Polycom Expands Conferencing Line

Polycom Inc. is expanding its line of conferencing products with a focus on supporting a key voice-over-IP standard.

The Pleasanton, Calif., videoconference vendor this week announced its first conferencing phone that supports SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), a communications standard used in VOIP, and a new videoconferencing system for smaller conference rooms.

The new conference phone, the SoundStation IP 4000 SIP, adds to Polycoms VOIP support. The company already supports SIP on its VSX videoconferencing line and in its desktop IP-based phones, said Jim Kruger, vice president of marketing for Polycoms voice division.

Polycom already sold the OEM versions of the SoundStation IP 4000 to support the proprietary VOIP protocols of vendors such as Cisco Systems Inc. and Avaya Inc., Kruger said. The general SIP version of the phone woks with BroadSoft Inc. and Sylantro Systems Corp. VOIP environments, Polycom said.

The SoundStation IP 4000 SIP is available now, and pricing starts at $1,099.

/zimages/5/28571.gifClick hereto read more about Polycoms recent introduction of a wireless conference phone.

On the videoconferencing front, Polycom launched the VSX 6000, an entry-level system for smaller conferencing rooms. The system is built specifically for IP networks and does not include the ISDN support offered in other VSX products, said Michele Damerau, a senior product manager in Polycoms video communications group.

/zimages/5/28571.gifWhat about desktop videoconferencing?Click hereto read more about Polycoms partnership with Avaya.

Like other VXS products, the VSX 6000 offers high-quality, 14 kHz audio, among other features. The VSX 6000 is available now and pricing starts at $4,999.

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