Video collaboration vendor Polycom (PLCM) said that its RealPresence CloudAxis enterprise-grade, cloud-based, video collaboration software has been granted VMware (VMW) Ready status.

The designation means that the Polycom RealPresence CloudAxis solution has passed detailed test procedures and is supported on VMware vSphere 5.0 for production environments. It is an important marker for Polycom in that the VMware Ready badge advances the vendor’s strategy to deliver more video collaboration solutions through virtualized software environments.

“By using Polycom RealPresence CloudAxis Suite with VMware vSphere 5.0, enterprises can now deploy video collaboration in a virtualized VMware environment, in addition to an on-premises deployment running on custom-built systems,” said A.E. Natarajan, Polycom worldwide engineering senior vice. “The VMware certification can help customers further scale their video collaboration environments, helping to reduce TCO and optimize performance."

According to Polycom, the RealPresence CloudAxis Suite is a software extension of its RealPresence platform, enabling businesses to send a URL link in an email or calendar invitation to anyone with a browser and camera, for others to join a secure, enterprise-grade video meeting using their smartphone, tablet, computer or video room system.

Last year, Polycom made its first foray into virtualized video collaboration from the data center by releasing RealPresence Collaboration Server 800s, Virtual Edition, a multiprotocol, integrated, software-based multipoint control unit (MCU) running on x86 servers.

VMware’s Ready program, part of its Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) program, helps customers spot third-party partner products certified to work with VMware solutions. The idea is to favor products and solutions pre-validated and tested under the program because they have met specific integration and interoperability standards to work with the VMware cloud infrastructure. Customers can use these products and solutions to lower project risks and realize cost savings over custom-built solutions.

Last August, VMware added networking and security to eight other existing product categories for which the vendor stamps third-party offerings as certified and optimized for its platforms. Other Ready program categories include hardware, data protection, application software, management solutions, storage virtual appliances, vStorage API for array integration and desktop solutions.

"We are pleased that Polycom RealPresence CloudAxis Suite qualifies for the VMware Ready logo, signifying to customers that it works effectively with VMware vSphere, and can be deployed in production with confidence," said Parag Patel, VMware Global Strategic Alliances vice president.