BT and Polycom Announce New Partnership To Accelerate Growth of Unified Conferencing Solutions Worldwide

18 November 2009

BT Group, one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, and Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in telepresence, video and voice communication solutions, announced today a new three-year agreement designed to accelerate the growth of unified conferencing solutions within enterprises and public sector organizations around the world.

Under a new global agreement, the companies will combine Polycom's industry-leading voice and video communications and telepresence solutions with BT's renowned managed services and global, high-speed MPLS network. The solutions will include jointly developed innovations that enable business-to-business collaboration for multinational companies, large organizations, and small- and medium-sized enterprises.

To ensure that future solutions offer the industry's most innovative features, BT and Polycom have collaborated on software development that brings BT's Bridge Connect services to the scalable Polycom RMX conference infrastructure. This joint development on the Polycom RMX also allows BT to deliver VNOC services and intercompany B2B services, through BT's Global Video Exchange, in support of Polycom immersive telepresence solutions. Additionally, Polycom RMX has been chosen by BT in the company's initiative to upgrade existing video bridging infrastructure.

With the first set of offerings expected to be available by year's end, the companies' unified conferencing solutions will be powered by BT's global multi-protocol label switching network, which is available in more than 120 countries worldwide. Both companies are continuing joint development on Polycom immersive platforms and will be releasing additional value-add services in the near future.

The agreement also includes plans to add Polycom-certified technical support specialists to BT's global support operation, including its 24x7 "follow the sun" help desk services as well as leverage a new global support program that is also part of the agreement.

"BT and Polycom have the unique ability to provide our customers with the unified conferencing solutions that they require," said Aaron McCormack, CEO of BT Conferencing. "Working closely with BT's global sales force, I am pleased with our partnership and the significant potential revenue stream it will represent for both BT and Polycom."

"BT is a strategic partner for Polycom," said Robert C. Hagerty, chairman, CEO and president of Polycom. "The joint solutions we create will enable people to connect and collaborate everywhere. Coupling Polycom's acclaimed voice and video communications solutions with BT's unparalleled success in serving enterprises and public entities alike, this alliance creates a uniquely formidable industry force."

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