Polycom advances state of VoIP with first Polycom HD Voice desktop phone,
delivering lifelike, high fidelity voice quality well beyond the
capabilities of existing phones.
PLEASANTON, Calif. and BOSTON, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- (VON
Conference Booth #729) Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the world's leading
provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today unveiled
Polycom HD Voice, a revolutionary technology that advances the most
important communication tool in business, the telephone, with
unprecedented, lifelike, high-fidelity voice quality. In conjunction,
Polycom unveiled the world's first VoIP desktop phone to feature Polycom HD
Voice, the SoundPoint(R) IP 650, which raises the bar for business
communications with quality, clarity and richness well beyond the
capabilities of existing traditional and VoIP phones. Polycom is
demonstrating the SoundPoint IP 650 with Polycom HD Voice at the VON
Conference Sept. 12-14, 2006 at the Boston Convention Center (VON booth
#729).
"The telephone remains the most critical communication tool in
business, yet studies show that two-thirds of the frequencies in which the
human ear is most sensitive, and 80 percent of the frequencies in which
speech occurs, are beyond the capabilities of the public telephone
network," said Jeffrey Rodman, co-founder of Polycom and chief technology
officer of Polycom voice communications division. "People are accustomed to
mediocre phone call quality because there hasn't been an alternative --
until now. VoIP gives us a new network dynamic to deliver a broader
spectrum for voice communication and dramatically improve the user
experience. Polycom HD Voice smashes the quality barrier of traditional
telephony by leveraging broader frequencies and incorporating leading
technology developed in Polycom's labs."
Polycom HD Voice solutions incorporate leading technologies that
Polycom has developed through more than 15 years in voice communications,
including wideband audio, enhanced signal processing, Acoustic Clarity
Technology(TM)2 (including next generation technologies for transparent
full duplex, echo cancellation, dynamic noise reduction, automatic gain
control and microphone management) and specialized system design to deliver
unrivaled clarity and richness. This enables better clarity and improved
intelligibility of information, which significantly improves comprehension
and productivity and reduces listener fatigue.
"Polycom HD Voice represents the next wave in VoIP, showing customers
that VoIP communications quality can be vastly superior to that of
traditional phones," said Will Stofega, research manager, VoIP Services at
IDC. "We have seen how VoIP offers greater flexibility, expanded
integration options and long-term cost saving opportunities. Now we are
beginning to see how the voice quality and user experience can be much
better than we are accustomed to, and there will be no looking back."
"Polycom is delivering the UltimateHD(TM) experience that focuses on
all elements of communication and collaboration to provide the best
possible quality, performance and overall value to customers," said Sunil
Bhalla, senior vice president and general manager of voice communications
at Polycom. "Polycom HD Voice sets a new standard for voice quality by
leveraging our proven, market-leading technologies. Customers want to
communicate more efficiently and Polycom HD Voice is like going from AM
radio to CD quality, providing enhanced clarity in communications and
collaboration, and ultimately improved productivity. Polycom HD Voice is
the third element in our UltimateHD strategy, which also includes currently
shipping HD video bridges and an HD video conference recording and
streaming server. Next quarter we will add the fourth component, HD video
conferencing systems, delivering an unrivaled end-to-end solution."
SoundPoint IP 650 -- the first VoIP phone with Polycom HD Voice
Leveraging the benefits of Polycom HD Voice, the SoundPoint IP 650
desktop phone sets the new standard for IP telephones. The SoundPoint IP
650 with Polycom HD Voice delivers unprecedented voice quality, high
performance, and expandability to appeal to all users, including executives
who require advanced features and applications, and telephone attendants
who need multiple line support and enhanced call handling capabilities.
The SoundPoint IP 650's innovative micro-browser feature gives managers
and executive users the ability to access XHTML-based applications, from
the latest stock quotes to the weather forecast. The phone's Polycom SIP
2.0 software fully supports Microsoft Live Communications Server 2005 for
telephony and presence, and integrates with Microsoft Office Communicator
instant messenger client. The phone also features a USB port for future
applications.
The SoundPoint IP 650 accommodates six lines in a standalone mode and
up to 12 lines or 24 concurrent calls when equipped with up to three
SoundPoint IP Expansion Modules, as an attendant console. The phone
supports shared call/bridged line appearances that enable effective phone
interaction between executives and administrative assistants and the busy
lamp field (BLF) functionality that allows phone attendants to monitor the
on-hook and off-hook status of key contacts and dispatch incoming calls for
those contacts more efficiently.
The SoundPoint IP 650 delivers all of its capabilities through an
intuitive user interface, featuring a high-quality, backlit 320x160
graphical grayscale LCD display, an easy-to-navigate menu, and a
combination of twenty- six dedicated hard keys and four context-sensitive
soft keys for one-button access to essential telephony features. The phone
is easy to install and set up, with a two-port Ethernet switch, built-in
auto-sensing Power over Ethernet circuitry, and can be centrally
provisioned and upgraded from an FTP, TFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server.
Pricing and Availability
The SoundPoint IP 650 will be available for order in Q4 2006 in most
countries around the world for a MSRP of US$449 through Polycom certified
VoIP resellers.
Polycom reserves the right to modify future product plans at any time.
Products and/or related specifications referenced in this press release are
not guaranteed, and will be delivered on a when and if available basis.
About Polycom
Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative
communications (UCC) that maximize the efficiency and productivity of
people and organizations by integrating the broadest array of video, voice,
data and Web solutions to deliver the ultimate communications 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 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 organizations seeking
proven solutions and a competitive advantage in real-time communications
and collaboration. For additional information call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266)
or +1-408-526-9000, or visit the Polycom website at http://www.polycom.com.
NOTE: Polycom, the Polycom logo and SoundPoint are registered
trademarks and SoundPoint IP, Acoustic Clarity Technology and UltimateHD
are trademarks of Polycom in the U.S. and various countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE Polycom, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.polycom.com
CONTACT:
Kevin Young of Polycom, Inc.,
+1-925-924-5706, or kyoung@polycom.com
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