Polycom QSX User Manual

The Wainhouse Research Bulletin

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Editor’s Note: The following article is an excerpt from The Wainhouse Research Bulletin Vol. 6 #15. To gain access to the complete archived issue or to subscribe for free to receive future issues, visit

Polycom Intro’s Voice+Content

Polycom has announced QSX, a Voice+Content solution that enables anyone using a Polycom conference phone (1.7 million shipped) to easily and securely share computer content with remote meeting participants. QSX enables fast, ad-hoc content sharing for anyone in the

www.wainhouse.com/bulletin. Andrew W. Davis, andrewwd@wainhouse.com

conference call without requiring special software applications, on-going usage fees, or document uploading.

QSX is a small appliance that handles meetings with up to 15 participant locations. The device connects to the conference phone, projector, and the Internet and after that handles all the protocols transparently and instantly. A small pod sits on the table top for laptop VGA connections and for control. Participants see content in one of two ways: QSX-enabled rooms (up to 5) see the content automatically though the room's projector or display system; locations without QSX (up to 10) can see the content through a standard, Javaenabled web browser.

Since the presenter connects simply with a VGA cable, anyone who walks into the room can present content instantly to everyone on the call, even if they are a visitor using a Macintosh without any individual access to the LAN. QSX enables people to show virtually any type of computer content instantly and to show changes, or switch applications as the meeting progresses. QSX is manageable through an individual admin web page or through Polycom Global Management System. The MSRP is $1,299 for the VTX 1000 compatible version and $1,599 for other Polycom phones.

Here’s What I Think: This is one of the more interesting and innovative announcements I’ve seen over the past few years. In short, the QSX allows you to bring data into the picture with the ease of use of a standard telephone – you can share a PC screen by just dialing a Polycom conference phone – it’s as simple as that. The unit works across NAT-firewalls (QSX uses port

80) and multipoint audio bridges. Set up is very fast, and the connection was flawless and high performance in the demo I attended. And you don’t need a user account (or training) to use the device, or any client software running on your PC. I give Polycom credit for designing a web conferencing system that has minimalist controls, but is still likely to meet the needs of most users and presenters. While WebEx and Glance offer great desktop solutions, the QSX thrust is really a bit different – the conference room, or any room that is SoundStation enabled. In addition, QSX offers a CPE solution in contrast to most of the web conferencing services, but this is CPE that won’t tax the IT team. I have no idea what QSX stands for, but I’m glad Polycom decided to not call the product ShowStation II. QSX looks like a real winner.

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The Wainhouse Research Bulletin Page-1 Vol. 6 #15, April 26, 2005