Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution Integrates Desktop, Multipoint and Group Video Conferencing from Polycom

Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution integrates Avaya Communication Manager software for IP telephony with desktop video conferencing, group video conferencing, and multipoint network solutions from Polycom, an Avaya global strategic alliance partner. Using a single IP network for voice and video makes collaboration simpler and more effective for workers, who can easily mix voice and video as needed in their daily communications.

The integrated solution also creates a unified communication environment for network administrators enabling video conferencing across multiple parties using various communications devices through shared directories, standardized dialing plans and common authentication and authorization procedures.

One of the first companies to evaluate the new Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution has been HarperCollins Publishers, a major book publisher based in New York City. "We are a global company and we continually look for technologies that can improve the ways in which our employees communicate with each other," said Neil Baxter, Chief Technology Officer, HarperCollins Publishers. "During our testing we were impressed with Avaya Video's standardized dialing, user authentication, and the easy-to-use softphone interface which, when used in conjunction with a Polycom multipoint bridge, can show multiple participants on the screen simultaneously. Delivering cost-effective data, video, and telephony to the desktop on a single resilient IP based architecture is a direction we are heading, and our initial findings suggest that the Avaya / Polycom solution is a solid step forward in realizing that goal."

"The new solutions offer many advantages to businesses and workers," said Micky Tsui, Avaya vice president and general manager, Communications Systems Division. "With single number dialing for video and voice, and call control functions that make video easier to use and content easier to share, the Avaya - Polycom solution makes video an integral part of a communications applications suite."

Avaya Desktop Video Edition 2.0 integrates Polycom PVX™ desktop video technology into Avaya IP Softphone, enabling a PC or laptop computer to operate as a fully functioning office telephone and video conferencing station, with the ability to switch easily between modes of communication.

The Avaya IP softphone interface incorporates onscreen presence information to show worker and device availability, and includes access to instant messaging and Microsoft Outlook to enable the right collaboration at the right time. Video simply becomes another communications option on the Avaya IP Softphone screen, offering users the same communications features for video - such as hold, transfer and mute - as they are accustomed to using for voice communications. Up to four video appearances can be shown on a single Avaya Desktop Video screen.

The Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution operates with Polycom's VSX™ group videoconferencing family, enabling the endpoints to register and authenticate with Avaya Communications Manager, taking full advantage of the Avaya telephony features. At the same time, users can continue to enjoy advanced Polycom features such as H.264 video, Siren14™ audio, People+Content™ and the internal multipoint option.

In addition, Avaya Communication Manager now has native support for the Polycom MGC™, the leading standards-based multimedia bridge for group and multipoint video conferencing, which enables callers anywhere in the world using any communications device and protocol to be on the same secure conference, instantaneously. Avaya Communications Manager acts as the gatekeeper for the Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution, providing user registration, call routing, unified dial plans and telephony features for all video and audio endpoints supported on the Polycom MGC.

"We've conducted research with hundreds of IT executives, and the findings are consistent: More widespread adoption of enterprise video requires standards-based solutions that integrate with existing systems, are easy use, and cost-effective to manage," said Robin Gareiss, executive vice president of Nemertes Research. "End users want a unified interface that makes it easy to launch a voice, video or other collaborative call, while the IT staff wants a consolidated network-management platform to effectively monitor and troubleshoot all types of communication. Avaya and Polycom's solution meets these challenges and will evolve as an organization's communications requirements grow."

Leveraging a single infrastructure that is easier to deploy and manage, the solution simplifies integration of video across a multi-site enterprise, lowers the total cost of ownership, and is highly scalable.

Based on established industry standards for communications, including Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), H.323, H.320 and 802.11, and able to accommodate more than 750,000 IP video stations on a single network, the solution supports flexible implementation and enables companies to take advantage of the capabilities and management efficiencies offered by existing communications (both video and telephony) networks and software. Avaya Integrated Management provides simplified and cost effective administration of voice and video across the IP network.

"Avaya is a longstanding Polycom strategic partner in video telephony and this is a critical milestone in our joint development of IP- based, next generation, video telephony conferencing and collaboration solutions," said Ed Ellett, senior vice president and general manager of Video Communications at Polycom. "Now the best video experience is available to our joint customers through Avaya's familiar softphone interface; whether you are calling desktop to desktop, desktop to conference room or across multiple sites and devices. Video collaboration is now as simple as making a phone call."