Aura Alliance plans London get-together

Global Avaya VAR coalition keen to extend presence to Far East after adding partners in Eastern Europe and South America

The Aura Alliance now has members in five South American countries, including Brazil

Global VAR coalition the Aura Alliance is to convene as a group for the first time after adding members across Eastern Europe and South America.

The Alliance was formed last year by an array of top Avaya partners eager to cash in on the vendor's move away from direct business. About 30 resellers are now signed up, giving the coalition a presence in more than 40 countries worldwide.

One of the driving forces behind the Aura Alliance's formation was London-based Avaya Platinum partner G3 Telecommunications. Managing director Tony Parish revealed members have recently been invited to a get-together in London on 5 October, with a number of firms already confirming their attendance.

Earlier this summer, Parish outlined his ambition to extend the Alliance's reach into Latin America and Eastern Europe. He told ChannelWeb that the group now has a presence in Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Argentina, with a Venezuelan firm also in talks to join. Members in Bulgaria and Poland have also recently signed up.

"It is more [about building presence in] the Far East now," said Parish. "We have just started talking to someone in Japan and someone in China."