Avaya adds Linux with IP Office 6.1 update

Avaya has announced updates to its IP Office communication platform that it claims will improve collaboration and productivity, and provide cost benefits for workers and IT staff in SMEs.

Chief among the IP Office 6.1 updates is a shift from Microsoft to Linux for the platform's operating system, which the firm said will reduce the total cost of ownership for SMEs.

Götz Tscharf, director of SME communications for EMEA at Avaya, said that the firm could also improve the installation time of the platform by up to 75 per cent.

"By offering something other than Microsoft we can remove licensing costs and therefore reduce the total cost of ownership and provide all the applications on a single DVD, which makes it a win-win for us and our customers," he said.

The updates also meet the growing shift to video by adding the ability to host multi-point HD video conferencing for up to four participants and integration capabilities with certain third-party SIP phones.

Tscharf said that increased video capabilities are vital to meet the growing use of video at companies of all sizes.

"Being able to host up to four participants is a big step forward as it means that SMEs are now able to do the same things as large enterprises, offering functionality that meets the trend for video we knew we had to offer in this update," he said.

Avaya has also added the ability to manage the software in up to 32 locations from a single IT centre.

"Multi-site management is important as it allows staff to set information access rights or add and remove staff from the system from a central location," said Tscharf.

There is also a customisable interface for the IP Office one-X Portal that lets users manage calls, messages and email, and drag and drop gadgets such as call logs and directories of users on to the portal.

Finally, new tools for contact centre reporting include the ability to analyse the types and location of calls coming into contact centres to build up a visual idea of the issues customers face in certain locations.

The product is available from next week, and Avaya said that pricing will depend on individual requirements.