SOURCE: Polycom, Inc.

September 29, 2008 08:30 ET

Polycom Receives Distribution Industry 'Rising Star' Award

Third-Annual Awards Program Recognizes the IT Distribution Industry's Fastest-Growing Manufacturers and Publishers

PLEASANTON, CA--(Marketwire - September 29, 2008) - Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM), the global leader in telepresence, video and voice communications solutions, today announced it is a recipient of a 2008 Rising Star Award, presented by the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) in recognition of the IT industry's fastest-growing manufacturers and publishers doing business with GTDC member distributors. The winners are selected based on U.S. revenue growth over the past year, as reported by industry research organization The NPD Group in its Distributor Track(SM) service. GTDC distributor members provide products and services to solution providers and resellers supporting end users of all sizes, including the critical small-to-midsize business (SMB) market. GTDC members represent more than $100 billion in annual worldwide sales.

The GTDC Rising Star awards program was introduced in 2006 in response to the impressive success IT manufacturers and publishers are having in partnership with IT distributors. The GTDC presents Gold, Silver and Bronze awards as well as up to three "honorable mention" awards in the following revenue categories based on GTDC member sales: $500 million+; $100 million to $500 million; and $20 million to $100 million. Polycom was selected as the Honorable Mention award recipient in the $100 million to $500 million category.

"Polycom is honored to be recognized as one of the IT distribution industry's fastest-growing vendor partners, and is proud to support the mission of the GTDC to gain cooperation and understanding between the distributor and vendor communities," said Rob Claus, vice president of worldwide distribution, Polycom.

"We are pleased to award Polycom as a 2008 GTDC Rising Star, recognizing its continued commitment to excellence in working with the distributor community," said Tim Curran, CEO, Global Technology Distribution Council.

Methodology

Sales results for Rising Star award winners are based on actual U.S. revenue growth over the past year, as reported by industry research organization The NPD Group in its Distributor Track(SM) service. Available by subscription, the Distributor Track aggregates actual distributor sell-through data to enable sharp insight into channel sales and pricing trends with the ability to drill down into specific product subcategories, including detailed attributes based on specific areas of interest. To be eligible for a Rising Star award, vendors are required to have sold corresponding products through IT distributors for a minimum of one year.

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCM) is the global leader in telepresence, video, and voice solutions and a visionary in communications that empower people to connect and collaborate everywhere. Please visit www.polycom.com for more information.

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. The NPD Group's Distributor Track® delivers the most comprehensive market research information available on product sell-through in the IT distributor market using sales data from the world's leading IT distributors, including members of the Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC). For more information on The NPD Group and Distributor Track, visit www.npd.com.

About The Global Technology Distribution Council

The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC) is a worldwide industry association dedicated to defining and promoting the role of wholesale distribution in a successful and healthy information technology channel. The Council is comprised of the computer industry's top wholesale distributors dedicated to serving "the channel," a network of skilled value-added resellers and retail stores focused on providing hardware, software, and services to businesses and consumers around the globe. GTDC members include Actebis, Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW), Avnet (NYSE: AVT), Bell Microproducts (PINKSHEETS: BELM), DCC SerCom, Esprinet, Ingram Micro (IM), Magirus AG, Synnex (NYSE: SNX), Redington, Tech Data (NASDAQ: TECD), Westcoast LTD and Westcon.