Avaya, IBM Expand UC Integration

Avaya Inc. announced Monday it has expanded its work with IBM Corp. to integrate applications for the two companies’ unified communications and collaboration portfolios.

The effort initially focuses on deeper integration of the IBM Lotus Sametime with Avaya Aura to simplify the user experience and so IT departments can improve control, security and operating expenses. Avaya Aura provides a real-time communications platform with an open, standards-based architecture that allows Lotus customers to incorporate and integrate a range of communications applications.

Avaya announced in mid-December enhancements to a packaged application for Avaya Agile Communications Environment (ACE) that integrate voice in the latest release of IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus Sametime. Using Avaya ACE 2.3, employees can click-to-call and see telephony presence from within Lotus Sametime 8.5.1 while using desk phones from Avaya or other vendors. In addition, Avaya Aura Application Enablement Services, Avaya Aura Conferencing and Avaya Meeting Exchange also can integrate with the latest version of Lotus Sametime 8.5.1.

Avaya also leverages IBM Lotus solutions in the new Avaya Flare Experience, which will allow employees to access Lotus Notes e-mail, contacts, calendar and instant messaging. The Avaya Flare Experience is software that provides access to multivendor, real-time communications and collaboration tools.

“These recent enhancements further strengthen the relationship between Avaya and IBM that has been in place since 2001,” said Sandy Priezler, vice president, SI/SP Channels, Avaya. “Our continued focus on development, collaboration and services enable us to take advantage of shared technologies, platforms and roadmaps. Our combined strengths in solutions are helping clients worldwide to increase productivity and improve time to ROI.”

Avaya and IBM already have integrated solutions in the IP telephony, UC and contact center arenas.