Poly

 

Moscow, Russia - Dec 13, 2011 : Videoconferencing solutions from Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in standards-based unified communications (UC), have been implemented within Russian Federation State Arbitration Courts to help ensure court proceedings can still go ahead even if parties are unable to attend in-person. Seventy-seven additional courts are now equipped with new videoconferencing endpoints and the project, worth RUB 91,971,000 (£1.9M; US$2.9M), was completed in only six months. A total of 113 courts have now been equipped with videoconferencing solutions.

 

"State arbitration courts often have to postpone proceedings due to the inability of either party to attend," said Igor Solovyev, Head of the IT and Communications Office at the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation. "Advanced technology has allowed for a dramatic reduction in both the time and costs associated with such postponements, with litigants now being able to file a petition for holding proceedings via the videoconferencing system. The state arbitration courts are required to ensure litigants participate in the courts proceedings if videoconferencing is available."

 

"With the Polycom videoconferencing systems in the state arbitration courts, two participants or multiple participants at different locations, can meet face-to-face via video with the same high-definition quality they get in real life," said Mikhail Pilipenko, Large Account Director, CROC. "Polycom systems are very easy to use. In addition, our specialists developed a Crestron-based software solution for automated session control which provides 'Ask for the Floor' functionality and optimizes conferencing between state arbitration courts and the central authorities."

 

Videoconferencing endpoints installed in 2010 include Polycom's HDX video systems, 52-inch professional HD LCD panels, document cameras, and videoconferencing sessions recording and playback devices. These systems integrate with existing videoconferencing server equipment located in the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation; thus the geographical scope of videoconferencing more than doubled, and implementation of basic videoconferencing functionality was completed throughout all of the 113 Russian Federation arbitration courts. The project also involves data transport network developed by ZAO Synterra, which can become the basis for the court's multi-service data network in the future.

 

"Polycom's support of the H.264 HD High Profile video protocol reduces the consumption of communication channel bandwidth as much as 50 percent during video conferencing sessions, enabling numerous simultaneous multipoint HD sessions with enterprise-class HD quality," said Sergey Khomyakov, Russian country manager, Polycom. "In addition, Polycom videoconferencing solutions have an intuitive interface and central control option, making them easy to use and manage. Ease of use ensures that more people actually use the systems, which is why Polycom solutions used by our customers typically pay for themselves within a few months."