-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AbLhgzsoFSDEdHY1/i0VZapNSGrgzBCuVtRnJkKfAfh85+n6+dpYZFbRtCoEOn3S
 xrAy02nwHNADmEJrqqq3Nw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001311050-08-000070.txt : 20080902
<SEC-HEADER>0001311050-08-000070.hdr.sgml : 20080901
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080902180159
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001311050-08-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080829
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080902
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080902

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			POLYCOM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001010552
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				943128324
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4750 WILLOW ROAD
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588-2708
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9259246000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4750 WILLOW RD
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OWENS WILLIAM ARTHUR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184212

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27978
		FILM NUMBER:		081052286

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		913-323-4637

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EMBARQ CORP.
		STREET 2:		5454 W. 110TH
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66211

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS WILLIAM
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020829
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001010552</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>POLYCOM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLCM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184212</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OWENS WILLIAM ARTHUR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4750 WILLOW ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94588</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1673</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14037</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>188</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13849</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Laura M. Balma, Attorney-in-fact for William A. Owens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----