CNX ANIXTER

Polycom has signed a global strategic agreement with Microsoft Corporation to provide end-to-end integrated Unified Communications (UC) solutions and to improve customers’ business productivity. With this agreement, the manufacturer of industry leading solutions for telepresence, video, voice and open standard-based infrastructures unites its strength with Microsoft software intelligence, to achieve a leading positioning in the Unified Communications market.

Joint Commitment for Product Development
One of the foundations of the alliance is the joint development of UC solutions built on standards-based platforms that work with the tools and applications people know and use today across different markets, such as the retail, SMB and government markets and including software, hardware, communication networks and services.

As part of the long-term strategic agreement, both companies are investing hard in the development, selling and marketing of products to offer advanced, appealing UC solutions capable of providing customers with the flexibility and interoperability needed to operate functions which, in turn, will help reduce costs, improve productivity and meet the specific needs of every organization.

This alliance implies Polycom will be developing a wide variety of solutions for Microsoft Communications Server “14”, including Polycom CX series endpoints with HD technologies, especifically designed for conference room-based video systems and additional interoperable solutions.

Transform Business Communications
The synergy between the two companies represents a major step towards streamlining communications across messaging, video and voice with connected applications and devices.

"Microsoft and Polycom are committed to a business roadmap that will deliver interoperable UC solutions with choice and innovation in video conferencing and customer devices that will help transform enterprise communications," said Gurdeep Singh Pall, corporate vice president of Unified Communication at Microsoft. With this proposal, both companies will be working with solutions that will change the way we interact with colleagues, customers and partners through a more effective, personalized, expansive collaboration experience.

An End-to-end Integrated Solution
According to a research carried out by Wainhouse Research, approximately 70 percent of companies planning to incorporate UC solutions are thinking of implementing Microsoft Office Communications Server. Therefore, integration and flexible interoperability between the Office Communicator and personal, group, and telepresence video solutions like those offered by Polycom becomes essential.

"Polycom and Microsoft deliver a winning combination to our customers around the globe by delivering seamless, easy-to-use, high-definition communications at the click of a mouse," said Andrew Miller, Polycom president and CEO. "Polycom is 100 percent committed to delivering best-in-breed, standards-based, fully interoperable UC solutions to market, and Microsoft is integral in helping us achieve this goal and meet the needs of our customers," he added.

With this agreement, Anixter channels and end users now have the opportunity to access a complete portfolio of leading, powerful, fully integrated UC solutions.