Polycom, a provider of unified communications technology, has
closed the deal for Hewlett-Packard's visual collaboration
business. The deal not only gives Polycom the HP visual collaboration
business, but it also makes Polycom the exclusive partner to HP
for telepresence and certain video UC solutions, including both resale
and internal HP deployments. The two companies also agreed to make
Polycom's video applications available for HP's webOS platform, in
keeping with Polycom's commitment to enable mobile UC as an element in
its UC Everywhere vision.
Under the terms of its agreements with HP, Polycom provides
expertise in software technology and UC infrastructure and solutions,
covering the full continuum of integrated and secure mobile, desktop,
room and immersive telepresence solutions. HP provides its expertise in
go-to-market strategies for UC solutions and will resell Polycom's UC
solutions including mobile, personal and group UC devices, UC
Intelligent Core software platform, UC managed services, and
audio/video software.
The acquisition includes the assets of HP's visual collaboration
business, including the Halo telepresence products and managed services
business. Polycom picks up customer sites with many Global 500
customers across 36 countries. For current Halo and Halo Video Exchange
Network customers, Polycom said it would deliver continued services and
support.
"Polycom is excited to close this acquisition and we welcome Halo
customers to Polycom. We're looking forward to our expanded strategic
relationship with HP, to offer customers an end-to-end UC solution with
an unparalleled user experience, open standards-based interoperability,
the industry's best TCO, investment protection through backwards- and
forwards-compatibility, and ease of deployment," Andrew Miller, Polycom
president and CEO, said in a statement. "HP has enormous global reach,
and our broadened relationship with the company is another important
step in meeting Polycom's commitment to bring the most advanced and
innovative UC solutions to market – from mobile video applications and
UC software to room and immersive telepresence solutions. In addition,
Polycom and HP share a strategic ally in Microsoft, and we believe our
combined offerings will provide transformative benefits and value to
customers worldwide."
In addition to HP, Polycom works with a diverse channel community
representing multiple routes to market, including distribution
partners, value added resellers, service providers and systems
integrators.
"Clients are seeking ways to enable their employees to share
information faster, increase responsiveness and ultimately improve
productivity," Arthur Filip, vice president and general manager of
technology consulting at HP, said in a statement. "HP works with
clients to create their unique Unified Communications strategy,
transforming their communications infrastructure to improve
collaboration and business responsiveness. By collaborating with HP and
Polycom, clients will benefit from an end-to-end UC solution that will
address their needs today and in the future."
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