Avaya Connects With Colubris

Another day, another partnership deal in the world of enterprise wireless LANs.

Startup Colubris Networks Inc. has hooked up with Avaya Inc. (NYSE: AV), through the firm's DeveloperConnection program. "Colubris is both an innovator member and Avaya compliance-tested," Bob Olson, PR director at Colubris, told Unstrung today.

Olson wouldn't comment further on what could result from the partnership. But Avaya is definitely working with Colubris -- along with Meru Networks Inc. and other partners -- on supporting voice calls over both cellular and 802.11 networks, which suggests that some further VOIP capabilities could be in the pipeline (see Moto Ramps Up Convergence).

A spokeswoman for Avaya confirmed that Colubris has joined the DeveloperConnection program, but did not offer details concerning product development. "Our DevConnect members are an important part of our strategy," she tells Unstrung.

Colubris already has a long-term deal with another one of Avaya's new partners, Juniper Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR). (See Juniper, Avaya Sign MOU.)

The pair are working on developing products combining Avaya's enterprise VOIP know-how and Juniper's security and routing smarts. Meanwhile, Colubris has been working with Juniper on wireless LAN hotspot front-ends for its DSL products in the carrier space (see Colubris Finds Juniper's Hotspot).

Olson says that Colubris is now also working with Juniper on the enterprise security side of the house. "We expanded our relationship with Juniper to include their Netscreen Enterprise product line," he says.

On the enterprise wireless LAN front, Avaya already has an access point deal in place with Proxim Corp. (Nasdaq: PROX). But it is now questionable how much longer Proxim will be in the WLAN business (see Proxim Has a Debt Dilemma and Proxim on the Ropes).

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung