Polycom Telepresence Analysis

Telepresence means a better video conferencing with more sophistication for touch and feel. Telepresence is part of the larger concept of Unified Communication (UC).

Open Collaboration Network

On June 2011, Polycom announced 'Polycom Open Collaboration Network',a strategy to encourage greater collaboration between different technology vendors and service providers of similar technology. The idea is to encourage collaboration as a form of mitigating unhealthy competition by forging collaboration in terms of standards, technologies and best practices.

For Polycom's part, it presents the alliance with its 'Polycom UC Intelligent Core™ infrastructure', which consists of a set of technologies that is cloud ready, fabric oriented to serve as the core for telepresence while at the same time is able to support the collaboration with other technology vendors.

Collaborate With Microsoft Lync

One such example is collaboration with Microsoft UC solution; the first Telepresence solution interoperable with Lync (Microsoft Lync Server 2010).

Microsoft Lync Server 2010 is a set of software based technology for Unified Communication (UC). It delivers a fresh, intuitive user experience that brings together the different ways people communicate in a single interface.
  • Polycom's devices optimised for Microsoft Lync are designed for the highest levels of performance with Lync and offer Polycom HD Voice™, time-saving features such as single sign-in, calendar access, and advanced presence on vibrant color screen displays.
  • The Polycom video solutions also incorporate Microsoft's RTV codec, enabling communications throughout enterprises as well as B2B environments and across multiple collaboration tools.
  • Polycom's UC Intelligent Core infrastructure leverages Microsoft's Edge Server to traverse firewalls and enable federation between organisations that would otherwise not be able to collaborate via video or would require the additional cost and management complexity of gateways to connect.
What Microsoft's lack is the hardware, while Polycom gains the edge of supporting Microsoft existing customers.

HP Acquisition

On June 2011, Polycom announced that it is to acquire the assets of HP’s Visual Collaboration business, including the Halo Products and Managed Services business. In conjunction with this acquisition, HP and Polycom have agreed to establish a strategic relationship in which Polycom will serve as an exclusive partner to HP for telepresence and certain video UC solutions, including both resale and internal HP deployments.

This move allows Polycom to acquire larger customer base of existing deployments.

Open Visual Communications Consortium (OVCC)

On June 2011, Polycom initiated the formation of OVCC with leading service providers from around the world, having the core intention of establishing global open standards-based, multi-vendor, multi-network standards for communication exchange.

These service providers include the names of Airtel, AT&T, BCS Global, BT Conferencing, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, Global Crossing, Glowpoint, iFormata Communications, Masergy, Orange Business Services, PCCW Global, Telefonica, Telstra, and Verizon.

The benefits of establishing global open standards is many folds for end users, such as lower cost of adoption as well as being catalysts for middle tiers solutions providers which will translate into faster adoption of UC amongst end users and also to encourage untapped markets particularly in the verticals of business, education and healthcare.

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Comments

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