<PAGE>
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                     UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------

                                 POLYCOM, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>                          <C>
           DELAWARE                                                94-3128324
 (State or other jurisdiction                                   (I.R.S. Employer
              of                                             Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)
</TABLE>

                                1565 BARBER LANE
                               MILPITAS, CA 95035
          (Address, including zip code of Principal Executive Offices)

                           1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               MICHAEL R. KOUREY
                            CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                 POLYCOM, INC.
                                1565 BARBER LANE
                               MILPITAS, CA 95035
                                 (408) 526-9000

               (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                            ------------------------

                                    COPY TO:

                            MARK A. BERTELSEN, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                            PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                 (650) 493-9300
                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES                  AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
            TO BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED (1)           PER SHARE              PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                        <C>                     <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Common Stock $.0005 par value:
  Newly reserved under the 1996 Stock
    Incentive Plan (the "Option Plan")...      490,004 shares          $63.25 (3)         $30,992,753.00          $8,182.09
  Newly reserved shares subject to
    options granted under the Option
    Plan.................................     3,009,996 shares        $41.3088 (4)        $124,339,322.77        $32,825.58
  Total:                                    3,500,000 shares (2)                          $155,332,075.77        $41,007.67
</TABLE>

(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the
    Registrant's Common Stock that become issuable under the Option Plan by
    reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar
    transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that increases the
    number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2) The total number of shares covered by this Registration Statement reflects a
    two-for-one split of the Registrant's Common Stock that became effective on
    August 31, 2000.

(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee required
    by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act pursuant to Rules 457(h) and 457(c)
    under the Securities Act, based upon the average between the high and low
    prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
    September 25, 2000.

(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee required
    by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
    Securities Act. The price of $41.3088 represents the weighted average
    exercise price for outstanding options to purchase a total of 3,009,996
    shares of Common Stock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                 POLYCOM, INC.
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART I

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

    The documents containing the information specified in this Item 1 will be
sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") and the instructions to Form S-8,
such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this
Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to
Rule 424.

ITEM 2. REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

    The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be
sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission
and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the
Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or
prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The following documents and information previously filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") by Polycom, Inc. (the "REGISTRANT")
are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

    - The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
      "EXCHANGE ACT");

    - The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
      March 31, 2000 filed with the Commission on May 17, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
      July 2, 2000 filed with the Commission on August 4, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
      July 24, 2000 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
      August 2, 2000 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the
      Commission on March 31, 2000 pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange
      Act;

    - The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission
      on October 10, 1995, pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act,
      declared effective by the Commission on November 15, 1995, including any
      amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
      and

                                       2
<PAGE>
    - The information contained in the Registrant's Registration Statements on
      Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-43059, 333-45351, 333-86681 and 333-93419) filed
      on or about December 23, 1997, January 30, 1998, September 7, 1999 and
      December 22, 1999 respectively.

    In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereunder
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold under
this Registration Statement, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEMS 4-7.

    Items 4-7, inclusive, are omitted in reliance upon General Instruction E to
Form S-8, and the above incorporation by reference of a previously filed and
currently effective S-8 (File No. 333-43059).

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
---------------------   -----------
<C>                     <S>
         4.1            1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
         5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                        registered.
        23.1            Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
        23.2            Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent
                        Accountants.
        24.1            Powers of Attorney (see page 4).
</TABLE>

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

    Item 9 is omitted in reliance upon General Instruction E to Form S-8, and
the above incorporation by reference of a previously filed and currently
effective S-8 (File No. 333-43059).

                                       3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Milpitas, State of California, on this 28th day of
September 2000.

                                POLYCOM, INC.

                                By:  /s/ MICHAEL R. KOUREY
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Michael R. Kourey
                                     SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
                                     ADMINISTRATION, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
                                     SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert C. Hagerty and Michael R. Kourey,
and each of them, his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (i) act on, sign and
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and
file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be
necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, and (iii) take any and all
actions that may be necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving,
ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any
of his substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

    IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED ON THIS 28TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2000 BY THE
FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURES                      TITLE
          ----------                      -----
<S>                             <C>
                                Chairman of the Board of
/s/ ROBERT C. HAGERTY             Directors, President and
------------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
Robert C. Hagerty                 (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
                                  OFFICER)

                                Senior Vice President,
                                  Finance and
/s/ MICHAEL R. KOUREY             Administration, Chief
------------------------------    Financial Officer,
Michael R. Kourey                 Secretary and Director
                                  (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND
                                  ACCOUNTING OFFICER)

/s/ BETSY S. ATKINS
------------------------------  Director
Betsy S. Atkins

------------------------------  Director
John Seely Brown

/s/ JOHN A. KELLEY
------------------------------  Director
John A. Kelley

/s/ STANLEY J. MERESMAN
------------------------------  Director
Stanley J. Meresman

------------------------------  Director
William A. Owens
</TABLE>

                                       4
<PAGE>
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
---------------------   -----------
<C>                     <S>
         4.1            1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
         5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                        registered.
        23.2            Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent
                        Accountants.
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2026234zs-8.txt", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14393}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "POLYCOM INC", "cik": "0001010552", "assigned-sic": "3661", "irs-number": "943128324", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-46816", "film-number": "730744"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1565 BARBER LANE", "city": "MILPITAS", "state": "CA", "zip": "95035", "phone": "4085269000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2584 JUNCTION AVE", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95120"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                     UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------

                                 POLYCOM, INC.

             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE                                                94-3128324
 (State or other jurisdiction                                   (I.R.S. Employer
              of                                             Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)
1565 BARBER LANE
                               MILPITAS, CA 95035
          (Address, including zip code of Principal Executive Offices)

                           1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               MICHAEL R. KOUREY
                            CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                                 POLYCOM, INC.
                                1565 BARBER LANE
                               MILPITAS, CA 95035
                                 (408) 526-9000

               (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                            ------------------------

                                    COPY TO:

                            MARK A. BERTELSEN, ESQ.
                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                            PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                            PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                 (650) 493-9300
                            ------------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM
           TITLE OF SECURITIES                  AMOUNT TO BE         OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING        AMOUNT OF
            TO BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED (1)           PER SHARE              PRICE          REGISTRATION FEE
Common Stock $.0005 par value:
  Newly reserved under the 1996 Stock
    Incentive Plan (the "Option Plan")...      490,004 shares          $63.25 (3)         $30,992,753.00          $8,182.09
  Newly reserved shares subject to
    options granted under the Option
    Plan.................................     3,009,996 shares        $41.3088 (4)        $124,339,322.77        $32,825.58
  Total:                                    3,500,000 shares (2)                          $155,332,075.77        $41,007.67
(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the
    Registrant's Common Stock that become issuable under the Option Plan by
    reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar
    transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that increases the
    number of the Registrant's outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2) The total number of shares covered by this Registration Statement reflects a
    two-for-one split of the Registrant's Common Stock that became effective on
    August 31, 2000.

(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee required
    by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act pursuant to Rules 457(h) and 457(c)
    under the Securities Act, based upon the average between the high and low
    prices of the Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
    September 25, 2000.

(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee required
    by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the
    Securities Act. The price of $41.3088 represents the weighted average
    exercise price for outstanding options to purchase a total of 3,009,996
    shares of Common Stock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
POLYCOM, INC.
                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART I

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

    The documents containing the information specified in this Item 1 will be
sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") and the instructions to Form S-8,
such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this
Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to
Rule 424.

ITEM 2. REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

    The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be
sent or given to employees, officers, directors or others as specified by
Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission
and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the
Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or
prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.

                                    PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

    The following documents and information previously filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") by Polycom, Inc. (the "REGISTRANT")
are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

    - The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
      December 31, 1999 filed with the Commission on March 29, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
      "EXCHANGE ACT");

    - The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
      March 31, 2000 filed with the Commission on May 17, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
      July 2, 2000 filed with the Commission on August 4, 2000 pursuant to
      Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
      July 24, 2000 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on
      August 2, 2000 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;

    - The Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the
      Commission on March 31, 2000 pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange
      Act;

    - The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
      Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission
      on October 10, 1995, pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act,
      declared effective by the Commission on November 15, 1995, including any
      amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
      and

                                       2
- The information contained in the Registrant's Registration Statements on
      Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-43059, 333-45351, 333-86681 and 333-93419) filed
      on or about December 23, 1997, January 30, 1998, September 7, 1999 and
      December 22, 1999 respectively.

    In addition, all documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereunder
have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold under
this Registration Statement, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.

ITEMS 4-7.

    Items 4-7, inclusive, are omitted in reliance upon General Instruction E to
Form S-8, and the above incorporation by reference of a previously filed and
currently effective S-8 (File No. 333-43059).

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
---------------------   -----------
4.1            1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
         5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                        registered.
        23.1            Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
        23.2            Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent
                        Accountants.
        24.1            Powers of Attorney (see page 4).
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.

    Item 9 is omitted in reliance upon General Instruction E to Form S-8, and
the above incorporation by reference of a previously filed and currently
effective S-8 (File No. 333-43059).

                                       3
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Milpitas, State of California, on this 28th day of
September 2000.

                                POLYCOM, INC.

                                By:  /s/ MICHAEL R. KOUREY
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Michael R. Kourey
                                     SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND
                                     ADMINISTRATION, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
                                     SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

    KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Robert C. Hagerty and Michael R. Kourey,
and each of them, his or her true and lawful agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to (i) act on, sign and
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on
Form S-8 together with all schedules and exhibits thereto, (ii) act on, sign and
file such certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents as may be
necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, and (iii) take any and all
actions that may be necessary or appropriate to be done, as fully for all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby approving,
ratifying and confirming all that such agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact or any
of his substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

    IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED ON THIS 28TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2000 BY THE
FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES INDICATED:
SIGNATURES                      TITLE
          ----------                      -----
Chairman of the Board of
/s/ ROBERT C. HAGERTY             Directors, President and
------------------------------    Chief Executive Officer
Robert C. Hagerty                 (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
                                  OFFICER)

                                Senior Vice President,
                                  Finance and
/s/ MICHAEL R. KOUREY             Administration, Chief
------------------------------    Financial Officer,
Michael R. Kourey                 Secretary and Director
                                  (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND
                                  ACCOUNTING OFFICER)

/s/ BETSY S. ATKINS
------------------------------  Director
Betsy S. Atkins

------------------------------  Director
John Seely Brown

/s/ JOHN A. KELLEY
------------------------------  Director
John A. Kelley

/s/ STANLEY J. MERESMAN
------------------------------  Director
Stanley J. Meresman

------------------------------  Director
William A. Owens
4
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
       NUMBER           DESCRIPTION
---------------------   -----------
4.1            1996 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
         5.1            Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                        registered.
        23.2            Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent
                        Accountants.