Ernst & Young consults Avaya on converged communications system for new UK Headquarters – one of the largest national IP telephony implementations

Guildford, UK - Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), a leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses, today announced a multi-million pound contract with Ernst & Young UK, one of the largest professional services firms in the world. Ernst & Young's new London-based UK headquarters has been equipped with a converged communications implementation to facilitate flexible working, supported by Avaya's flagship IP telephony software, Communication Manager.

One of the largest IP telephony implementations in the UK, it includes services, phone conferencing and IP phones that underpin communication for over 3,600 employees and provides greater flexibility in communication for its employees. The system allows Ernst & Young to reduce traditional communication costs such as capital and on-going management expenditure. Also, the adaptability of the network will allow Ernst & Young to add software applications such as IP softphone which enable phone calls to be made from a laptop to support mobile communication.

Ernst & Young has consolidated eight offices into the new open plan site at More London next to the Thames. The company will use IP telephony to increase efficiencies in communication between employees on-site and with customers. Staff can now log in at any desk in the building and two other London offices, and receive phone calls made to their main office number.

The new system allows for secure voice communication by encrypting phone calls, ensuring they cannot be intercepted and that critical customer information is protected. Also, it alerts users to security breaches such as any one trying to intercept a phone call. This level of security is achieved with Avaya Communication Manager software which helps organisations evolve to IP telephony in a multi-vendor, open standards-based environment. The encryption features protection against the emerging threat of ‘voice hacking'.

Clive Sawkins, vice-president for Avaya in the UK and Ireland said: "As one of the largest implementations of IP telephony in the UK, the Ernst & Young agreement is a milestone in the acceptance of IP telephony by ‘big business'. The efficiencies of having just one system, in terms of reliability, security and maintenance costs are becoming more widely recognised. The system implemented at Ernst & Young's offices provides opportunities to add more applications to the IP infrastructure and increase mobility further.'

The new converged, single IP telephony communication system replaces two previous separate networks for voice and data. This reduces cost for Ernst & Young by only having to support and maintain one system. Also, further economies of scale in flexibility and cost of communication are anticipated as and when the firm rolls out IP telephony to its other UK offices.

About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services. Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications – and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services – Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya website: http://www.avaya.com .

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young, a global leader in professional services, operates with the highest levels of integrity, quality and professionalism to provide solutions for clients. Its 110,000 people in more than 130 countries around the globe are committed to restoring the public's trust in professional services firms and the quality of financial reporting by getting the right information, making the right judgements and taking the right actions – every time, on every engagement, everywhere in the world. Ernst & Young provides services based on financial, transaction and risk management knowledge in audit, tax and corporate finance. The firm also provides legal services in those parts of the world where permitted. A collection of Ernst & Young's views on a variety of business issues can be found at www.ey.com/perspectives. Ernst & Young refers to all the members of the global Ernst & Young organization, including the US firm of Ernst & Young LLP.


Contacts:
Avaya, Inc.
Scott Horne — Media relations
908 953 3476 office
908 625 5361 mobile
horne@avaya.com

Daniel Bausor
Media relations
44 (0) 1483 308992
dbausor@avaya.com

Matthew Booher –
Investor relations
908 953 7500
mbooher@avaya.com


This press release was distributed through GroupWeb Emailwire.com. For more information on press release distribution, go to http://www.emailwire.com.