Avaya Extends IP With Enterprise Connect

Trying to tap into the enterprise need to tie a far-flung work force into a uniform communications system, Avaya Communications Inc. has rebundled a number of its network infrastructure and application technologies under a new brand name, Enterprise Connect Solutions.

The packaging illustrates Avayas push toward expanding IP communications and converged voice/data networking throughout enterprises of all sizes. Based largely on Avayas MultiVantage Communications Applications, Enterprise Connect Solutions gives branch sites the same telephony features available at a companys headquarters.

BOC Edwards, which processes semiconductors and other industrial materials, recently needed to integrate new offices into its corporate network following a number of acquisitions.

The company, a division of The BOC Group plc., chose to connect the new sites to the headquarters with Avaya technology because it allowed them to give all employees the same functions affordably, said Martin Cox, technology services manager for BOC Edwards, in Wilmington, Mass.

"We can now leverage every single software feature in Wilmington anywhere else in the network," Cox said. "Distributing the [call center] agents around the United States is something we wouldnt have done before."

The branch office work force 53 percent of U.S. employees work in branches or telecommuting sites Estimated 3.6 million branch offices supported by U.S.-based businesses Source: InStat/MDR

A longtime Avaya customer, BOC Edwards has converted its legacy PBX systems into hybrid IP systems at some of its large sites, including the U.S. headquarters in Wilmington. The company deployed full IP systems at seven smaller sites with 20 to 70 employees and provided IP phones at a dozen very small sites with only a few employees, Cox said. Altogether, BOC Edwards uses approximately 400 IP phones, but all 700 U.S. employees use the same communications system.

"We could seamlessly integrate stand-alone PBXes or hybrid setups, or we could install a pure IP solution," Cox said. "In terms of functionality and administration, its seamless. Everybody in the U.S., regardless of platform, is using the central phone system here."

Integrating the new sites into a single communications system not only gave all employees the same tools and conveniences, but it also gave the network administrators a way to manage the far-reaching system uniformly from a central location.