Microsoft's (MSFT.O) $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype is likely to boost videoconferencing from workers' desktops, posing further risks to video technology providers like Polycom (PLCM.O) and Logitech (LOGN.VX). The cheaper end of the $3 billion videoconferencing equipment market is already suffering from inroads that Skype and other video applications are making in the market, historically controlled by stand-alone conferencing devices in offices. The pressure on dedicated videoconferencing devices, excluding top-end telepresence rooms, will only increase, said Gartner analyst Jeffrey Mann. Dominic Dodd, analyst at Frost and Sullivan, agreed.
Microsoft Corporation is engaged in developing, manufacturing, licensing and supporting a range of software products and services for different types of computing devices. Shares of MSFT fell by 0.16% or $-0.04/share to $25.32. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $22.73 and as high as $29.73. On average, 62596400 shares of MSFT exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 77262312.
Polycom, Inc. (Polycom) is a provider of unified (UC) solutions and a provider of telepresence, video, voice and infrastructure solutions based on open standards. Shares of PLCM traded higher by 1.84% or $1.05/share to $58.05. In the past year, the shares have traded as low as $25.38 and as high as $61.70. On average, 1231040 shares of PLCM exchange hands on a given day and today's volume is recorded at 2053701.
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