IBM and Avaya Team to Integrate Audio with Collaboration Tools

SOMERS, N.Y. and BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - IBM and Avaya entered an agreement to integrate Avaya audio based communication within IBM's enterprise email, Web conferencing and instant messaging offerings.

The integration of telephony capabilities from Avaya with IBM's enterprise collaboration products will enable "click-to-call" capabilities in email and instant messaging products and integrated audio capabilities in Web conferences.

IBM is teaming with Avaya to help businesses integrate audio and collaboration tools. This integration will introduce "click-to-call" capabilities, enabling businesses using IBM® Lotus Notes® and Domino® and IBM Lotus® Sametime® to place a telephone call to an instant messaging or email contact while remaining in their inbox or instant messaging client. By selecting multiple names, users will be able to "click-to-conference."

IBM will also be integrating audio conferencing provided by Avaya Meeting Exchange with Lotus' Web conferencing solutions, giving Web conference participants a visual indication of who is speaking and the ability to dial out to new participants, mute lines and control volume, among other capabilities.

The "click-to-call" and integrated audio capabilities are built on a common telephony service provider interface (TSPI) established by IBM. The TSPI allows telephony providers, such as Avaya, to build off of this framework, exposing a set of communication services and capabilities to end users and allowing business application developers to use standard integration components and tools.

"Click-to-call" functionality and Web conferencing integration is scheduled to be available with Lotus Sametime in the fourth quarter of 2005 and with Lotus Notes and Domino in the first quarter of 2006. Integration with IBM Workplace Collaboration Services is expected in the future.