Polycom Announces VoIP Interoperability Partner Program for VoIP Equipment Providers

Polycom, Inc., provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today announced the VoIP Interoperability Partner (VIP) Program for manufacturers of SIP-based call control platforms. The Program allows vendors to demonstrate through testing and certification that their premise-based (IP PBX) or hosted (Softswitch) call control solutions are interoperable on a defined feature set with Polycom SoundPoint IP desktop and SoundStation IP conference phones and SIP software.

The Program assures that customers moving from legacy PSTN phone systems to productivity-enhancing VoIP solutions featuring Polycom phones and certified manufacturers' equipment, enjoy seamless interoperability and reliable technical support. Currently, Digium, Comverse/Netcentrex Converged IP Communications, Objectworld, Pingtel, and Whaleback Systems have successfully passed interoperability testing and are now Polycom VIP certified.

"Interoperability testing between SIP-based call control platforms and phones deployed with them is critical to ensuring reliability and comprehensive feature support," said Paul Waadevig, industry manager for Frost & Sullivan's Conferencing & Collaboration practice. "Polycom's VIP program provides standards-based IP PBX and softswitch vendors, who do not manufacture their own phones, a process to test their systems with Polycom's VoIP phones and provide customers with a certified interoperable telephony solution."

The Program involves rigorous interoperability testing at a Polycom-approved test facility according to a Polycom test plan. To become certified as Polycom VoIP compatible, a call control platform must demonstrate 100 percent interoperability on a Polycom-predefined critical feature set. Interoperability can also be certified for features extending beyond the critical feature set, depending upon the capabilities of a particular platform. Certification in the VIP Program is available for the entire Polycom portfolio of SoundPoint VoIP desktop and SoundStation VoIP conference phones.

Upon becoming a Polycom VoIP Interoperability Partner, manufacturers of VoIP call control platforms can enjoy the following benefits:

Benefits:

-- The right to use the "VIP Partner" and "Polycom VoIP Compatible" marks when referring to itself and to its platform, respectively.

-- Inclusion in the published list of VIP Partners on www.polycom.com

-- Eligibility of Manufacturer's resellers to apply for Polycom VoIP Reseller Certification and, if certified, officially resell Polycom VoIP phones in conjunction with the certified platform.

-- Access to Polycom marketing and technical resources, as per the VIP program agreement.

Source: Polycom Inc.