9 february 2004

Multinational Systems Integrator Dramatically Reduces Telecom Costs with Global Avaya IP Office Network.

EMW uses IP telephony to slash toll charges by 50-60%

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Avaya (NYSE:AV), a leading global provider of communications networks and services for businesses, today announced that EMW, a multinational systems integrator, is using a new Avaya IP Office network to link remote office locations around the globe and dramatically reduce its telecommunications costs.

With 160 employees in five countries, EMW discovered that its toll charges were soaring as engineers collaborated across international borders to design networks for the company’s customers. To solve the problem, EMW selected Avaya IP Office – a high-performance telephony and data server designed specifically for small- to mid-sized firms and for the branch offices of larger businesses.

EMW installed an Avaya IP Office at each of its major locations: Washington, D.C.; Merelbeke, Belgium; Beijing, China; London, England; and Heidelberg, Germany. The five sites now are linked in a private, Internet-based network that the company estimates will pay for itself in 16 to 18 months.

“Not only are we routing our site-to-site calls over the Internet, but we’re using the network to route about 70% of our outside long distance calls through our D.C. office to take advantage of lower rates here in the U.S.,” said Tony Bui, EMW president and CEO. “Our toll charges have dropped by 50 to 60 percent, despite the fact that we’re communicating much more.”

To secure their new voice network, EMW uses an encrypted virtual private network and validates incoming caller IDs against a directory of employee office, home and cell phone numbers. As a result, employees who travel or telecommute can securely access the network and make toll-free calls from a remote phone, cell phone or Avaya Softphone – an IP telephony application that runs on a laptop computer or PC.

To extend the network’s cost savings to employees who travel internationally, EMW now can forward calls made to an IP Office number to an international cell phone instead – toll free. Accessibility has improved, and the company has reduced international cell phone charges that often exceeded the price of an airline ticket.

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.