Avaya Extends Low Interest Financing Program to Help Businesses Invest in Unified Communications

Avaya "Next Wave" Financing Plan Enables Avaya Resellers to Help Their Customers Conserve Capital While Planning for Their Future Communications Needs


BASKING RIDGE, NJ--(Marketwire - September 8, 2008) - Avaya Inc., a global leader in business communications applications, software and services, and Avaya Financial Services have announced the availability of Next Wave, a program that offers zero percent and 3.99 percent financing to businesses based in North America.

The promotion allows companies to easily lease and finance Avaya software and systems at low monthly payments, with minimal initial investment and fixed manageable payments. The offer is available through Avaya certified BusinessPartners and Avaya's direct sales force and can be combined with other Avaya discount programs and promotions for maximum appeal to customers. The Next Wave financing is available for Avaya IP Office 500 with Avaya Voice Mail Pro, Avaya Distributed Office, and Avaya Communication Manager.

"These are challenging economic times, and Avaya is committed to helping its customers by enabling resellers to give their customers the financing options they need to invest and plan for the future," said Linda Dotts, vice president, marketing, Avaya.

Avaya Communication Manager is the company's market-leading IP telephony and applications solution for enterprise customers with its Distributed Office version specifically focused on the branch office. IP Office is a complete, converged communications solution focused on the small and medium business. All of these solutions have applications that help enterprise and small business customers increase revenue by improving customer service, improve productivity by enabling people to leverage their business communications capabilities in the office, on the road or at home, and lower costs through IP connectivity from site to site.

Next Wave helps Avaya reseller meet clients' needs to conserve capital

"In Florida, we're experiencing one of the highest foreclosure rates, and one of the highest rates of unemployment in the nation, which has created an extremely challenging sales environment for us, " said Barry Hess, president, CPT of South Florida, Inc. "To survive in this climate, our customers need to keep capital in their businesses. Financing programs such as the Avaya Next Wave promotion, combined with the cost savings that Avaya communications solutions bring to our clients, are enabling us to close sales and maintain our strong revenue stream."

The Columbia Urban League, Inc. of South Carolina recently bought an Avaya IP Office 500 and financed the purchase through the Avaya Next Wave program. The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and societal mainstream. "As a nonprofit, the League is on an extremely tight budget," said Anthony Wallace, president, Yes, LLC of South Carolina, an authorized Avaya BusinessPartner who is configuring the IP Office for the League. "Without Next Wave financing, I couldn't have closed this deal. I'm moving the League onto a new IP Office that will give them features such as caller ID and their own individual numbers and personal mailboxes. Plus, with IP, some of their employees will be able to work from home, saving the time and costs of commuting, with all the features and capabilities as their headquarters office."

Avaya authorized reseller PhonExtra, Inc. has also captured new business as a result of Avaya financing promotions. "One of our customers, the National Book Company, is leasing an Avaya Communication Manager-based solution, and having a financing promotion enabled our customer to make this investment," said Jamie Ryan, sales vice president, PhonExtra.

Two financing options are available under the Next Wave promotion: a 60-month true lease at zero percent, or a 3.99 percent finance lease. A true lease is typically designed for businesses that want the lowest monthly payment with the greatest flexibility at the end of the lease term. Finance leases are especially advantageous for companies who plan to keep their equipment at the end of the lease term. Orders must be placed by September 30, 2008, and certain restrictions may apply. For more information, call Avaya Financial Services at 800-327-3333 (Press #1) or visit www.avaya.com.

About Avaya Financial Services

Avaya Financial Services, a CIT Group, Inc. company, is the global leader for financing solutions supporting Avaya products and services with over 20 years of experience and a comprehensive understanding of Avaya hardware, software and services. This is combined with best-in-class service that allows for innovative and flexible financial solutions worldwide.

For more information please contact us at 800-327-3333 and/or visit us at www.ileaseavaya.com

About Avaya

Avaya delivers Intelligent Communications solutions that help companies transform their businesses to achieve marketplace advantage. More than 1 million businesses worldwide, including more than 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®, use Avaya solutions for IP Telephony, Unified Communications, Contact Centers and Communications-Enabled Business Processes. Avaya Global Services provides comprehensive service and support for companies, small to large. For more information visit the Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com.

Contact Information: Media Inquiries: Barbara Burgess 908-953-3348 barbarab@avaya.com