Avaya Steps Up IP March With Audio Conferencing Acquisition

Avaya plans to incorporate Dublin-based Spectel's technology into its IP communications applications suite to expand its converged conferencing capabilities for its customers, according to an Avaya statement.

Converged conferencing combines Web, video, audio and data conferencing on an IP network and is part of the converged applications market projected to reach $9.4 billion by 2008, Avaya said in the statement.

Spectel, which has partnered with Avaya for four years, has approximately 210 employees and serves more than 500 customers world wide.

It offers enterprise on-premise, managed on-premise and service provider solutions, including applications for advanced services, such as integration with other productivity software suites, sophisticated operator support functions and wireless capabilities.

Avaya said it plans to continue servicing the enterprise market with Spectel's on-premise and service provider conferencing solutions.

The transaction is expected to close within 60 days and is subject to regulatory approval, Irish laws and customary closing conditions.

Shares of Avaya traded down 3 cents at $14.30 Tuesday morning.