Polycom in parleys with AP govt

To provide its solutions for distance learning & tele-medicine facilities

Delhi-headquartered Polycom India, which provides converged voice, video, web, and data solutions for broadband networks, is in parleys with the state government of Andhra Pradesh to provide its solutions for distance learning and tele-medicine facilities.

The company has already provided its solutions to the state through Andhra Pradesh Technology Services, a wholly-owned government corporation that focusses on e-governance. The state government also uses Polycom's video-conferencing solutions for telejustice.

Speaking to Business Standard, Yugal Sharma, country manager, Polycom India, said, "Andhra Pradesh has always been technology-oriented. While we have earlier provided our solutions to the state for e-governance and tele-justice purposes, we are now looking at extending our services to the distance learning and tele-medicine segments as well."

"We have already initiated talks with the government of Andhra Pradesh, and the response, so far, has been positive," he added. The Apollo Hospitals Group is one of the major clients of Polycom for tele-medicine purposes.

"For Hyderabad, we have Tricom Impress Pvt Ltd, Avaya Global Connect, Siemens and Total Presentation Devices as some of our channel partners. We are now looking at expanding our reach through our channel partners, to Vizag, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Cuddapah and Tirupati," Sharma said.

In the corporate sector, some of Polycom's clients include Microsoft, Satyam and GE. "We are now planning to focus on the SME segment too," he added.

At present, Andhra Pradesh contributes to around 15 per cent of Polycom's revenues in India. "We are aiming at a growth of 50 per cent this year, as compared to the industry average of between 35 per cent and 45 per cent," Sharma said.

India contributes to around 12 per cent of Polycom's revenues in the Asia-Pacific region and around three per cent globally. The company plans to set up an office in Bangalore in the next few months.

California-headquartered Polycom, Inc, had recently acquired DSTMedia Technology Co Ltd, a privately-held video solutions company headquartered in Beijing, China.

"With this acquisition, we will be bringing in more features and functionalities to our existing solutions in India, within the next three-six months," Sharma said. The company is not looking at any acquisition in India at present.