Avaya and Extreme Networks Team to Offer Joint Small Biz Convergence Package

Avaya and Extreme Networks have disclosed that they are working on a joint distribution deal to extend their sales to small-business customers that want to implement IP telephony. The networking vendors plan to pool their reseller and distributor networks to deliver a converged communications offering to SMBs that combines Avaya's cornerstone voice-over-IP platform, typically sold to small firms, and Extreme Networks' sophisticated edge switches, which are usually installed at large businesses.

The joint solution, which will be available at the end of this month, includes Avaya IP Office and Extreme Summit switches. An Extreme spokesperson says the package will promote the kind of enterprise-class call clarity and reliability that smaller firms desire at a price set to appeal to those same firms. The vendors claim that simplified, central management and integrated security and service recovery capabilities will help the firms maintain operational continuity.

Avaya also is making some enhancements to IP Office, including new remote diagnostics and a capability that will make it possible for companies to tap into low-cost call services from service providers delivering SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)-based trunking. These services can reduce costs by as much as 50 percent. The Avaya solution also includes multisite hot-desking functions employees can use to log into any phone on their corporate network and receive calls and voicemail. IP Office features multisite hunt groups that let workers at any site on the network be part of the same call-routing group.

Resellers of Avaya products that also distribute Extreme gear promise special pricing on the Extreme Summit 200 (24 ports and 48 ports), 300 (24 ports) and X450e (24 and 48 ports) edge switches to customers also buying Avaya IP Office.