Universal Remote Control, Inc. (URC) has today implemented several new policies for their custom professional computer programmable remote controls, which includes the Complete Control and Home Theater Master series.

As of August 1st, 2006, the "live update" feature will be disabled for all existing computer software used with the MX-700, MX-800, MX-850, MX-900, MX-950, TX-1000 and MX-3000 remote controls. This software will continue to operate, but will not be updatable to newer versions. If you own one of these remotes and have purchased it from an authorized dealer, that dealer will be able to provide you with a secure download site for a new software version that will again offer the "live update" feature.

New computer programmable remote controls will no longer ship with the editing software in-box. Instead, this software will be made available by the dealer either on CD at the time of sale or via a secured download site. Dealers and custom installers will be able to download software direct from URC's recently launched dealer-only site.

Technical support for all remote control programming will now be provided directly by the reseller. URC will continue to offer software technical support for dealers and hardware troubleshooting and related support direct to customers for remotes purchased from an authorized dealer; they will also carry on monitoring the URC forums here on Remote Central.

These changes are designed to curtail unauthorized online sales from "fly by night" dealers that carry no warranty and offer little or no value-added support to end users. Instead these customers will be encouraged to purchase from an officially authorized dealer who knows the product and will be able to provide a high level of knowledgeable assistance.

"The Complete Control remote control devices we manufacture are designed to be programmed and installed by experienced custom installation professionals," said URC in an official document. "Our remotes are powerful and quite advanced, and in the hands of a trained programmer they can be configured to exploit all of the rich features that provide maximum consumer benefits. While it may be possible for a hobbyist or Do-It-Yourselfer to derive partial functionality, it is our strong conviction, based upon extended experience, that our products will not deliver their maximum potential unless they are professionally programmed."

Note that these new policies do not in any way impact Universal Remote Control's consumer-level remote controls where the company will continue to offer complete support to all end users.