Avaya IP Telephony Solution Helps NBC Olympics Deliver Uninterrupted Coverage of the Torino Olympic Winter Games

Avaya IP Telephony Solution Helps NBC Olympics Deliver Uninterrupted Coverage of the Torino Olympic Winter Games

- Network is monitored around the clock and supported by Avaya's Global Services team

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- When the Torino Olympic Winter Games get underway next month, NBC Olympics will be using an Avaya IP telephony solution to provide communication capabilities linking the International Broadcast Center and NBC's Field Shop with sports venues in Torino, Italy, NBC Olympics headquarters in Stamford, Conn., and NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York, N.Y.

"There simply aren't any 'do overs' when you're covering the Games," said Bob Kiraly, Director, Broadcast and Telecommunications Operations, NBC Olympics. "As a result, solutions must be engineered to critical reliability standards. Avaya delivers on that front with redundant processors, fail-over options, systems and software that are designed to keep our operations up and running even if the unexpected happens."

This is the fourth consecutive Olympics Games at which Avaya (NYSE:AV), a global leader in business communications applications, systems and services, has provided services to NBC. Under a contract that began with the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, the company has provided NBC Olympics with the uninterrupted communication capabilities it needs as its staffers travel the globe to cover the biennial event.

For the Torino Olympic Winter Games, Avaya upgraded the NBC Olympics network to the latest version of the industry-leading Communication Manager software -- as well as a new highly scalable Modular Messaging application that makes voice and fax messages accessible from any phone, fax machine or PC. The software is hosted on highly reliable servers and gateways, including an S8700 Media Server and a new S8500 Media Server in the Field Shop that replaces a former Avaya ProLogix system. Since Avaya solutions are built for investment protection, ProLogix circuit packs owned by NBC Olympics are reused in the new S8500.

Members of the NBC Olympics broadcast team will be able to stay in touch regardless of where they travel thanks to the Avaya Extension to Cellular application, which enables calls made to a network extension to ring simultaneously on a cell phone so workers on the go can be reached through a single number.

System reliability is reinforced by Avaya EXPERT Systems(SM) Diagnostic Tools that remotely monitor and maintain the network. Avaya uses these patented tools to monitor and repair thousands of business communications systems remotely -- resolving 96% of all system alarms without a technician's intervention and saving customers millions of dollars a year.

As an additional fail-safe, Avaya's Global Services team provides NBC Olympics with a single point of contact for around-the-clock service and support, including dedicated onsite field technicians. To speed onsite setup in Italy, NBC Olympics pre-configured and rack mounted the Avaya S8700 Media Server to simplify shipping and installation. As a result, it can be installed, up and running in less than 30 minutes after it is uncrated and powered up.

About Avaya

Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R). Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services.

Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications -- and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services -- Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya website: http://www.avaya.com/.

About NBC Olympics

NBC, "America's Olympic Network," owns the exclusive U.S. media rights to the Olympic Games, television's most powerful property, through 2012, which includes Torino, Italy in 2006, Beijing in 2008, Vancouver in 2010 and London in 2012. This February, NBC Universal will present an unprecedented 416 hours of coverage from the 2006 Olympic Winter Games from Torino, Italy (February 10-26, 2006). In August 2004, 203 million viewers watched as the networks of NBC Universal-NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Bravo, Telemundo, and NBC's HD affiliates-offered a record 1,210 hours of Olympic coverage from Athens. In February 2002, 187 million watched the Salt Lake Olympic Games on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. For additional information, log onto NBCOlympics.com, the Internet's preeminent source for Olympic results, video, photos, news and athlete profiles through the Torino Games. NBCOlympics.com will be the only site in the United States featuring competition video of complete runs and routines, real-time results and medal counts for every event, an interactive television viewing guide to help visitors navigate the 416 hours of Olympic programming on the NBC Universal networks, and comprehensive, multimedia-filled profiles on every American Olympian.

Source: Avaya Inc.

CONTACT: Media: Deb Kline, +1-908-953-6179, klined@avaya.com, or
Investors: Matt Booher, +1-908-953-7500, mbooher@avaya.com, both of Avaya
Inc.

Web site: http://www.avaya.com/

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