Avaya tops ABI Research unified communications vendor matrix ranking

NEW YORK, USA: Avaya Inc. has been ranked at the top of the latest Vendor Matrix released by ABI Research.

IBM and Siemens Enterprise networks claimed the second and third spots in the company’s new evaluation of worldwide unified communications (UC) vendors.

The Vendor Matrix is an analytical tool developed by ABI Research to provide a clear understanding of vendors’ positions in specific markets. Vendors are assessed on the important parameters of “innovation” and “implementation” across several criteria unique to each vendor matrix.

“There has been real progress on the part of a number of vendors when it comes to offering compelling unified communications products,” says vice president and practice director Stan Schatt.

“Avaya scored very high for its development of an ecosystem that includes key technology partners and a well-trained channel. Its detailed UC roadmap is encouraging because it suggests a continuing effort in this area.” Schatt also notes that, “IBM and Siemens are examples of a new trend towards software-centric products that offer open architectures with support for virtually all major competitors’ products.”

For this particular matrix, under "innovation," ABI Research examined the breadth and depth of the UC channel reached by each vendor; the characteristics of the UC mobility on offer; each vendor’s technology partners; the cost of their products; the range and nature of the UC professional services offered; and the range of the UC product portfolio for each vendor.

Under "implementation," ABI Research scrutinized the following criteria: the solutions’ security features and their ratings, and the UC architectures offered by each vendor, along with their scalability and degree of interoperability. Also evaluated: UC video and telepresence, UC messaging and UC IP telephony.