Polycom strengthens partnership with Microsoft

Polycom announced an expansion of its portfolio of more than 40 offerings for Microsoft Lync to include the new Polycom CX8000 room system for Microsoft Lync, a video conferencing system that brings the power of Microsoft Lync to the conference room with HD video, simple room controls and an optional, centre-of-table experience with the industry's only family of 360-degree cameras for Microsoft Lync.

The Polycom CX8000 solution is a videoconferencing room system for Microsoft Lync that includes presence, contact search, instant messaging, HD video conferencing, HD audio, virtual white boarding, touch display-powered presentations, application sharing, editing on shared documents, and more. Tight integration with Microsoft Outlook will help users, both in the meeting room and remote participants, start and manage meetings more efficiently.

The Polycom CX8000 room system for Microsoft Lync includes several features that help users take advantage of Microsoft Lync 2013 such as built-in multiparty video and a better overall audio and video experience that leverages the open standards-based scalable video coding (SVC) implementation. The addition of lifecycle services helps drive adoption for video and voice collaboration in Microsoft Lync environments, ultimately increasing usage and driving a greater return on investment.

Bringing the next generation of 360-degree camera technology to the Polycom CX8000, Polycom plans to offer the Polycom CX5100 Unified Conference Station, upon completion of qualification, as an optional feature for the Polycom CX8000. The Polycom CX5100 system is the industry's only 360-degree, panoramic 1080p HD video collaboration camera and phone combination that delivers a centre-of-the-table experience and Polycom's legendary HD Voice. Polycom CX5100 can be used in conjunction with Polycom CX8000, as well as with computers through a USB connection.

"We turned to Microsoft and Polycom for a state-of-the-art and feature-rich unified communications solution that is easy to use and manage. Previously, we had been dealing with a very fragmented, aging and unreliable set of phone systems solutions from a range of vendors," said Arian de Wit, GM, Information & Technology for New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research.

"Companies of all sizes recognise the need to break down the barrier of distance between dispersed teams of customers, partners and employees to harness the benefits of collaborating together in real time to solve everyday challenges. The Polycom CX8000 room system for Microsoft Lync meets this need with an intuitive and natural experience," said Ted Colton, group VP, Strategic Alliances, Polycom.

The Polycom CX8000 room system for Microsoft Lync is available for order in select countries and will ship in March.