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Skype Connect's go-to-market

By Jessica Davis  |  Print this article Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Skype and Avaya have introduced a plan to federate their two communications platforms to let users of Avaya talk to Skype and users of Skype talk to Avaya system users, marking the first time Skype's 124 million users will be able to connect with an enterprise unified communications system.


Skype Connect will be available through Avaya channel partners and from Avaya direct sales in October.

Earlier this month Avaya announced a lineup of video conferencing solutions including the Avaya Flare Experience, software for video conferencing, and a desktop tablet device for video conferencing. In addition Avaya named a new general manager of video conferencing for the company, Joe Sigrist, formerly of Polycom.

"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, in a statement. "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."

 

 
 
 
 
Jessica Davis covers the channel for eWeek and Channel Insider. Her technology journalism career began well before anyone heard of the World Wide Web and has included stints at Infoworld, Electronic News/EDN, and the Philadelphia Business Journal. Her work has also appeared on CNN and Forbes.com. She has covered hardware, software and networking, as well as the business side of technology. She has won several journalism awards, including a national ASBPE award for best staff-written column, and was named Marketing Computers hardest working tech journalist on their inaugural list of top tech journalists. Jessica can be reached at jessica.davis@ziffdavisenterprise.com