The two companies are working together on business communication systems

Collaborative communications vendor Polycom and IP telephony specialist Skype have joined forces to deliver integrated comms systems for businesses using Skype.

The first fruits of this collaboration is a Skype-certified PDA-sized USB-powered speakerphone called the Polycom Communicator, offering full-duplex, hands-free calls and integrated with Skype’s internet voice software.

Polycom said the speakerphone could be used as a Hi-Fi speaker or for other business applications such as PowerPoint presentations. When the Skype system is launched from a user’s PCs convenient buttons on the device can be used to control volume and pick up and end calls. The Polycom Communicator will be available worldwide within 60 days through Polycom’s channel partners and also through Skype’s online store.

In a separate announcement Skype unveiled Skypecasts, a service allowing groups of up to 100 people to hold collaborative conversations. Skypecasts are live moderated discussions delivered through the latest version of Skype’s software, version 2.5. However this system is currently a beta release.