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Thank you to all who responded to my inquiry below. As explained by a
few people, Polycom has a policy of withholding current firmware
releases from users, thus forcing them to contact "authorized"
resellers for support should they need this code. Similar to another
reported experience, I attempted to contact the reseller from whom I
purchased this telephone, but was unable to penetrate the screening
process because I had not purchased a support contract at additional
cost. So I was sitting with a one day old phone that had become a
paperweight, and the other sources that *-users list correspondents had
kindly referred me to were just not working for me. Perhaps I was
doing something wrong.<br>
<br>
Having painlessly downloaded and used FW from other manufacturers' web
sites in the past, I found this predicament exasperating.<br>
<br>
I contacted another reseller and agreed to purchase another Polycom
model if they agreed to provide me with current firmware. After
placing an order, I was given ftp access to a site for obtaining the
material. Minutes later, I had restored the phone to working order.<br>
<br>
The sales rep at the second reseller explained that Polycom has this
policy in order to "strengthen the reseller channel" which I thought
was rather ironic. Well, he did make a sale, I suppose, but it felt
like blackmail to this customer. I'm not terribly impressed by the
second reseller, and I'm soured on the first.<br>
<br>
While I have no objection to paying for any kind of support, it does
seem that the deliberate creation of impediments such as this do not
enhance the image of Polycom, up and down the distribution channel.
But of course, that is their privilege. As I stated, I like the phone,
and it compares very favorably to others I'm evaluating. However, if
all other things were equal (and they could become so with just some
firmware improvements), this nonsense will drive me into the arms of a
competing manufacturer in a heartbeat. It's needless grief to put your
customers through, and that's just stupid, in my opinion.<br>
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">-----Original Message-----
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>From: Bill Michaelson [<a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:bill@cosi.com">mailto:bill@cosi.com</a>]
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 4:13 PM
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>To: Asterisk Users Mailing List - Non-Commercial Discussion
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>Subject: [Asterisk-Users] Polycom FW
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>Anyone know how to obtain firmware and starter .cfg files for
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>Polycom phones? Despite registering at the Polycom web site,
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>I can't locate this stuff.
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>
<span class="moz-txt-citetags">> </span>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
</pre>
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