Well, the class action suit against Verizon for crippling the Bluetooth on V710 was settled and I just got my letter asking what I'd like to do. The choices are:

1. Receive a $25 credit on my bill.
2. Cancel my VZW contract w/o an early termination fee and return my V710 for the purchase price.
3. Return my V710 for a refund up to the purchase price of a new cell phone but keep Verizon.

I like Verizon (great coverage) but I do like the features of the phone. However, the Samsung SCH-A950 looks pretty good too. Is it a good phone, worth the switch or should I just have Verizon update the firmware on the V710 and take the credit?

 

LG8100 with the latest firmware isn't a bad phone for Verizon, I'm not sure how much of the bluetooth they disabled since I only use the bluetooth for the headset.

 

Are they still crippling BT even after this law suit or are they more forthcoming about the changes they make to the phones?

 

I have no clue, talk to mikeymobiles since he works there, I think Berner also works for Verizon. I am sure they have opened up things more since the lawsuit, if not then they will have more.

 

I'm also thinking about trading in a for a new phone but dont know what would be a good substitute.

 

They are still crippling it - but giving fair notice about it. The new samsung will probably be a good phone the sch-a950 I believe. The e815 is also damn good - and can be hacked to enable the BT features.

 

This is something I'd like to try. From what I understand, the new firmware for the v710 enables full BT but disables the transflash card slot which sucks. But, there's a hack that re-enables that w/o changing the new BT features.

vp911, do you know how to do this stuff?

 

www.howardforums.com there are several threads on how to do this

 

Thanks dude. I knew about the forum but never looked into the hacks. I read up and found having the phone upgraded by Verizon to the latest firmware is best. Then go thru the process of re-enabling the stuff Verizon disable like the trans-flash slot. Worked like a charm!!! I have all the improved features of the latest FW with all the cool features of the phone. Why they disable features the phone should have is beyond me but I guess that's why the got sued.

So, instead of a new phone I'm going to keep this one and get the $25 credit. Tri-mode is still important around CT and north.

 

Personally, if I had purchased the v710 before the dec 31st deadline on the settlement, I would cancel the contract and return the phone for the purchase price, then get a new contract with one of the new phones. I love new phones

 

if you are keeping the phone dont get the firmware upgraded cause then you lose the feature to use mp3's as ringtones.

 

I personally am going to get my money back and get the new Palm Treo 700 with Windows Mobile 5 on it.

 

it enables most of the bluetooth. you still dont get OBEX

 

Mine still work.

 

most places i have read when you get the firmware update you cant copy mp3 from the flash card to your phone which then means you cant use it as a ring tone.

 

Send a pix/txt message to 55555 (or whatever fake number) with the mp3 from the transflash attached. then the phone iwll say that it failed to send the message...go to view the message and save the attachment to your phone.

 

This is true until you re-enable them. It's being discussed in the other V710 thread. Nice easy fix too.