OVERLAND PARK, Kan., and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., US - Sprint (NYSE:S) and Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV) have announced a joint agreement for development and delivery of hosted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony wireline and wireless services for the North American marketplace. The agreement allows the companies to jointly develop, market and support new and differentiated VoIP services to business customers as a full-suite portfolio ranging from customer-premise solutions to network-based solutions.
IP enablement is a key strategic initiative for Sprint, which uses its extensive wireline and wireless network assets to serve the converged voice and data communications needs of enterprise customers. The relationship with Avaya helps Sprint build on its existing managed IP Telephony and VoIP VPN capabilities and advances the next phase of Sprint's VoIP strategy - network convergence - which began with the conversion of the Sprint voice core to an IP infrastructure and continues with the integration of the Sprint Global IP network and the Nationwide Sprint PCS Network.
"Sprint and Avaya have a shared communications convergence vision," explained Randy Ritter, vice president of marketing for Sprint. "We chose Avaya based on its leadership in IP Telephony and business communications applications in addition to the value of its hosted solutions capabilities. The synergies in core competencies related to network-based IP services and applications represent a potent combination with significant customer benefits, both for network migration and IP enablement."
Under the agreement, Avaya will work with Sprint to offer Avaya's feature-rich portfolio of IP communications applications including IP Telephony, Wireless Integration and Messaging in a hosted model. Sprint will supply customers with hosted IP telephony and wireless services and applications on a per-seat, per-month basis, enabling companies to implement advanced communications technology flexibly according to business growth requirements, with lower infrastructure investments and maintenance responsibilities. "The Sprint-Avaya partnership leverages the expertise of two market leaders to provide the end user with a single point of contact for enabling their IP telephony migration strategy," remarked Denzil Samuels, vice president and general manager of Avaya Global Managed Services Division.
"Avaya is committed to providing enterprises with flexible ways to take advantage of the benefits and efficiencies of IP telephony. Coupling the strength of the Sprint global IP network and Avaya Hosted Solutions provides customers with access to advanced communications applications and services in a 'pay as you go' model."
The first offer the companies will deliver is Sprint Hosted Messaging SM , which is anticipated to be available in the fourth quarter of 2005, followed in 2006 with Hosted IP Telephony and Wireless Integration. Sprint Hosted Messaging uses a secure, fully managed platform to provide advanced voice messaging functions on a per-seat, per-month basis, enabling companies of all sizes to take advantage of full-featured messaging that is normally associated with large enterprise systems.
For companies that are migrating to IP telephony or upgrading existing messaging systems, Sprint Hosted Messaging offers a path to next-generation networking with lower upfront capital investment and reduced risk of technological obsolescence. "The Sprint-Avaya partnership offers a unique value to the business customer," said William Stofega, Research Manager, VoIP Services with IDC. "Customers will be able to receive communications services, a best-in-class network platform and business applications from a single source, without complex negotiations or administration."
About Sprint Nextel Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone.
For more information, visit www.sprint.com . About Avaya Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than one million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500 ® . Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol 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
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