I�m here behind our black curtains at the registration stand, reporting LIVE from the IT Conference and EXPO in LA, bringing you more fresh news straight from the conference floor� we have just opened up the doors and I can see  tons of attendees lining up to get things moving here... I�m about to start piping out the latest news, so sit tight and enjoy the ride. I know we will!

First up, provider of IP network performance assurance and assessment software Viola Networks and Ontario, Canada-based Mitel�provider of voice, video, and data convergence over broadband networks, just announced today that both companies have entered into an expanded partnership agreement. Through this deal, Mitel will make Viola's NetAlly RealTime available to its channel partners and to its enterprise customers as part of its Enterprise Management software suite. Mitel's channel partners will use the software to maximize service quality both during and after VoIP network deployment for their enterprise customers. Customers will also have the ability to monitor service quality themselves on an ongoing basis.

Viola will now be operating as an official Mitel Solutions Network (MiSN) partner. The two companies will also take part in joint development work, where Viola will incorporate unique IP statistics from Mitel's IP phones into Viola's NetAlly RealTime software. This will enable VoIP customers to correlate proactive and reactive call quality information in order to provide a complete picture of VoIP quality and performance in an enterprise network.

"Mitel is pleased to forge this extended relationship with Viola Networks. It has enabled Mitel and its resellers to increase initial, and long-term VoIP quality and performance as well as pre-assess a network's readiness for voice traffic," said Steve Davis, vice president of marketing, Mitel. "Using Viola's software, we have not only eased deployment challenges for our customers, but we can also helped them ensure continued VoIP quality in their networks."

NetAlly RealTime addresses the entire VoIP assessment lifecycle. The software gives service providers, systems integrators and enterprises one comprehensive tool for the pre-service network readiness assessment, on-demand network troubleshooting and ongoing network performance monitoring required by real-time applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and IP-based video conferencing.

The system includes an automated network assessment interface that quickly determines the maximum number of IP telephony calls that can be sustained while maintaining toll-quality voice service. It also generates presentation-ready formal assessment reports and includes a complete set of network and application tests used for rapid real-time diagnostics.

NetAlly RealTime simplifies VoIP deployment using remotely controllable, Web-based agents that work in real-world networks to support smoother VoIP rollout and ongoing network quality, thus improving the overall productivity and profitability of VoIP practices and reducing technical support costs. Under the terms of the  new agreement, Viola's NetAlly software will integrate specific IP design elements of Mitel IP phones to provide both: proactive and reactive tracking and response of VoIP traffic. This will enable customers to identify and resolve performance issues at both the network and individual call level before they impact network performance or call quality, resulting in optimized VoIP service and performance.

Stay tuned for more of my updates throughout the day, including complete coverage of Rich Tehrani�s VoIP Opportunities in the Military Environment: A Round Table; and complete coverage of all the Winners of VoIP Service Provider Awards, which will be honored at an exclusive dinner tonight.

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