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Polycom has partnered with prominent service providers from around the world to introduce broader visual communications adoption by enabling interoperability and global business-to-business (B2B) connectivity for telepresence and video conferencing.

The company has announced the formation of the new Open Visual Communications Consortium (OVCC). This organization is expected to provide high-quality connectivity across service provider networks to make it easy for businesses, governments, universities, healthcare institutions, and more using telepresence and video conferencing to connect with each other whenever they want.

OVCC is expected to be the first to establish a global standards-based, multi-vendor, multi-network visual communication exchange. Company officials said that members plan to support the full spectrum of video systems from immersive telepresence and room-based systems, high definition and standard definition, desktop clients and mobile devices.

To organizations and consumers, this new consortium aims to provide secure, standards-based B2B connectivity. It’s being sponsored by Polycom (News - Alert); and as a sponsor, the company said that it’s leveraging its standards leadership, technology innovation, and industry relationships to help create the OVCC organization.

“This groundbreaking global consortium is transforming the connectivity model with a world-class global exchange that, over time, removes the barriers to ubiquity, thus further enabling our UC Everywhere vision,” said Andrew Miller (News - Alert), CEO of Polycom.

The other founding members include Airtel, AT&T, BCS Global, BT Conferencing, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, Global Crossing, Glowpoint, iFormata Communications, Masergy, Orange Business Services, PCCW Global, Telefonica, Telstra, and Verizon. In the near future, OVCC plans to expand to include additional service providers.

The members believe that OVCC will “significantly” increase the business value of new and existing visual communications systems as it’s expected to open video communications to millions of enterprise users and consumers.

OVCC members are expected to deliver interoperability services. This will bridge the islands of communication between enterprise, mobile, and consumer applications and accelerate market growth. Company officials said that OVCC members will also enable interoperability with non-standards-based systems.

Company officials said that global B2B connectivity will create new applications. Some of the concepts include: B2B telepresence, which may make it easier for businesses to offer complementary services from within retail locations; and Visual Communications, which may expand distance learning programs.

“Telepresence (News - Alert) helps us stay ahead in today's rapid business environment by streamlining business processes, improving productivity, and accelerating decision making and managing costs,” said Jonathan A. Zwang, senior director for global technology and infrastructure at Tyco International, adding that the ability to extend video use to partners and customers would increase the business value exponentially.

Global connectivity with high-quality video is also expected to help expand the reach of telemedicine programs. Company officials said that this will improve access to care in rural areas and help elevate the quality of care in underserved countries through programs like Medical Missions for Children.

“This Consortium is addressing an immediate business need that will help drive greater value for customers and spur broader adoption,” said Rich Costello, senior research analyst at IDC (News - Alert).

OVCC will be open to new members beginning in the second half of 2011. The initial OVCC capabilities are expected to launch mid-year 2012.