Avaya will make it possible to turn an iPhone into a node on the corporate PBX network, something iPhone users (if not corporate phone executives) want.

Avaya is announcing today an iPhone version of its one-X Mobile client software that communicates with corporate Avaya VoIP PBXs, giving the phones quick access to PBX phone-extension functions, such as conferencing, three-digit dialing and voice mail. The software will be available early next year.

Users of an iPhone equipped with the one-X client can dial through an Avaya Communication Manager server, and the caller ID on the receiving phone will display the desktop phone number of the caller. Similarly, calls to the desktop phone number can be made to ring on the iPhone, Avaya says. The iPhone also can access work voice-mail.

Avaya iPhone support could solve a problem faced by IT executives worried about employees using unauthorized devices on the corporate network. With the one-X client, iPhones and their corporate use would be managed. A recent survey by IDC says 70% of current or likely iPhone users would want to use the devices at least in part for work.

Also this week, Avaya is announcing one-X Mobile support for RIM, Palm, Java and WAP mobile devices.

In addition to the client software, Avaya one-X Mobile requires server software, which supports Avaya Communication Manager and Cisco CallManager IP PBXs.