Avaya, Extreme Networks Collaborate to Give Small Businesses a 'Big Business' Converged Solution at a Small Business Price
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 12: Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV) a global leader in business communications applications, systems and services, and Extreme Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXTR), are working together to give small businesses the high quality and performance they need in a converged communication solution, at a price that meets small companies' requirements.
Avaya and Extreme Networks(R) will use their respective networks of authorized distributors and certified resellers in the U.S., enabling these channels to offer even the smallest business a complete, high quality networking solution that includes Avaya's flagship IP telephony solution for smaller firms and the same intelligent and highly available network edge switches Extreme Networks sells to big businesses.
The companies are offering a specially-priced package, with planned availability at the end of February that combines Avaya IP Office, an award- winning converged communications solution created for small businesses, with Extreme Networks' Summit(R) series of versatile network edge switches. Extreme Network switches provide bandwidth management to help ensure clear, consistent IP voice calls, simple management from a central location, and integrated security and service recovery features for business continuity.
Avaya distributors who are also distributors of Extreme Networks products in the U.S. will be offering special pricing on Extreme Networks Summit(R) 200 (24 and 48 ports), 300 (24 ports) and X450e (24 and 48 ports) series edge switches when purchased with an Avaya IP Office.
The combined offer gives even very small firms an easy, affordable way to take advantage of advanced, secure IP-based communications to improve productivity, customer service, and virtually any business process.
Today, Avaya also announced significant enhancements to its IP Office portfolio. "Small businesses know they can rely on their resellers for a complete networking solution of the highest quality. Now, with Avaya IP Office and Extreme Networks data switches available as a package through authorized resellers across the country, they can deliver a really powerful solution," said Geoffrey Baird, vice president and general manager, Appliances, Mobility and Small Systems Division, Avaya. "We are strong proponents of open standards, particularly because most companies' networks typically include elements from a number of vendors. As a result, Avaya's and Extreme Network's solutions, because they are based on open standards, provide businesses of all sizes the choice and flexibility they need to build the network that's right for their company."
The agreement enables SMBs to purchase a high quality, end-to-end converged communication system from authorized resellers at significantly reduced rates.
"Extreme Networks provides our customers with converged networking platforms that can deliver high availability, simple management and can give them valuable benefits that are tested and proven to work with Avaya's leading communication solutions," said Mike Seaton, vice president of strategic alliances for Extreme Networks. "It's the same high quality switch we sell to medium and large enterprises, and now it's available to smaller firms."
Extreme Networks is a platinum member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection program -- an initiative to develop, market and sell innovative third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology.
"Offering a total package to our small business customers is a huge differentiator," said Paul Hill, chief executive officer at TSG, a certified Avaya reseller. "Security and voice quality are typical concerns of our customers, whether they're a small or a large business. Now, with market- leading products from Avaya and Extreme Networks, we can offer the best of both worlds in both areas."
According to Jarrod Sipe, president, CEO, Matrix Technologies, an authorized Extreme Networks and Avaya reseller, in addition to security and voice quality, system reliability and ease of management are equally critical. "When our small business customers make the decision to install an IP-based system, they demand assurances of quality and reliability," he said. "With Avaya's IP Office, which brings 'big business' features and capabilities to companies of all sizes, and Extreme Networks' feature-rich switches now available to our SMB clients at an attractive price, we have an even more compelling package to offer those clients."
About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than one million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R). Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet protocol 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 Web site: http://www.avaya.com/.
About Extreme Networks Inc.
Extreme Networks designs, builds, and installs Ethernet infrastructure solutions that help solve the toughest business communications challenges. Our commitment to open networking sets us apart from the alternatives by delivering meaningful insight and unprecedented control to applications and services. We believe openness is the best foundation for growth, freedom, flexibility and choice. We focus on enterprises and service providers who demand high performance, converged networks that support voice, video and data over a wired and wireless infrastructure. Extreme Networks, BlackDiamond, Summit and ExtremeXOS are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Extreme Networks, Inc., in the United States and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective holders.
FCMN Contact: barbarab@avaya.com
Source: Avaya Inc.
CONTACT:
Media Relations: Barbara Burgess of Avaya Inc.,
+1-908-953-3348, barbarab@avaya.com, or Greg Cross of Extreme Networks,
+Inc., 1-408-579-3483, gcross@extremenetworks.com, or Investor
+Relations: Matt
Booher of Avaya, Inc., +1-908-953-7500, mbooher@avaya.com
Web site: http://www.avaya.com/
