Polycom, Inc. and Microsoft Corp., on Thursday announced an expanded relationship through which Polycom plans to deliver a new series of video collaboration solutions purpose-built for Skype for Business called Polycom RoundTable. The first device in this new offering is the Polycom RoundTable 100, an affordable and easy-to-use video solution for huddle rooms that will allow small to midsized businesses (SMB) and teams with Skype for Business and Microsoft Lync 2013 to enjoy rich collaboration experiences, including voice, video and content collaboration, simply by logging into their Skype for Business account.
 
The RoundTable 100 will take just minutes to set up and start using, and it will not require corporate domains or on-premises infrastructure, making it easy to use without assistance from IT.
 
“Together, Microsoft and Polycom have a joint vision to deliver collaboration experiences that help our customers defy distance. We are now expanding our solutions to allow SMBs, as well as large enterprises, to reap the benefits of video collaboration. Our partnership with Microsoft has never been stronger, and over the years, it has fortified a market demand for collaboration experiences that help make our customers successful,” said Peter Leav, Polycom President and CEO.
 
“Collaboration is the cornerstone of productivity, and people need tools that work the way they do—across locations and devices. Throughout our long-standing partnership with Polycom, we’ve shared a goal of delivering collaboration experiences that transform the way people work. The RoundTable 100 serves as another important step in helping businesses of all sizes to realise that goal,” said Zig Serafin, corporate vice president, Skype Business Services Group, Microsoft.
 
The companies also announced that the Polycom CX series of video collaboration solutions, including the Polycom CX8000 room system, and the Polycom CX5100 and Polycom CX5500 unified conferencing systems, also will become part of the Polycom RoundTable series of products. Together, this series of products is part of Polycom’s and Microsoft’s efforts to bring the world’s more than 50 million meeting rooms of all shapes and sizes into the digital age, enhancing collaboration for businesses of all sizes. In addition, Polycom VVX business media phones will be the first phones to support the forthcoming cloud voice service offering as part of Microsoft Office 365.
 
Polycom and Microsoft have worked in tandem for more than a decade to make collaboration easier and more intuitive. Since Microsoft’s entry into unified communications, Polycom has developed the broadest portfolio of voice, video and content collaboration solutions that integrate with and are qualified by Microsoft. RoundTable solutions will add to Polycom’s portfolio of more than 40 existing solutions that integrate with Lync and Skype for Business.
 
The Polycom RoundTable 100 for Skype for Business is planned for availability mid-2015.