Take the Risk Out of Your UC Strategy

The potential acquisition of Nortel's enterprise business by Avaya is making media headlines and fueling plenty of speculation about what this deal might mean for the UC industry, and whether the stalking horse process will attract potentially higher bidders. If consummated, what does the acquisition mean for existing Nortel customers, as well as customers in general who are currently looking at purchasing a new IP-based communication system? Most organizations expect their communication systems will last more than 10 years. The potential acquisition creates market uncertainty that can be troubling for customers.

Avaya and Nortel have similar legacies in the traditional TDM PBX market and offer hybrid PBXs, although Avaya has not yet announced a product roadmap that would result from the acquisition, however, frequently, in these kinds of situations, the acquiring company creates a transition plan to migrate customers to the acquiring company's products. The acquired company's products are supported during a transition period, but ultimately existing customers of the company being acquired will face a rip-and-replace decision.

Take Control Now

"If the deal goes through, Nortel customers face the risk of having to start over," said Bernard Gutnick, senior director of product marketing at ShoreTel. "Now would be a good time for Nortel customers to consider a Plan B and take charge of their communications strategies by proactively investigating their options. Nortel customers choosing to stick with Avaya may have to move from one hybrid PBX architecture to another, and then face yet another communications system upgrade down the road. The best solution is to move from a Nortel legacy solution to an all-IP solution. Why go from one legacy company to another?"

Embracing an all-IP approach brings many significant advantages, including increased business flexibility, lower costs and long-term investment protection. The market seems to agree as sales of traditional TDM PBXs have been on a multi-year slide, with IP PBXs and IP contact center sales holding steady, even in these lean economic times. With ShoreTel's brilliantly simple solutions, people can communicate anywhere, any time and in any way they chose. ShoreTel is simple to deploy, simple to manage and simple to use, without requiring forklift upgrades to scale.

The ShoreTel UC system was designed from the ground up for IP networks, yet integrates easily with other systems so organizations can carry out a phased rollout, rather than a major replacement. ShoreTel's open platform also means that applications and tools can be easily customized to an individual organization so that they have the flexibility they need to respond to changing business conditions. In addition, numerous organizations have deployed ShoreTel unified communications solutions with their Nortel PBXs — all part of their plans to migrate from legacy Nortel PBXs over time to more open all IP platforms from ShoreTel.

No organization should make this type of important purchasing decision without considering the financial viability of a potential vendor. Another important consideration in the event that Avaya is eventually outbid, will be the experience of the acquiring company in the telecommunications space. With many key technologies companies looking to enter the UC space, understanding the expertise and experience they bring to the table, in addition to their track record in customer satisfaction, is also key to a successful purchase.

ShoreTel is a profitable and debt-free company with award-winning customer service and increasing market share. "Anyone considering a communication system purchase at this time should look for total financial transparency in a vendor," Gutnick said. "Consider also the company's business priorities. As with any acquisition, Avaya likely will be distracted by the integration of the companies' product lines, channels and staff. ShoreTel remains focused on meeting customers' needs and delivering outstanding customer satisfaction."

For more information on how a ShoreTel solution offers you a reliable, high performance platform for growth for either replacing or complementing your Nortel legacy PBX, contact a ShoreTel partner and request a demonstration in your offices so you can immediately see the benefits that await you. Existing Nortel customer should also ask about financial incentives to switch to ShoreTel that are available for a limited time.