Polycom ties up with Microsoft Lync for unified communications push

Polycom and Microsoft have extended their collaboration on unified communications hardware and the Lync communications platform, and will offer Lync on Polycom hardware and services for VoIP handsets, desktop systems and videoconferencing platforms.

Among the new products is the CX7000 videoconferencing system that provides access to Lync content sharing and collaboration systems through an interface similar to the Lync desktop software.

John Antanaitis, vice president of product marketing at Polycom, told V3 that the CX7000 integrates a familiar interface with the company's enterprise marketing platforms.

"As an end user, you have the comfort and familiarity with the Lync interfaces. Instead of being met with a relatively foreign solution, there is a keyboard and mouse and a Lync interface on a flat-panel or projector screen," he said.

Polycom is also looking to integrate Lync with upcoming products, including mobility and full-room conferencing systems.

Antanaitis explained that Polycom has seen growing interest in Lync from customers of its conferencing and unified communications hardware platforms, but that businesses have concerns about integration and bandwidth management.

"Often, organisations are a little [reticent about] Lync. Those customers are asking how to go about managing the hardware investments and Lync experience," he said.