Polycom, Microsoft partner on affordable UC solution

Unified communications specialist Polycom is partnering with Microsoft to launch a telepresence solution that lowers the price of high-end videoconferencing to a range that SMBs and enterprises will find more affordable.

Polycom's new CX7000 videoconferencing system integrates tightly with Microsoft's Lync collaboration tools, creating a solution that gives customers an intuitive interface, simplified UC experience and more seamless telepresence.

The single-box, plug-and-play system comes with a $10,000 price tag and could help Polycom fight off competitors like Vidyo and Logitech, which have been driving down the cost of telepresence relentlessly. The UC market itself, meanwhile, is forecast to grow at a 15.2 percent CAGR.

Polycom President and CEO Andrew Miller said the new platform was designed to take advantage of the expanding market and offer an easy-to-use experience.

"The power of UC is to eliminate barriers to teamwork and bring people face-to-face. Polycom and Microsoft share a passion for delivering easy-to-use UC solutions that transform businesses into highly collaborative environments," said Miller.

The unified communications market is growing at a rapid pace. An independent report from Gartner predicts video endpoint systems will grow at a 15.2 percent CAGR through 2015.

For more:
- see this release
- see this ComputerWorld article

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