Polycom and Microsoft to integrate unified comms offerings

Stuart Corner
Monday, 09 August 2010 22:54

IT Industry - Strategy

Polycom has signed a multi-year, global unified agreement with Microsoft that it says represents a major step towards streamlining communications across messaging, video and voice with connected applications and devices.

Under the agreement Polycom plans to develop and market standards-based unified communication products - software, hardware, networking and services - for enterprise, small-to-medium business and government markets.

Specifically, Polycom will develop a broad base of hardware and software products for Microsoft Communications Server '14' and beyond, including:
- New Polycom CX series endpoints optimised for Microsoft UC, featuring Polycom's  HD video and voice  technologies;
- New room-based video systems designed specifically for enabling direct integration with Microsoft Communications Server '14';
- Additional interoperable solutions between Polycom's existing and future videoconferencing solutions

The two companies plan to conduct integrated marketing campaigns and to collaborate in the development and support of channel partners. Polycom will participate in multiple Microsoft Technology Centers around the globe: active demos are already available in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, London and Paris.

The agreement makes Polycom a member of Microsoft's key strategic global alliance for it unified communications business, and both companies say they will invest in product development, sales and marketing.

Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of unified communication at Microsoft, said: "Microsoft and Polycom are committed to a roadmap that will deliver interoperable UC solutions with choice and innovation in videoconferencing and customer devices that will help transform enterprise communications.

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