Skype and Avaya Sign Enterprise Deal

It's taken about a year, but gearmaker Avaya and consumer VoIP carrier Skype have finally inked their long-rumored partnership. Announced moments ago, the two phase deal will see Avaya customers firts given access to Skype Connect, the company's play at the IP-enabled PBX and Unified Communications (UC) market. Later, by the second half of 2011, the two companies will further integrate their communications platforms so that Avaya and Skype users can interact with one one another via presence, instant messaging, voice and video.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ and LUXEMBOURG–(Marketwire – September 29, 2010) – Avaya, a global leader in enterprise communications systems, software and services, and Skype today announced a strategic agreement to deliver innovative, real-time communications and collaboration solutions to businesses of all sizes. The multi-phase deal includes both go-to-market and an industry-first, joint technology integration that seeks to enable businesses to lower costs and expand how employees, customers, partners and suppliers communicate and collaborate with greater convenience and efficiency.

The first phase of the agreement

In the first phase of the agreement, Avaya customers in the U.S. market will have access to Skype Connect(TM), a product which adds Skype calling to IP-based enterprise communications systems, providing a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) communications channel between Avaya communications systems and Skype. Customers with Avaya Aura(TM) Session Manager or Avaya Aura SIP Enablement Server, CS1000, Avaya IP Office, or BCM systems can use Skype Connect to place calls globally for increased reach, while aiming to save on international calling. Enterprise-level security and features such as tracking, recording, regulatory compliance, and more are provided by the Avaya system.

Skype reported 124 million average monthly connected users during the second quarter of 2010. Now, Skype users can make inbound calls to Avaya customers in the U.S. market for free or at a low cost. Calls will be treated with Avaya’s routing, conferencing, messaging, mobility and contact center capabilities, as well as other collaboration services. For example, businesses can:

Establish Skype Click & Call buttons for inbound calling from Web sitesEstablish Skype Online Numbers for inbound calling from landline and mobile phonesRoute inbound calls from a Skype user to an enterprise extension

The second half of 2011

In the second half of 2011, Avaya and Skype plan to deliver integrated unified communications and collaboration solutions for enterprises within the U.S. The integration is intended to establish federation between Avaya Aura and Skype communications platforms and both user communities, so that an Avaya end-user and Skype user can engage and interact via presence, instant messaging, voice and video. A business, for example, could use Skype to access an Avaya-based contact center in a simple and highly integrated way to quickly and efficiently resolve customer service issues. The integrated solutions will also allow enterprise IT managers to manage and control the inter-connectivity between end users to meet their corporate IT policies.

“Avaya and Skype have been working along parallel paths to offer innovative, scalable, low cost, SIP-based communications to our respective markets,” said Alan Baratz, senior vice president, Avaya and president, Avaya Global Communications Solutions. “Now, the two companies will work together, striving to improve collaboration and customer service by federating Avaya and Skype solutions for a common user experience that delivers unique benefits for businesses and their customers who are Skype users.”