connect through their office-based Avaya PBX from an Eseries phone with Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode Edition. The call will be routed either through a local Wi-Fi connection or the mobile network. It is useful those who keep traveling abroad as it significantly reduce the roaming costs on their mobile phones."

Avaya and Nokia Release Dual-mode SIP Client @ TMCnet

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

MONTREAL and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Today, Bell Canada announced an agreement on the standardization of the IP communication product line designed and manufactured by Avaya, Inc. .

"This agreement clearly demonstrates Bell’s position as leader in IP telephony technology," said Stephane Boisvert, President of the Enterprise Group, Bell Canada. "We will now be able to assume the design, sale and servicing of an IP solution using Avaya technology. This is good news for our customers because Bell will be a single point of contact for the purchase and servicing of these products."

In Canada, Bell is the largest participant in the Avaya BusinessPartner program, earning status as an Avaya Certified Platinum member. Worldwide, Avaya’s contact centre solutions hold approximately 40% market share — far ahead of the competition, and the company’s IP Telephony solutions account for more than 25 percent of the market.

The standardization of Avaya products will allow Bell Canada to facilitate the migration of its customers who currently use Avaya DEFINITY(R) Servers, INTUITY(TM) AUDIX(R), or Octel(R) 250/350 voice and messaging platforms — by far the most widely used traditional voice systems — to Avaya IP-based communications solutions, which include telephony, messaging, conferencing, video and collaboration solutions that are accessible across a variety of devices. Bell will offer the full range of award-winning solutions, including Avaya Quick Edition, Avaya IP Office, Avaya Distributed Office and Avaya Communication Manager, effectively meeting the needs all sizes and types of enterprise customers.

Bell is the first major service provider in Canada to standardize the full portfolio of Avaya IP Telephony solutions. Furthermore, this is the first time Bell Canada has standardized a full product line in over 13 years, which bears witness to the tremendous value that Avaya products bring to Bell’s s offer.

"With Bell standardizing on Avaya IP Telephony solutions, customers have a consistent, quality experience," said Mario Belanger, President, Avaya Canada. "Through its commitment to certification and the continuous development of their support and technical expertise, Canadian companies will have access to consistent delivery of superior customer service."

PRNewsWire

Source: snapvoip.blogspot.com

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — As the most wired college in the U.S. plots its technology future, new intelligent communications networking and applications give Villanova University a powerful, flexible foundation to further its vision and provide a wealth of new capabilities today. The new Avaya and Extreme Networks IP telephony network now links 60 buildings on Villanova’s Philadelphia campus. It was delivered in less than two months by Empire Technologies, a Platinum- certified BusinessPartner for Avaya Inc. , a leading global provider of business communications applications, software and services.

In December 2006, PC Magazine and The Princeton Review ranked Villanova first among the Top 20 Wired Colleges in the nation. With new intelligent communications capabilities — including converged networking, unified communications and contact center applications — the university now is extending its technology leadership and improving campus safety.

"Villanova has a reputation for understanding how advancements in technology can assist in the development and delivery of high-quality education for our students," said Robert Mays, director, Networking Communications, Villanova University. "When we needed to upgrade to next- generation communications capabilities, we knew we needed partners who could provide a flexible, resilient solution that would serve us now and for years to come. The new network, new applications and the Avaya, Empire and Extreme Networks team have delivered just what Villanova required."

Networking for the future, managing costs today

Based on industry-leading Avaya Communication Manager IP telephony software and Extreme Networks switches, the highly available network incorporates Quality of Service capabilities to protect communication applications. Since the solution features integrated management between Avaya phones and Extreme Networks switches and Power over Ethernet (PoE) to provide power to IP handsets, Villanova gains a solution that precisely fits current requirements and takes the university into the future. Over time, data traffic will be migrated to the same network as well, giving the university a single, converged infrastructure that can support voice, data and video.

The network currently supports a mix of 3,500 IP, digital and analog phones, allowing Villanova to use the type most practical for a given use and location. For example, feature-rich IP or SIP phones are used by staff members and will be incorporated into all new buildings. Simpler analog phones are used in dormitory halls and other public areas.

"This converged platform has enormous, long-term value as well as more immediate benefits for greater collaboration," said Steve Fugale, CIO, Villanova. "The implementation couldn’t have been any smoother, and the working relationship between Villanova, Avaya, Empire and Extreme has been that way since Day One. We are very pleased with both the technology and the team that’s been driven to make this a success."

Better access through unified communications and customer service applications

With the new network in place, Villanova now is incorporating unified communications applications that represent a giant step forward from standalone voice and email messaging. Avaya Modular Messaging will enable faculty and staff to access messages at any time, from anywhere, over a wide array of devices. With an Avaya one-X Speech voice user interface that integrates with Microsoft Outlook, they will be able to access and manage critical business tools hands-free by calling a single number and speaking simple voice commands into the phone. For example, they can tell the virtual personal assistant to organize, read and help compose e-mails, check and schedule appointments and reach contacts quickly and easily using the power of their voice. In addition, voice mail messages will be visible in and manageable from their email inbox. New presence capabilities will eliminate time-consuming phone tag by showing employees who is in the office and free to take their call, and they can "click-to-dial" a colleague from their buddy list.

When the new semester begins this fall, callers will be greeted with speech-driven menus that allow them to reach the proper department and to access directories or other standard information. Potential and current students, parents, alumni and sponsors will find inquiries to the Bursar, Admissions and Development offices handled more efficiently with Avaya contact center applications, including Avaya Contact Center Express. Eventually the same offices will be able to route multi-channel communications directly to the appropriate staff member, just like phone calls are today.

Safer and more secure through intelligent communications

Improving campus safety is of paramount concern for virtually every university. Villanova’s new system provides a number of significant enhancements, including E911 capabilities that link directly to municipal emergency communications operations. E911 enables first responders to identify exactly where on campus an emergency call originates, saving valuable time when help is needed. Whenever an emergency call is made or a fire alarm is activated, crisis alert capabilities in Avaya Communication Manager IP telephony software automatically notify designated on-campus personnel via pagers, desktop and mobile phones and PCs.

"The Avaya and Extreme Networks platform is already giving us the flexibility we need for improved access and campus safety," said Mays. "It opens the door to easy integration with hundreds — if not thousands — of solutions from Avaya DeveloperConnection members like Meru Networks, Nuance and others, helping us get more out of our communications investment."

Villanova University Charts Technology Future with Avaya Intelligent Communications and Extreme Networks Infrastructure

Source: voipcentral.org

Who is acquiring Avaya, the leading VoIP and Unified Communication vendor? We raised the question just two days back following the rumor that Avaya is heading towards a buyout.

There was intense speculation that Nortel Networks Corp is the front-runner in the bid to acquire the VoIP and Unified Communication company that beat all odds to hit the current VoIP market.

Since, Nortel is looking forward to take the advantages in the areas of unified communication in the corporate VoIP market, the speculation seemed genuine, at least for the time being.

However, the latest reports add that Nortel is stepping down from its bid to acquire Avaya due to the rise in the share price of the later. A WSJ story that got a number links elaborates after Avaya’s stock price spike in the past week, it became more unaffordable for Nortel. Avaya’s stock touched to $17.18 late Friday from $13.67 a week earlier.

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Source: voipcentral.org

The grapevine has it that VoIP and Unified Communication vendor, Avaya has readied to sell all or part of the company. The rumor has further heaped on with reports adding that leading companies like Nortel, Cisco, Oracle and Microsoft all are lined up to acquire it.

Microsoft sees prospect in Avaya because the software giant has prepared a blueprint for its VoIP business by launching its Unified Communication portfolio. At the same time, Oracle, Nortel and Cisco have also top priorities in the areas of unified communication.

However, Avaya has not commented on buyouts saying that they are not running after rumors. The speculation appeared following Merrill Lynchs indication that the company is perfect buyout target.

Previously, Avaya was owned by the old AT&T. The company was closed down in 2002 due to financial problems. At that time, Avaya was developing phone systems. Then, it entered into VoIP bandwagon by launching innovative products and solutions for the business customers.

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Source: voipcentral.org

Telecom-giant Avaya has released its latest Avaya one-X line of IP phones, which are based on SIP and work with company’s IP PBX system.

It enables click to conference Integrated Instant Messaging and provides speed dial numbers to corporate workers.

The latest Avaya IP phones have dual LED indicators and Fixed feature buttons to ensure call transfer, hold and conferencing services to the users. They also possess two-way speakerphones and multi-line functions.

The prices of the IP phones vary from $139 to $299.

Avaya has also launched its Avaya Distributed Office System, which enables IT experts to maintain a consistent IP Telephony functions by distributing call processing out to more than 1,000 branch offices from a central unit.

More

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Source: voipcentral.org

China-based PC manufacturer Lenovo and Avaya has reached out an agreement to spearhead in the areas of VoIP and unified communications solutions, which are in growing demand in the current telecom market.

According the joint deal, the two companies will work hand-to-hand to enhance the IP communications know-how on Thinkpad notebooks, ensuring the business enterprises strong security and high quality calling services from their notebook PCs.

It has happened for the first time that the renowned PC maker integrated its fingerprint reader and Password Manager technologies to support Avaya’s IP Softphone solution to improve user authentication with a filch of a finger.

Avaya feels the collaboration would enable “click-to-call” integration with Microsoft Office Communicator and IBM Lotus SameTime.

Both the companies announced that they will finish the integration by the end of third quarter this year.

Source: voipcentral.org

Is Avaya winding up its hardware sales to spearhead in VoIP software business? We raise this question noticing Avayas new initiatives in the software line in recent months.

According to this source, the US-based telecom giant is now trying to create its recognition as software firm, rather than a hardware seller.

Allan Mendelson, senior marketing manger at Avayas unified communication has made a statement that the company has decided to shut down the hardware business and operate as software-oriented company.

It is not surprising to see Avayas software ambition after reaching a vital agreement with Google and making its VoIP software compatible with IBMs Lotus application suite and Microsoft Exchange. At the same time, we should not also overlook its recent upgradation to Communication Manager 4.0.