Avaya & Siptel Rock for 'Live 8' Global Music Event

Avaya & Siptel Rock for 'Live 8' Global Music Event

Leading Global Music Event Group Chooses Avaya & Siptel to Deliver Secure, Reliable IP Communication for Live 8

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), a leading global provider of business communications applications, systems and services, today announced that an Avaya converged communications solution with Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and software applications running on an Extreme Networks data network will power the UK 'Live 8' music event being held in London's Hyde Park on 2 July 2005. The solution, provided by Avaya Business Partner Siptel, will deliver secure and reliable communication for attendees at the 'Live 8' event, including: site and production managers; broadcast teams; administration personnel; press, emergency services, security staff; and the performers themselves.

Live 8 is calling for debt cancellation, more aid and trade justice for the world's poorest people. The event, expected to be viewed globally by billions of people, will be held in London's Hyde Park where more than 200,000 people will come together to view the concert in person. The event will take up the majority of Hyde Park, with a total of 25 artists, including U2, Madonna, Dido, Sir Elton John, Pink Floyd, Scissor Sisters and Robbie Williams linked with the multi-artist concert, which was planned by Sir Bob Geldof.

The event will require over 250 communication extensions, 10 kilometers of cable plus wireless access points installed across 12 acres. For a high-profile international event such as 'Live 8', system reliability is a key requirement, which is why the Avaya IP communication network was selected with its 99.999 per cent reliability. In addition, the network's flexibility and ease of set-up and dismantling after the event were key considerations. The communication system will be critical to the smooth running of the event and is forecast to handle and route 25,000 internal and external calls -- enabling the organisers to manage logistics, security to maintain order and ensuring that performer's entourages can get access to everything they need. In addition, Avaya IP Telephony provides encryption for all calls, giving an extra level of security and privacy to the high-profile event and its performers.

To support efficiency and productivity, employees involved with the event will have access additional applications such as conferencing, voice mail, Interactive Response and Automated Attendant Services -- enabling staff to get quick and easy access to each other, and an array of automated options available through the central helpdesk. Staff members will also use the Avaya Extension to Cellular application to enable communication while they are on the move across Hyde Park. Avaya Extension to Cellular allows the employee to seamlessly bridge calls from the landline to a mobile phones and continue the conversation while mobile, giving the worker a high degree of flexibility as well as improved productivity.

Engineers on tour

On-site engineers will each have Avaya Softphone software application, enabling their laptops and PDAs to be used as a communication device through which phone calls can be made. This will allow them to remain in constant contact with each other and the central office -- wherever they are on site.

Steve Rasmussen, sales director at Siptel commented: "'Live 8' is going to be one of the biggest outdoor music events of this decade, and over two billion people will be watching globally. By choosing an Avaya IP communication network, employees and contractors at 'Live 8' will benefiting from fast, low-cost and flexible communication to ensure the smooth running of the event."

Siptel will be providing on-site and project management services at 'Live 8', giving flexible and hands-on assistance when required and reacting immediately when changes to the network need to be made. The contract was awarded to Siptel following previous work that the company had undertaken for other entertainment events such as the annual 'Party in the Park' in London. Previously, Siptel demonstrated its capabilities in project management with tight timelines. In the case of 'Live 8', the company has only three weeks preparation time and one week to dismantle the network after the event, whilst delivering secure and reliable communication within budget and on time. The decision was made to standardise on an Avaya IP converged communication network because of the company's recognised reliability and leadership in IP telephony, and the network's ability to meet the communication needs of the event.

Notes to Editors

The 'Live 8' converged IP communication network includes: Avaya S8710 Media Server; G650 Media Gateways; Communication Manager version 3 for IP Telephony; Extension to Cellular application; Avaya Softphone and Avaya 4620, 4625, 4630 Series IPTelephones; applications from Avaya Customer Interaction Suite including Interactive Response, Voicemail and Automated Attendant.

Avaya hardware and software was supplied to Siptel by distributor, Westcon.

About Avaya

Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services.

Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications -- and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services -- Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya website: http://www.avaya.com/

About Siptel

Siptel is an independent voice and data solutions provider, delivering business focused communication solutions and associated technologies to the mid-to-corporate enterprise market. Siptel design, project manage and support a wide range of communication systems, applications and services.

Areas of expertise include IP Telephony and SIP, Contact Centres, CRM, Unified Messaging, Outbound Applications, Network Services, Call Logging, Voice Recording and Audio Visual.

For more information, phone +44 (0)870 160 4420, fax +44 (0)870 160 4421 or visit the website at http://www.siptel.co.uk/

Source: Avaya Inc.

CONTACT: Media, Deb Kline, +1-908-953-6179, klined@avaya.com, or Investors, Matt Booher, +1-908-953-7500, booher@avaya.com, both of Avaya

Web site: http://www.avaya.com/ http://www.siptel.co.uk/

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