Skype teams up for speakerphone

Polycom and Skype announce development of integrated VoIP communications systems

Collaborative communications vendor Polycom and internet telephony specialist Skype have announced they are working together to deliver integrated communications systems for firms using Skype.

The first fruit of this collaboration is a USB-powered speakerphone about the size of a PDA. The Polycom Communicator offers full-duplex hands-free calls and integrates with Skype’s internet voice software, said the firms.

According to Polycom, the device can be used as a Hi-Fi speaker or for other business applications such as PowerPoint presentations. Buttons on the device can also be used to control volume and mute, as well as to pick up and end calls. The Polycom Communicator is expected to be available worldwide within 60 days.

Also last week, Skype unveiled Skypecasts, currently in beta, a service that lets groups of up to 100 people hold conversations.