New MGC 25 options available

Last week Polycom announced enhanced versions of its WebOffice meeting software and the second-generation ViaVideo II. This week, Polycom introduced enhanced software and new configurations for its entry-level gateway, the MGC-25. The new release basically gives the MGC-25 the same features and capabilities as its bigger brethren, the MGC-50 and 100. Now, the MGC-25 supports more transcoding options, added continuous presence support (up to 27 “Brady Bunch” combinations for viewing conference participants simultaneously), and the ability for a single videoconference to be supported on a single MGC-25 video port. Polycom also added four more configuration options, including an ISDN-only choice, bringing the total number of potential configurations to 10. Unlike the MGC-50 and 100, the MGC-25 is a 2U device designed to be plug and play. The bigger systems come on a chassis with hot-swappable components. Pricing ranges from $26,000 for a 12-port IP-only device on the low end to a high of $79,950 for the high-end model.