Microsoft, Polycom Announce UC Partnership

Polycom, which already has partnerships with the likes of Hewlett-Packard and Avaya as it ramps up its competition with Cisco Systems in the unified communications space, is now hooking up with Microsoft.

The two companies announced a partnership Aug

The two companies announced a partnership Aug. 9 in which they will jointly develop and market integrated UC solutions that will include endpoints from Polycom and Microsoft's Communications Server 14 technology.

The combination of Microsoft's CS 14 offering and Polycom's CX series endpoints will give businesses a tightly integrated UC environment that brings together voice, data, video and application integration into what the companies say is a seamless package that runs from the desktop to boardrooms through high-end telepresence products.

UC is being touted by vendors, analysts and businesses alike as a way to increase employee productivity while reducing travel expenses. However, adoption is relatively low because many of the offerings on the market are "disjointed," according to Ashima Singhal, group product manager of UC partner marketing at Microsoft.

Polycom will optimize its CX series of endpoints—including the CX200 and 300 desktop phones, CX500 and 700 IP phones, and CX3000 IP conference phone—for Microsoft's CS 14 and later versions. The two companies also will develop room-based video systems that will be directly integrated with CS 14.

"Businesses are still trying to do more with less, and doing more with less doesn't include jumping on a plane [for business meetings]," he said.

Polycom has responded through partnerships. In January, Polycom announced deals with Juniper Networks and Siemens Enterprise Communications Group. Polycom in March announced an alliance with Avaya, and three days later announced a UC partnership with Hewlett-Packard.