Polycom this week unveiled tighter integration of its video conferencing
systems with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Exchange
e-mail server, and has also introduced a new 42-inch all-in-one HD video
conferencing solution.
The moves come as Polycom has sharpened its focus on tighter integration
with other vendor partners for video conferencing and unified communications to
compete against rivals Cisco/Tandberg and Logitech/LifeSize. Cisco
acquired video conferencing player Tandberg, and Logitech
acquired video conferencing upstart LifeSize, both late last year.
Polycom’s recent announcement regarding Microsoft integration follows other
similar announcement with companies including BT
and Siemens.
Polycom also recently announced updates
and improvements to its channel partner program.
Polycom’s newly announced Microsoft integration enables “presence-based contact
capabilities”—users can see if other users are online and can click on their
contact information to chat, place a voice call or place a video call.
Polycom’s expanded Microsoft integration also includes a video scheduling
solution for Microsoft Exchange and Outlook. Now not only can users schedule
video meetings, but they can also schedule the resources—video conference rooms
and equipment—to facilitate those meetings.
Polycom created the tighter integration by creating an embedded software
Microsoft Exchange client for its HD video conferencing codec device. The
client can be deployed to Polycom’s existing HDX video conferencing systems and
is preinstalled on new HDX systems, according to Laura Shay, director of
product marketing at Polycom.
The integration essentially makes video conferencing part of Microsoft Exchange
and Outlook’s workflow.
Polycom is also adding support for the ICE protocol, which enables companies to
federate each other’s “presence”—enabling workers at one company to “see” if
workers from the other company are online and available for chat or a phone
call or video conference.
Polycom is also adding the ITU-T H.264
protocol, which enables HD-quality video in half the bandwidth. The new
protocol makes HD video a possibility for companies that communicate with
workers in home offices, doctors' offices and rural physicians, and others who
may be using lower-bandwidth connections and video conferencing over the public
Internet.
“It also, in essence, cuts bandwidth costs in half,” Shay said. “You don’t have
to choose that protocol. If both parties have it available, it’s automatically
going to engage that protocol.”
Polycom’s new integrations will be available in Q2, according to Polycom.
Polycom is also introducing the HDX 6000, an all-in-one video conferencing
package that includes the codec and HD camera for $5,000, making the device
affordable for small businesses.
The price point goes against the value-focused market for HD video conferencing
initially addressed by startup LifeSize in offerings that did not include the
display.
Shay says Polycom’s training for the channel will be updated to ensure that
partners know how to sell and implement the solutions.
“We are really committed to making sure the channels are training and supported
and comfortable with what could be a very complex offering,” Shay told Channel
Insider.
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Messaging and Collaboration 
