LONDON and PLEASANTON, CA -- 11/18/09 --
BT Group, one of the world's
leading providers of communications solutions and services, and Polycom,
Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM), the global leader in telepresence, video and voice
communication solutions, announced today a new three-year agreement
designed to accelerate the growth of unified conferencing solutions within
enterprises and public sector organizations around the world.
Under a new global agreement, the companies will combine Polycom's
industry-leading voice and video communications and telepresence solutions with
BT's renowned managed services
and global, high-speed MPLS network. The solutions will include jointly
developed innovations that enable business-to-business collaboration for
multinational companies, large organizations, and small- and medium-sized
enterprises.
To ensure that future solutions offer the industry's most innovative
features, BT and Polycom have collaborated on software development that
brings BT's Bridge Connect services to the scalable Polycom RMX conference
infrastructure. This joint development on the Polycom RMX also allows BT to
deliver VNOC services and intercompany B2B services, through BT's Global
Video Exchange, in support of Polycom immersive telepresence solutions.
Additionally, Polycom RMX has been chosen by BT in the company's initiative
to upgrade existing video bridging infrastructure.
With the first set of offerings expected to be available by year's end, the
companies' unified conferencing solutions will be powered by BT's global
multi-protocol label switching network, which is available in more than 120
countries worldwide. Both companies are continuing joint development on
Polycom immersive platforms and will be releasing additional value-add
services in the near future.
The agreement also includes plans to add Polycom-certified technical
support specialists to BT's global support operation, including its 24x7
"follow the sun" help desk services as well as leverage a new global
support program that is also part of the agreement.
"BT and Polycom have the unique ability to provide our customers with the
unified conferencing solutions that they require," said Aaron McCormack,
CEO of BT Conferencing. "Working closely with BT's global sales force, I am
pleased with our partnership and the significant potential revenue stream
it will represent for both BT and Polycom."
"BT is a strategic partner for Polycom," said Robert C. Hagerty, chairman,
CEO and president of Polycom. "The joint solutions we create will enable
people to connect and collaborate everywhere. 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."
About BT Conferencing
BT Conferencing was established more than 20 years ago and is now one of
the leading global providers of audio, video and web collaboration
services. Year on year growth has seen the company out-perform the
conferencing industry expectation and with its extensive global portfolio,
is now one of the largest conferencing providers in the UK and Europe with
current reach in more than 70 countries. BT Conferencing is based in the
USA, EMEA and Asia Pacific and specializes in the delivery of reliable,
robust and innovative conferencing solutions and product hardware to some
of the largest companies in the world.
The company offers tailor-made solutions to customers, whether they are
small SMEs or major global businesses. With businesses now juggling to
increase productivity, being more environmentally aware and at the same
time looking to improve the work-life balance of its employees,
conferencing and collaboration services provide a cost effective and time
saving solution.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/conferencing.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and
services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the
provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and
international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home,
at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and
converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of
four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT
Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group's revenue was £21,390 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT
Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT
Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) is the global leader in telepresence, video,
and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people
to connect and collaborate everywhere. Visit www.polycom.com for more
information and follow us on Twitter @AllAboutPolycom.
© 2009 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. POLYCOM®, the Polycom
"Triangles" logo and the names and marks associated with Polycom's products
are trademarks and/or service marks of Polycom, Inc. and are registered
and/or common law marks in the United States and various other countries.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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Contact:
Caroline Japic
Polycom, Inc.
+1.408.474.2265
Email Contact
