Avaya Answers Apple's iPhone Call - Before Cisco

Most of my peers know I spend far too much time writing about Cisco (CSCO). For months, I've expected Cisco to announce some sort of official relationship with Apple (AAPL) involving the iPhone. Cisco continues to take a close look at the Apple device. But another big networking company -- Avaya (AV) -- has announced a strategy to ensure iPhones can connect securely to business networks.

Kudos to Avaya for spotting an obvious market opportunity -- and exploiting it. Lots of folks insist the iPhone is a consumer device. As an iPhone user and blogger who covers the networking industry, I strongly disagree.

Executives at Disneyland and other major organizations are testing the iPhone as a corporate device. Sure, the iPhone has shortcomings. Many skeptics say it's a pain to connect the iPhone to corporate email systems and online business applications.

Enter Avaya. The networking firm says its unified communications software will provide iPhone with secure access to corporate telephony, voicemail, call logs, and corporate directories from the popular consumer device.

Avaya apparently is the first networking company to specifically announce its unified strategy for iPhone. Even so, integrating the iPhone with unified networks and business applications certainly isn't a new concept. Companies like MIR3 and Skyytek are giving the iPhone hooks into corporate applications. Plus, Apple and Cisco have kicked around an iPhone business relationship since last spring.

Nothing ever came of those discussions. But Cisco's software development team as well as Apple's forthcoming software development kit should allow the iPhone to integrate more tightly with Cisco-powered networks.

As more network hardware companies back the iPhone, two clear winners will emerge: Corporate customers and Apple shareholders.

Disclosure: none

Comments

[Tom B]

"Lots of folks insist the iPhone is a consumer device."

Anyone who says this is stupid or wants to manipulate the price on his or her RIMM, etc stock long enough to get out.

[Tom B]

CSCO is a company that gave up caring long ago

I wish Avaya were publicly traded......