"Skype estimates that nearly 30 percent of its more than 113 million Skype users are using the software for business purposes," said Stefan Oberg, vice president and general manager of desktop and hardware at Skype. "By collaborating with Polycom, we are able to offer Skype business users a Skype Certified device that features Polycom's renowned voice quality."

Featuring a compact, stylish design, the affordable VoiceStation 500 delivers Polycom's award-winning Acoustic Clarity Technology for full duplex, natural group conferencing that minimizes background echoes, word clipping and distortion to provide a high-quality voice conferencing experience. The VoiceStation 500 uses AC power and can connect to a standard POTS phone line, but it also features embedded Bluetooth wireless support and an applications port for connecting to a computer running Skype. These connectivity options can also be used to connect the VoiceStation 500 to other devices such as a mobile phone and other handheld devices. The VoiceStation 500 complements the previously announced Polycom Communicator, a portable, personal USB speakerphone device that delivers business-quality, high-fidelity wideband voice communications for Skype calls.

"The partnership between Polycom and Skype is a natural fit," said Will Stofega, research manager of VoIP services at IDC. "Skype is making inroads into business environments, which require business-quality solutions. Polycom is the leader in business quality conference phones. By working together, they are able to provide the growing legions of Skype business users with high quality products from a name they know and trust."

"The business world is becoming more global and more geographically dispersed, which requires communication solutions that can adapt to the way people need and want to work," said Sunil Bhalla, senior vice president and general manager of voice communications at Polycom. "Working with Skype to certify the VoiceStation 500 gives our customers an integrated solution that meets their mobility needs and provides an affordable group communications solution without sacrificing voice quality."

In addition to the Skype certified VoiceStation 500 and Polycom Communicator, Polycom offers a Computer Calling Kit option for its SoundStation2 and SoundStation2W conference phones, enabling those products to work with Skype. For more information about the VoiceStation 500, Polycom Communicator and Computer Calling Kit, please visit the Polycom website at www.polycom.com .