Polycom, a global leader in open, standards-based unified communications and collaborations, has unveiled a video colloboration solution that enables a around-the-table experience for all participants of a conference.

The first 360-degree, panoramic 1080p HD video collaboration solutions was custom-built for Microsoft Lync 2013 – the CX5500 and CX5100 unified conference stations.

The new Polycom CX5500 delivers enterprise-grade video and audio collaboration capabilities in an easy-to-use system that can be plugged into a USB port on a laptop, and it also doubles as a SIP audio conference phone providing the industry’s best audio quality.

The Polycom CX5100 provides the same HD panoramic USB video experience for customers who don’t require standalone conference phone connectivity.

For organisations with Microsoft Lync environments, the new conference stations enhance communications and collaboration by providing more productive and efficient meetings.

The station is placed in the centre of a meeting room table and it enables a natural conversation that addresses the need to collaborate and engage simultaneously with those in the room (around the table) and other participants who are remote.

The new systems can also be used in combination with the recently announced Lync room system, bringing together center-of-table 360-degree cameras with a built-for-Lync video room system that includes touchscreen monitors and a tabletop touch controller.

“The strategic alliance we’ve built with Microsoft over the past several years continues to deliver innovative collaboration solutions that provide Polycom and Lync customers with an unrivaled experience,” said A E Natarajan, senior vice president, Worldwide Engineering, Polycom.

“Our custom-built for Lync solutions such as the new panoramic video collaboration experience, andour leading portfolio of Lync interoperable offerings, enable Polycom and Microsoft to win business from organisations seeking UC&C solutions that empower people to collaborate however, wherever and whenever they want.” - TradeArabia News Service