Dubai Civil Defense Plans to Enhance Emergency Response and Security with the Avaya Flare™ Experience

DCD becomes the first organization in the region planning to deploy the Desktop Video Device at 16 centers to increase speed and efficiency of emergency services

DUBAI, UAE – Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) has become the first government organization in the region planning to deploy the Avaya Flare™ Experience. The Avaya Flare Experience is an industry-first family of next-generation, real-time enterprise video communications and collaboration products and services that delivers unique collaboration capabilities and an intuitive end-user experience across video, voice and text.

On the sidelines of INTERSEC, the largest exhibition and conference for security and safety in the Middle East, officials from Dubai Civil Defense and Avaya announced plans to deploy Avaya Flare desktop devices at its Dubai headquarters and 15 centers across the emirate of Dubai.

As the government department responsible for protecting human lives and property during fires and other emergency situations, the groundbreaking Avaya Flare Experience can provide DCD with a uniquely compelling multi-modal collaboration experience that enhances the efficiency of its security and response systems by increasing communications and collaboration across DCD’s network. Offering quick and easy access to real-time communications and collaboration tools by eliminating the need to use different interfaces, the Avaya Flare Experience coupled with the Avaya Desktop Video Device will allow DCD branch officials to collaborate with headquarters personnel using desktop video, audio, web conferencing and instant messaging.

“In times of emergency, it is critical to reach out to officials closest to ground-zero. Face-to-face interaction enabled by the Avaya Desktop Video Device will enhance control in crisis situations and eliminate unnecessary travel between centers for briefings and other updates. As Dubai Civil Defense modernizes its communications approach to meet the safety and security needs of the Emirate, the deployment of the Avaya Flare Experience is as strategic as it is crucial,” said Major General Rashid Al Matrooshi – Director of General Department of Dubai Civil Defense. “Avaya is the first communications vendor to provide collaboration capabilities that will enhance our emergency response between the headquarters and centers, speed up inter-branch decision making, and drastically reduce our travel and administration costs.”

“With the Avaya Flare Experience, we can enable DCD with a breakthrough collaboration experience which will dramatically expand communications capabilities in times of crisis as well as enabling better and more cost-effective day-to-day communications across different centers.  Streamlining these processes will help DCD to respond to emergencies and make faster decisions. This is the true value of the Avaya Flare Experience,” said Nidal Abou-Ltaif, vice president – Emerging Markets, Avaya.

DCD is planning on deploying the Avaya Desktop Video Device, a cost-effective desktop video collaboration endpoint, at the Dubai Civil Defense headquarters in Al Qusais, Dubai and each of its centers allowing heads of each branch to interact with the headquarters. In addition to HD video, it integrates with social media, calendars and email from a single user interface on a multi-touch device.

In addition to seamlessly integrating with DCD’s existing Avaya emergency response systems, the Avaya Flare Experience can consolidate tools such as a desk phone and video endpoint, to enable ad hoc, person-to-person collaboration for DCD officials. Deployment of the Avaya Flare Experience is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2011.

DCD has partnered with Avaya for over two years, relying on Avaya solutions for communications needs and the reliable and cost-effective management of its IP Telephony and notification systems network operations.

About Avaya

Avaya is a global leader in enterprise communications systems. The company provides unified communications, contact centers, data solutions, and related services directly and through its channel partners to leading businesses and organizations around the world. Enterprises of all sizes depend on Avaya for state-of-the-art communications that improve efficiency, collaboration, customer service and competitiveness. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.