ChannelWorx to take Avaya into the IP Office

ChannelWorx has signed on to distribute Avaya’s data and IP telephony offering, IP Office.

The value-added distributor has been charged with harnessing its data and networking partners to grow Avaya’s reach in the SMB and enterprise markets.

The company joins current distributor IPL, which provides reach via its analogue telephony-based resellers, Avaya A/NZ marketing director Andy Hurt said.

“Customers are shifting to a converged model of data, infrastructure and telephony so they need business partners who can provide high-end services around VPNs, QoS, security and mobility,” he said.

Hurt said the decision to partner with ChannelWorx was based on its engineering expertise, training and accreditation.

“Juniper and Avaya also have a strong alliance and ChannelWorks’ relationship with Juniper shows a like-minded technological approach,” he said.

ChannelWorx MD Scott Lidgett said the relationship with Avaya would enable its resellers to offer new consultancy services and help end-users to derive greater return on investment from their IP networks.

“In the past we have partnered with companies that are too far out on the edge, but Avaya allows us to offer real-world solutions,” he said. “Cisco may be the name that everyone has heard but Avaya lead the game.”

Looking at the wider market, Hurt said recent developments such as Linksys’ partnering with VoIP vendor Skype justified the addition of ChannelWorx.

“Skype partnering with Linksys is good for us as it validates this space,” he said. “People use VoIP at home and then look for an IP telephony provider for their business.”