U.S. Federal Agencies to Use Polycom IP Phones for Microsoft Lync

Three of Polycom's IP phones optimized for Microsoft Lync are now made available on the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule for federal government agencies. The three CX IP phones on the GSA Schedule are Polycom's CX500 IP desktop phone, CX600 IP desktop phone, and C3000 IP conference phone.

Polycom's CX500 IP desktop phone, which is equipped with a device-only mode, is a safe choice for public areas, such as cubicles, office desks, hallways, and lobbies. It also features a wall-mountable version.

The CX600 IP desktop phone, a CX300 extension, contains a dual-port Ethernet switch and an on-board client that allows, via USB functionality, pairing with a PC. And without requiring the PC to make calls, the desktop phone unit allows contacts and contact information to be transferred.

The C3000 IP conference phone is touted by Polycom as the only conference phone to have native Lync integration. A specialized PIN authentication is found in the C3000 IP conference phone. It also has the same PC-pairing functionality found in the CX600 IP desktop phone.

Unified communications (UC) vendor Polycom has successfully placed its products to service the multitude of ways by which government agencies use IP phones. However, Channelnomics' Dave Courbanou notes that, although Polycom's focus on federal agencies is designed to take advantage of the U.S. government's infrastructure overhaul, there is no robust demand. Courbanou then mentions a Gartner prediction on government spending, where there is a possible two percent decline in 2013. The three Polycom IP phones on the GSA Schedule would instead make the most out of the "Federal vertical through Microsoft's momentum."

Early in January 2013, Microsoft Corporation, through its partner Insight Enterprises, Inc., signed a $617M contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. It is not surprising to see Polycom providing IP phones running on Microsoft Lync to federal agencies.

"Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Lync are being adopted quickly by customers seeking cost savings and greater productivity," said Greg Myers, vice president of Microsoft Federal Sales. "Polycom CX phones availability on the GSA Schedule makes it easier for our customers to order and benefit from a full unified communications solution."

"The Federal government is under increasing pressure to improve communication and collaboration, both within and between agencies, to streamline operations, reduce costs, and better serve citizens," said Tony D'Angelo, vice president of Federal Operations at Polycom. "The Microsoft Lync environment is ideal for rapidly connecting employees and contractors across government agencies, and Polycom offers the broadest portfolio of Lync-optimized solutions, spanning desktop, common areas and conference rooms, and builds on its legacy of high-quality audio and conferencing by delivering the only conference phone designed for Lync." (KOM) Link. Link.