ORLANDO, Fla. - Avaya, a global leader in business communications systems, software and services, announced a broader effort with IBM to integrate applications from the two companies’ unified communications and collaboration portfolios. The new integration leverages the IBM Lotus user experience and the Avaya Aura® core communications platform to provide customers with a streamlined, easy-to-use interface backed by industry-leading real-time communications features, quality and reliability.

Avaya Aura provides a real-time communications platform with an open, standards-based architecture that allows Lotus customers to incorporate and integrate a wide range of communications applications. Avaya Aura addresses the typical limitations set by single-vendor unified communications and collaboration solutions. In reality, companies need a highly flexible, centralized environment that can encompass new and existing multi-vendor solutions that meet their specific business needed.

The integration initially focuses on deeper integration of the IBM Lotus Sametime collaborative user experience with the rich set of Avaya Aura communications services. By integrating Lotus Sametime with Avaya Aura, employees have a more powerful yet simplified user experience, and IT can improve its control, security and operating expenses. This integrated user experience is easily accessible from a wide ranging set of applications for in-context access to unified communications and collaboration solutions.

Avaya recently announced enhancements to a packaged application for Avaya Agile Communications Environment (ACE)™ that integrates voice in the latest release of IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus Sametime. Using Avaya ACE 2.3, employees can click-to-call and see telephony presence from within Lotus Sametime 8.5.1 while using deskphones from Avaya or other vendors. In addition, Avaya Aura Application Enablement Services, Avaya Aura Conferencing and Avaya Meeting Exchange can also integrate with the latest version of Lotus Sametime 8.5.1 for a more streamlined, productive collaboration experience.

Avaya also leverages IBM Lotus solutions in the new Avaya Flare™ Experience, which will allow employees to access Lotus Notes email, contacts, calendar and instant messaging through this unique, easy to use, communications experience. The Avaya Flare Experience is groundbreaking software that provides quick and easy access to multi-vendor, real-time communications and collaboration tools.

“These recent enhancements further strengthen the relationship between Avaya and IBM that has been in place since 2001,” said Sandy Priezler, vice president, SI/SP Channels, Avaya. “Our continued focus on development, collaboration and services enable us to take advantage of shared technologies, platforms and roadmaps. Our combined strengths in solutions are helping clients worldwide to increase productivity and improve time to ROI.”

Working with IBM, Avaya has created integrated solutions that span the Avaya portfolio including IP Telephony, Unified Communications and Contact Center solutions.  In addition to the integration of unified communications and collaboration portfolios, Avaya and IBM have worked to bring enhanced value to customers through the following:

• Contact Center – Avaya Contact Center solutions integrated with IBM business consulting and contact center optimization services
• Speech Self-Service – Avaya Voice Portal integrated with IBM WebSphere Voice Server and Application Server
• IP Telephony – Avaya IP Telephony integrated with IBM Global Technical Services (GTS) and Service Product Lines (SPLs)
• Vertical industry solutions in financial services, government and public safety.