[March 06, 2012]

Plantronics Teams With Microsoft to Provide Unified Communications Hosting Solutions for Service Providers

Easy to deploy unified communications (UC) solutions are increasingly important as more companies must address employee mobility, better utilization of office real estate and an ever increasing need for collaboration. Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) today announced its participation in the Microsoft (News - Alert) Lync Hosted Pack Reference Architecture Partner Ecosystem. The ecosystem is designed to support Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting, a special deployment configuration scoped for Hosting or Telecom services providers.

Customers can quickly identify tested options, incorporating audio devices and hosted Microsoft Lync services, which will help speed their implementation times. Optimized endpoints from Plantronics (News - Alert), a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, coupled with Microsoft Lync can help deliver a better experience by accelerating UC adoption within an enterprise or an SMB.

"As the unified communications market develops, we've learned from our customers and our own deployment that providing users with high quality endpoints increases adoption," said Michael Gjerstad, vice president of Strategic Partnerships at Plantronics. "Our optimized devices ensure interoperability with Lync, which helps people focus on the conversation, rather than the technology, and leads to increased collaboration no matter where people are working."

The Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting allows service providers to host multitenant Lync instances shared across multiple customer environments. It builds on the underlying Microsoft Lync Server 2010 to provide telecom and hosting providers with a complete unified communications service solution. It works with the core system infrastructure adding multitenant capabilities and other service provider specific functionality. The solution is a foundation in that it allows service providers to configure the service and build upon it in their own unique ways to add value to and differentiate their offerings.

Plantronics devices optimized for Microsoft Lync are designed to meet a variety of end user needs, IT requirements and price constraints - all while providing quality audio and intuitive user experiences. There is a Plantronics device for every configuration, every work style and every user - making it easy to standardize on one vendor.

Plantronics Blackwire^®: Corded USB Headsets

Designed for in-office and mobile PC-based conversations, the Blackwire family includes the award winning Blackwire 435, an ultra discreet and lightweight headset.

Plantronics Calisto^®: USB Desk Phones, Handsets and Speakerphones

The Calisto family includes the Calisto 800 series. The award winning Calisto 835 was developed for people who work from home and make calls via the PC, their mobile phone and even a home landline.

Plantronics Savi^®: Wireless DECT (News - Alert)™ USB Headsets

The Savi family includes the Savi 700 series - which connects to the PC, an office desk phone and a mobile phone. The Savi 740 includes the lightest DECT headset in the market.

Plantronics Voyager^® UC: Bluetooth^® USB Headset

For mobile professionals, the Voyager PRO UC is the industry's first headset with capacitive sensors that provide better presence information by indicating to a softphone client when a user is on a mobile call. The headset comes with a plug-and-play Bluetooth USB adapter.

For more information about Plantronics including programs, promotions and product samples, please email hosters@plantronics.com

For more information about Microsoft solutions from Plantronics, please visit http://www.plantronics.com/microsoft/

About Plantronics - Simply Smarter Communications^TM

Plantronics is a global leader in audio communications for businesses and consumers. We have pioneered new trends in audio technology for 50 years, creating innovative products that allow people to simply communicate. From unified communication solutions to Bluetooth^® headsets, we deliver uncompromising quality, an ideal experience, and extraordinary service. Plantronics is used by every company in the Fortune 100, as well as 911 dispatch, air traffic control and the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit www.plantronics.com or call (800) 544-4660.

Plantronics, Blackwire, Calisto, Savi, Simply Smarter Communications Voyager, Voyager PRO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth trademark is owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of the mark by Plantronics, Inc. is under license. DECT is a trade mark of ETSI (News - Alert) registered in France and other countries. All other trademark are the property of their respective owners.

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