Video Conferencing news & articles

Polycom Announces UltimateHD (23rd October 2006)

Polycom announces UltimateHD collaboration architecture for virtual meetings that rival in person meetings in quality of detail and resulting efficiency and productivity. Polycom UltimateHD enables the only complete high definition solution with HD voice, video, multimedia content, bridges, servers and services.

PLEASANTON, Calif. Oct. 23, 2006 Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM), the world's leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today redefines the very nature of the virtual encounter with the industry's only complete high definition (HD) communications and collaboration architecture known as UltimateHD.  Unlike other high definition solutions, which can only focus on delivering the requisite video resolution, HD solutions adhering to the UltimateHD architecture enable a total high definition solution for every aspect of the experience affected by high definition: HD video as well as HD voice, HD multimedia content, HD bridging, HD recording/archiving/streaming, and supporting HD services.

The result are solutions that deliver a highly engaging virtual experience never before possible that rivals the efficacy of in-person meetings, enables new types of detail-oriented applications, and increases personal and team efficiency and productivity while eliminating the fatigue from remote collaboration. The UltimateHD experience and solutions from Polycom are now available at your desktop, in the conference room, in the classroom, and in the hospital or doctor's office. UltimateHD is an open architecture which enables discrete solutions to be used with great flexibility; adding functionality and expanding availability of high definition voice, video, content, infrastructure and services to additional types of systems as business needs change. With UltimateHD solutions, customers can transition to high definition smoothly from their existing investments. 

Polycom began delivering components based on the UltimateHD architecture last year with the Polycom MGC/MGC+, the only multipoint bridges that support true high definition and are capable of scaling to support 90 concurrent high definition sessions. In the spring of this year, the company introduced the only scalable high definition recording and streaming server, the Polycom RSS 2000. At VON last month, Polycom introduced HD Voice systems with the VoIP SoundPoint(r) IP 650 handset and plans to introduce a new VoIP conference phone in the second quarter of 2007 that will enable users to launch HD video sessions directly from the conference phone.

At the annual, independent Polycom User Group (PUG) conference beginning today in Orlando, Polycom further extends its high definition offerings with HD video and HD Readiness services. The new Polycom HDX video platform brings high definition to the desktop, group system, and to Practitioner Cart healthcare systems (for more detail on these high definition video systems see today's accompanying release entitled, Polycom HDX Delivers High Definition Video Communications Solutions with Unrivaled Flexibility).

For more information visit www.polycom.com

« Back to News Listing

back to top

Glossary

Video conferencing on a personal computer using a webcam and software. Ideal for individual use.
Video conferencing on a small-integrated unit designed to sit on your desktop. Ideal for individual use or very small groups.
A video conferencing system that is built into your room. There are many integrated furniture options and plasma screens can be wall mounted.
High Definition is the newest set of standards for high quality video conferencing. High Definition standards have been defined by the ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) as picture resolutions of 720p and 1080i/1080p. High Definition has a refresh rate of 24,25,30,50, 60 frames per second and a resolution image of 1280x720 pixels or 1920x1080 pixels. The higher number of pixels translates into sharper and clearer pictures. The higher refresh rate results in less flickering to the human eye. High Definition uses the progressive scan format rather than interlacing, treating the entire video image as one frame and does not suffer from jagged edges in the picture.
Polycom HD Voice delivers over twice the clarity of ordinary phone calls for life-like, vibrant conversations. Polycom HD Voice products have wideband technology for over twice the clarity of ordinary phone calls. Polycom's patented Acoustic Clarity Technology 2 combines next generation industry leading full duplex, echo cancellation, and noise reduction with advanced voice processing.
Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications 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.
Certified Polycom Service Partners have been specially and extensively trained to support Polycom video conferencing systems.
Certified Polycom Service Resellers have been specially and extensively trained to support Polycom video conferencing systems.
Polycom Gold Certified Partners have demonstrated their extensive knowledge in Collaborative Communication technologies through rigorous testing in their selected product categories and the associated service requirements. They have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to implement technology solutions that match your exact business needs. They are highly skilled in providing the appropriate solution for your company's need. Gold Partners must also maintain a higher service standard to ensure that you receive the necessary support for your Polycom products.
Certified Tandberg Partners are trained to consult on, supply and support the full range of Tandberg's video conferencing solutions.
Videoconferencing is a live communication between people in separate locations. It usually involves audio and text as well as video. Videoconferencing in its simplest form transmits static images and text between two locations. Sophisticated video systems today can transmit full-motion video images and high-quality audio between multiple locations.
Video conferencing solutions comprise of everything you need to enable video communication between people in separate locations. Video conferencing systems can range from simple desk top systems for one-to-one video calls through to a sophisticated system, fully integrated into the design of your room for a video call between many people at a number of different locations.