Polycom adds tablet videoconferencing

software designed to plug into its telepresence products, ZDNet reports.

The software, which works in conjunction with Polycom RealPresence, allows Android tablet or Apple iPad owners to carry out HD video calls while out-and-about, rather than needing to use a desktop or far more costly bespoke telepresence room installation.

Information Week says RealPresence Mobile delivers all of the functionality of a desktop or room system, such as dividing the screen up to show all participants, adding video, documents or a PowerPoint presentation, and muting and unmuting video and audio as necessary.

Polycom is one of a number of companies competing in the market for video conferencing technology, which is often integrated with unified communications systems.

RealPresence Mobile extends the reach of the new platform to mobile devices. When users join meetings on a tablet, they will see participants from other videoconferencing systems in HD, and the tablet user will appear in HD on those other systems, Computer World notes.

The RealPresence Mobile apps for iOS and Android will be free, but enterprises will have to pay to use them with other types of video endpoints over RealPresence, says Jim Kruger, senior VP of solutions marketing.