Answer ID: 1001819 | Access Level: Everyone | Updated: 02/08/2023 09:57 AM

 

Zoom has announced a formal end of support for the standalone Zoom Rooms Android Controller application functioning as a Controller or Scheduling Display on hardware platforms using older Android versions.

 

How are Crestron customers affected? Customers who are using any of the following Crestron devices as a standalone Zoom Rooms Controller or Scheduling Display are impacted by this notice.

• Crestron Mercury*
• Crestron Mercury X*
• Crestron TSS-7*
• Crestron TSS-10*
• Crestron TSS-760*
• Crestron TSW-760*
• Crestron TSW-1060*
• Polycom Trio 8500**
• Polycom Trio 8800**
• Yealink CP960

* Customers can subscribe to Crestron OLH article 1001819 for future updates.

** Poly Customers can subscribe to the Poly Support Article for future updates.

 

What is the timeline? Zoom Rooms Android Controller version 5.14.0, currently scheduled for release in March of 2023, is the final release to support these hardware platforms using older Android versions. Zoom guarantees that this version of the software will be supported for nine months after release and anticipates this version of the software will be supported on Crestron devices through February 2024. See Zoom’s Quarterly Lifecycle Policy.

 

How will Crestron help customers through this?  For Crestron Flex systems which use Mercury, Mercury X, or a TSW 60-series device for their Zoom Rooms Controller (ZRC) user interface, Crestron will make available a free updated software package that will allow continued operation with minimal interruption.

For Zoom Rooms systems which use Mercury, Mercury X, or a TSW 60-series device and were not purchased as part of a Crestron Flex system, reach out to Crestron to discuss hardware upgrade options/opportunities. 

 

What Crestron hardware is affected? In this current Zoom notice, the devices affected are Mercury, Mercury X, TSW-760, TSW-1060, TSS-7 andTSS-10; when used as a standalone Zoom Rooms Controller and/or Zoom Scheduling display.

 

Does this only affect Crestron? No. Products with hardware platforms using older Android versions from other manufacturers are also being impacted by the same policy.

 

What does this mean for the relationship between Zoom and Crestron?  Is Crestron no longer supporting the Zoom platform? Crestron and Zoom maintain a strong working partnership. Crestron has numerous products which support the Zoom platform and is continuing development with Zoom on current and future solutions.

 

If using a Crestron Mercury or TSS/TSW 1060 that is not running Zoom Rooms, does this apply?  No. This only impacts customers running these devices as a standalone Zoom Rooms Controller and/or Zoom Scheduling display. 

 

When using a Crestron Flex system with a Mercury or TSS/TSW 60-series running Zoom Rooms, what happens? In the short term, there is no anticipated impact or outage. Crestron will make available a free software update package which will allow customers to migrate their existing Crestron Flex deployments and continue with minimal interruption to their operation. Customers are encouraged to subscribe to this article for future updates.  Customers can also open a support case with Crestron True Blue Technical Support.

 

If using a Crestron Mercury or TSS/TSW 60-series in a Zoom Room on a Windows® PC that was not purchased as a Crestron Flex system, what happens? Reach out to Crestron to discuss hardware upgrade options and opportunities.

 

If using a Crestron Mercury or TSS/TSW 60-series in a Zoom Room on a mac Mini®, what happens? A hardware upgrade is needed to replace the affected devices. Contact Crestron for specific guidance on their deployment and for information on hardware upgrade options/opportunities.

 

If using a TSS-7 or TSS-10, TSW-760 or TSW-1060 with the Zoom Scheduler function, what happens? How are scheduling panels affected? A hardware upgrade is needed to replace the affected devices. Reach out to Crestron to discuss hardware upgrade options and opportunities.

 

If a Crestron Mercury or TSS/TSW 1060 has warranty support beyond February 2024, how does this affect it?  Crestron will continue to honor the support and warranty for these customers by providing the free firmware update to allow them to continue running Zoom on Crestron Flex Zoom Room systems.  Even after this update, Crestron will continue to support customers and honor the remainder of the warranties under our current terms and policies.

 

Does this mean that the Mercury is end of sale?  No. Mercury will continue to be sold as part of open UC, Microsoft Teams and Zoom kits. Crestron Flex Zoom systems containing the Mercury will be updated to use the forthcoming software application.

 

If a Crestron Flex system has a TS/TSW/TSS 1070 or Mercury Mini, does this affect it? No. Those are not affected by this notice.

 

How can I check whether I have deployed Zoom Rooms Android Controllers on Affected Legacy Hardware?  Unfortunately, some manual review is required.  Customers may gather data on deployed Zoom Rooms Controllers from the Zoom admin portal by following these steps:

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. Click Device Management then Device List.
3. Click the All Platform OS filter drop down and change it to Android.
4. Click the All Zoom Device Types filter drop down and change it to Zoom Rooms Controller.
5. Click Export to review a list of devices in CSV format.
6. Repeat the steps after changing the All Zoom Device Types filter drop down to Zoom Rooms Scheduling Display.

Customers can review the exported data, e.g. in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. Customers should verify the physical hardware present in any Zoom Room where the Vendor, Model and Enrollment are unknown (indicated by a value of “-”); the “Assignment” column in each CSV file will contain the name of the Zoom Room.

What should I do?  Zoom recommends examining Android-based devices deployed as Zoom Room Android Controllers or Zoom Scheduling Displays in your Zoom account to identify any affected legacy hardware in your deployment. Zoom recommends customers consider replacing any affected legacy hardware with a recommended Zoom Rooms Controller or Scheduling Display device as soon as possible. Prior to replacement, you may continue to use the Zoom Rooms Android Controller application as described above, until the end of life date.

Migration options

• Deploy a new controller from the Zoom Rooms Certified Hardware Controllers list.  These controllers are compatible with Zoom Rooms (Windows, Mac or Appliance).
• For affected legacy hardware that also integrates speakerphone functionality, please consider choosing an equivalent new device. 
• Rent a new controller for an affordable monthly cost through the Zoom Rooms Hardware as a Service program
• Or purchase a new controller on the SIMBA Lion Marketplace.  Here is the process:
  1. Log into SIMBA
  2. Click on the Shop Onlion tile
  3. Next click the Shop link
  4. Then click the Lion Marketplace link
  5. In Search field, type CDWG Poly Studio X50 (example) and click return (or search by one of the part numbers below, but these CDWG part numbers may change frequently).  The following are controllers from the Certified Hardware list that are available from the Lion Marketplace:

  Manufacturer	Model	Date certified
  Poly	TC8	June 2020
  Neat	Pad	Oct 2020
  Logitech	Tap IP	Oct 2021
  Poly	TC10	Oct 2022
  Poly	Trio C60	Jan 2023
  Crestron	Mercury Mini (UC-2)	Jan 2023