Polycom Launches New HD Video Collab Stations for Lync 2013
Polycom Launches New HD Video Collab Stations for Lync 2013 by UCStrategies Staff
Polycom unveils its two new HD video collaboration stations—CX5500 and CX5100 Unified Conference Stations—built for Microsoft Lync 2013. Both Polycom stations can give a 360-degree panoramic view of a room where conferencing is held. They are also equipped with a 1080p active speaker video, automatically tracking the conversation at 30 frames per second.
The new products are the recent additions to over forty other Polycom video, voice, and content sharing solutions interoperable or optimized for Lync 2010 or 2013.
The Polycom CX5100, which will be made available worldwide in September 2013, offers HD panoramic USB video for users who do not need standalone connectivity for a conference phone.
The Polycom CX5500, on the other hand, will become available in the fourth quarter of this year. It can be connected to a USB port of a computer and can double as a SIP audio conference phone. Polycom touts that the CX5500 is easy to configure and provision, thereby allowing for capital cost savings on IT and related training expenditure.
“The strategic alliance we’ve built with Microsoft over the past several years continues to deliver innovative collaboration solutions that provide Polycom and Lync customers with an unrivaled experience,” said A.E. Natarajan, senior vice president of worldwide engineering at Polycom. “Our custom-built for Lync solutions such as the new panoramic video collaboration experience, and our leading portfolio of Lync interoperable offerings, enable Polycom and Microsoft to win business from organizations seeking UC&C solutions that empower people to collaborate however, wherever and whenever they want.”
Polycom announced at the Microsoft 2013 Worldwide Partner Conference that its entire portfolio of Polycom VVX business media phones was qualified for Lync 2013. And in August 2013, Polycom UC Software 5.0 will be released as a free upgrade for users on maintenance support of VVX business media phones. The software updates will include new features, such as search functionality for address book contacts and call transfer or call park.
Also, later in 2013, Polycom will deliver a software extension to the RealPresence platform. The software extension will enable interoperability between Microsoft Lync 2013 and the entire line of Polycom’s standards-based content sharing and video collaboration solutions. (KOM) Link. Link.