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From: amb@ai.mit.edu (Andrew Boardman)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Help Needed With Panasonic KX-T2355 on Rolm System
Message-ID: <12599@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 25 Sep 90 00:02:52 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 679, Message 3 of 11


>A "single line" analog interface on a Rolm is reasonably compatible
>with any standard telephone.  Only the proprietary Rolmphone and ETS
>interfaces aren't.  I've attached lots of ordinary things (answering
>machines, speakerphones, 1A2 key, etc.) to Rolm lines.  No sweat.

At least on the 9751, the standard interface for the proprietary sets
is indeed standard; for POTS devices the interface card is a costly
add-on.

>What makes Rolms tricky is that they use a human interface model
>that's optimized to allow the fully-priv'd business phone user

This is what makes it massively inappropriate (IMHO) for the frequent
university setting.  The student users enjoy none of the privs with
all of the hassles.  An illuminating paraphrase from Columbia
University administration after their recent installation: "This
system is perfect for our use.  We realize that it raises manifold
problems for the student population, but you guys are only here for
four or five years; we *work* here."  Makes me wonder who these
universities are for, anyway...

>but of course you then need a second (analog) line for your answering
>machine, modem, etc., just as with any fancy PBX.

Analog phones: the moden-day undergrad dream...


Andrew Boardman
amb@ai.mit.edu