NETGEAR, AVAYA bring advanced Internet Telephony to small businesses

NETGEAR Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically advanced, branded networking products, announced it would team with Avaya Inc. (NYSE:AV), a leading global provider of business communications applications, systems and services, to define and deliver an Internet protocol (IP) telephony solution for small businesses of 20 users or less. 

The solution leverages the experience of both companies in the small and mid-sized business market. NETGEAR delivers advanced and highly reliable data networking products to millions of small and medium businesses worldwide.  Avaya, in turn, has supported more than 39 million small and mid-sized business users around the globe with its advanced communications systems during the past decade alone. 

Based on proven phones, gateways, routers and switches, the new packaged IP telephony solution from NETGEAR and Avaya will be easy to set up and to administer. Small businesses will be able to take advantage of the cost-savings associated with Internet telephony and access a range of new advanced communications capabilities. 

The solution will feature the award-winning Avaya Quick Edition peer-to-peer technology, which holds down costs by eliminating the need for a central phone server or PBX. Instead, Avaya Quick Edition phones contain all the software needed for business-class communications. In addition to call hold, transfer, paging and other basic functions, the phones provide advanced features such as auto attendant, conferencing, a single inbox for voice and e-mail messages, and the ability to have office calls ring on a mobile phone. 

NETGEAR will provide the network infrastructure for the solution, including Smart Switches with power over Ethernet (PoE) capability that can remotely power Avaya phones. When supported by an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), these switches can continue to power Avaya Quick Edition during a power outage. Built-in quality of service capabilities and a virtual local area network (VLAN) help to maintain good call quality, even during times of data traffic congestion. A NETGEAR VPN firewall provides a secure and seamless connection for teleworkers who need to link back to the main office.  

The NETGEAR-Avaya solution will be designed and bundled for easy deployment by value-added data resellers who are unfamiliar with IP telephony. Simple design templates and application notes will make it quick and easy to configure and install without any specialised training. With remote monitoring tools that support the solution, resellers will be able to offer cost-effective service options that can help businesses ensure reliable operation.

“Today’s small businesses are looking for easy-to-manage solutions that offer big-business functionality at an affordable price,” said Linda Dotts, general manager of peer-to-peer, Avaya. “By pairing Avaya’s experience in intelligent communications applications with NETGEAR’s experience in business-class networking, we can offer an end-to-end solution that gives smaller firms the tools they need to operate more efficiently and effectively, without adding an administrative burden.”

“Together Avaya and NETGEAR will deliver the ease-of-use and management, reliability and feature-set that are so critical to the unique requirements of small businesses and the resellers who support them,” added Vivek Pathela, vice president of product marketing at NETGEAR. “Our solution will be fast and easy to install and is expected to accelerate the growth of IP telephony throughout the small business sector.” 

NETGEAR is the newest Platinum-level member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection program, an initiative to develop, market and sell innovative third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology and extend the value of a company’s investment in its network.  

About NETGEAR®, Inc.
NETGEAR (Nasdaq: NTGR) designs technologically advanced, branded networking products that address the specific needs of small and medium business and home users. The Company’s product offerings enable users to share Internet access, peripherals, files, digital multimedia content and applications among multiple personal computers and other Internet-enabled devices. NETGEAR is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.netgear.com.

About Avaya
Avaya delivers Intelligent Communications solutions that help companies transform their businesses to achieve marketplace advantage. More than 1 million businesses worldwide, including more than 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®, use Avaya solutions for IP Telephony, Unified Communications, Contact Centers and Communications-Enabled Business Processes. Avaya Global Services provides comprehensive service and support for companies, small to large. For more information visit the Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com.