Polycom® VoIP Products Frequently Asked Questions General Questions on Polycom VoIP Why Polycom VoIP telephones? Polycom is a leading independent supplier of standards-based Voice over IP (VoIP) endpoints. Polycom VoIP phones are fully interoperable with leading IP PBX and Softswitch platforms1, so that our customers can have a variety of end-to-end, fully integrated VoIP solutions to choose from. VoIP solutions that feature Polycom phones provide a high-quality, rich communications experience, deliver productivity-enhancing new applications, and offer significant cost savings through consolidation of network costs for voice and data, and elimination of costs of phone moves, adds, and changes. Polycom offers a wide range of VoIP endpoints to meet the unique business communication requirements of our customers. The Polycom VoIP product portfolio includes the SoundPoint® IP family of desktop phones, an attendant console based on the SoundPoint IP 601 and Expansion Module, and the SoundStation® IP 4000 conference phone. Our phones are engineered to deliver a superb communications experience. They offer outstanding sound quality, advanced functionality, ease of use, security, tools for efficient provisioning and upgrades, and protection of your investment over time. Polycom IP telephones are your future-proof choice for business communications. What is a Technology / Interoperability Partner? Polycom Technology and Interoperability Partners1 deliver industry-leading IP telephony servers that provide both traditional phone functionality and advanced features, like unified messaging, presence, and collaboration tools. Polycom's strategy is to ensure that our phones are fully interoperable with Partner platforms, so that our joint customers can enjoy the benefits of an integrated end-to-end VoIP solution. Can the phones be used on a non-Partner platform? In order to ensure interoperability and full business telephony functionality, the SoundPoint IP and SoundStation IP telephones should be operated in conjunction with Partners' IP PBX (customer premise equipment similar to a legacy PBX or Key System) or Softswitch (hosted telephony similar to the traditional home phone service) solution. Polycom does not recommend using the phones in conjunction with call server platforms that have not been certified by Polycom. Will Polycom VoIP phones work with existing PBX or Key Systems? While many PBX and Key System vendors now provide optional VoIP gateways that are standards-based, interoperability testing must still be conducted between these systems and Polycom IP phones to ensure proper operation and feature support. Polycom cannot guarantee interoperability with a system that is not provided by one of our Partners. Which protocol is the best? There is no one protocol that is better than all the others. Each protocol has different advantages over the others and the choice depends on your business communication needs. Does the phone have a different hardware design for each protocol? No. The phones can support various standards-based protocols by deploying different firmware on the same hardware. Can I reprogram a SoundPoint IP from SIP to MGCP and vice versa? No, this cannot be done in the field. Please make sure to order the right SoundPoint IP 1 Please visit http://www.polycom.com/technpartners.htm for a full list of supported IP PBX and Softswitch solutions. ©2006 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of Polycom, Inc. or their respective companies. Polycom® VoIP Products Frequently Asked Questions SKUs, so that they are compatible with the protocol of your call server solution. Where can the telephones be purchased? The SoundPoint IP and SoundStation IP phones are available through Polycom Certified VoIP Channel Partners. These Channel Partners have met the stringent requirements pertinent to becoming Polycom-certified, which involves training, testing, and making a commitment to support their customers. Polycom IP phones are also distributed by service providers that offer Polycom IP phones in conjunction with a variety of hosted VoIP services. LCD, and support for advanced telephony features and security. The SoundPoint IP 501 is a three-line desktop IP telephone that delivers exceptional sound quality. This full-featured, enterprise-grade IP phone is an optimal solution for transactional-type workers conducting a medium-to-high volume of calls. The SoundPoint IP 501 boasts a fullduplex speakerphone with Polycom Acoustic Clarity Technology, large graphical grayscale LCD, and expanded memory to support HTTPS secure provisioning. The SoundPoint IP 601 is the ultimate IP telephone delivering unsurpassed voice quality, an advanced feature set, and the expandability to support up to three SoundPoint IP Expansion Modules. Ideal for users requiring multiple lines and advanced features, the SoundPoint IP 601 delivers both traditional telephone capabilities and new, converged applications. The SoundPoint IP Expansion Module augments the user interface of the SoundPoint IP 601 by adding a highresolution graphical grayscale LCD and 14 illuminated multifunctional keys, configurable as a line appearance or speed dial with busy lamp field (BLF) functionality. The Expansion Module is a cord-free, hotswappable, plug-and-play solution requiring virtually no configuration. The SoundPoint IP Attendant Console Solution. Based on the SoundPoint IP 601 desktop phone and up to three SoundPoint IP Expansion Modules, the attendant console provides an enhanced user interface and advanced call handling capabilities that help telephone attendants executive assistants, receptionists, and secretaries - effectively and efficiently manage and monitor a high volume of simultaneous calls. The SoundPoint IP and SoundStation IP Telephones What telephone models are available? Polycom offers a family of SoundPoint IP desktop phones, the SoundPoint IP Attendant Console Solution, and the SoundStation IP 4000 conference phone. The SoundPoint IP 301 is an entry-level two-line desktop phone that supports essential IP telephony features and functionality. With its intuitive user interface, the SoundPoint IP 301 provides an easy transition from legacy PBX and Key Systems to the world of IP telephony. The SoundPoint IP 301's expanded memory enables the support of HTTPS secure provisioning. The SoundPoint IP 430 is a two-line desktop IP telephone designed to meet the needs of general business users conducting a low-to-medium volume of calls. The phone boasts a full-duplex speakerphone that provides excellent voice quality and enables two-way simultaneous conversations that are as natural as being there. The SoundPoint IP 430 delivers a robust feature set, including built-in PoE circuitry, graphical ©2006 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of Polycom, Inc. or their respective companies. Polycom® VoIP Products Frequently Asked Questions The SoundStation IP 4000 is the marketleading SIP conference phone. Featuring Polycom's award-winning Acoustic Clarity Technology, the SoundStation IP 4000's fullduplex speakerphone provides outstanding voice quality and enables simultaneous twoway natural conversations. The SoundStation IP 4000 supports a broad range of IP telephony features, including directories, call forwarding, hold, transfer, pickup, three-way local conferencing, and presence. With superior room coverage and microphone pickup for small to mediumsized conference rooms, the SoundStation IP 4000 is expandable for larger rooms with optional extension microphones. What features do Polycom IP phones support? The SoundPoint IP and SoundStation IP phones are engineered to provide a highquality, rich and secure communications experience by delivering superb sound quality, an intuitive user interface, and a rich feature set, including shared call / bridged line appearance, multiple call- and flexible line appearances, three-way local conferencing, presence, messaging, and custom ring tones. To ensure a high level of security, all Polycom IP phones support digest authentication, HTTPS secure provisioning, "signed" software executables, TLS security, and encrypted configuration files. Features available on SoundPoint IP phones will vary depending on the model and telephony server that the phone is operated with. Please refer to the respective product datasheets and check with your call server platform provider to determine the list of supported features. What protocols do Polycom VoIP telephones support? The SoundPoint IP 301 and 501 support both SIP and MGCP. The SoundPoint IP 430 and 601 currently only support SIP. The SoundPoint IP 600 supports MGCP. The SoundPoint IP Expansion Module is protocol agnostic and supports the protocol of the host SoundPoint IP 601 (SIP). The SoundStation® IP 4000 supports SIP. Do the phones come in any other color? No. The only color available is gray. What is the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module? The SoundPoint IP Expansion Module enhances the user interface of the SoundPoint IP 601 with a high-resolution graphical LCD and 14 multifunctional keys that can be configured as a line appearance or speed-dial with busy lamp field (BLF) functionality. A high-performance attendant console based on the SoundPoint IP 601 and up to three SoundPoint IP Expansion Modules provides a productivity-enhancing solution for telephone attendants - receptionists, administrative assistants, and other "power users" who manage and monitor multiple simultaneous telephone calls on a daily basis. Which SoundPoint IP models support the Expansion Module? The SoundPoint IP 601 is the only telephone model that supports the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module. How many Expansion Modules can be attached to the SoundPoint IP 601? The SoundPoint IP 601 will support up to 3 Expansion Modules. How are powering and signaling implemented on the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module? The SoundPoint IP Expansion Module's powering and signaling are provided by the host phone. ©2006 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved. Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of Polycom, Inc. or their respective companies. Polycom® VoIP Products Frequently Asked Questions How does the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module communicate with the host phone and other attached Expansion Modules? The communications happen through the host phone's and Expansion Modules' infrared ports. What does it take to install and configure the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module? Installation and configuration of the SoundPoint IP Expansion Module are very simple, since both power and signaling are taken from the host SoundPoint IP 601 phone. Just snap the Expansion Module onto the host phone ­ and it works. No extra wires or power supplies are required. Up to three Expansion Modules may be attached to and detached from an idle SoundPoint IP 601 at any time. located on the rear of the phone. Both the models have integrated support for IEEE 802.3af PoE. In addition, the SoundPoint IP 601 supports Cisco Inline Power. The SoundPoint IP Expansion Module is powered by the host telephone. The SoundStation IP 4000 only supports AC adapter as a powering option at this time. What types of headsets are supported? SoundPoint IP phones are compatible with amplified headsets REV E. and higher. Direct connect RJ-9 headsets are supported. Please refer to your headset vendor for compatibility information. Why does the handset and headset volume reset on every call? The handset and headset volumes both reset following each call to comply with FCC requirements and with the recommendations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This feature can be disabled through a modification to the configuration file. Is there a hub or switch in the phone? All SoundPoint IP phones contain a dualport 10/100 Mbps Ethernet switch. Can an additional phone be plugged into the second Ethernet port? Polycom recommends that in order to maintain voice quality, the second Ethernet port be used only with standard PC applications. You should not "daisy chain" phones together. Hardware Technical FAQ What are the powering options for SoundPoint IP and SoundStation IP? The SoundPoint IP 301 ships with a standard CAT-5 cable and an AC adapter that plugs into a jack located on the rear of the phone. For Power over Ethernet, both IEEE 802.3af and Cisco Inline Power versions of the optional PoE cable are available for purchase. In addition, SKUs with included PoE cable and optional AC adapter can also be ordered. The SoundPoint IP 501 ships with a custom network cable that contains a jack that applies power to the unused pairs in a CAT5 network cable from a supplied AC adapter. For Power over Ethernet, both IEEE 802.3af and Ci ...