News

Polycom multiplies alliances and programs
2011-08-30
While it did not want to comment the impact of the acquisition of the video-conference division of HP over its distributor network, Polycom has unveiled its new partner program and another technology alliance.

Dubbed Choice Program, the new partner program aims to push its resellers to invest more in its technologies (A/V, industry specialization, Microsoft unified communications, VoIP, etc.). As a reward, its certified channel gets higher earnings. The goal is to strengthen the skills and commitment of its partners, to face more efficiently Cisco-Tandberg competition. This new partner program leans obviously on its distributors (organized by major specialties, such as network infrastructure, telephony or VoIP - that is Arrow ECS Network and Security, Itancia and Imago in France for example), which may become training centers if they wish.

Beside its POCN (Polycom Open Collaboration Network) alliance, launched last year ago with 8 partners around the Lync unified communications from Microsoft, Polycom plans to further simplify the interoperability of videoconferencing infrastructures with OVCC (Open Visual Communication Consortium). Like POCN, OVCC purpose is to be able to use any videoconferencing solution without having to worry about the infrastructure of the other users. A bit like the traditional telephony, since the dawn of time…

LifeSize terminates AV distributors
2011-08-25
United Kingdom : videoconferencing specialist LifeSize is moving away from its core audiovisual (AV) routes to market, with long-standing partners Medium and Touchline Video set to leave the vendor's distribution line-up. After their dismiss in October, LifeSize will move to a three-strong line-up of Tempura Communications, Zycko and newly appointed Avnet Technology Solutions. The vendor has claimed that it wishes to make more of its place in the Microsoft-interoperable ecosystem and realign its distribution channels accordingly. Meanwhile both Touchline and Medium have indicated that they will be bringing on new video franchises soon (source : CRN United Kingdom).

LifeSize leaves Azlan's pride
2011-03-18
United Kingdom : network and security VAD Azlan has split with videoconferencing vendor LifeSize, prompting the vendor to launch a distribution evaluation in the UK. The vendor is left with four distributors as a result: Touchline, Medium, Zycko and Tempura Communications. According to a source close to Azlan, the distributor has decided to consolidate its resources with the major vendors, including Cisco with Tandberg or Avaya and thus is dropping smaller vendors in the process (source : Computer Reseller News United Kingdom).