Anyone who has tried to join a conference call from their car knows that the golden age of unified communications remains elusive.
While there have been giant leaps forward facilitating the use of multiple communication platforms and devices to enhance business process, collaboration and improve user productivity, taming the mobility challenge has proven to be difficult. The promised seamless transition of a phonecall or Skype session from laptop to tablet to phone too often results in gaps, dropoffs or wonky sound.
“Equinox is an action-oriented user interface to help users effectively manage their communications through a consistent desktop, tablet or mobile experience,” Avaya consulting expert Ian Gould told a recent ITWC webinar audience.
A consistent device-to-device action-oriented user interface, Equinox includes Meetings, Messaging and Calling. Meetings is an intuitive function that eliminates the need for users to remember conference telephone numbers, user ID’s or PIN’s.
“Equinox requires only one touch to connect to meetings,” said Gould. Â The Meetings function is rich with advanced capabilities so users can view the active speaker, see each participant (including full contact integration), mute participants, chat within the conference, view the meeting invitation and add participants.
The majority of device operating systems and six of the major conferencing manufacturers are supported by Avaya Equinox, allowing users to seamlessly connect most devices to most conferences using this application.
Having Messaging right in the interface allows users to easily access this function while in a meeting or on the phone without having to switch screens. The Call feature gives a snapshot of recent calls and includes a slide bar that has advanced voice features and calling capabilities. Calls from the application are as simple as using a smartphone as Avaya has created a native user experience.
Gould said security is top of mind across all industries so users need to be comfortable that in a conference call, or any collaborative communications, Â the connection is private and secure. Â As a moderator using Equinox, he said users have the ability to see who is in the meeting and retain control over the content being shared and with whom it is being shared.
If a meeting transitions unexpectedly to a subject with a more sensitive focus, he said the moderator has the ability to block unauthorized participants from participating until the meeting resumes a focus that is relevant to their participation.
Avaya has also developed a VPN-like secure connection – without the delay of connecting to a VPN. Always-On Connectivity uses a session border controller to secure the environment, completely encrypting signals and media, end-to-end.
“It is as if the application is automatically connected to corporate infrastructure, giving peace of mind to all participants,” said Gould.
True mobility has been the missing link in UC, until now. Avaya understands that users are constantly on the move and in order for them to achieve their daily tasks, their communications, including conferences, should move with them. Equinox allows users to start their meeting from any device and then seamlessly switch to another without participants noticing. Users can move their meeting from their office desktop to the conference room tablet then over to their mobile, giving them the freedom to move from task to task while staying connected.
The pace of business is constantly accelerating and companies need solutions to deliver them productivity dividends to stay ahead of the competition. Accompanied by their best-in-class advanced voice features and capabilities, Gould says Avaya delivers true mobility by successfully merging multiple devices and platforms into one action-oriented user interface, mastering UC and transforming business process, collaboration and productivity.
