The companies also said that HarperCollins Publishers Inc. in New York is testing the new Avaya IP Video Telephony Solution, although officials at the publishing giant could not be reached for comment.

The joint technology integrates Avaya Communication Manager software for IP telephony with Polycom's desktop, conference room and multipoint videoconferencing technology, Avaya officials said.

Pricing was not disclosed.

Integrating Polycom's videoconferencing systems into Avaya's tools will make videoconferencing "much easier to use," said Zeus Kerravala, an analyst at Yankee Group Research Inc. in Boston.

"I think for video to really gain adoption, it needs to become integrated into the other collaborative tools people use," he said. "Video as a stand-alone system has always been and will always be a tough sell."