PLEASANTON, CA, Aug 09 (MARKET WIRE) —
Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) has signed a multi-year, strategic global
agreement with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) to deliver integrated
end-to-end unified communications (UC) and to improve customers’ business
productivity. Under the agreement, Polycom plans to develop and market
standards-based UC solutions that span the enterprise, small-to-medium
business, and government markets, that will encompass software, hardware,
networking and services, and will enable customers to improve business
productivity and reduce travel, telecom and IT operating costs.
Polycom and Microsoft share a vision for business productivity solutions
built on standards-based platforms that work with the tools and
applications people know and use today. The companies’ strategic
agreement is a major step towards streamlining communications across
messaging, video and voice with connected applications and devices.
“Microsoft and Polycom solutions play a critical role within our current
and future unified communications strategy,” said Martin Smale, IT
director at NDS, a News Corp. company. “We’re already benefiting from
improved collaboration, increased productivity, and significant ROI based
on our existing UC network, and we’re looking forward to leveraging the
expanded offerings from two of our most valued vendors in the UC space.”
“Our research shows that nearly 70 percent of the companies considering a
unified communications solution are thinking of deploying Microsoft
Office Communications Server,” said Brent Kelly, senior analyst and
partner at Wainhouse Research. “These enterprises need seamless
integration and interoperability between Office Communicator on the
desktop and personal, group, and telepresence video solutions like those
offered by Polycom for executive offices, meeting suites, and conference
rooms. By working together, Microsoft and Polycom are making it easier
for organizations to have a true end-to-end unified communications
environment, which includes high definition video.”
Offering a broad portfolio of integrated solutions spanning voice, video
and application integration for Microsoft UC, this agreement makes
Polycom a member of Microsoft’s key strategic global alliance for the
company’s UC business. As part of this long-term strategic agreement,
each company is investing in product development, sales, and marketing.
Through resources, investments, and strong field engagement, Polycom and
Microsoft will deliver rich, compelling UC solutions, offering customers
the flexibility to deploy the features that help them lower their costs,
improve productivity and meet their unique business needs.
“Microsoft and Polycom are committed to a roadmap that will deliver
interoperable UC solutions with choice and innovation in video
conferencing and customer devices that will help transform enterprise
communications,” said Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of
Unified Communication at Microsoft. “By integrating video, voice, instant
messaging and conferencing solutions, Microsoft and Polycom give
customers the ability to be present, anytime, anywhere.”
“Polycom and Microsoft deliver a winning combination to our customers
around the globe by delivering seamless, easy-to-use, high-definition
communications at the click of a mouse,” said Andrew Miller, Polycom
president and CEO. “Polycom is 100 percent committed to delivering
best-in-breed, standards-based, fully interoperable UC solutions to
market, and Microsoft is integral in helping us achieve this goal and
meet the needs of our customers.”
Product Development
The roadmap entails Polycom developing a broad base
of solutions for Microsoft Communications Server “14″ and beyond,
including:
– New and next-generation Polycom CX series endpoints optimized for
Microsoft UC, featuring Polycom’s market-leading HD video and voice
technologies
– New, innovative room-based video systems designed specifically for
enabling direct integration with Microsoft Communications Server “14″
– Additional interoperable solutions between Polycom’s existing and
future video conferencing solutions
Global Polycom / Microsoft UC Go-to-Market Initiatives
– Sales resources and training
– Integrated marketing campaigns
– Collaboration to develop and support channel partners
– Polycom participation in multiple Microsoft Technology Centers around
the globe, with active demos already available in Atlanta, Chicago,
New York, London, and Paris
– Global governance and cadence around voice and video UC solutions
– Common messaging and industry presence to drive adoption of UC
To learn more about the agreement, watch this video of Gurdeep Singh
Pall and Andy Miller discussing the news.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) is a global leader in unified
communications solutions with industry-leading telepresence, video, voice
and infrastructure solutions built on open standards. Polycom powers
smarter conversations, transforming lives and businesses worldwide.
Please visit www.polycom.com for more information or connect with Polycom
on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Copyright 2010 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. POLYCOM(R), the Polycom
“Triangles” logo and the names and marks associated with Polycom’s
products are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc. and are
registered and/or common law marks in the United States and various other
countries. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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Contact:
Art Pettigrue
Microsoft
+1.425.538.0687
artp@microsoft.com
Robin Raulf-Sager
Polycom, Inc.
+1.303.583.5302
robin.raulf-sager@polycom.com
Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
