As a result, Avaya can now provide an additional migration solution that enables an organisation's legacy communications system to integrate with Avaya's highly rated Communication Manager IP Telephony solution. This allows Avaya Communication Manager users, whether running Avaya or other vendors' legacy communications systems, to begin to realise the cost advantages of IP telephony, while protecting existing investments and without disrupting their current network operations.
"Demand from the market for convergence migration options led us to Westell's IiQ 3000 converter, which allows us to retain a customer relationship right through the legacy system to IP Telephony migration process," said Vincent Uppelschoten, director, Converged Solutions, Avaya EMEA. "We have been very impressed with the enhancements found in Westell's IiQ 3000 and found it to be straightforward to configure and it performed well throughout our testing. Our first customers have also been pleased with its functionality and resilience. Westell has exhibited an excellent understanding of this area of the market."
Indeed, Westell has over 14 years expertise in developing signalling integration solutions for DPNSS, QSIG, Q.931 and H.323 standards for the enterprise market. In the course of these developments Westell has already supplied product to Avaya's convergence portfolio including the IiQ 3000's predecessor, the IiQ 2000.
Westell managing director David McKeigue reflected on the continuing success of the IiQ 3000. "This key converter in our portfolio is already widely implemented across a variety of corporate and large public sector organisations. Avaya's verification adds to what our customers and Westell already know; that it is an extremely efficient, feature-rich and cost effective DPNSS to IP converter. This is a powerful migration proposition to system installers and end user organisations alike."
Westell is also a member of Avaya's DevConnect developer programme - an initiative to develop, market and sell innovative third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology and extend the value of a company's investment in its network. The programme promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party products that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions. Member organisations have expertise in intelligent business applications that deliver true value to a company's bottom line.
Technically, the IiQ 3000 enables conversion of DPNSS to QSIG and so supports inter-working between Avaya Communication Manager and DPNSS supplementary services of multiple legacy communications systems, such as caller name display and call diversion. Launched initially as a Westell product in December 2006, the re-engineered IiQ 3000 is a compact, rack-mounted unit that is simple to configure and install. The product preserves existing voice network call numbering plans, eliminating significant network management and administration costs and maintains important DPNSS advanced supplementary services. Other new features of the IiQ 3000 that have led to this Avaya adoption include the introduction of a new web management system and online backup and restore functions.