SAN JOSE, Calif/ATLANTA, Ga - Sep 26, 2016:
Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM) and Microsoft today announced plans and key milestones to extend the familiar Skype for Business user experience into new and existing voice and video products and services. Polycom’s 12-year partnership with Microsoft has delivered more voice and video solutions that deeply integrate into Skype for Business and Office 365 than any other collaboration provider. These solutions enable IT leaders to meet the needs of their users while also achieving incremental revenue, cost savings and increased productivity.
Polycom is delivering on its previously announced cloud-based video interoperability service Polycom® RealConnectTM service for Office 365, which will allow Skype for Business users in Office 365 to host video meetings with non-Skype for Business standards-based endpoints. As more companies move to Office 365, many are looking to protect their investments and have all their systems work together seamlessly. The new service, which will be available for public preview later this year, will be similar to the capabilities of the Polycom® RealConnect TM solution available today for Skype on premise customers that provides the same Skype for Business meeting experience across Skype for Business and non-Skype for Business endpoints. Visit booth #1624 at Microsoft Ignite for more information.
Polycom is also extending the native Skype for Business meeting experience with the new Microsoft Skype Room System – the Polycom MSR Series (formerly known as Project Rigel). The MSR Series for Skype Room Systems brings the Skype for Business meeting experience, with rich HD audio and video, to every meeting room. Customers may also bundle the MSR Series with powerful audio and video solutions, such as the Polycom® RealPresence Trio™ phone, the Polycom CX5100 360-degree video camera, and the Polycom® RealPresence Medialign™ system. The solutions, suitable for small to large conference rooms, will be available in Q1, 2017 in North America. Customers may reserve their MSR Series solutions starting today.
“Our successful long-standing partnership with Polycom has provided Skype for Business and Office 365 customers with the most complete collaboration solution available today,” said Zig Serafin, Corporate Vice President of Skype for Business at Microsoft. “Polycom’s high-quality audio and video solutions, in combination with the next generation of Skype for Room System and the new Polycom cloud video interoperability service for Office 365, ensure our customers will have a seamless Skype for Business experience anywhere, on any device, and now in every meeting room.”
“Simple and familiar are the key ingredients to a successful collaboration deployment,” said Ashan Willy, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Systems Engineering & Product Management, Polycom. “Together, Polycom and Microsoft are focused on providing Skype for Business and Office 365 customers with a full portfolio of easy-to-use products and services that increase agility and productivity for organizations of all sizes across the globe.”
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
