Avaya Undergoes Another Round Of Layoffs
Avaya is undergoing another round of layoffs this week.
It is believed that the affected Avaya employees were informed of the layoffs on Wednesday, November 6, the day after the US election.
One Avaya employee, who had only been with the business since June, wrote on LinkedIn: “Well, that was a shorter chapter than I was expecting, but here we are. Today was my last day with Avaya. I’m incredibly proud of the work we did and grateful for the people I got to know along the way(…) For my fellow Avaya colleagues also going through this transition—I can’t wait to see what’s next for all of us.”
In July, Avaya announced its previous round of layoffs, cutting approximately 180 jobs. This reduction accounts for around three percent of the company’s total workforce and followed the significant number of jobs cut in the second half of 2022 in the run-up to Avaya filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy at the beginning of 2023.
It is believed this most recent round of layoffs is much larger.
UC Today has approached Avaya for comment.
Evolve IP, ATSG Announce Merger To Create Major MSP Business
Evolve IP and ATSG have announced a strategic merger to form a prominent major services provider.
ATSG, a global tech provider for cloud, IT-managed services, and cybersecurity, expects the transaction will accelerate its services, bolstering the combined entity’s ability to address customers’ increasingly interconnected and complex tech challenges.
Both businesses expect the combined entity to generate over $230 million in revenue and serve over 950,000 end-users across 1,700 global customers. Most of this revenue will be monthly recurring revenue under long-term contracts.
Jeff Coursen, CEO of Evolve IP, said:
This journey marks a transformative step forward for Evolve IP and all of our customers. This aggregation of our talent, tools, and resources is a testament to our commitment to pioneering the industry and will enable us to offer maximum value for our customers. We are looking forward to leveraging ATSG’s rich platform of intellectual property and suite of services capabilities to deliver an increasingly end-to-end solution for our customers.”
ATSG plans to integrate solutions from both companies into a more comprehensive and robust managed services portfolio, benefiting mid- and enterprise customers. Evolve-IP and ATSG affirm that the complementary nature of each company’s standalone service offerings will enable the combined business to serve its customers better.
Microsoft Delays Recall for Copilot Plus PCs Again Due To Privacy Concerns
Microsoft has once again delayed the launch of its new Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs, citing security concerns. Recall is designed to capture screenshots of nearly everything displayed and done on a Copilot Plus PC.
“We are committed to delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall,” Brandon LeBlanc, Senior Product Manager of Windows, told The Verge. “To ensure we deliver on these important updates, we’re taking additional time to refine the experience before previewing it with Windows Insiders. Originally planned for October, Recall will now be available for preview with Windows Insiders on Copilot Plus PCs by December.”
Originally planned for release in June, the launch faced delays, first to October and now to December. The postponements stem from security vulnerabilities linked to making Recall an opt-in feature and allowing users to uninstall it entirely. Since June, Microsoft has been working to secure the Recall database with encryption that restricts access to Windows Hello, the company’s biometric authentication tool.
Martello Launches Microsoft 365 Partner Network To Empower Enterprises
Martello has announced that the Martello Microsoft 365 Partner Network will empower enterprises with access to an array of partner solutions.
Martello, a prominent provider of Microsoft Teams user experience management solutions, intends to bring together MSPs, Microsoft Gold VARs, and complementary product vendors, including Martello Vantage DX, to produce differentiated Microsoft 365 and Teams solutions in one cohesive ecosystem.
Victor Mate, Vice President, Global Partnership Sales at Martello, commented:
Vantage DX is just one piece of a complete Microsoft 365 solution. MSPs, VARs, and software vendors play a crucial role in delivering standout Microsoft 365 services. Our partner ecosystem fosters collaboration among partners to build best-in-class solutions, expand market reach through co-selling, and meet the demand for Microsoft 365 experience monitoring with Vantage DX.”
The Martello Partner Network includes partner access to innovative tools like Vantage DX, which help strengthen and differentiate Microsoft 365 offerings. Additionally, partners receive sales and technical enablement, ensuring they are well-equipped to succeed. The network also provides go-to-market support, including co-branded collateral, lead generation strategies, and co-selling opportunities, all of which aim to drive revenue with superior digital experience management.
