Avaya, Nokia to Develop FMC Technologies, Products

Mobile phone manufacturer Nokia and communications network maker Avaya Inc., who already have a standing collaboration agreement, next plan to tackle the development of products and services that enable fixed-to-mobile convergence (FMC) voice solutions in the enterprise. They will use open standards.

Enterprise FMC solutions integrate mobile and fixed-line networks so workers, regardless of location, can access information. FMC technologies use VoIP to hand off calls across wireline, Wi-Fi or 802.11, and cellular networks. Pyramid Research predicts FMC sales will reach $80 billion in 2009 and make up 6 percent of total communications spending worldwide.

The companies will create a dual-mode phone with SIP capabilities for making and receiving calls over mobile and wireless local area networks, on and off a company campus. The device will be set up so Nokia phone users can access Avaya Communication Manager’s telephony capabilities.

Avaya Communication Manager is Avaya's flagship IP telephony software.

"The Avaya application for Nokia devices will allow users to enjoy the convenience of one business number and one voice mailbox, and provide the ability to route mobile calls to enterprise IP networks, for better cost control and streamlined management,” says Jaakko Olkkonen, Nokia's general manager of enterprise voice solutions.

Avaya will sell the mobile application as part of its IP telephony portfolio through its enterprise channels; Nokia will sell the solution through its operator and other channels.