Polycom First in Industry to Offer Real-time Closed Captioning and Translation Support in Video Calls.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2004

Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning and Translation Support Allows

Hearing Impaired Users to Participate Fully in Video Conferences and

Makes Multi Language Meetings More Efficient and Productive

Polycom(R), Inc. (Nasdaq:PLCM), the world's leader in video and voice conferencing, conference bridges, and integrated web collaboration solutions, today announced its Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning software option. Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning allows all Polycom iPower(TM) video collaboration systems to seamlessly receive captions from a captioning service and display that text in real-time for both point-to-point and multipoint video calls when systems are connected, or in display mode for standalone use. Another industry-first for Polycom, the closed captioning functionality increases participation levels and productivity for the hearing impaired or those for whom English is a second language, whether in a classroom setting or a corporate meeting environment. And the first ever support for real-time translated captions received from a translation service speeds the flow of information exchange and increases efficiency in meetings where participants speak different languages.

"Polycom is proud to be the first to extend the significant productivity and cost savings benefits that video communications offer to a wider audience with this announcement of Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning and support for translation for the iPower systems," said Geno Alissi, vice president and general manager of Polycom Global Services. "Polycom's iPower video collaboration solutions are part of the Polycom Office(TM), a complete, end-to-end solution for converged voice, video and data over IP networks. The availability of integrated, easy-to-use closed captioning and translation support on the iPower has implications from the boardroom to the classroom. Closed captioning allows those with hearing impairments to fully participate in video conferences and provides a visual aid for non-English speakers. And the ability to add real-time translated captions from a captioning service enables more effective communication for people across countries and throughout the world."

Support for the CEA-608-B captioning standard makes Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning and support for translation extremely easy to use because it fits seamlessly into existing methods and procedures used in the captioning industry. When an iPower user engages a closed captioning service, the captioner simply listens to the meeting over audio and generates text from the spoken content of the meeting in any language, using normal closed captioning procedures and without requiring any additional software. The captioning service then sends the text over IP or through a modem to an iPower system that has the Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning software installed, and from there all of the text is displayed on the screen and sent to the remote sites in the conference.

This functionality is available on all iPower systems running 6.0 software and the Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning option. In addition, when sent through an iPower system, closed caption and translated text can be displayed on any Polycom Viewstation(R), including the ViewStation FX and EX and VS4000(TM) systems, as well as on any video system that supports T.140 over H.224. Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning can be used in point-to-point video calls, or with the Polycom MGC(TM) multipoint control unit for calls involving multiple sites. Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning includes the ability to display closed caption and translated text on the iPower monitor when not engaged in a live video call, allowing the functionality to be used independently of a video call.

Pricing and Availability

Polycom Real-time Closed Captioning is scheduled for worldwide availability through Polycom channel partners in the second quarter of 2004 with support for English and Western European languages. Pricing begins at USD $3,995 for the option that enables users to receive real-time closed captioning and translated text from a third party captioning service provider and no charge for the ability to receive and display captions from the conference call.

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. is the world's technology leader of high-quality, easy-to-use video, voice, data and web conferencing and collaboration solutions. The Polycom Office is our continued commitment to make distance communications as natural and interactive as being there by providing best-in-class conferencing solutions that are interoperable, integrated and intuitive to the user. The Polycom Office is based on industry standards and supported by an open architecture that promotes interoperability in multi-vendor environments and complements leading network infrastructure platforms. For additional information, call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266) or [phone], or visit the Polycom web site at www.polycom.com.

Polycom, the Polycom logo and ViewStation are registered trademarks and the Polycom Office, VS4000 and iPower are trademarks of Polycom in the U.S. and various countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.