bluenoise

I just received my new Treo 650 today for use on the Cingular/ATT service (GSM). I downloaded the car kit updater and tried to run it. It said it was not compatible with this phone and exited. I figured it wasn't needed so I tried pairing with my car anyway. After it paired, it intermittently would lose the connection and, finally, got to a point where it wouldn't connect again.

I'll certainly be researching this some more as this was the main reason I switched from a Treo 600 to the Treo 650. Just be warned in case you're planning the same move. Hopefully, the updater can be updated (!) to work with this Treo, too.

theactivist

Nooooo....it has to work. that's my next tech toy (umm, how did you get it so fast anyway, through corporate?)

well, since you have the good fortune to be on the treo 650 GSM cutting edge, you get the bugs fixed before us regular folks get our grubby hands on them.

keep us updated!

bluenoise

Yes, I got it though FAN. I have a corporate account. I called last Friday to see if they had them yet and they said, "Yep, yesterday." I ordered it and it arrived this morning via FedEx. I was very excited, but now I'm a bit disappointed. Oh well. I'm sure it'll get fixed and the phone is very nice otherwise. I had IT install GoodLink on it and I'm really loving the higher resolution, especially with Good's calendar application. It was a bit clunky on my Treo 600.

quake97

My hope is that P1 is working on another bluetooth patch and that wasn't done in time for the Cingular launch. Hopefully this "new" patch will allow signal strength to go to the HFL. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Joe

bluenoise

I got a reply to my support email last night. They said, "The Acura TL's handsfree link is not compatible with the Treo 650. Please see our website for a list of compatible handsfree kits and install one of those in your car."

Unbelievable.

zeezz

i can't believe they wouldnt include the patch that is already available for the sprint phone. this phone is coming out so many months later and they havent changed a thing.... palmone has to get with the program.

orange-man

It seems like our handsfree was designed with the Sony Ericsson phones in mind as they seem to work the best with all features. I can't figure out who to blame, Handsfree Link or these companies like Palm and the PPC manufacturers. I really don't understand why they are all incompatible with our Handsfree Link.

The good news for people like me with absolutely no self control when it comes to spending money on new toys, is the incompatibility with our handsfree keeps the money in my pocket just a little bit longer.

mobilezen

Handsfree link was not designed with any particular manufacturer in mind. In fact , the first phone to show off this feature was the Nokia 6310i. I've been trying to work with JCI and SE, Motorola, and Nokia about bluetooth solutions but I get the most run around and "Oh yeah, we'll look into it." Ugh...Anyway, one of my friends who is a BMW counterpart is making progress with BMW, SE and Motorola so that's a plus. If I get more news, I'll put it on here or on my site.

brianmski

that's really dissappointing. I'm trying to find something to replace my P900 and nothing is fitting the bill. I was very close to getting the 650...but now I'll resume the search.

bluenoise

I sent another angry email last night to their support and already got a reply. This reply suggests I try downloading and installing the patch. I won't have a chance to try this until I get to work, but I already tried it when I got the phone and it said it wasn't compatible. At least it appears the rep read most of my email message this time. Apparently, he did not read the part where I said I already tried his "solution" and it wasn't compatible. If I can get that piece of info to him, though, there's hope he'll let some engineers know the problem exists.

brianmski

in the palmone websight they claim the patch works with the HFL....they even have pairing instructions.
but I need someone to verify this before I purchase one.

cullal

The palm one site clearly shows that the Car Kit Update is only for the Sprint PCS Version and not the GSM versions... Check the link below...

http://www.palmone.com/us/support/do...tml#treo650gsm

brianmski

wow. good catch. never would have thought there would be a difference

bluenoise

Apparently, neither did the support rep who sent me the same link. Also, that page is linked from the support pages for the Cingular/ATTWS Treo 650, so even PalmOne doesn't seem to know it won't work.

brianmski

well I thought Sprint PCS was a gsm...but apparently not so.

bluenoise

I got too frustrated with their "support," so I called and spoke to the Treo 650 product manager at PalmOne. She was a little taken aback by my call, but she promised either she or the bluetooth manager would call me back after they look into the issue. As I suspected, she said they were not aware of any problems with the updater and the new Treo 650.

Here's hoping...

bluenoise

I think my call to the product manager this morning did some good. They've put a GSM updater on their site and it installed successfully in my phone. I don't have time, yet, to test it, though, but I'm relatively sure it's going to fix the problems in the same way the Sprint version did.

Woo!

captain

PalmOne was made aware of the issue today and are working on getting the GSM patch on their site.

bluenoise

Yes. Please see the post above yours.

I am about to go home from work, now, so I'll give it a try. I'll post the results when I get home later.

tlysis

Thanks for tracking this down bluenoise - we eagerly await your verdict. I am looking at the Treo 650 GSM and was holding off based on this thread (did I mention that this is a great forum?!)

I'd also like to hear if they put in more functionality from the last patch so that the 650 now sends batt strength and signal. If not, something we can go back to the project manager on while they're in response mode! I want more!!!

bluenoise

Here are the results:

It works! I was able to call numbers from the car's phone book and receive a call. I also successfully transferred calls to and from the car. It pairs up immediately when I start the car. Like the Sprint update, though, there is no signal or battery strength meters. There is just an antenna icon on the display, but no further info. Caller ID works, too. As far as I can tell, it is the same functionality as the Sprint version now.

I never got a call back from that product manager, but I'm hoping she's not too freaked by my call this morning.

PDX3.2TL

Here's an idea: switch to T-Mobile and use the IPAQ if you need a full on PDA/Phone. (shameless plug for my employer) Really though, it's a decent PDA that does all the functions of the Tre0 650 and has Wi-Fi built in.

bluenoise

Four downsides to that plan, though, for me:

1. Very spotty T-Mobile coverage in my area. None at all, in fact, at my work where I spend nearly every waking hour.

2. I like the size and form factor of the Treo.

3. I use GoodLink, which my company's IT only supports on the Treo.

4. I'm on a corporate plan (my company only works with ATTWS) where I get 800 minutes peak and unlimited off-peak for $40/month. I always have lots left over each month.

While WiFi seems like it might be useful, I can't think of a time where I've thought, "I wish my phone had WiFi." The only reason I could see needing that is for email access, which is why I have GoodLink on my Treo.

lindros2

AT&T/Cingular patch is online (linked from page above or...):

AT&T/Cingular Treo 650 Patch

brianmski

I'm going t have to give this phone some consideration then.
Thanks for the post bluenoise