Enhanced collaboration products to help MENA SMEs

Avaya, a company dealing in business collaboration systems, software and services, have unveiled new product releases, customers and innovations in the small and medium business market at a global press, analyst and partner event.

These announcements include the new version of Avaya’s communications solution for this market – Avaya IP Office 7.0 – which drives improved savings, user experiences, and collaboration for a new generation of entrepreneurs, early-stage companies, and mid-size firms.

New Avaya IP Office 7.0 capabilities

Avaya IP Office 7.0 completes the integration of Nortel Enterprise Solutions (NES) IP and digital phones into the IP Office platform (NES was acquired by Avaya, Dec 2009). This integration now enables approximately 14 million NES users to gain Avaya IP Office’s collaboration capabilities, and can drive 40 to 60% in savings for NES customers by enabling them to retain existing phones when upgrading to Avaya IP Office.

This upgrade can be accelerated and simplified by a new Data Migration Tool that lets partners transfer a business’ existing data (i.e. voicemails, phone extensions) to their new systems, maintaining productivity without interruption.

Avaya IP Office 7.0 also delivers a portfolio of devices for multimedia collaboration, including a new colour touchscreen desktop phones that let users scroll through contacts or manage visual voicemail at the touch of a finger.

Additionally, new conference room phones offer patented wide-band audio, call recording via SD card, and fast USB connectivity to a laptop for temporary set-ups. These are part of a portfolio that offers a range of advanced communications, such as HD videoconferencing via desktop PC with no added equipment required.

Forthcoming capabilities for SMEs

Figures suggest that up to 60% of small and mid-size businesses state they use, are interested in, or are planning to use collaboration software.  At today’s event, Avaya previewed forthcoming innovations in collaboration for this market, including the Avaya Flare Experience on mobile devices and tablets for Avaya IP Office. This functionality will integrate the distinctive touch and swipe interface of Flare on third-party devices, providing simplified mobile access to integrated directory, unified voicemail, instant messaging and more.

Sarwan Singh, General Manager Prologix LLC, Dubai, said:  “Our experience with installing the solution has also been very positive. We have been able to install the system in less than an hour. Our customers have received the new IP Office 7.0 with a lot of enthusiasm and we are also receiving interest from existing IP Office customers to upgrade their systems to release 7.0.”