For the Magic Quadrant, Gartner evaluates vendors along an axis of Ability to Execute - the proven efficacy and the success of their vision, and Completeness of Vision, which is a demonstrated articulation of roadmap, future customer needs and market direction. Gartner assigns vendors to the Leaders Quadrant based on having a full UC offering and a strong market presence and demonstrating success in the field. They have a strong presence in related markets to expand their footprint in UC. These vendors and their channel partners have experience delivering UC to a broad range of enterprise types and into most geographic regions.

The Gartner report states that midsize and enterprise UC market are now in the early mainstream adoption phase with best practices for deployment and end user adoption maturing. However, the firm finds that most enterprises are still operating with non-unified communications solutions. This may be due to the high stakes decision makers face relative to the cost, visibility and impacts of enterprise technology decisions for decision makers. 

According to Gartner, five UC characteristics will have an important effect on the success of a UC product and the satisfaction of users: User experience (UX); mobility; interoperability; cloud and hybrid, and broad solution appeal.

Avaya continues to focus on these characteristics as fundamental to its innovative solutions. At the heart of all Avaya unified communications innovations is the extension of a simple, powerful user experience that makes any channel available from any device. Avaya has been at the forefront of the mobile enterprise for over a decade, among the first to enable seamless, BYOD experiences for end users that has expanded to include web and video conferencing from virtually any device. In addition, demand for Avaya Collaborative Cloud is soaring as Cloud Service Providers and end customers seek to move into OpEx environments with Avaya Aura® unified communications capabilities.

Interoperability and broad solution appeal also mean that many companies need to accommodate a variety of vendors. Avaya’s open, mobile communications platform offers a "full stack" solution as well as allows integration of systems, devices and applications from multiple vendors that reflect the reality of most business IT environments today. Avaya Aura leverages SIP architecture to simplify networks, integrate applications and connect users at every location.

Additional Resources: Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications 2014