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According to a Global Industry Analysts forecast, the market for softphones is opportune to grow to $217.2 million in value by 2017, due to the tremendous increase in enterprise mobility and workforce virtualization.

Cashing in on this trend, Plantronics has rolled out its Spokes software platform, which can be integrated with a variety of leading softphones so that users will have the ability to answer, end, mute or adjust call volume straight from their UC headset.

With an objective to enable a truly social business environment, Plantronics (News - Alert) has now introduced a new IT management tool, Plantronics Enterprise Manager (PEM), which is designed to help IT professionals centrally manage the Spokes UC audio device software.

In general, the Plantronics audio devices work seamlessly with compatible softphones. The company’s Spokes software allows for remote call control with the headsets and the latest generation of UC and IP softphones, thereby allowing users to answer and end calls remotely while away from their desks.

With the help of the new PEM IT management tool, users will have a variety of options for managing Spokes.

“When people have a great experience with their UC audio devices, stronger adoption rates for UC overall are bound to follow,” said Bill Loewenthal, vice president, Unified Communications (News - Alert) Solutions, Plantronics, in a press release. “With Plantronics Enterprise Manager, IT is able to deliver a consistent user experience across the enterprise, resulting in more collaboration, fewer help desk calls, and ultimately stronger UC ROI.”

Providing IT with a wealth of customization options, the new PEM tool can provide enterprises with the ability to create customized installation packages, so that only Spokes components that make sense for their environment are installed.

In addition, the PEM tool also allows IT staff to manage the settings and behavior of Plantronics supported devices and optionally lock those settings preventing unwanted modifications - all done via a simple check-box user interface. The new PEM tool manages device settings so users have a consistent experience company-wide as well as undertakes security measures to prevent unwanted modifications, according to officials with Plantronics.

“Plantronics supports the vision of a truly social business environment,” said Joe Burton, senior vice president and CTO, Plantronics. “Our call control software enables users across the globe to benefit from the improved collaboration and cost savings that comes along with being able to quickly call or conference in colleagues, clients and business partners without being chained to their desks.”