Microsoft’s vision for unified communications breaks down today’s silos of e-mail, instant messaging, VoIP, telephony and conferencing, allowing people to communicate and collaborate more effectively with colleagues, customers and partners.
Polycom will develop and market integrated business-class UC SIP voice end-points beyond its previously announced integration. The new products will include integrated desktop devices that leverage the presence awareness, instant messaging, and new telephony and VoIP capabilities of Microsoft’s unified communications platform. Polycom say the solutions will bring the richness of the PC together with the familiarity and voice capabilities of the desktop telephone enabling users to easily find and communicate with customers, partners and co-workers within a more secure environment.
“Industry-leading companies such as Polycom will play a significant role in the development of real-time collaboration solutions using our unified communications platform,” said Zig Serafin, general manager of the Unified Communications Group at Microsoft Corp. “Polycom is a recognised brand in enterprise communications and will bring high-quality voice and video products that are integrated for a Microsoft unified communications environment. Through our cooperative efforts, we will enable businesses to make better decisions faster by connecting people, information and business processes in a seamless fashion.”
Today’s announcement expands Polycom’s commitment to Microsoft environments with new SIP desktop voice devices that will leverage the instant messaging, presence, and new integrated telephony and VoIP capabilities of Microsoft unified communications platform, including wideband voice communications (14 kHz). These devices will also support auto provisioning, management and configuration of Microsoft’s UC platform, enabling use in a dynamic and mobile work environment.