Unified
communications specialist Polycom announced the launch of RealPresence Ready,
an open video collaboration platform aimed at small to medium-size businesses.
The system includes two HDX 6000 room systems, one HDX 7000 system and five
Telepresence m100 software licenses. The solutions are modular so that SMB
customers can add components such as Polycom Eagle Eye Director, telepresence
m500 for tablets and the VVX 1500business video phone down the road.
“There’s
something about seeing the person you’re working with that a voice alone can’t
provide,” said Gene Crosby, chief operating officer at Jackson Spalding, an
Atlanta-based firm of 80 creative professionals who develop advertising, media
and public relations campaigns. “We need to be able to communicate
face-to-face, internally and with our clients, even if we aren’t in the same
place. When looking for affordable, high-quality and secure video conferencing
capabilities, we needed to weigh the investment carefully. Choosing Polycom
telepresence solutions was easily the smartest purchase we made last year, and
we’ve seen amazing results. Polycom improves our productivity and the work we
do, and our employees and clients feel much more engaged.”
Launching
this week, a new cloud-based “Virtual Room” service from 8x8, enabled by the
Polycom UC Intelligent Coresoftware platform, will include Polycom HDX video
solutions and Polycom VVX business media phones. 8x8's Virtual Room service
allows users to join meetings via video and audio devices as well as Web telephony
and smart mobile phone clients.
Another
new offering from Polycom’s ecosystem is BroadSoft’s BroadCloud Video service,
a cloud-based, hosted infrastructure that integrates with existing service
provider offerings and Polycom UC solutions to create more video conferencing
service-option packages for SMBs to choose from. Additional Polycom service
provider partners plan to announce cloud-based video solutions in the coming
months. Polycom, in concert with the Open Visual Collaboration Network, is also
working with many partners and service providers to offer cloud-based video
conferencing services to companies of all sizes.
“Polycom
has built a strong business in the SMB market over many years with tens of
thousands of customers across many industries that choose Polycom for our
commitment to interoperability, highest quality and lowest TCO,” said Susan
Hayden, executive vice president at Polycom. “As the demand for affordable and
easy-to-use video solutions continues to grow, we’re doubling down on our SMB
initiatives and accelerating the pace at which we’ll bring innovative software
solutions to market—delivered on premises or from the cloud to any end point—room
systems, desktops and mobile—while ensuring the best video experience at the
most compelling price point. When customers choose Polycom open
solutions, they can be assured that all their communications systems will work
together seamlessly today and as their businesses grow.”
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