Polycom and Microsoft just announced an expanded agreement to deliver integrated end-to-end unified communications (UC) that will encompass Microsoft branded software, hardware, networking and services, and will enable customers to improve business productivity and reduce travel, telecom and IT operating costs.

What Does This Mean for the ProAV market?

According to Polycom, they’re partnering with Microsoft to develop best of breed, natively integrated UC solutions that are guaranteed to work now and into the future (future-proof). In other words, both see Cisco as a threat and they both want to maintain leadership positions and commitments.

Although no specifics were released, Polycom will be developing a broad base of solutions for Microsoft Communications Server “14” and beyond including:

• New and next-generation Polycom CX series endpoints optimized for Microsoft UC, featuring Polycom’s market-leading HD video and voice technologies
• New, innovative room-based video systems designed specifically for enabling direct integration with Microsoft Communications Server “14”
• Additional interoperable solutions between Polycom’s existing and future video conferencing solutions.