Polycom
Opens Its Global Partner Conference with Focus on End Users
The
Polycom Partner Conference was held in Feb. 24-27 at the Hotel InterContinental
in Miami and was attended by more than 600 global partners. Demonstrating
what it considers its greatest assets, Polycom premiered the Polycom User
Group and introduced several Polycom end users on the first day of the
conference.
The conference was opened on Monday by PUG Vice President and 2003 PUG
Conference Co-Chair, Toni Alonso, from Pfizer, Inc. This set the stage
for the appearance of many PUG members and discussions of what is important
to the end user. Chris DiFiglia, 2003 PUG President and Associate Director
of Bear Stearns, joined the conference via video from New York to discuss
the importance of PUG and the opportunities channel partners can enjoy
by becoming Alliance members. With more than 2200 members in 67 countries,
PUG’s reach is broad – and expanding globally.
Joining Toni for an end user perspective of what is required from the
channel were Cathy Boswick of ADP, PUG’s Treasurer and 2003 PUG Conference
Co-Chair; and Richard Norris of M&M/Mars, a PUG Director, as well
as several other end users. Each spoke of the challenges and benefits
of implementing video conferencing at their locations around the world.
One end user shared a story describing a power mic that had been placed
on a ceiling instead of a table and how, through Polycom’s support,
he was able to find a knowledgeable channel partner and turn this mistake
into a success story.
Throughout the discussions, these end users emphasized that facilitating
successful video conferencing within their organizations is how they measure
their own success. They explained how Polycom’s channel partners
can be a key factor in that success by listening to users, under-standing
the challenges and strategies for overcoming them, and by deeply understanding
the technology.
The speakers showed that, by becoming Alliance members and encouraging
customers to join PUG, Polycom’s partners could enhance their own
success,that of their customers, and Polycom's too. Everyone wins!
Allan Whiting and Chris Davis of Internet Videocommunications
receiving their Polycom Platinum Accreditation Award from
Bob Hagerty, CEO of Polycom
