Covergence Selected for Membership in Avaya DeveloperConnection Program.

MAYNARD, Mass. -- SIP security innovator joins network of companies creating innovative, IP-enabled Intelligent Communications applications to extend the value of multivendor networks

Covergence, a leader in scaling, securing and controlling Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and other real-time services based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), today announced it has been selected by Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), a leading global provider of business communications applications, systems and services, for membership in the Avaya DeveloperConnection program. The two companies will now begin to test interoperability of their solutions so they can provide businesses with a way to create highly scalable, secure and reliable SIP networks supporting telephony, instant messaging, conferencing and collaboration.

Covergence is the developer of Eclipse(TM), an award-winning SIP security and management solution. By deploying the Eclipse SIP Session Manager at the network "access" edge, companies can secure, control and scale access to IP telephony and other SIP services. Eclipse is easy to deploy, protects current and future SIP investments, ensures interoperability in multivendor environments and provides a low total cost of ownership.

As a member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection program, Covergence will have its Eclipse solution tested for interoperability with the Avaya Converged Communications Server, an application that enables SIP services and extends the value of a company's investment in its network.

The Avaya DeveloperConnection program promotes the development, compliance-testing and co-marketing of innovative third-party products that are compatible with standards-based Avaya solutions. Member organizations have expertise in a broad range of technologies - including IP telephony, contact centers and mobility applications - helping companies extend the value of multivendor networks and transform voice into an intelligent business application that delivers true value to the bottom line.

"Membership in Avaya's developer community will help us build our business by serving a wider range of global customers more efficiently and effectively," said Bob O'Neil, president and CEO, Covergence. "By building on Avaya resources and working more closely with the company to deliver compliance-tested solutions to the market, we are able to reduce network complexity, improve security and reliability, and speed time to deployment so businesses can quickly realize a benefit to their bottom line."

The Avaya DeveloperConnection program currently includes more than 2,800 software and hardware developer companies, integrators, service providers and customers. Members have created hundreds of innovative solutions tested for Avaya compliance, including natural language speech recognition applications, wireless services, specialized computer telephony integration and reporting capabilities, and applications tailored for specific vertical industries.

Through the DeveloperConnection program, Avaya provides a number of tools and capabilities to member companies. One example is Application Enablement Services (AES)--a set of application programming interfaces, protocols and Web services that makes it easier for developers to create Avaya-compatible networks, devices and applications.

"With the involvement of companies like Covergence, our Avaya developer community has become a catalyst for rapid innovation -- creating multivendor applications that help enterprises around the world unleash powerful new possibilities for operating more efficiently and effectively," said Eric Rossman, vice president, developer relations and technical alliances, Avaya. "We help businesses embed secure, reliable Intelligent Communications into the very fabric of their organization so employees and customers have ready access to information regardless of where they are and how they prefer to communicate."

As a member of the DeveloperConnection program, companies have access to a wide range of support from Avaya, including technical resources and training. There are four levels of membership - Registered, Innovator, Premier and Strategic - each entailing progressive levels of marketing and sales involvement. Free Registered membership is available to anyone interested in designing Avaya-compatible solutions. Higher-level Innovator, Premier and Strategic members must meet rigorous Avaya criteria for customer satisfaction, product support, business operations, marketing and sales. Covergence is an Innovator member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection program.

Membership information and a listing of solutions developed and tested under the DeveloperConnection program are available at www.devconnectprogram.com.

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: www.avaya.com.

About Covergence

Covergence is the leader in scaling, securing and controlling VoIP and other real-time services based on the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The Covergence Eclipse(TM) session manager is purpose-built to address the challenges of the access edge, giving users the secure, instant and reliable access to SIP services they expect while giving organizations the complete control and visibility they require. For more information, visit www.covergence.com.