Microsoft forges deal with Polycom

BANGALORE: Expanding their decade-old relationship, Microsoft Corp has entered into an agreement with Polycom, as per which the latter will provide a new series of video collaboration solutions purpose-built for Skype for Business.

This series of products is part of Polycom’s and Microsoft’s efforts to bring the world’s more than 50 million meeting rooms of all shapes and sizes into the digital age, enhancing collaboration for businesses of all sizes, a release said.

The first device, Polycom RoundTable 100, is a video solution for huddle rooms that allows small to midsized businesses (SMB) and teams with Skype for Business and Microsoft Lync 2013 to enjoy rich collaboration experiences, including voice, video and content collaboration, simply by logging into their Skype for Business account, it added.

The RoundTable 100 will not require corporate domains or on-premises infrastructure and it can be used without assistance from IT.

Polycom CX series of video collaboration solutions, including the Polycom CX8000 room system, and the Polycom CX5100 and Polycom CX5500 unified conferencing systems, also will become part of the Polycom RoundTable series of products.

In addition, Polycom VVX business media phones will be the first phones to support the forthcoming cloud voice service offering as part of Microsoft Office 365.

“Together, Microsoft and Polycom have a joint vision to deliver collaboration experiences that help our customers defy distance. We are now expanding our solutions to allow SMBs, as well as large enterprises, to reap the benefits of video collaboration,” said Peter Leav, President and CEO, Polycom.

“Our partnership with Microsoft has never been stronger, and over the years, it has fortified a market demand for collaboration experiences that help make our customers successful.”

“Collaboration is the cornerstone of productivity, and people need tools that work the way they do—across locations and devices,” said Zig Serafin, corporate vice president, Skype Business Services Group, Microsoft.

“Throughout our long-standing partnership with Polycom, we’ve shared a goal of delivering collaboration experiences that transform the way people work. The RoundTable 100 serves as another important step in helping businesses of all sizes to realise that goal,” Serafin added.