First Orion Announces Partnership with AVANT Communications

Leading branded calling provider expands access to product suite by adding leading technology services distributor as a channel partner   

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark., September 9, 2024 – First Orion, the leading provider of branded calling solutions for enterprises, today announces its partnership with AVANT Communications, a platform for IT decision-making and the nation’s premier Technology Services Distributor (TSD) for next-generation technologies. By partnering with AVANT, First Orion significantly expands the distribution of its branded calling solutions, providing AVANT’s extensive network of Trusted Advisor partners with even deeper access to industry-leading solutions like First Orion’s branded calling technologies. This partnership enables First Orion to further solidify its presence in the market by leveraging AVANT’s robust platform and deep industry relationships. 

“Partnering with AVANT is a significant step forward in our strategy to broaden First Orion’s market reach through powerful channel partners. This collaboration not only expands our distribution but also reinforces our commitment to delivering top-tier branded communication solutions to a wider audience,” said Mike Coleman, SVP and Channel Chief at First Orion. “We are currently branding over six million calls per day and continue to accelerate branded calling usage across the U.S. With AVANT’s extensive experience, sales network, and distribution channels, we are confident in our ability to meet the growing demand for branded calling and enhance business-customer connections.”   

Enterprises across every industry vertical are struggling to connect with customers via their mobile phones due to consumers mistrusting calls from unknown numbers. A survey by First Orion revealed that nearly 9 in 10 people don’t answer calls from numbers they do not recognize. First Orion’s branded calling solutions address this challenge by prominently displaying the business’ name, logo, and reason for calling on the recipient’s device during the call and in the call log afterward. By providing more transparency in the phone call, branded calling improves engagement rates, customer experience, and operational efficiency, leading to a better bottom line.   

“The collaboration with First Orion is another valuable expansion of our technology services portfolio,” said Drew Lydecker, President of Avant Communications. “Our partners are always looking for innovative ways to help their clients improve customer interactions. First Orion’s branded calling solutions deliver that—combining transparency with cutting-edge technology to create more meaningful connections.” 

First Orion’s Branded Communication products INFORM®, AFFIRM®, and SENTRY® help enterprises improve customer experience, operational efficiency and brand reputation. INFORM allows enterprises to display a custom 32-character text display featuring their name, purpose of the call, and more across the three major U.S. mobile carriers, ensuring clear and recognizable communication. AFFIRM enables businesses to automatically monitor their calling programs, providing real-time insights into how their calls are presented on mobile devices, which is crucial for maintaining brand consistency and trust. SENTRY offers a critical layer of protection by blocking illegally spoofed calls, ensuring only legitimate, authorized communications reach consumers—a key feature for industries handling sensitive information, such as financial services and healthcare. 

For more information about First Orion’s Branded Communication solutions, visit firstorion.com. 

About AVANT 
AVANT is a platform for IT decision-making and the nation’s premier distributor for next-generation technologies. AVANT provides unique value to its extensive network of Trusted Advisors with original research, channel sales assistance, training, and tools to guide decision-making around IT services that promote business growth. From complex cloud designs to global wide-area network deployments to the latest in security services, AVANT sets the industry standard in enabling its partners and clients to make intelligent, data-driven decisions about services, technology and cost-effective communications. For more information, visit www.goavant.net, or connect on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

About First Orion: 
Since 2008, First Orion has transformed the phone call experience for businesses, carriers and consumers through its industry-leading communication branding and protection solutions. The global telecommunications solutions provider helps businesses generate more revenue, increase efficiency, and improve the customer experience by empowering them to brand their phone calls with their name, logo and reason for calling. First Orion also provides the industry’s most secure calling experience and best-in-class analytics for call program optimization. As the market leader in branded calling, First Orion is a trusted partner to Fortune 500 companies and the largest U.S. mobile carriers. For more information, visit firstorion.com.  

Media Contact: 
First Orion 
Media@firstorion.com