Polycom unveils telepresence products for SMEs and large enterprises

Polycom has announced three new products designed to offer SMEs and large enterprises room-based telepresence systems to maximise their videoconferencing capabilities.

The firm believes that the SME videoconferencing market will see dramatic growth as open protocols boost uptake in a similar way to mobile and email communications.

Polycom has launched a new desktop system, the Telepresence m100, which can be used on Windows and Mac machines and communicates with any other standards-based telepresence systems including H.323 and SIP.

The m100 follows Polycom's push to get videoconferencing technology on smaller form factor devices after unveiling the m500 for tablets at Mobile World Congress for the Samsung Galaxy Tab and later for the Motorola Xoom.

Daniel Weisbeck, Polycom's marketing director for Europe, told V3.co.uk at the company's London headquarters that the new products will allow firms to manage the rise of video traffic on their networks.

"By using video compression technology we can reduce the bandwidth HD calling takes up on networks by up to 50 per cent so that firms can use tablets or laptops for video calling over Wi-Fi to help move beyond premise-based systems," he said.

Polycom has also launched the HDX4500 for small businesses that want an all-in-one system with a reduced form factor, providing a 24in, 1080p HD screen with the video codec hardware attached to the screen to save space.

The device runs on the Polcyom Open Collaboration Network so that it can link with Microsoft, HP, IBM, Juniper, Siemens, McAfee and Avaya systems, and uses Polycom's bandwidth reduction technology.

Lastly, for companies with room-based systems, Polycom has launched the EagleEye Director, a camera that uses audio triangulation technology to focus on the person speaking in a crowded room so that those listening know who is talking.

The product is also designed to be aware of brief interjections, and remains focused on the key speakers even if others make quick comments.

"We have had the product in beta testing with some of our large enterprise customers to help refine the product, and we think this really is a game-changer in the market as there's nothing else out there like this," Weisbeck said.

The EagleEye Director and the HDX4500 are available now through channel partners starting at £5,999 and £7,899 respectively. The Telepresence m100 will be available from June but pricing is yet to be confirmed.