Google Voice Poly Phones

[gszech]

We are trialing Google Voice system in one of our school. So far I really like the simplicity of the system, how easy it is to add users, configure auto-attendants and ring groups.

 

I've got two question about the system:

1. Once Poly handsets are configured, can you call them by extension number or phone ID without a need to assign a Google Voice user license to the handset.
   This is so the school can save money by not assigning licenses to handsets located in each classroom. We would still like to be able reception to call the handset internally by extension and the handsets in the classroom don't need to call external numbers.
   
2. On the Poly Google Voice page handsets are described as VVX 350 Obi Edition and on the same website, but on product page handsets are just called VVX 350.
   Are those the same devices ? Or the VVX 350 Obi Edition is different than VVX 350.
   

 

Handsets are quite cheap so we ordered two Polycom VVX 350 handsets from Amazon to test the devices with Google Voice system and they will arrive next week.

[rogerdnixon]

1. Short answer is no. You assign a licence to a user and then they can access voice on mobile and web. Then optionally you assign a physical Polycom handset to a user - their name appears on the phone. Phones have to be assigned to users to do anything. We put in speeddials into the handsets so from the handsets you can press 1 - dial and can whoever is on speeddial 1. Google will bulk do this on request if you give them the MAC address on the phones to apply speeddials settings to - or do it manually on the web interface.

 

2. Obi Edition ones will just work. None Obi edition you will need to flash to Obi firmware and then they will work. So just an extra step.

[gszech]

1. Short answer is no. You assign a licence to a user and then they can access voice on mobile and web. Then optionally you assign a physical Polycom handset to a user - their name appears on the phone. Phones have to be assigned to users to do anything. We put in speeddials into the handsets so from the handsets you can press 1 - dial and can whoever is on speeddial 1. Google will bulk do this on request if you give them the MAC address on the phones to apply speeddials settings to - or do it manually on the web interface.

 

2. Obi Edition ones will just work. None Obi edition you will need to flash to Obi firmware and then they will work. So just an extra step.

 

Thanks for this. The handsets arrived sooner than suspected and your firmware suggestion saved me hours of research. The phone is just upgrading to OBi 6.4.5 firmware.

 

It's a shame that there is no option to just call another handset in the school. This would save our schools a lot of money.