Polycom bullish on education market

Polycom, a provider of unified collaborate communication solutions, is looking to tap the education and health markets in India.

Present in India for five years now, it is optimistic about doubling its Indian revenues in the coming months with more partners taking its products.

Speaking to Business Standard, Polycom global education market director Russ G Colbert, said the company was optimistic about the growing business opportunity in the country.

“The faculty strength at the schools and the colleges is much below the prescribed limits and hence blended learning can be a tool to bridge the gap,” he said.

Besides, the growing number of professional and higher education institutes would call for a change in the teaching delivery mechanisms. The improving bandwidth position in the country is promising to take tele-education to new levels.

At present, the company’s global revenues are $1 billion with India contributing a significant 17 per cent. It is expecting the revenues to double to $2 billion during 2008-09.

The company also plans to ramp up the headcount, particularly at the research and development wing in Hyderabad, as part of its expansion plans in the next two years.

“We will align with schools, colleges and other partners to take the concept of video and teleconference beyond the boardroom,” he said.

Polycom has also partnered Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited to develop an education system that connects students in about 2,000 institutions. “Distance education together with blended learning is as powerful as the conventional classroom,” he said.

The company is also engaged with Haryana, Bihar and others for statewise area network (SWAN) projects.

It has partnered the Andhra Pradesh government for deploying video conference equipment for tele-justice, a facility where trials are conducted through a video conference as the courts and the prisons are connected through internet. The project is now bring extended to other parts of the country.