Polycom launches on-demand collaboration solutions

Polycom, Inc. [NASDAQ: PLCM], the world’s leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today announced Polycom ARENA™, an ecosystem programme enabling software applications providers, hardware device manufacturers, and conferencing solution providers to integrate their products with the industry’s leading unified collaboration platform to create new applications for customers in a variety of industries. Inaugural Polycom ARENA partners Audisoft, GlobalMedia Group, IP Access International, One Touch Systems, Revolabs, Simtrol, VBrick Systems and VR Meetings today unveiled standards-based, integrated solutions for key collaboration growth markets including education, healthcare, manufacturing, telejustice and public safety. For example, the new integrated solutions enable surgeons and pathologists to see tissue samples being diagnosed in real time over video while the patient is in the operating room, or first responders or plant workers to interact with experts remotely using wearable wireless video communications solutions.

Polycom ARENA partners will demonstrate their new solutions within the Polycom booth (#2000) at the Infocomm conference and exhibition taking place June 19-21 in Anaheim, Calif.

“The Polycom ARENA programme is a catalyst for innovation and is yielding compelling new collaboration and communications applications that raise productivity and efficiency in the workplace,” said Mark Roberts, vice president, Polycom ARENA programme. “Customers benefit from the industry expertise of our Polycom ARENA ecosystem partners who are building standards-based solutions that fully interoperate with the Polycom unified collaboration platform and installed base of video systems.”

“The Polycom ARENA programme can help expand the applications for Polycom’s collaboration technology and accelerate the delivery of new solutions,” said Ira Weinstein, senior analyst, Wainhouse Research. “The programme gives ecosystem partners an opportunity to leverage the Polycom global brand and the Polycom unified collaboration platform to create new applications. It can also help channel partners expand into other vertical markets by providing a broader choice of standards-based solutions that meet customer needs in specific industries.”
Polycom ARENA ecosystem partners can develop, test and certify interoperability between their solutions and the Polycom platform of voice, video and content collaborative solutions. In addition to platform API’s for developers, the Polycom ARENA offers a number of marketing and sales tools for business development managers, marketing and sales professionals via online portal. These tools help partners speed up time-to-market their innovative unified collaborative solutions and reach out to customers worldwide. Examples of ecosystem partner solutions include:

Enhanced Collaboration Amongst Surgeons and Pathologists
Polycom ARENA partner GlobalMedia Group, LLC, a leader in telehealth solutions, today announced integration between its CapSure Digital Imaging solution and the Polycom unified collaboration platform, enabling surgeons in an operating room to see in real-time as a Pathologist diagnoses suspicious tissue removed from the patient. “Surgeons and Pathologists see the dynamic microscopic images simultaneously allowing for immediate communication of proper surgical margins through the Polycom/GlobalMedia integrated solution,” said Joel E. Barthelemy, CEO of GlobalMedia.

"The CapSure solution from GlobalMedia exhibits great potential to be a complete pathology laboratory system,” said Stephen W. Coons, M.D. Chief, Section of Neuropathology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. “Taking photographs is easy and the potential to store the images with the patient reports on the laboratory computer system is exciting. The quality of the on-screen images is superb and the ability to zoom in and out on the live image without switching between objectives is another great feature that sets the system apart."

Digital Arraignment Solutions for Local, State and Regional Governments Polycom ARENA partner Simtrol, Inc., a leading provider of software solutions for device rich environments, today announced it will provide digital arraignment solutions to local, state and regional governments based on Polycom video collaboration solutions. The Simtrol Curiax Arraigner provides courtrooms, jails and police precincts an alternate way to deal with the dangerous and costly logistical problems associated with the transport of prisoners and the overcrowding of court dockets. By integrating multipoint videoconferencing, digital document management, digital signatures and evidence into a unified platform, the solution substantially reduces the time and money associated with transporting prisoners to and from court for arraignments, while significantly improving court security and lowering law enforcement costs.

Wireless Mobile Video Goes Where Traditional Video Communications Cannot
Polycom ARENA partner AudiSoft Technologies, which develops, manufactures and markets high-end wireless audio/video communication systems for remote support, distance training and special education markets, today announced interoperability between Polycom video conferencing solutions and the Frontline Communicator, enabling wireless mobile video communications in areas where traditional video communication is not available. The Frontline Communicator, a light, rugged, ergonomic and hands-free solution that works on almost any type of network (WiFi – 802.11b/g, satellite, 3G, Mesh, WAN, wired, etc), allows users to be in the centre of the action and lets them share real-time video images of what they are seeing with colleagues or experts in other locations. This video communication solution has many applications: first responders (police, fire, rescue), health care applications (home care, remote support, in-field communication), journalism (on-the-scene reporting), exploration (mining, forest, oil and gas, etc.), large scale project management, etc.

Wireless Microphone Flexibility for Professional Audio and Video Applications
Polycom ARENA partner Revolabs, Inc., dedicated to enhancing enterprise collaboration and corporate productivity through innovative wireless solutions, today announced new, pre-configured, professional-quality room audio and microphone solutions that combine the award-winning Revolabs SoloTM wireless encrypted microphone family with the market-leading Polycom Vortex® audio processors. The integrated solutions deliver exceptional sound quality with wireless microphone flexibility for audio and video applications and feature plug-and-play capabilities that can significantly reduce installation time and cost.

Satellite Solution Enables Video in Remote Locations and Connectivity During Fibre Outages
Polycom ARENA partner IP Access International (IPA), a global business satellite internet, voice, video and data connectivity provider, today announced interoperability between Polycom’s IP video conferencing solutions and IPA’s high speed, low latency satellite networks with application-based Quality of Service. IP Access International’s fixed and mobile solutions over satellite are also designed for enterprises, government, and municipalities with requirements for mobile vehicles and remote locations without broadband. The solution is also frequently used by customers with terrestrial connectivity who require a business continuity solution over satellite in the event of a fibre network outage.

Floor Control and Measurement Capabilities Enable Effective Video Training for Large Groups
Polycom ARENA partner One Touch Systems, the company that increases the capacity for organisations to communicate with and train large numbers of geographically dispersed individuals, today announced the One Touch solution brings floor control, call management, and measurement and response capabilities to Polycom's industry leading video conferencing solutions. As the number of attendees in a video conference grows, the One Touch solution adds complete control of the audio interaction by the meeting leader to Polycom's high quality video and audio solutions. In addition, the One Touch database captures attendance data and responses to questions and polls - providing a gauge of participant understanding and buy-in, certifying qualifications and compliance, or serving as a basis for attendee accountability.

Integrated Video Conferencing and Streaming Ecosystem
Polycom ARENA partner VBrick Systems, Inc., the leader in streaming video appliances and Enterprise IPTV solutions, today announced integration with Polycom video conferencing systems to deliver an interoperable, combined ecosystem for Education, Government, and Corporate customers. The total solution makes it possible for any Polycom video conferencing endpoint to be broadcast to virtually anywhere in an organisation for viewing on desktops and displays. VBrick’s unique technology virtually eliminates the hassles of scale caused by firewalls, bandwidth, or network capability. Customers will have a solution for transporting, storing, and viewing other video assets as well. End users will enjoy an improved user experience along with cost savings from easier deployment and management.

Web Meeting Environment for On-Demand, Multi-Party Video
Polycom ARENA partner VRMeetings, Inc., a partner of NTT-IT, a subsidiary of NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company of Japan), the world’s largest telecommunications company, today announced planned interoperability between Polycom unified conferencing bridges and VR Meeting’s MeetingPlaza. VRMeetings is the Global marketer of MeetingPlaza, an “on demand” full duplex, web hosted VoIP audio/visual collaboration technology that provides synchronous (real time) multi-party communications. The Polycom ARENA partnership focuses on a Plug-in (gateway), MeetingPlaza GW that will allow equipment based providers like Polycom to offer Multi-party conferencing for remote participants using Polycom systems.



About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications (UCC) that maximise the efficiency and productivity of people and organisations by integrating the broadest array of high definition video, wired and wireless voice, and content solutions to deliver the ultimate collaborative experience. Polycom’s high quality, standards-based conferencing and collaboration solutions are easy to deploy and manage, as well as intuitive to use. Supported by an open architecture, they integrate seamlessly with leading telephony, workplace wireless telephony, and presence-based networks. With its market driving technologies, best-in-class products, alliance partnerships, and world-class service, Polycom is the smart choice for organisations seeking proven solutions and a competitive advantage from on-demand communications and collaboration. The NASDAQ-listed company is based in Pleasanton, California, USA, and has Asia-Pacific offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo. For additional information, visit the Polycom site at www.polycomasia.com.