Millions of Microsoft customers may soon be able to use their smartphones for virtual meetings, collaborating remotely via telepresence. Polycom (Nasdaq: PCOM) is making its telepresence solution part of Microsoft’s Lync unified communication platform, extending a partnership that is already a key part of Polycom’s business. Lync allows users to communicate using voice, video and instant messaging, and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has said the software is set to become its next billion-dollar business. Lync is expected to be available on Android, iOS, BlackBerry and Windows phones before the end of year.
Today, Polycom begins shipping its CX7000 product, a video collaboration solution built to integrate with Microsoft Lync. Polycom also said that it has expanded interoperability with Microsoft Lync to additional Polycom SIP-based wired and wireless voice products.
Training, telemedicine, customer service and project collaboration are all proven uses of telepresence, or videoconferencing. Cisco, which competes with Polycom through its Tandberg telepresence division, says that enterprises spend more than $2 billion a year on videoconferencing.
Polycom reported $1.2 billion in revenue last year. The company is based in Pleasanton, Calif., and employs about 3,200 people, including 200 at its Austin office. Polycom is currently hiring at several locations worldwide.
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Microsoft, Polycom team up on mobile telepresence
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