Skype & Polycom launch USB speakerphone: more to come

by Stuart Corner

Tuesday, 02 May 2006

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Skype Speaker phone

Polycom and Skype have joined forces to launch a co-branded USB speakerphone for use with Skype as the first in what the Skpe and the conferencing systems developer say will be a range of "integrated, high-quality communications solutions for businesses who use Skype".

While many enterprises block Skype, Skype estimates that business customers make up 30 percent of its more than 100 million registered users.

The first joint product from the alliance is the Polycom Communicator, a Skype certified, co-branded USB speakerphone that incorporates Polycom's Acoustic Clarity technology to provide hands-free, two-way voice communication for Skype voice and video conversations, it is claimed without echoes or feedback.

The Polycom Communicator is designed for use with the recently-launched Skype for Business offering. In addition to the core speakerphone capabilities, the Polycom Communicator also offers high-quality audio output for playing music, games, etc from a laptop or desktop PC.

Skype for Business includes the Skype for Business Web site (www.skype.biz) a resource dedicated to business support, and the Skype for Business Control Panel (formerly named Skype Groups) to simplify management of grouped users and prepaid services. Skype for Business is claimed to be especially effective for companies with fewer than 10 employees, a market represented by more than 50 percent of businesses already using Skype.

The Polycom Communicator will be available worldwide within 60 days through Polycom certified channel partners and through the online Skype store at www.skype.com/store for $US129 in North America.

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