Avnet given keys to Avaya kingdom

Nortel distributor handed access to comms vendor's entire portfolio following merger

Laura Harman: Business partners have the opportunity to deliver Avaya solutions supported by the technical expertise and security of Avnet

Long-time Nortel distributor Avnet Technology Solutions has been handed access to the entire Avaya portfolio in the UK.

Since Avaya closed the Nortel acquisition and finalised the product roadmap, the New Jersey-based vendor has been chewing over how to meld the two distribution channels. Avnet becomes the second partner to announce it will be stocking the full portfolio, after incumbent Avaya distributor Nimans confirmed it will be doing so last week.

The initial contract extends until the end of this year and Avnet said it intends to double the size of its Avaya-focused team during that time. Tony McNish has already been appointed as the distributor's Avaya business manager. He said Avnet could help both voice and data resellers expand their boundaries.

“Through a series of information days, briefings and workshops we will provide the technical knowledge required for data partners to sell telecommunications and vice versa," he said.

Laura Harman, UK sales director at Avnet Technology Solutions, said Avaya's SIP-based Aura infrastructure will be a key play for the distributor in the coming months.

“This new contract means that business partners have the opportunity to deliver Avaya branded solutions across voice, data and now with Avaya Aura unified communications, all supported by the technical expertise and security of Avnet," she said.

Avaya's UK and Ireland managing director Lee Shorten added: "We believe Avnet’s strong background in Nortel data solutions will benefit voice resellers to build effective converged solutions."