Verizon Treo 700w/wx update brings host of useful features
Palm has just released an OS update for Treo 700w/wx’s running on the Verizon network, and it includes a couple of pretty useful upgrades. The new update brings the OS up to 1.22, and in the case of the Treo 700w, includes support for DUN tethering over USB and Bluetooth, A2DP stereo Bluetooth protocol support, and one-touch access to the speakerphone and mute buttons from the today screen. There are a number of other minor improvements, but if DUN and A2DP aren’t doin’ it for you, then we’d wager to say that there’s not much hope left. The 700wx gets a number of minor upgrades, sadly. The update can theoretically be performed without wiping your device, but we would highly suggest running a back up prior to implementing the patch. If you’re down for the 1.22 cause, hit the link for further instructions.
Well thats nice an upgrade that “theoretically” doesn’t have to wipe the device. I always go with the idea that wipes will happen so let not play with theory here and assume it will. Now on the link..
Permalink | Reply
The 700P also has an update out for it. Version 1.10
Permalink | Reply
We have 20 of the 700W phones. The 1.10 update was great, made the phone something other than a total piece of crap. Our users were having to reset their phones 3 to 5 times a day due to lockups and memory failures. The 1.10 update fixed that. The phone still suffers from a terminal lack of free memory. Our users (activesync mobile enabled) average about 8 meg of free memory and cannot open any attachments greater than 250k without the phone dying. Voice dialing cannot be enabled either due to lack of memory.
The unit ships with enough memory, but Verizon uses most of it with it’s backround programs that cannot be seen or un-installed. Also, of the 20 units our users have had, all but 7 of them have had to be replaced at least once. The most frequent terminal problem is the caller not being able to hear the user. Whether they answer the phone or place the call it has been the same problem, the other side cannot hear the Treo user. The problem is intermittant at first and then becomes a problem on nearly every call. Hard resets do not fix the problem.
The 1.22 update added features and once again ruined the phone. The phones now reboot themselves in the middle of calls, the unit will not come out of standby (frequent problem) and in those cases results in a reboot.
In addition, now when you get a phone call while looking up a contact or phone number, the phone will not allow you to answer the call. It just goes stupid. You can kill the contact list and go back to the today screen, but when you try to answer the call by pressing the answer button, it just dials the last person you called.
They added insult to injury with the “added feature” of finally enabling tethering (use your phone as a Internet connection for your laptop). To be able to do it you have to add “tethering service” to your account (per phone) that runs 10 or 15 bucks. Considering I already had the unlimited data networking plan I felt very angry they made me add this service. Once added (the service requirement is not stated in ANY of the materials) it did allow access to the internet and it worked well. It required the dialing software from Verizon. I was astounded at the speed, which made me even angrier…
The cell phone internet browser on my phone will only do about 80-90k download… which seems normal. However, when I paid the additional money for tethering and used it as an Internet modem through their dialup software, my laptop was screaming at about 700k. Explain that! It appears they delibrately throddle the cell phones! That discovered I returned my phone to normal mode to discover it my phone would now surf at the higher speed… IT DIDN’T!
All this said, I believe we will be moving to the RIM world this month to begin testing the functionality of it. The cost of the server now for mid-sized business is almost free (actually for one user it is free). I can move 15 people over to Blackberries for less than $1500 and have them sych with our Exchange server. I would love to do it with another carrier, but many of our users are married to Verizon and cannot limp through with the 700W until a suitable replacement WM6 unit is available. As always Verizon is years behind the curve (please excuse the pun).
Permalink | Reply