Avaya Introduces Virtualized Unified Communications Solution
New Avaya AuraTM solution for companies with up to 2400 employees is one of the first to use virtualization technology to simplify real-time communications, reduce power and hardware
For Immediate Release: Monday, October 12, 2009
Basking Ridge, N.J. - Unified communications and collaboration just became more practical for midsize enterprises. Avaya today announced Avaya AuraTM midsize solution for enterprises, a single-server, unified communications solution for businesses as small as 100 employees and scalable up to 2400 users and 250 locations. The new solution reduces complexity, saves money and puts advanced unified communications and contact centers within easy reach.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises is one of the first in the industry to use standards-based virtualization technology for real-time communications. Virtualization -- the use of software to allow a single piece of hardware to run multiple applications at the same time -- will be the de facto method for Avaya to deploy applications going forward.
Called Avaya Aura System Platform, this unique, real-time virtualization technology enables unmodified versions of Avaya Communication Manager, Voice Messaging, SIP Enablement Services, Application Enablement Services, Utility Services and Media Services to be deployed on a single server. The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises uses System Platform with standard, commercial servers certified by Avaya to deliver the security, scalability and resiliency which businesses need for their mission-critical communications.
The benefits of the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises include:
· Up to 75 percent reduction in hardware, power and cooling and maintenance requirements for a low total cost of ownership and a more environmentally friendly approach
· Simplified installation and ongoing management with integrated services for administrators, powerful wizards and self-use administration enable the entire solution to be remotely deployed in 1-2 hours.
· High resiliency with built in remote monitoring, no single point of failure and an optional backup server for redundancy
"When we launched Avaya Aura in May, it provided a breakthrough solution for large enterprises looking to run their unified communications and contact center systems more efficiently," said Alan Baratz, president, Global Communications Systems and senior vice president at Avaya. "With the release of Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises, we provide the same, high-performing functionality to even more businesses."
Customers can also easily add Avaya Contact Center Express (CCE), a multi-channel contact center solution for mid-size enterprises to deliver sophisticated customer service capabilities using an array of features including a unified desktop display, advanced multimedia tools and integration to CRM software including Microsoft DynamicsTM CRM. The CCE common administration tool will soon be enhanced to let companies manage the contact center-related data and capabilities of Avaya Aura Communication Manager from within CCE.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises comes in both Standard and Enterprise Editions. Enterprise Edition includes the Avaya Unified Communications All Inclusive end-user package; companies using Standard Edition can purchase the package for $60 per user. Avaya Unified Communications All Inclusive is a single license that provides easy access to corporate communications from simple, consistent interfaces whether an employee is mobile, at home or remote offices, a hotel or at work.
The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises will be globally available in November.
Customers find a wide range of value in Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprise
MECCA Services (Mid-Eastern Council on Chemical Abuse), a community-based, not-for-profit organization with 11 locations in Iowa, offers substance abuse treatment and prevention programs and behavioral health services. The non-profit organization was looking to cut costs and gain more control than it had with its previous hosted solution but wanted to avoid a complex, hardware-intensive unified communications environment, and be ready to take advantage of end-to-end SIP. Working with NACR, an Avaya Platinum-certified channel partner, the organization implemented the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises.
"The biggest benefit is what you get for the money with Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises. All those applications in one place - it's remarkable," said Todd Yelland, IT director for MECCA. "The benefits of virtualization are pretty obvious. Coming from a hosted solution, this will give us a much lower total cost of ownership without the recurring monthly charge, and much more control, with the ease of management and use we need. In addition, the Avaya Aura solution gets us closer to that total SIP environment we see as the future."
US Helicopter, a subsidiary of Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company, has approximately 300 employees who perform helicopter maintenance and modification at its eight-building campus in Alabama. With a two-person IT staff and customers who include multiple civilian and military agencies, the need for simplicity, security and dependability is critical. Working with Avaya channel partner, Pruitt Communications, US Helicopter installed the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises Avaya Aura System Platform virtualization technology.
"We had the Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises with telephony, messaging and other applications up and running in a matter of hours - about a tenth of the time it used to take for traditional implementations," said Rob Dodson, IT manager, US Helicopter. "The solution is so easy to use and administer, we won't have to add more IT staff to support a new facility we're building on the other side of town. Users love the messaging and phones, plus if they move to a different building to work on a different project, they just take their phone with them and plug in."
Located in London, Beaumont Business Centres provides serviced executive offices for companies that need good professional accommodations on a short- or long-term basis. Its centres accommodate all size businesses, from large established firms to individuals just starting out. Their "sweet spot" of tenants are in the financial, legal and media communities and require the highest standard of communications technology in the configuration that suits the business best. The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises was recommended and delivered by Centrix, an Avaya accredited channel partner.
"The Avaya Aura midsize solution for enterprises ensured that our tenants would have the high reliability and modularity they require to conduct their business successfully, without the need for extensive administration and maintenance," said Christine Walcher, centre manager, Beaumont Business Centres. "Companies that use our business centres tend to make more use of technology, so the IP and desktop integration features provide extra value and help us make the centre even more appealing for prospective tenants. Avaya's advanced messaging and ‘follow me' features allow these businesses to stay at the top of their games and grow quickly. Additionally, the Avaya Aura System Platform virtualization technology means we don't have to run an entire server farm to meet the different needs of each tenant - we can effectively customize communications services to each company's specific needs. Avaya Aura is helping us maintain our solid reputation as a business centre partner of choice in the UK."
IDC Whitepaper: Virtualizing UC: Reaping the Benefits and Understanding the Issues for Real-Time Communications http://bit.ly/15m4TH
Video Overview: Avaya AuraTM System Platform Technology http://bit.ly/2YrC5e
Podcast: Avaya AuraTM- Innovation for Midsize Enterprises - http://bit.ly/8uESA
About Avaya
Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organizations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service, and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.