vB Easy Archive - Treo 650 (GSM) and Acura Handsfree Link

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Treo 650 (GSM) and Acura Handsfree Link
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Posted by: bluenoise

Back when the Sprint version of the 650 was released, I started counting the minutes until I could get a GSM version to replace my Treo 600 because I wanted the Bluetooth functionality to link with my Acura TL's Handsfree Link (HFL). Then I started reading lots of reports of how it wasn't compatible and people were really frustrated. Luckily, in late December, PalmOne released an updater to fix the problem and all is good.

Yesterday, I received my new GSM Treo 650 and I run out to the parking lot to try it with my car's HFL. Nope. Same behavior documented by the angry Sprint folks. I download the updater and install it. When I launched it on the handset, it told me it was not compatible and it exited.

There is no mention of the GSM Treo 650 on PalmOne's support pages, so navigating their useless site is very difficult. It won't let you proceed until you tell it what device you're using. Well, my device isn't listed, so I have to "lie" and say I'm using something else and hope to correct the lie in some descriptive text.

I sent an email to their support and got an automated reply that I should expect a response within 12 hours. That was more than 30 hours ago.

Why did they ship this phone with the same problems they already fixed more than a month ago in the Sprint version?!

Posted by: maxfli

PalmOne has a patch fo rthe 650 that is supposed to make it work on the Acura. Have you check this?

Posted by: Quake97

Quote:

Originally posted by maxfli
PalmOne has a patch fo rthe 650 that is supposed to make it work on the Acura. Have you check this?

He said in his post that he tried to install it, but it stated it was incompatible.

That updater is probably for the Sprint Treo 650s. I would have though it would have been built into the GSM versions, but maybe not. You may have to wait a bit until the Cingular one is officially released to the consumer arena.

Joe

Posted by: bluenoise

Yes, the patch is for Sprint only. I got a reply from customer support (P1) saying the Acura's car kit is not compatible with the Treo 650. The rep suggested installing a compatible car kit instead.

I thought the Sprint updater simply added/replaced the handsfree profile in the phone. I'm hoping a GSM version will be a simple matter of adapting the already-created updater to work with the GSM version. Frankly, I'm surprised they shipped the new phone with the old, incompatible profile.

Posted by: Gator5000e

That sucks. This just removed the GSM 650 from my list if it won't work with Acura's HFL!! Really wanted this phone. Oh well. Wait and see if they fix it.

Posted by: Quake97

They'll fix it. No way they'll have different bluetooth profiles in the different versions.

Joe

Posted by: Gator5000e

It is kind of odd Palm did not fix it for the new release. Maybe it was already too late.

BTW, I hate to admit this but I have been a pocket pc and Windows mobile smartphone user for a while (Dell Axim X30 and Audiovox SMT 5600) but this Treo is intriguing me. What are the good points of the Treo over a windows mobile smartphone? Thanks and sorry for the change in direction.

Posted by: Quake97

It's really a matter of preference. There isn't anything like the Treo on the Windows Mobile side, i.e. a bulilt-in keyboard. There's also nothing close to the size of the Treo. The Treo is a perfect fit between the PDA and the cell phone. The Windows Mobile devices are either more cell phone or more PDA.

I was a Windows Mobile user for a while having the MPx200, MPx220, iPaq 6315 and other regular PDAs. They work well with Microsoft apps. Activesync is pretty good because it instantly updates things from Outlook. With Palm (Hotsync) you have to do it manually.

I'm sure you could find a ton of other threads on this subject, so you might want to do some searching around too.

Joe

Quote:

Originally posted by Gator5000e
It is kind of odd Palm did not fix it for the new release. Maybe it was already too late.

BTW, I hate to admit this but I have been a pocket pc and Windows mobile smartphone user for a while (Dell Axim X30 and Audiovox SMT 5600) but this Treo is intriguing me. What are the good points of the Treo over a windows mobile smartphone? Thanks and sorry for the change in direction.

Posted by: bluenoise

I have zero confidence they are aware there is a problem. The only human response I've gotten from them told me it was incompatible and I should buy a new car kit. He then closed the issue. I've sent another message in the hopes someone with a pulse reads it and escalates it to someone who can fix it. I'm going to phone the company tomorrow and try to find a human to tell about this problem. It can't be a very big problem. I'm thinking it's just an oversight on their part. Even their support page for the ATT version of the phone links to the Sprint updater. They must think that's all that's needed.

Posted by: bluenoise

I got a reply this morning to my email explaining that the updater is for the Sprint Treo 650 only. The reply gave me a link to an updater that "should fix" my problem. The link was to the Sprint updater. I swear the folks at the support place are intentionally trying to see how stupid they can be. It's like a Saturday Night Live skit.

I'm on hold now with their phone support where I'm going to keep pushing until I get to someone who actually cares about providing product support.

Posted by: bluenoise

I gave up on holding for their "support" after 45 minutes of waiting. Instead, I called the Treo 650 product manager and talked to her a bit. She was a little shocked by my call, but also seemed surprised there was a problem with the updater. She promised to have her bluetooth manager look into the issue and either she or the BT manager would call me back.

I hope this works.

Posted by: bluenoise

Perhaps my call this morning to the product manager helped. I checked the support site and found they've made a GSM updater available. I've successfully installed it, but I won't be able to check it in my car for a while.

Shortly after I installed it, I received another reply from support telling me there is no timeframe on when the updater will be available, but be assured they are working to resolve the issue. Amazing.

Posted by: Gator5000e

Please post your results as soon as you are able!!

Posted by: 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.

Posted by: Gator5000e

Great news. Big question for me is how is the sound quality over the HFL for both you and for the receipient of your call? I know the sound of my voice to the person I am speaking with using my SMT 5600 sounds poor (muffled and like I am under water). I have tested it myself and it does sound poor. Just curious how it sounds.

Also, are you able to link up the phone to the Acura Link server (not sure which car you have). I think this is an RL feature only.

Thanks for all the great info.

Posted by: bluenoise

Quote:

Originally posted by Gator5000e
Great news. Big question for me is how is the sound quality over the HFL for both you and for the receipient of your call? I know the sound of my voice to the person I am speaking with using my SMT 5600 sounds poor (muffled and like I am under water). I have tested it myself and it does sound poor. Just curious how it sounds.

Also, are you able to link up the phone to the Acura Link server (not sure which car you have). I think this is an RL feature only.

Thanks for all the great info.

The sound quality is the same as when I use a wired headset, for both the caller and me. One time, though, the caller thought I sounded "really far away." I ended the call and called back. Then it was good again.

I have the 2004 TL, so I don't know what the Acura Link server is. Maybe I have it.

Posted by: Gator5000e

I know it is a feature on the RL that will allow diagnostic info to be sent from the car to Acura via the phone's BT connection. It is also supposed to allow you to directly call points of interest that are shown on the Nav screen. It's worked for some and not for others.

Thanks again.

Posted by: bluenoise

Quote:

Originally posted by Gator5000e
I know it is a feature on the RL that will allow diagnostic info to be sent from the car to Acura via the phone's BT connection. It is also supposed to allow you to directly call points of interest that are shown on the Nav screen. It's worked for some and not for others.

Thanks again.

I forgot to test the calling of POI. My car has that feature, but I forgot to test it. For instance, I can say, "Find nearest Chinese restaurant" and the car will search for Chinese restaurants. Once I pick one in the list, it shows the name, address, and phone number of the restaurant. From there, I can say, "Call" or touch the phone button on the screen to call the restaurant. I hope that feature works, because it would be handy. Before I had the HFL working, I was out running some errands and remembered I needed to get some keys made. I used the nav to search for locksmiths in the area. When it turned up one a couple miles from my current position, I wanted to call to see if they were open (it was a Sunday afternoon). I had to dial manually (gasp!) to call them. Now, I should be able to just say, "Call," or whatever the voice command is.

I don't know if I can also upload diagnostic data to Acura. That may be a RL feature only, like the live traffic link.

PS: You're welcome. I had to do something as I hated having a new phone and new car which are both expensive and supposed to communicate, but they didn't because someone dropped the ball. I merely picked up the ball and handed it to them. "Here, you dropped this."

I got a call from the Bluetooth product manager this morning thanking me for bringing the issue to their attention yesterday.

Posted by: MDKern

Sounds like you got over the hump on this problem..... can you be more explicit as to where to find the patch to load on the 650? Thanks in advance.

MDK

Posted by: Gator5000e

Are you able to communicate with the Acura Server and dial out for points of interest?

Let us know. Thanks.

Posted by: bluenoise

Quote:

Originally posted by MDKern
Sounds like you got over the hump on this problem..... can you be more explicit as to where to find the patch to load on the 650? Thanks in advance.

MDK

Here is the link to the Treo 650 GSM update page.

Gator5000e: I can call points of interest from the nav results just fine. I don't think the TL has the AcuraLink feature.

Posted by: oenophile

Quote:

Originally posted by bluenoise
Here is the link to the Treo 650 GSM update page.

Hmm....something isn't right here. The page you linked to reads:

Code:

Download:

    * Sprint PCS: Treo650_CarkitUpdate.zip
    * Cingular (including former AT&T Wireless customers): Treo650_CarkitUpdate_GSM.zip
    * Unlocked GSM: No Update Needed

Note the reference to Unlocked GSM being No update needed.

Seems like you don't need this with the GSM model??

Posted by: bluenoise

Quote:

Originally posted by oenophile
Hmm....something isn't right here. The page you linked to reads:

Code:

Download: * Sprint PCS: Treo650_CarkitUpdate.zip * Cingular (including former AT&T Wireless customers): Treo650_CarkitUpdate_GSM.zip * Unlocked GSM: No Update Needed

Note the reference to Unlocked GSM being No update needed.

Seems like you don't need this with the GSM model??

There are two flavors of GSM, one for ATTWS/Cingular and one that is unlocked. The update is needed for the ATTWS/Cingular version, but apparently not needed for the unlocked one.