Avaya Replaces Nortel for Vancouver Olympics

By Mark Evans | Published: January 7, 2010

With the Olympics coming to Canada for the first time since the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Nortel scored a huge coup by being the “Official Converged Network Equipment Supplier”. It made sense to have a Canadian company be the “Official Converged Network Equipment Supplier for the 2010 Winter Games”

With the sale, however, of Nortel’s enterprise business to Avaya, the “Official Converged Network Equipment Supplier for the 2010 Winter Games” is now Avaya, which is not a Canadian company.

Source: TMCNet

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  • NortelTragedy

    Ran across this recent article … too funny. Customer says about Hackney …

    A solution provider who asked to remain anonymous was less charitable toward Hackney's new role, choosing to lump him in with departed CEO Mike Zafirovski. (Zafirovski stepped down from Nortel in August following a failure to turn the telecom giant's fortunes around through an effective restructuring.)

    “I have no confidence. None,” the solution provider said of Hackney. “He was part of the Mike Z. crowd that couldn't turn the ship around. He hasn't worked with the federal sector under Nortel and it is a different animal. It's a purely sales and services entity and a different role.”

    http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:D2zgy96rmuY…

  • thakswet

    what am I to do with the Nortel Official Supplier hockey pucks?

  • notthereanymore

    Mail them to Mike Z! I'm sure he could use them in his new sports complex.

  • TongueInCheek

    As an advocate for branding and marketing, surely you would understand the branding value for Avaya to take on this sponsorship … no?

    If you search for “Vanoc Network” one of the results is a PDF on nortel.com depicting the Olympics network. In it, people will see that the overall solution includes components from CVAS, Enterprise and MEN. The Enterprise contribution is mostly the former Nortel Data Products, providing the network infrastructure at venues etc.

    Nortel was also a sponsor at the Turin Olympics and clearly wasn't an Italian company, nor is Cisco a British company with their sponsorship of the London Olympics.

  • bankrupt_bob

    Mail them? How about a 21st Century version of “stoning?” ;>)

  • Daphne

    I like that. You could throw them at him and yell, “Puck you, Mike Z!”

  • fishymcdonk

    Big deal. Coke sponsored the torch run across Canada. Last I looked they weren't Canadian either.

  • protosphere

    If the Olympics held chariot races, Hackney would be banned .I don't think they will allow him to hold the Olympic torch either, in the event it is used as a weapon. Any female employees smaller than him should tread carefully.

    I can just see the smiling clown advocating there is no better time to buy Nortel or how 9 out of 10 top 500 fortune companies buy Nortel, as we witness Nortel's traditional hype surfacing on Avaya's web site. Lies didn't die, they were just transferred to Avaya with Hack, to bringing it to a new level again.

    NGS is nosediving, and his last chance to save his career should the poster boy of lack of tolerance turn this around.

    Did Z-Man negotiate this position for this special pal before departing, like bonuses, trading options for a board member who defends Dunn, etc., while those remaining got raises?

    Even a growing Texas company buys their VoIP at a multiple of their sales, in the US, where one almost questions whether this was staged, given it was brought down by telecom inexperienced Americans to begin with.

    What don't we know?

    …as usual, I had to add my bellyaching humbug as traditional member of the opposition to Nortel =)

  • protosphere

    A waste as usual. Nortel couldn't have afforded these luxuries any more than its private jet as they recycled coffee cups. Lights off and Nortel logo is even gone from East Mall HQ.

    Press releases are free and more targeted but who listens…what do I know…

  • protosphere

    “He's [Hackney] got big shoes to fill.”Hackney is going to have to make sure everyone knows they can trust him.”

    However:

    “He hasn't worked with the federal sector under Nortel and it is a different animal.

    ________________________________________________________

    These big shoes will come in handy when he puts his foot in his mouth again.
    Hack never did bring Enterprise to a new level, let alone now… so much for risking his career as a measurement of success.

  • NortelTragedy

    C'mon now … “brought down by telecom inexperienced Americans to begin with.”

    Richard Lowe, McKinnon, Roth, dozens of VPs and “leaders” … the bench of Canadian execs at Nortel was MUCH deeper than Americans. In fact, in the early to mid-90's and before you couldn't be a D-level without being Canadian, and that's in Texas or RTP.

    Sure, Hackney and most of Mikey's “cabinet” is American, as was Sue Spradley, and a few other tokens, but Mike from Eastern Europe. Please don't blame the fall of Nortel on Americans. There are many, many happy Canadians transplants in the US because of Nortel transfers – and many are my friends, so let's not get into the US versus CAN fault game.

  • freqmgr

    Yes, the US vs Canada game is wasteful. All were cheated. I'm US and as late as 1998 was being told that my ability t “rise” in Nortel was limited by my citizenship. Of course at that time Matt Desch was leading wireless and was seen as a “break through” for non- Canadians being able to move above Band 8.

  • freqmgr

    And the sign on the RIchardson tower is switched off. Maybe soon one that says “Ericsson” or “Avaya” or “for rent”?

  • nortelbob25

    For a very long time it was known that you had to be Canadian to be a senior Exec at Nortel. But does it really matter the money corrupted all of them no matter what nationality they were. Avaya bought the Nortel Enterprise Division the Good all the employees they took with them. The bad Hackney. If Avaya wants to be the NUMBER ONE enterprise company in the world Hackney will be shown the door. its just a matter of time.

  • nortelbob25

    For a very long time it was known that you had to be Canadian to be a senior Exec at Nortel. But does it really matter the money corrupted all of them no matter what nationality they were. Avaya bought the Nortel Enterprise Division the Good all the employees they took with them. The bad Hackney. If Avaya wants to be the NUMBER ONE enterprise company in the world Hackney will be shown the door. its just a matter of time.

  • Moose_Chaser

    This is complete BULLSHIT.

    The sale of Nortel Enterprise Solution to Avaya completed on Dec 21, 2009.

    The prep for the Olympics takes YEARS.

    Shut this goddamned blog down, there is really nothing here to discuss !

    MC

  • protosphere

    It is just that the last 2 CEO's were Americans. However, in all fairness, they did exponentially less damage than Dunn alone who is Canadian. So you gentlemen may be correct. None of which were engineers let alone telecom savy. My apologies.

  • protosphere

    The point is Nortel was the initial sponsor of the Olympics which is a pretty big national event Canada is hosting.

    Now that Nortel's lights at East Mall HQ and Richardson Tower are turned off, it is news and interesting that Avaya is picking up the ball for the sponsorship. I guess they will also maintain supporting this event's communications.

    I am sorry you feel there is nothing to discuss, this is BS or boring but others post and no one but you feels this way or is so rude.

    If you feel so strongly, why do you post or at least indicate what you feel has merit to discuss. Instead, who cares when Avaya took it over or how long the preparation takes…. what does this have to do with the weather? Your claims sound bizarre mad hatter.

    The Olympics is big news in Canada, even though they might not interest you let alone Nortel's disappearance here too.

    Perhaps it is you who should shut something else than advocate doing so here with no merit or substantiation as to why.

    There is plenty to discuss. Wait until the fraud trials on both sides of the border and the misleading their latest CEO/CFO are getting sued for. Fascinating and scarey stuff yet to come no one else seems to feel is BS, boring, or advocates silencing it.

  • yes4aapl

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb5zpALTy88&feat…
    Diana wants to save as much as possible
    Please all who can help her
    yes4Diana

  • bankrupt_bob

    Puck them all!

  • bankrupt_bob

    Maybe the “management” was spending so much time working on the Olympics thingy, they forgot to run the company!?

  • Moose_Chaser

    End this blog !
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    MC

  • scalppeeler

    Probably the best thing that could happen given the circumstances.
    Nothing wrong with stamping on American Flag on it because like it or not
    America is Canada best friend, confidant, partner and they are connected for life.
    America keeps Canada safe at night.

  • less

    Le'ts see – summer vs. winter games, special Olympics vs…. maybe Nortel could initiate their own games played by Nortel rules.

    Halfway through a marathon, perhaps, the Nortel runner literally goes off on their own, declaring “This is the Way.” decides when and where the finish line is, and wins the gold.

    The Nortel skiier cries “no end to this race is imminent” as others compete, but shuts the race down a few seconds into their own run, resulting in the fastest recorded time. Gold!

    The Super G (super giant slalom) which “has at least 35 changes of direction for men and at least 30 changes of direction for women… is longer than the giant slalom but shorter than the downhill” is simply renamed the Super Z, a de facto directionless downhilll fall that ends after 5 years with the loser proud of a job ell done. No gold medal there, but a $12 mio purse is given
    .

  • Teleguy

    There is if you have the former Nortel Toronto peeps to impress. ;)
    Mark was never very knowledgeable about the industry, but he knows where his future bread is buttered.

  • horace_grimswold

    Is there any sign of Mike Zafirovski resurfacing out in the world?

    Drive thru captain at McDonald's?

    McKinsey consultant chain saw repairman?

    Baby seal clubber?

  • horace_grimswold

    I missed your point. Could you please repeat it?

  • whopperscan

    Not much of a surprise decision. Avaya gets to wave the Canadian flag a bit having taken over a part of a now-dead Canadian icon. Get some publicity, spin on business continuity, makes something out of Nortel's last gasp marketing effort.
    Only surprising thing I can see is that the Canadian Olympic committee left the job unfilled for so long…. normally there are any number of takers for that.

  • whopperscan

    “We get all our information from leaks and on the street,” said a solution provider. “They gave a partner briefing a few weeks ago, and it was basically the complete party line. Not as informative as it could have been. We're getting our updates from Google Alerts.”

    That's very much Nortel behavior by Avaya…. not a good start. Beats me why they're hiring so many (failed) Nortel execs. Especially moving out an established performer in Govt Solutions, and replacing him with a pretty well discredited and untrusted Hack. That guy earned a global reputation in Nortel for having a short temper and being autocratic know-all. The “proof” of his expertise in published ops results was usually spun, or just wrong (just one e.g: this guy was THE prime sick sigma exec, which earned a very bad reputation with the troops in the business)

  • bankrupt_bob

    To all youses who want to shut down this blog, participation here is voluntary, isn't it? So maybe you should just exercise your freedom to simply go away? Otherwise, since Misery definitely loves Company, I'd like it to stay at least until nortel breathes its last dying breath. So I say, “Blog on!” Where else can you get this level of free entertainment? ;>)

    Disclaimer: All toe stomping was completely inadvertent.

  • scalppeeler

    Have to agree that the olympics is big in Canada and Vancouver
    has gone all out getting ready for this. Congratultions to them.
    Unfortunately for the official opposition of iggy, jack and bob rae are they all
    yammering and stammering with anger due to the prorouge of parliament.
    You see they are very upset that they can't wail over jihadist terroirst detainee treatment at their hands of their own people in Afghanistan. They would rather tie up parliament with this BS issue no real canadian or at least loyal ones care about. Only university profs, the simple naive mind of the university student or terrorist sympathizers care about it. We could be talking about how pensioners get shafted, the travesty of the official languages act in places such as pakenham, the wanton waste of money for multiculturalism and the brokenhagen debacle and wondering why we are sending our tax dollars to african despots and killers when we should be keeping it. The opposition could be praising the military everyday but they would rather do this. Congrats to Mister Harper. Let;s all enjoy the olympics and if we have to hear the word “detainee” in parliament when they return let's turf all those clowns.
    God Bless America and Canadian troops.
    Avaya please do a good job with the olympics. You are advertising
    the greatest nation on earth in Canada regardless of all its foibles.

  • http://nortelinsider.wordpress.com/ Desk Jockey

    Great to see how you were such an active proponent of this blog until you were lucky enough to get a job with Avaya. (Along with Joel Hackney I might add)

    Just because you were fortunate enough to find some measure of relief from this whole mess doesn't mean others were. If you don't like this blog, leave like others have.

    Or you can continue to post your useless driveling comments here… that would be the true definition of BS.

  • protosphere

    Some one should end this attention seeking spoiled brat's ID and access here instead. This rogue mad hatter is starting to becoming a nuisance. What exactly is it protesting anyway? Amusing him?

  • Lookahead

    I support this blog, appreciate Mark's work to keep it alive. Hatreds to this blog are anti-democarcy and anti-free-speech law.

  • protosphere

    RCMP is short staffed, OSC is like fox looking after hen house, yet investigators for RCMP came from OSC!

    OSC head makes a multiple of SEC's to manage by far less.

    OSC works closely with industry operating contrary to their primary watchdog task. We need a National regulator, like the OSC. Who trusts BC mining companies? Lots of fraud out there, tons. What don't we know.

    All any lawyer wanting to fast track their career to ruin has to do is work for the OSC and just try to do the right thing. Like that good lawyer who got ousted to Montreal.

    High circles club, Nortel fined zero for largest fraud in Canada, RIM got precedent fine of 75M for options backdating so they can look like they are doing something.

    OSC is corrupt to the bone and at every extremity. I am horrified more attention has not been paid to this area.

    Conrad Black said:
    “The Toronto directors with the help of their lawyers and the the Ontario Securities Commission, vacuumed up huge fees, bought themselves fancy toys while the shareholders equity went to zero.”

    “The people responsible for this commercial miracle have pocketed about $300 million for their spoliation, persecution, and theft, and they have been blessed at each stage by Canadian and American courts and regulators.”

    As you rightly state, I predicted almost all of this.”

    ____________________________________________________

    Even ex-insider CFO Currie called SEC their friends who fined them so little for one of the largest frauds on earth, as we witness events at the highest circles and among our most influential elite turning a blind eye or worse yet supporting their big business pals through enormous liberties.

  • protosphere

    “Avaya please do a good job with the olympics. You are advertising
    the greatest nation on earth in Canada regardless of all its foibles.”

    Yes, and please stop advertising there is no better time to buy Nortel or that 9 out of 10 top 500 fortune companies buy Nortel while maintaining Nortel's Hack, stigma, and ongoing gross misleading.

  • protosphere

    He will never average 10 Mill a year again.
    He was at the right place and time climbing the ranks at GE for stagnant decades before moving on to MOT where they passed him by by for CEO.

    This green CEO gambled climbing up with Nortel, unable to take MOT people with him, as he secured places for his GE inexperienced pals. Even Hack of all people got parachuted to Avaya.

    He risked, he lost, Nortel is gone. Who would be interested in him now?

    All the black belt Ninja cost cutting skills are a\naot beyond the realm of common sense, with any special talents than warrant the vast majority of boards and directors multi-millions a year, like commissioned sales people with or without a golden territory.

  • less

    Its been argued on occasion here by a few that AAN was actively contributing to Nortel's demise, but I've yet to see any stats supporting that claim.

    But, hey, I'll stop blogging if anyone steps up to buy my posts @ $1 per. And, yes, would I accept money from Mike Z personally.

  • less

    Some worry that it invayariably gets the Americayn Treatment: C<bi>avaydian flag, Olyampic games, javayalin throw, tickets avayalible,,,,

  • Moose_Chaser

    Geezuz – I liked your videos but enough already !

    WHO CARES ?! IT IS OVER !!

  • mikeblevans

    Joel Hackney likes to get a dong up the bunghole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • mikeblevans

    Mike Z works as a greeter for Walmart! Hackneys stacking boxes in the back room.

  • less

    There aren't enough Walmarts and MdDs out there to accdomodate all former Nortel employees.

  • Looking4Work

    Hey Buddy,

    Maybe it's over for you because you have a job at Avaya.
    Many of us are still interested in Nortel and how it impacts our future.
    We have families who depend on us having continued employment.

    Mark, please continue the amazing work. This is the only place to get reliable information on Nortel.

  • scalppeeler

    I think the real story here is what will the weather be like in Vancouver.
    Lots of fretting there based on current mild conditions.
    I don't know what the forecast is for february there, but if it is mild
    there in january february can't look good. It does not have the same weather pattern
    or jet stream behaviour as ontario or the east.
    Avaya has already been paid so they don't lose money.
    The big loser is NBC. They expect to lose two hundred million minimum.
    Poor NBC. Bad ratings, No good programming, late night debacle, no football
    this year and now the olympic bad news.

  • http://nortelinsider.wordpress.com/ Desk Jockey

    Moose Chaser represents some of the worst of what was one Nortel. You know what I'm talking about. These were the employees who were so quick to complain about Nortel's problems but also so smug when others got the boot during layoffs.

    These hypocrites were too cowardly to do anything about it but seemingly lucked out getting a life line from Avaya just like the Choker did. And just as before, they are smug as ever, awash in their own ignorance.

  • Moose_Chaser

    whatever.

  • http://nortelinsider.wordpress.com/ Desk Jockey

    Moose Chaser represents some of the worst of what was one Nortel. You know what I'm talking about. These were the employees who were so quick to complain about Nortel's problems but also so smug when others got the boot during layoffs.

    These hypocrites were too cowardly to do anything about it but seemingly lucked out getting a life line from Avaya just like the Choker did. And just as before, they are smug as ever, awash in their own ignorance.

  • Moose_Chaser

    whatever.

  • iloveNORTELXOXOXO

    well i have to said something very important, Avaya can give me the first kiss on my ass, because i will be with my Norstar Meridian Telephones forever, you wanted know why? because i do have in my house in Orlando Fl, The Norstar system 8×24 install it in one of my houses with 23 Nortel Meridian M7310 and my parents house i do have the 3×8 Norstar system with 8 T7316e phones in my own company in Orlando i do have 2 Norstar systems 8×24 and 24 + 24 is 48 M7324 and M7310 in total and in my house of village in Miami fl i do have 12 M7310 phones install it with the Norstar system 6×16, and my brother has a dealer ship of Mercedes and BMW vehicle and he receive a lot a lot of phone calls everyday and he got 37 T7316e telephones and in my brother house he got 7 M7310 telephones and finally we do have a storage in Key west in Miami and WOW WOW WOW we do have 2,500 differents telephones like a the M7208 M7310 M7324 T7316 T7316e and they all new, mmmmmmmmmmmmm and one thing DO I NEED A TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR UPGRADDING MY PHONE SYSTEMS OR UPDATE MY TELEPHONES AND MY ALL NORSTAR SYSTEMS???? mmmmmmmmm i don't think so, why? because we my 5 brothers and 4 sisters includding my Father and my mother my auncles wish is in total 9 and relative to the family, WE ALL TECHNICAL SUPPORT WITH NORTEL NETWORKS SINCE LONG TIME I CAN TELL SINCE BACK IN 1990 UNTIL TODAY 2010 FOR FOREVER SO there is no way Avaya can introducing anything in our business matter the only telephone company we acept is NORTEL NETWORKS, oh my god this is good and who ever wants a technical support for Norstar systems and telephones we are happy to assist you. So keep using your Norstar Meridian system and your Nortel Meridian telephones and close the door to Avaya.

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