COMPARISON: POLYCOM VS CISCO PolycomPolycom video conferencing solutions operate with a fully open, standards based technology. Their equipment is fully compatible with all standards based video conferencing solutions meaning calls to customers, or clients using brands other than Polycom will be made seamlessly. 1) Polycom Solutions are open and interoperable. 2) Polycom infrastructure and endpoints work natively with other manufacturers’ infrastructure and endpoints. 3) Integration with UC partners including Microsoft is possible without any additional hardware. 4) The Polycom solution utilizes H.264 High Profile (SVC) and lost packet recovery (LPR) across the entire product line within their Intelligent Core solution providing the highest quality conferencing experience available today. 5) Polycom also provides users with a single call-control, management and multipoint conferencing solution that works with their entire line of endpoints and infrastructure. 1) H.264 High Profile, LPR, Cisco TIP interoperability 2) LPR provides end-to-end error correction to avoid loss of connectivity or noticeable latency under congested network conditions 3) Native Microsoft RTV, CCCP Cisco Cisco has combined multiple solutions including gateways, telepressence, MCU’s, video and audio endpoints to customize their own proprietary based standards. The Cisco product portfolio (not including the Tandberg brand) includes non standards based systems which may cause an issue when calling other non-Cisco devices. 1) Cisco Telepresence solutions operate using a SIP stack with proprietary extensions which restrict interoperability. 2) Cisco solutions do integrate with UC partners including Microsoft, IBM and Avaya but gateway integration with these solutions compromises workflow productivity.To integrate with Microsoft Lync OCS, users are required to adopt Cisco applications in place of Microsoft native applications. 3) Using the Tandberg ClearPath technology, SIP endpoints do have network error correction, however MCU’s are not equipped with this option. 4) Cisco devices including gateways, endpoints and MCU’s are interoperable but are unified by an inconsistent method of combing multiple platforms and technologies- Tandberg, Cisco, Codian etc. 1) Cisco doesn't support H.264 Hi Profile hence Bandwidth requirements are steep & nearly twice as much as Polycom endpoints require. 2) Cisco endpoints support basic error correction algorithms (clearpath)which are not as Flexibility Technology Features 1) High Bandwidth requirements to achieve the desired quality. Codian etc.Cisco devices including gateways.Tandberg. 3) Gartner has shown that singlevendor solutions result in higher long term costs for equipment as it limits customers choice of products over the life of the equipment Cisco solution is a mix of islands. LifeSize. Cisco. Still there is no direct integration between Tandberg line of products & cisco's native VC endpoints/infratstructure. two management platforms.multipoint session protocol 1) High Profile allows for significant bandwidth cost savings over the life of the equipment. 2) Flat licensing structure & no hidden associated costs. Microsoft or other elements. 3) NO Native Multi-vendor support . This is possible due to open standards based technology. effective as LPR hence can't handle packet loss & disruptions caused by Network leading to bad video/audio quality. Polycom Solutions are all integrated & complementing each other. Also. 3) No Single Vendor locking customer has freedom to pick & use the best of what is available. without the use of gateways Contrast with Cisco’s “Two of everything” portfolio: Two call control platforms. two multipoint conferencing platforms. Radvision. 2) Cisco has extensive fees and license requirements on their solutions which are frequently not mentioned up-front in the cost of the equipment. management. two competing sets of endpoints . endpoints and MCU’s are interoperable but are unified by an inconsistent method of combing multiple platforms and technologies. Polycom UC Intelligent Core Polycom infrastructure and endpoints work natively with other manufacturer’s infrastructure and endpoints Polycom’s provides customers with a single call-control. clearpath isn't supported across their entire products line. and multipoint conferencing solution that works with all of our endpoints Cisco Telepresence System Cisco CTMS systems are closed and do not interoperate with Polycom. and almost 2000 more audio ports than the Cisco/Tandberg MSE8000 MCU. 1080p. correction technology. virtual meeting rooms and a robust Microsoft Active Directory integration. Content. Polycom resources can be scheduled from Microsoft Outlook. adding AC power supplies increase both required rack space and power Any Cisco solution in a multipoint call that suffers a failure or maintenance event will disconnect users This seamlessness is different than the experiences one would get when using a CTS 1100 and a CTS T-Series endpoint A gateway-based solution General Points of comparision • Cisco‘s one-stop-shop method is not always the cheapest for you. Polycom DMA-enabled calls are the only multipoint calls that can suffer a catastrophic failure or unplanned maintenance without dropping the call. Because of Dynamic Resource Allocation.264 High Profile and Lost Packet Recovery technology. Polycom does not rely on gateways to connect to unified communications environments or to tie together network technologies. . a DMA/RMX solution can deliver 240 720p ports. and provide a more robust integration vs. Audio. which would make sense as they profit from network upgrades Polycom DMA solutions are capable of managing up to 64 RMXs to work as a single virtualized core – upto 75000 device registrations & 25. and show up on HDX rooms systems in the calendar Polycom features such as native endpoint registration to a Microsoft Lync server. Cisco often advices or requires customers to upgrade their networks to support Telepresence. and DMA’s Enterprise Directory integration are unique in the market. This locks you into their pricing for the long term and costs more across the life of your solution. This type of scale and virtualization is simply unmatched by Cisco A fully loaded MSE 8000 has a total of 180 ports – 720p. and at worst case 70% of total power draw. In only 13 RUs. complete with H. It’s important for administrators to know that this is a DC-only chassis. conferencing resiliency.000 audio/video calls. the Polycom solution delivers 180 more SD ports. a platform users are used to using. a gateway-based solution.Polycom uniquely utilizes H. in a minimum of 19 RU’s that can draw up to 4000 watts.264 High Profile Contrasts with the inconsistent use of High and Lost Packet Recovery across the entire Profile by Cisco and a real lack of effective error product line in the UC Intelligent Core. 360 more CIF ports. while on Polycom it is supported across the product line Cisco solutions typically require many additional licenses to enable endpoints. ICE and other common enterprise applications. • Endpoints COMPARISON Polycom HDX6000 Vs Cisco C20 Feature / Function H.• • • Cisco‘s technology is frequently based on closed standards causing them complexity in playing with endpoints from multiple vendors Cisco has a complex solution for integrating with Microsoft Lync. HD display. These licenses not only increase the up-front cost of the system. extended features. H. Cisco only supports this on some of their product lines.264 High Profile will allow you to save costs on the operation of your solution. etc. multiple displays. but also the upgrade costs.264 Hi Profile support Strereo Audio Native Microsoft Integration Polycom HDX6000 Yes Yes Cisco C20 No Requires multiple microphones No Yes . At additional cost Yes .264 Hi Profile support ISDN Protocol support (H. Premium . Premium resolution is additional charged option. H. No Yes . H.331.241. Additional cost makes it higher than HDX7000 hence Polycom compates with HdX7000 for Dual screen option. Polycom HDX7000/8000 Vs Cisco C40 Feature / Function H.321.Yes FIPS 140-2 Security Validation Yes Lost Packet Recovery Yes Speaker-focusing camera High Definition Dual Displays Yes No No No LPR. others) Microsoft Integration Polycom HDX7000-9000 Yes Yes Cisco C60 No No Yes Yes FIPS 140-2 Security Validation Yes No No No LPR.at additional cost.225. H. No Yes . high definition. TelePresence. and multiple monitors add nearly 50% to the base cost of the C40. but overpriced.Lost Packet Recovery Yes Speaker-focusing camera Dual Displays Yes . Features like Eagle-Eye director . & IP .No additional cost resolution is additional charged option. and HD Audio provide for more natural conference experiences INFRASTRUCTURE COMPARISON 1) MULTIPOINT CONFERENCING UNITS (BRIDGES) Feature / Function Dynamic Resource Allocation Per Conference Configuration Polycom RMX 1500Series Yes Yes Codian 4500 No No No Ability to incorporate Yes ISDN.additional license (cost) required. conversational stereo. • • • The Codec C40 is functional. Polycom HDX series offers far superior value and performance Feature licenses for multi-site. PSTN. 264 High Profile Yes No No Network Cost Savings with Yes HP & Lost Packet Recovery Technology Max Audio Conferencing (Product Family) 1080P Capabilities / Impact 540 40 Dynamic Resource Allocation assigns appropriate resources to all resolutions. H.Network Savings with H. 40 (720p) highest 4520 model Cisco MCU • Codian MCUs are based on ―Flat‖ port-is-a-port architecture which treats all calls (1080 or CIF) with the same CPU resources limiting the capacity of the bridge & lowering the ROI • Codian MCU‘s do not have the ability to implement H.264 High Profile (Use Cisco CTS v1. 45(720p) Requires ―Upgrade‖ in most cases & removes separate Content Channel Max HD Calls 20 (1080p).264 HP lowers TCO while LPR increases video quality Polycom RMX comprises of an overall architecture that includes ISDN. Content does not impact bridge capacity 22 (1080p).7 as a reference) & Lost Packet Recovery are required for enhanced quality & low bandwidth consumption . and Microsoft RTV without Gateways! Cisco‘s MCU 4500 series is built on static. PSTN. technology that is not able to lower network costs while at the same time providing efficient scale and ensure the industry‘s highest return on investment . TelePresence. H. flat.264 High Profile or any Lost Packet Recovery technology driving higher network costs to produce the same quality of experience • Codian MCU‘s do not have the capability to incorporate a number of technologies including ISDN. Telepresence. or Microsoft RTV forcing customer‘s to invest in expensive gateways Polycom MCU Dynamic Resource Allocation improves efficiency and leads to far better TCO. It is important your customer understands this clearly and avoids Cisco‘s FUD. • • • • • No H.323 (IP) SIP (IP) Microsoft Transcoding Polycom RMX Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes CTMS Yes No No No Proprietary No No . or IBM (This ‗Net Effect‖ adds significant WAN costs) No prioritization of calls based on profiles – all calls & ports are simply treated equally Feature / Function Voice Activated Continuous Presence H.264 High Profile No Lost Packet Recovery Not part of a distributed architecture Requires gateways to bring in other technologies like Microsoft.320 (ISDN) H. However Cisco Telepresence Manager has a complex and expensive licensing structure Multiple licenses and support contracts required for a single product make Cisco Telepresence Manager expensive to purchase as well as expensive to upgrade and manage. wrapped up into a single and cost effective package. . It’s purpose is to provide the full functionality of the CTMS as well as Cisco’s Telepresence Server and more.000 Yes Cisco Telepresence Manager 300 1500 No No • • Polycom CMA offers free CMA. The RMX is a multipurpose and powerful media resource in the infrastructure. 2) GATEKEEPER & MANAGEMENT DEVICE: Feature / Function Maximum seats per server Maximums seats per cluster Free concurrent registers Includes Desktop Client and Licenses Polycom CMA 5000 5000 25. The same cannot be said of the CTMS whose future is uncertain while multiple product lines and investments exist within Cisco. Polycom is committed to the RMX product line into the future.Desktop licenses (CMA 5000 offers upto 500 free Client licenses).000 Up to 15. .• Endpoint licenses for Cisco Telepresence manager are over 10x more costly than CMA licenses which range from about $50 to $150 per seat.