How to use your PC’s mouse and keyboard with a Polycom VVX phone.
Polycom VVX phones are premium-grade, high-end solutions for VoIP, unified communications, desktop video conferencing and many, many other applications. The models range from intuitive desktop phones, to the VVX 1500 with an adjustable, full-color display and integrated camera.
The range of applications for Polycom VVX phones is enormous. The technology powering the VVX phones is state-of-the-art, and the expansion options available equip them for almost any task.
Polycom Desktop Connector is an option that lets your PC’s keyboard and mouse interact with the phone. Polycom Desktop Connector, or “PDC,” is a program that can be downloaded to your compatible Windows PC. With this program and PDC enabled on the phone, the VVX’s menus and features can be accessed through mouse clicks and hot keys from the keyboard, plus other functions.
There are two ways to connect your Polycom VVX phone to your PC, either “direct” or “indirect.” Direct means that the phone and PC are connected through an Ethernet cable, and indirect means that a switch is between communications.
Compatible phones and operating systems
Polycom VVX series phones:
Requires phones with UC Software version 4.0.1 and later, and no additional licenses. Polycom Desktop Communicator must be enabled on the phone.
Windows operating systems:
Windows XP, Vista, 7
Interoperability issues can arise from firewalls, anti-virus software, and if the phone and PC are on separate VLANs. The full Feature Profile for setting up and troubleshooting Polycom Desktop Communicator is available on Polycom’s support site.
Using your keyboard and mouse
Once a connection is established between the VVX phone and the PC, using your mouse and keyboard is easy. An icon in your PC’s task bar will appear and you can use this to turn PDC on or off.
Move your mouse’s cursor to the left or right, until it is off of your monitor. If you indicated to the program that your phone is to the left of your PC, move the cursor to the left until it appears on the phone’s display—the same applies to your phone being to the right of your PC.
Text can be copied from your PC and pasted onto the VVX’s text input fields. The keyboard can also utilize hot keys to quickly access the phone’s functions. Manage calls, adjust audio volume and perform other tasks.
Requirements and set up
Assuming your Polycom VVX phone is running UC Software version 4.0.1 or later, Polycom Desktop Connector should already be installed on the phone. No licenses for the phone are required. The application only needs to be enabled, which by default may be disabled.
From the Polycom Voice Applications website, the Polycom Desktop Connector software can be downloaded to your PC. The set up process is designed to be easy and straightforward.
Polycom VVX phones are feature-packed solutions with a lot of surprises. Polycom Desktop Connector is one application that many current users and prospective users are unfortunately unaware of. This feature and the other cutting-edge technology deployed by Polycom VVX phones are why they continue to be a popular choice among professionals and busy executives.