Telephony hardware provider Polycom has forged a partnership with BT to deliver new videoconferencing offerings.

The two companies will work together on a three-year project to build a unified conferencing platform for enterprises, and hope to begin rolling out the first products by the end of the year.

Under the deal, Polycom will develop and distribute videoconferencing hardware, which will then be packaged with services on BT's MPLS communications network.

"BT and Polycom have the unique ability to provide customers with the unified conferencing solutions they require," said BT Conferencing chief executive Aaron McCormack.

"Working closely with BT's global salesforce, I am pleased with our partnership and the significant potential revenue stream it will represent for both BT and Polycom."

For Polycom, the partnership also provides a way to keep pace with recent moves by rivals. Cisco has for weeks been pursuing an acquisition of Tandberg, while Logitech recently upped its standing in the teleconferencing market by acquiring LifeSize.

"Coupling Polycom's acclaimed voice and video communications solutions with BT's unparalleled success in serving enterprises and public entities alike, this alliance creates a uniquely formidable industry force," said Robert C Hagerty, Polycom chairman and chief executive.