Plantronics Wraps Polycom Buy, Touts Expanded Portfolio

**Editor’s Note: Read our list of 20 top UCaaS providers offering products and services via channel partners.**

Headset-maker Plantronics has completed its $2 billion acquisition of Polycom, creating a new company that offers a suite of products and services that span headsets, software, desk phones, audio and video conferencing, and analytics.

The acquisition was announced this spring and Plantronics said it positions the company to capture additional opportunities across the nearly $40 billion unified communications and collaboration (UCC) industry. Plantronics said it now can provide a more efficient commercial engagement and a more integrated approach that complements partners’ existing solutions.

Plantronics’ Joe Burton

“We are pleased that Plantronics and Polycom are moving ahead as one company focused on putting people at the center of every collaboration experience,” said Joe Burton, Plantronics’ president and CEO. “This combined offering empowers people with the tools and flexibility they need to create the best experience when connecting to what is most important to them.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring our partners and our customers the richest experiences in nearly every scenario, including on the person, on the desktop and in the environment,” added Cary Bran, Plantronics’ senior vice president and chief strategy officer.

“Today is just the first step in our journey together that will strengthen and expand our business,” he said. “We will continue to keep the human first in every tool and technology we create so people can achieve and be their best, anytime and anywhere.”

The combination of Plantronics and Polycom comes at a “critical time when customers are searching for high-quality audio and video solutions that are easy to buy, easy to use and easy to manage,” said Ira Weinstein, founder of Recon Research.

“The company’s offerings work with on-premises, cloud [service provider] and hybrid platforms, giving customers the flexibility to choose their deployment method and cloud migration timing,” he said.  “In addition, its global channel and technology partner ecosystem foster both innovation and global reach. We’re expecting great things in the future from the new and expanded Plantronics.”

A private equity firm bought Polycom in fall 2016.

The acquisition follows others in UCC, such as Cisco’s purchase of BroadSoft and Mitel’s purchase of ShoreTel.