Changing the landscape of voice and video once again, Polycom has released the long-awaited ‘marriage’ of desktop voice and video, with the VVX 1500 Business Media Phone. This new hybrid-of-sorts device features many exciting new features, while providing a simple and intuitive interface to the end user. Integration with voice and video environments is also at the forefront of Polycom’s voice/video development, and the VVX 1500 is no exception. With third-party integration into business-critical systems such as CRM, ERP, and more, this device puts a whole new front on converged communications. Standards-based support, including SIP, is native to the device. Other protocol and platform support can be found in the product datasheet, linked below.
The VVX 1500 features an open API and microbrowser that enable third-party application developers to integrate VVX 1500 with business applications such as unified communications, customer relationship management (CRM), and appointment management systems. The always-on, touch-screen user interface of the VVX 1500 includes a menu screen on which developers can place icons for users to locate and start their applications. The VVX 1500 comes bundled with several applications including the Polycom Productivity Suite, which enables users to initiate and control audio conference calls right from the device’s screen as well as record calls locally using a flash drive in the phone’s USB port. The VVX 1500 also features a free Web service called My Info Portal through which customers can select to receive content such as local weather reports and other personalized information on the screen when the device is not in a voice or video call. For more information on the VVX 1500, please see the Polycom press release, as well as the datasheet available on the Polycom website. In the next few weeks, I hope to have a chance to interact with, and review the VVX 1500.
