Avnet awarded new contract to distribute full Avaya product portfolio

Avnet Technology Solutions, the solutions distributor and an operating group of Avnet, Inc., has been awarded a new contract by Avaya International Sales Limited to distribute its full product portfolio in the UK.  Avaya is a global provider of enterprise communications systems including unified communications, contact centres and related services.
 
"Avnet has long been a prime distributor of Nortel Enterprise Solutions and with the recent acquisition of Nortel by Avaya this is a perfect opportunity for business partners to access the full integrated Avaya product portfolio," said Laura Harman, Sales Director at Avnet Technology Solutions UK.  "This new contract means that business partners have the opportunity to deliver Avaya branded solutions across voice, data and now with Avaya Aura unified communications, all supported by the technical expertise and security of Avnet."
 
With a focus specifically on the channel, Avnet is well positioned to work with business partners experienced in either data or telecommunication infrastructures, and to bridge any gaps in knowledge by the transfer of skills across both disciplines. Tony McNish recently appointed as Avaya Business Manager at Avnet commented, "Through a series of information days, briefings and workshops we will provide the technical knowledge required for data partners to sell telecommunications and vice-versa.  For those companies already involved in providing both technologies for large integrated projects Avnet's expertise in delivering solutions, not just distribution, will enable business partners to add additional value to deals to benefit end user customers."
 
Avaya Aura is a core communications platform supporting unified communications and contact centre solutions for midsize to large enterprises.  Laura Harman, continued, "Avaya Aura simplifies complex networks and reduces infrastructure costs. Avnet's experience in unified communications means that business partners looking at this technology for the first time will have the added advantage of working with a distributor capable of helping them to take this and other new Avaya solutions to the market.  Avnet looks forward to supporting the newly shaped Avaya partner community to everyone's benefit."
 
Lee Shorten, Managing Director UK & Ireland at Avaya concluded, "Avaya puts partners at the heart of its business, in order to serve customers even more successfully.  We believe Avnet's strong background in Nortel data solutions will benefit voice resellers to build effective converged solutions. With the technology now available and Avnet's expertise and knowledgeable technical resource, partners will be able to offer complete, end-to-end, unified communications including applications, voice and data solutions.  Powerful combinations all round."
 
Avnet intends to double the size of its existing Avaya business team in the next six months.  The new contract extends to the end of December 2010 and covers the UK.