Extreme and Avaya launch joint bundle

Extreme Networks and Avaya have deepened their strategic alliance by launching their first joint bundle into the UK channel.

UK resellers can net “exceptionally aggressive” discounts on six of the networking vendor’s switches when they buy Avaya’s SME-focused IP Office product.

Stephen Jamieson, UK and Ireland channel director at Extreme, said: “Although Extreme and Avaya have been working closely together for three years, this is the first time we’ve put together something resellers can order as an individual solution.”

The promotion is available through distributor Westcon Group.

“We’re working on a target list of about 15 to 20 Avaya resellers,” Jamieson said. “IP Office has just been relaunched, so there are some attractive upgrades for Avaya resellers to sell to existing customers and they need the Extreme part to go with that.”

The deal will allow VARs buying an IP Office system to gain discounts of between 45 per cent and 60 per cent for Extreme’s Summit 200, 300 and X450e series edge switches.

Jamieson claimed Extreme’s partnership with Avaya gives customers the best of both worlds by offering interoperable solutions from two “best-of-breed” vendors.

“The success we’ve had in the UK in the last 18 months suggests people are looking for an alternative to Cisco as they do not want to give all their IT spend to one vendor,” he said.

John Donovan, director channels UK & Ireland at Cisco, disagreed. “The relationship between Avaya and Extreme shows that customers today are demanding end-to-end solutions, and that supports Cisco’s strategy,” he said.

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