For Immediate Release: 07-Jan-2003
GUILDFORD, UKAvaya (NYSE: AV), a leading global provider of communications
networks and services for businesses, today introduced Avaya IP
Office release 1.3, a new version of the company's "all-in-one"
system that enables small and medium-sized enterprises from two to
256 users to take advantage of the benefits of IP telephony.
iQual, one of Avaya's leading resellers in the small and
mid-sized market via distributor, Westcon, has undertaken
the first implementation of IP Office 1.3 for Animal
Friends, an ethical insurance business based across two sites
in West Sussex. "We launched IP Office to give small and medium-sized
enterprises access to the features and IP-based networking
capabilities of big-business communications systems," said David
Spiby, product strategy director at Avaya's Small and Medium
Business Solutions organisation. "With this new, global release, we
are giving our customers the enhanced features they have asked us
to provide: more capacity, improved security, greater call
coverage, better call tracking, and ability to connect with a
greater variety of Avaya IP phones." The Avaya IP Office Release 1.3 which includes new hardware
and software provides enhanced features to answer a variety of
business needs. The new hardware IP 412 expands the capacity of the system
by more than a third, and can now accommodate up to 256 users. In
addition, the version 1.3 software adds a host of new features,
including: - Support for up to two, simultaneous 64-party conferences or
multiple smaller conferences on the expanded hardware
platform.
- Security features for "rendez-vous meet me" conference calls,
with pin codes used to control access.
- A new VoiceMail Pro automated attendant feature (to dial by
name).
- Expanded interactive voice response (IVR) features with open
standards-based application program interfaces for developers.
- Improved "virtual private networking" capability, making it
easy to offer calling features to remote sites.
- Greater call coverage, with enhanced manager/secretary
operation that allows calls to be handled more efficiently.
- Better networking and interoperability, with QSig enhancements
that enable enterprises to have more networking options. This
includes the ability to integrate with other telecommunication
switches.
"The simplicity, power and affordability of Avaya's IP Office
have proved extremely attractive to businesses looking for an
⬜all-in-one' communication system," said Paul Blundell, managing
director of iQual. "The new software release makes an
already best-in-class product even better." iQual has installed IP Office 1.3 for Animal
Friends, an ethical insurance business with seven employees
based at its contact centre in Billingshurst. The business is using
IP telephony to link the contact centre with its second site in
Lancing as well as for remote working at other locations. Chris Fairfax, marketing director at Animal Friends commented:
"IP Office allows us to give a fast but effective service to over
150 customers who call every day with its call tracking and
messaging capability. In addition, it helps us identify customers
before their calls are connected to our agents so our staff can
provide useful information to them such as details on other
policies from home and contents to dog grooming insurance." Fairfax
added: "We are unlikely to miss any sales opportunities as all
customer voicemail messages out of our main office hours are
emailed to our second site so that they can dealt with
immediately." In future, Animal Friends plans to use IP Office to support
satellite TV marketing campaigns. Often, these require customer
service staff to work in the evenings to handle sales enquiries
generated by the campaigns. Using IP telephony, IP Office has the
flexibility for staff to access securely the network at home so
that they do not have to travel to the office. Also, this allows
the business to save on office operational costs. Revenue from Avaya's IP Office sales worldwide increased 22%
from third to fourth quarter in fiscal year 2002. Both the new hardware platform and software release are priced
from £799 in the UK. They are available through the following Avaya
authorised BusinessPartners in the UK: - Caltell
- Crane
- MTV
- Northamber's NV3 convergence subsidiary
- Westcon
About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for
more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including 90 percent of
the FORTUNE 500®. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a
world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP)
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 iQual
iQual is a reseller of converged voice and data communication
systems and is an authorised Avaya BusinessPartner. Based in
Dartford, Kent, it focuses on providing consultancy, supply,
integration and support of solutions to organisations in the UK.
iQual is recognised as a specialist in providing integrated Local
and Wide Area network design, with special emphasis on Voice Over
IP (VoIP) technology. With the increase of converged technology for
computers and telephones, iQual's strong computing background
enables it to design, install and support both small and large
organisations. With a high number of Microsoft Certified Solutions
Engineers (MCSE), Certified Novell Engineers (CNEs), iQual has
invested in the industry-recognised networking standards to deliver
robust and unique systems in conjunction with its clients and
business partners. For more information call iQual on 0870 1633320
or visit our Web site at http://www.iqual.co.uk About AFI
AFI is the trading name of Animal Friends Insurance Services Ltd,
a member of the General Insurance Standards Council and the first
not-for-profit insurance agency which donates all its net profits
to animal welfare charities and rescue projects. Set up for
consumers who would like to see the profits from their insurance
policies go to animal-related good causes, Animal Friends offers a
wide range of insurance products including home, motor and travel
insurance, term life, critical illness and private medical cover.
To date, AFI has worked with Care for the Wild International, the
Born Free Foundation, Compassion in World Farming, the National
Animal Welfare Home, the International League for the Protection of
Horses, the Marine Conservation Society, the Vegetarian Society,
the Mayhew Home, Animal Aid and the RSPCA Patcham Shelter, to name
but a few. | 
