Verizon and Crippling Bluetooth Issues

[Phøenix]

I've heard talk that the Verizon models of the 650 are going to be Bluetooth crippled. Does anyone know what features exactly are going to be crippled and why? :confused:

Do the Sprint and Cingular models have crippled Bluetooth? :confused:

Is there a way to unlock the crippled Bluetooth features on the Verizon models? :confused:

[djg21]

Originally Posted by Phøenix

I've heard talk that the Verizon models of the 650 are going to be Bluetooth crippled. Does anyone know what features exactly are going to be crippled and why? :confused:

Do the Sprint and Cingular models have crippled Bluetooth? :confused:

Is there a way to unlock the crippled Bluetooth features on the Verizon models? :confused:

I have a motorola v710 phone with BT. Verizon has diabled OBEX (Object Exchange) , OPP (Object Push Profile), and SPP (Serial Port Profile). These services allow the transferring of photos, audio files and phone numbers, and wireless synchronization with a PC. By disabling these service, Verizon forces users to patronize it's "Get it Now" and "Pix Place" pay services.While newer firmwares allow BT syncronization of the address book and calendar functions, Verizon has now disabled the ability to move files from the phone's memory to the trans-flash. Again, the idea is to keep you from creating or imporing or exporting ring-tones and photos so you must patronize Verizon pay services. My guess is that the Treo will be similarly crippled.

Here's a link that describes in more detail how motorola's BT phone has been crippled in an effort to drive up revenues: http://www.nuclearelephant.com/papers/v710.html

[Phøenix]

So is there a way to unlock/decripple the full Bluetooth capabilities in the Verizon models?

[djg21]

Originally Posted by Phøenix

So is there a way to unlock/decripple the full Bluetooth capabilities in the Verizon models?

You can check in at http://www.howardforums.com to keep tabs. But my understanding is that, thus far, no one has come up with a way to hack the v710 to enable OBEX. We'll have to see what happens with the Treo when it is released.

[DanielB]

Originally Posted by djg21

You can check in at http://www.howardforums.com to keep tabs. But my understanding is that, thus far, no one has come up with a way to hack the v710 to enable OBEX. We'll have to see what happens with the Treo when it is released.

...and? Now that the VZ/Treo650 has been released, what is the verdict?

[Kevinjbowman]

Not really up on all the BT profile gibberish, but I'm able to sync via BT with my desktop just fine. I've got a brand-new VZW branded 650 and just yesterday picked up a Belkin USB/BT adaptor. I had the usual newbie-related problems setting up the BT link but now it works great.

My guess is that device-to-device BT transfer is crippled. It's stated on the package that Object Exchange is not supported.

[mTorbin]

I'm not sure what you mean. They did that for the Motorola v710, but that has since changed. The only thing I heard was that they might have crippled the ability to transfer pictures, but you can do that via an SD card anyway so I don't know what the point was.

- MT

[mTorbin]

Originally Posted by djg21

I have a motorola v710 phone with BT...

BTW, as far as this goes, you can take your v710 back to Verizon and they will uncripple it.

- MT

[Phøenix]

I dunno. :confused: I'm not that knowledgable with regard to bluetooth and verizon. Maybe someoen with more knowledge and a Verizon Treo 650 can post up?

[mTorbin]

When things like PrintBoy don't work, then we can all scream bloody murder, but until then...

- MT