Avaya announced a foray in the mobile market with news that they will team up with DiVitas Networks to form a mobile UC partnership.

The new partnership is bound to prove fruitful for both parties considering the market share that Avaya have in the VoIP Systems industry, and the weight and reputation of DiVitas’ solution.

Doug Mohney’s article for Fiercevoip.com explains that DiVitas Networks’ solution is now integrated with Avaya Communications Manager and Avaya Modular Messaging to offer a dual-mode solution for mobile employees who wish to move seamlessly between campus-based wireless networks and cellular networks.

With support available for both Symbian and Windows Mobile based dual-mode handsets, DiVitas’s client provides the interface for the sending and receiving of calls through Avaya’s communications network. Key features of the Avaya/DiVitas solution include one number reach, mid-call management, presence availability, and access to corporate directories. In addition, integration with Avaya Modular Messaging enables users to visually retrieve their Avaya voice mail with the DiVitas client interface through a single voicemail box.

Transportation company, CSX Corporation have been used as the working case study for the new venture. Wishing to reduce it’s cellular pooled minutes and communicate time-critical information more efficiently, CSX decided to get dump the existing multiple handsets used by dispatchers in favour of Nokia e71 dual-mode handsets. This also allowed them to extend coverage to remote areas that have no cellular networks but do have WiFi networks available.

The increased use of Wi-FI meant savings on cellular costs as well as the benefit of having mobile workers continuously reachable on their desk phone number.

DiVitas originally joined Avaya’s DevConnect program in 2007 and was upgraded to Platinum Status in 2008, so it came as no suprise that Avaya selected DiVitas as its preferred dual-mode mobile UC solution.