Polycom Inc.
(
PLCM
) - the market leader in open standard based unified
communications ("UC") affirmed that it has entered into a
strategic agreement with
AT&T Inc.
(
T
), to offer cloud-based video conferencing services to different
organizations. According to the company, the collaboration will
mobilize and virtualize video meetings, thereby easing the video
communication process for the businesses.
As part of the new initiative, AT&T will install the
Polycom RealPrecense platform into AT&T Telepresence Solution
Video Infrastructure, thus enabling the telecom giant to offer
on-demand virtual meeting room capabilities for its business
customers. The flexible and easy to use video conferencing
service will increase customer choice under the interoperability
platform and will be delivered through AT&T Business
Exchange.
Polycom's RealPresence is a state-of-the-art unified
communications technology that integrates video conferencing and
instant messaging while enabling data transfer from one
communications platform to a different platform. Recently,
Polycom collaborated with the research division of
IBM
(
IBM
) to explore and develop new cloud-based video technologies that
will run on its RealPresence platform.
To date, organizations used to buy the call control gear,
which when joined with mobile endpoints connected video meetings
for them. But now, AT&T wants to build its own call control
infrastructure, so that customers can simply use it by paying a
monthly fee. This approach will help the customers to reduce
their capital expenditure on equipment, thus enabling them to get
the services at a lower cost.
The service from AT&T enables multipoint video
connectivity within the same company and will additionally
provide high definition video services. The tie up will not only
allow the AT&T Telepresence Solution customer's access to
Polycom's RealPrecense video platform in 40 countries but will
also open a new revenue stream for AT&T.
Cloud-based video conferencing service is on the rise as
organizations around the world look to accelerate their video
enabled communication. AT&T's expanded business customer base
provides a significant opportunity for Polycom to expand its
RealPrecense platform. Previously, AT&T had an exclusive tie
up with
Cisco Systems Inc.
(
CSCO
) for its Telepresence Solution.
We believe that this strategic partnership with AT&T will
boost performance for Polycom and strengthens its position in the
immersive Telepresence market, where it has been battling with
Cisco for the top position.
We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on Polycom
Inc. Currently, it holds a short-term Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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