Microsoft taps Polycom for Roundtable tool on Skype for Business
As part of the barrage of news stemming from the previews, Microsoft said Skype for Business would offer enterprise voice in Office 365 with PSTN (public switched telephone network) calling and conferencing.
And in the tradition of tech partnerships, Microsoft tapped communications tech firm Polycom as part of its plan to push a rich portfolio of meeting devices purpose-built for Skype for Business.
Through an expanded relationship, Polycom will customize its video collaboration tool Polycom Roundtable specifically for Skype for Business, at a price point that makes the platform accessible for small to midsized businesses.
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The first tool to make landfall is the Polycom Roundtable 100, with an expected starting price of $1,000. According to the companies, the tool allows SMBs to experience Skype for Business in small meeting spaces, without requiring IT assistance.
Additionally, Polycom's VVX business media phones will be the first phones to support PSTN calling in Office 365. The video devices in the Polycom CX series of products (CX 5100, CX 5500, and CX 8000) will also become part of the Polycom RoundTable series of products.
"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," said Peter Leav, Polycom President and CEO, in a statement.