[Asterisk-Users] Polycom 500 software?

[Damon Estep]

> 
> On Sat, 6 Nov 2004, Rich Adamson wrote:
> 
> > Just unboxed two brand new SoundPoint IP 500 phones. There was no
> software
> > shipped with the units. Is the basic sip software (v1.3.1?)
available
> > from somewhere this weekend?
> >
> > Tried digging around the Polycom site including registering the
product,
> > etc, however there doesn't appear to be any way to download the
software
> > necessary to even get the phone operational. Thoughts anyone?
> >
> > Rich
> >

> 
> Polycom ships out two different phones , ones with H323,and one with
SIP
> already loaded.
> 
> Thank you,
> Steve Maroney

Correction, the polycom IP 500 ships without h.323 or SIP software (it
only has a bootrom on it), and software is only distributed by polycom
authorized VoIP partners. I have personally taken issue with this as
they advertise the product as H.323 and SIP compliant, yet without
additional software it does not even know what SIP or H.323 are.

The bootrom looks to an FTP server at startup to download the
application you want to run, HMX (h.323) or SIP, or MCGP

Polycom's official position is that they will not support their products
with * (last I checked).

I have been burned by polycom before; we used the IP 400 with the
Altigen PBX. After a year or so Polycom released a firmware update the
introduced many annoying bugs to the phone when used with Altigen and
the real killer is there was no way to downgrade the firmware after you
upgrade.

http://www.polycom.com/products_services/1,,pw-6893,FF.html

a quote from polycom website;

"NOTE: At this time, end-user customers can not download software.
Please work directly with the Polycom Certified VoIP Reseller you
purchased the products from to obtain the appropriate software."

Unless you are really in love with polycom you might want to check out
some of the many other SIP phones on the market.

Maybe someday they will see the value in providing more end user
support.