For Immediate Release: 08-Jun-2006
Media Relations:
Jonathan Varman
908 953 6432
jvarman@avaya.com
Investor Relations:
Matt Booher
Investor Relations
908 953 7500
mbooher@avaya.com
BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV)
today unveiled its next generation of Internet protocol
(IP) phones that deliver unparalleled simplicity and
faster access to a vast array of advanced applications,
transforming the way people think about, use and hear
voice communications. The new Avaya one-X™ Deskphone
Edition is designed to enhance user experiences through
more intelligent access to intelligent communications.
These advanced business phones are more functional and
flexible, and as easy to navigate as a cell phone, providing
a better way for enterprise users to communicate, get
information and be more productive in their work.
"With more businesses facing information overload, it's
the clarity of voice communications that cuts through
the clutter and gets things done," said Geoffrey Baird,
vice president and general manager, Communications Appliances
Division, Avaya. "We've made voice communications more
valuable for businesses by providing richer user experiences,
simplified access to features, and application enhancements
that expand the possibilities of what a phone can do.
With one-X Deskphone Edition, Avaya delivers phones
designed by users, for users, and which help raise enterprise
communications to a whole new level."
The phones are the latest addition to the Avaya one-X
family of products that give users access to the full
range of IP applications with greater simplicity, consistency
and control across Avaya devices and interfaces. The
one-X family, launched in March, also includes the Avaya
one-X Mobile Edition, Quick Edition and Desktop Edition.
One organization that relies on phones for their vital
work is LifeNet, the nation's largest nonprofit, full-service
organ donation agency and tissue banking system. Every
day, time is of the essence for LifeNet. LifeNet is
using the consistent reliability and easily accessible
features of the one-X Deskphone Edition to speed communications
and donations.
"The organ donation process begins with a phone
conversation, and we need to stay in constant touch
with hospitals and doctors throughout the time-sensitive
process of saving lives," said Russell Stewart,
information systems technical support manager, LifeNet.
"Avaya's new IP phones have made it easier for
us to effectively manage every step of the donation
process, including urgent communications with donor
families, recipients, and organ transporters."
Stewart noted the phone's mobility features contribute
to LifeNet's effectiveness in serving patients by instantly
notifying LifeNet employees, wherever they are, when
a donation is ready.
"With the increasing adoption of IP telephony
platforms, developers can now focus on designing phones
that leverage capabilities inherent in the technology,"
said Jay Lassman, research director, Gartner. "Enhanced
access to a broad range of familiar and advanced features
can provide better communications experiences to workers,
and make a positive impact on business processes."
User-Designed IP Phones Deliver Simplified Access, High
Fidelity Audio and Flexibility to Grow with Future Needs
In redesigning and building its new IP phones for businesses,
Avaya set out to create a phone designed by users and
for users. In a survey conducted by Avaya, 85 percent
of people who used the phone said it could have a positive
impact on productivity and save costs by reducing mistakes
and dropped calls, while 90 percent said the phones
could save time through easy access to mobility features,
reducing phone tag. Ninety-six percent said time savings
could result due to the phone’s ability to quickly find
contact information.
Simplified access to both familiar and advanced capabilities
is delivered through an intuitive context-sensitive
screen that presents different information depending
on what the user is doing, whether he is making a phone
call, retrieving messages or checking contacts. This
gives fast and easy access to the telephony features
of Avaya Communication Manager – the company’s industry-leading
IP telephony software – and other important capabilities,
such as Call Logs, which allow quick dialing of missed
or recently dialed calls.
Enhanced capabilities, such as multi-party conferencing
and mobility options, change what is possible with a
desktop phone. On a multi-party conference, for instance,
the user can now see all of their teleconference participants
on the screen, and scroll through them to add, drop
or mute individual people. Mobility applications let
a user bridge their IP phone with their cell phone with
one touch, providing constant connectivity and one-number
access for those on the go.
The phone is simplified further by providing users
with step-by-step directions for accessing many features,
helping to make phone operation easier and reducing
errors and dropped calls. This includes guides for conferencing,
transferring, and handling multiple calls simultaneously.
Other key capabilities of the Avaya one-X Deskphone
Edition are:
- Expansion With Intelligent Applications: An integrated
Wireless Markup Language (WML) interface enables the
phones to be expanded with new Avaya and third-party
applications, redefining what a phone can do. The
phone can be used as an employee time clock for reporting
number of hours worked. Companies can conduct employee
surveys using the phone interface and display graphical
results in real-time. These and other applications
– including searchable enterprise-wide contact directories,
broadcast alerts, and industry-specific applications
– help developers make the most of the phone’s Web
browser display.
- High-Fidelity Sound: Higher quality wideband audio
provides enhanced sound quality in the phone’s handset,
headset or speakerphone. This is achieved through
a combination of the latest VoIP chip technology,
acoustic design, and support of the standard G.722
wideband audio codec. This unique approach delivers
a more natural, clearer sound, making for more productive
conversations across national, cultural and organizational
boundaries.
- Investment Protection With a Flexible Platform:
As customer needs expand, the phone’s modular architecture
extends investment protection by enabling the addition
of new technologies as communications evolves. In
the future, Gigabit Ethernet capabilities will make
for more flexible network connections, Bluetooth will
provide “hands free” communication, and a USB interface
will allow expansion to other capabilities, such as
text entry using a keyboard. Phones will also be able
to be customized with new color faceplates, including
company logos.
Details on the Avaya one-X Deskphone Edition for the
9600 Series of IP Phones
The Avaya one-X Deskphone Edition models have been
developed to meet the needs of a wide range of users.
The users were categorized into four profiles – ranging
from power communicators who are often mobile, to those
who require only basic telephony functions. The phones
have an international design to serve users around the
world, and screen prompts will be available in 14 different
languages.
Avaya one-X Deskphone Edition is comprised of a new
9600 Series of IP telephones. The first two one-X Deskphone
Edition phones will be generally available in July 2006,
with other models to be introduced in January 2007.
The phone models include:
- 9630 IP Telephone – For power-communicators where
the phone is essential to their job and they must
stay connected, even while mobile, offering a combination
of functionality and ease-of-use. Available in July
2006.
- 9620 IP Telephone – For those working with several
communications alternatives daily. This phone serves
as another communications tool on the desk for simple,
everyday tasks. Available in July 2006.
- 9650 IP Telephone – For people who use phones as
a continuous part of their job, including those who
manage their own calls and the calls of others. Examples
are busy executive assistants or those involved in
heavy customer interaction. Available in early 2007.
- 9610 IP Telephone – Provided to those in lobbies
and public locations where simplicity in making calls
is essential. Available in early 2007.
Further variations of models will be available to address
specific user needs.
In addition, Avaya offers a wideband audio headset and
a 24-button LCD module to support the Avaya one-X Deskphone
Edition IP phones. Also forthcoming are Bluetooth accessories,
a SIP software release, and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
For more details on the phones, and to obtain photos,
please visit www.avaya.com/media.
About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications
networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide,
including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®. Focused
on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader
in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) Telephony
systems and communications software applications and
services.
Driving the convergence of voice and data communications
with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive
worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage
existing and new networks to achieve superior business
results. For more information visit the Avaya website:
www.avaya-apac.com
About the FIFA World Cup and Avaya
As the Official Convergence Communication provider for
the FIFA World Cup 2006™, Avaya is providing a champion
communications network for the World’s largest sporting
event. The converged network – that combines voice and
data on the same infrastructure– will connect the 12
host stadiums, the international media centres in Munich,
Berlin and Dortmund and the FIFA headquarters in Berlin.
Players, coaches, volunteers and fans alike will benefit
from the Avaya network that will be instrumental in
player and journalist accreditation, the reporting of
results, material tracking, accommodation confirmations,
transportation, and ticketing among other critical functions.
With an estimated 45,000 network connections, 30,000
network devices and over 15 terabytes (or 15,000,000,000
bytes) of data, it is the largest converged communication
network ever built for a sporting event.
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