New Poly Microsoft Teams-Certified Headsets Can Keep Remote Users Collaborating

Videoconferencing software and equipment vendor Poly has released Voyager 4245 Office, a new Bluetooth headset that integrates with Microsoft Teams that can help keep remote employees connected.

Videoconferencing giant Poly, formerly Polycom and Plantronics, is adding to its wireless headset portfolio to help remote workers stay connected from anywhere, including their home offices.

"All of a sudden, headset demand has skyrocketed as people work from home," said Chris Thorson, senior director of solutions marketing for Poly. “Right now, it's a matter of how we and our partners can fulfill demand.”

The Santa Cruz, Calif.-based provider is also expanding its partner ecosystem by allowing deeper integrations with providers such as Microsoft Teams and cloud video provider Zoom.

[Related: Search For Poly CEO Is On As Joe Burton Steps Down, Former Polycom Leader Named Interim CEO]

Poly on Monday revealed Voyager 4245 Office, a new Bluetooth headset that integrates with Microsoft Teams, which replaces the decked version of the Poly 8245. The headset features HD voice, long battery life, and a convertible wearing style, Thorson said.

The Voyager 4245, a good fit for contact center and work from home environments, will be available in the U.S., APAC and EMEA in May 2020, according to the company.

Poly today offers 15 Microsoft Teams-enabled certified headsets and speakerphone devices. The company will also be making Microsoft Teams-certified versions of four of its popular headsets available in May 2020, including the Voyager 4200 Office and UC Series and the Voyager 5200 Office and UC Series that were first announced in November, as well as the Voyager 6200 UC and the Voyager 8200 UC offering.

Poly last year revealed a managed services offering for Microsoft Teams, which is also available to channel partners that may not have collaboration expertise, Thorson said.

"We are a channel-led company and we want channel partners to do these services, but we know there's smaller shops that may not have Microsoft experts," he said.

To help businesses keep their employees up and running during the coronavirus pandemic, Poly RealConnect, an offering that lets users connect from traditional video conferencing systems to Microsoft Teams or Skype for Business meetings, is giving free subscriptions for existing customers of Poly Group, Poly Trio Visual+, the Poly Studio X family of video bars and Poly G7500 customers to connect to Microsoft Teams meetings. Poly is making this service available now through June 2020.

Poly announced a leadership transition in February as Joe Burton, the company's president and CEO for more than three years, stepped down. Poly named Robert Hagerty, chairman of Poly's board of directors and former CEO of Polycom, to serve as interim CEO while Poly searches for a permeant replacement.