Polycom HDX brings high definition to video conferencing
An introduction and discussion of the Polycom HDX 9000 series of high definition video conferencing products.
Polycom announced Monday, October 23, 2006, that their high definition video conferencing technology, the Polycom HDX 9000 series would be available for release. This series includes the HDX 9001, HDX 9002 and HDX 9004. The Polycom HD Eagle Eye Camera and Polycom HDX Microphone Array are also part of this family of products.
This news comes as Cisco has begun promoting their line of TelePresence products and video conferencing rival LifeSize continues to ship their line of high definition products that debuted in January.
Starting with the Polycom HDX 9001, the entry level HDX product from Polycom. The name is somewhat misleading as the Polycom HDX 9001 is not truly high definition, but it does support a higher quality of video conference imaging than Polycom's existing products.
The HDX 9001 has a 720 by 480 video resolution, comes with four video inputs and three display outputs, and can be intergrated into any setting with a 2U design and connectors. The Polycom HD Eagle Eye Camera is not required by the HDX 9001, as it compatible with previous Polycom video conferencing cameras. The HDX 9001 can be shared with a PC, document camera with Polycom's People+ContentTM and can be unified with the internal MP Plus 4-way MCU.
The Polycom HDX 9002, is a true high definition device. With a video resolution of 1280 by 720 at 1 Mbps and greater at 30 frames per second. Like the HDX 9001, this unit has four video inputs and three display outputs, and can be intergrated into any setting with a 2U design and connectors.
The quality of the HDX 9002 is more than nine times better than CIF video. High definition audio compliments the Polycom HD experience, with 22 kHz sound fidelity and a microphone array with 360 degree pickup. The Polycom HDX 9002 also supports Polycom's People+ContentTM for presentation of media in high definition.
The top-of-the-line in this series is the Polycom HDX 9004 model high definition video conferencing unit. The HDX 9004 also is capable of 1280 by 720 video resolution at 1 Mbps and greater at 30 frames per second. It has more display options than the Polycom HDX 9001 and HDX 9002 as it features five video inputs and four display outputs.
High definition video is obtained with the Polycom HD Eagle Eye camera, with a 720p definition and video capture rate of 60 fps. The HDX 9004 is also enhanced by the Polycom HDX Microphone Array, which features an in-person experience with natural sound seperated on left and right channels. Like the HDX 9002, this unit uses the Polycom People+ContentTM for presentation of media in high definition.
Polycom's advantage, versus the competition, in the high definition arena lies with their ability to carry HD video with the RSS 2000 streaming server and the capability to bridge multipoint connections in high definition with the MGC MCU series of products.
With this functionality, a user can have their entire HD video conferencing network needs served by one manufacturer, and not assembled from multiple vendors with varying degrees of compatibility.
