By Amy Tierney

The Regus Group, a provider of workplace solutions, has tapped a Pleasanton, Calif.-based company that offers telepresence, video, and voice solutions to equip its first publicly available telepresence suite.

Regus, which recently opened the Regus Telepresence Suite, has equipped the location with Polycom's RealPresence Experience High Definition telepresence system. The effort is part of a contract with Cable&Wireless Worldwide, an international communications company.
 
The deal, according to Polycom, is worth more than $44.9 million over five years.
 
Regus celebrated the launch of its Berkley Square location in London, including its first global telepresence suite. The site is the first in a larger roll-out that will include Polycom RPX telepresence suites in 14 cities. Following London, Regus plans to open Regus Telepresence Suites in Paris, Singapore, New York and San Francisco this summer, the company said.
 
"We are redefining the world of work, offering business of all sizes flexible, innovative and inspiring locations in which to meet, work and collaborate," said Mark Dixon, chief executive officer of Regus plc. in a statement. "In response to rising demand from these organizations we are augmenting and expanding our existing business lounge network around the globe, as we look to better enable the workers of today and tomorrow. The telepresence solution will play a fundamental role in helping us achieve this."
 
Regus currently offers a network of publicly accessible video conferencing rooms with more than 600 studios worldwide featuring Polycom video conferencing solutions. Polycom's RealPresence Experience technology gives companies a new level of intimate meeting experience. Specifically, it's designed to help helps people in different locations work as effectively as if they are in the same room, the company said.
 
"Adding Polycom immersive telepresence suites to Regus facilities provides a powerful combination of services available for businesses looking to extend their presence and support an increasingly dispersed and mobile workforce," said Bob Hagerty, chairman and chief executive officer at Polycom. "Because Polycom systems are based on established standards for video communication, Regus customers can use telepresence to connect with other Regus facilities, their own offices or with their customers, vendors and partners anywhere in the world."
 
Telepresence solutions are becoming more popular as businesses look to tighten costs in an economic downturn. They also help organizations better compete and address the so-called "green trend" by reducing the corporate carbon footprint, Polycom said.
 
To show the importance the technology is playing in the global environment, Polycom recently hosted an 'UltimateHD Fest,' in which customers and partners had the ability to interact with Polycom executives on a show floor of an industry event in Orlando, Fla. using telepresence solutions. The fest linked participants from regional events in Austin, Texas, New York, Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Santa Clara, Calif., the company said.
 
[via TMCnet]