Stick it to Verizon and use Bluetooth to wirelessly transfer photos from your Treo 650

So Verizon Wireless might have needlessly annoyed all their new Treo 650 owners by crippling the phone's Bluetooth so you can't wirelessly transfer digital photos to a PC via Bluetooth (they've disabled the Treo 650's OBEX Bluetooth profile because they want you to pay to transfer photos over their network), but Blueserker has a little tip for how you can get around the restriction. You can't transfer individual photos, but reportedly when you select "Send an Album" you have the option to beam the photos over Bluetooth rather than over Verizon's 1xRTT wireless network. Simple as that. Anyone tried it and gotten it to work?

[Thanks, John]

[Tyler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I hope it works cause we need to stick it to greedy Verizon! I bought a V710 just for the bluetooth and they crippled it on that phone too. It's usless!

[Jeffrey Reiner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I was able to transfer my photos in a jif. Thanks.

[Jeffrey Reiner @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I was able to transfer my photos in a jif. Thanks.

[Mithch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why do you use negative language like "stick it to Verizon?" Why?

[Pete Jenkins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

haven't gotten it to work, but if you do, don't upgrade your firmware. they disabled tranfering mp3s to the v710's internal flash memory for use as ringtones in the newest version of the firmware. i wouldn't be surprised if they did the same thing for the 650. ps. on the 710 it can be re-enabled with a seem edit: http://www.nuclearelephant.com/papers/v710seem.html

[brian kusler @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

again, uh, why would a gadget geek even do business with a company that would cripple their equipment like this? there are other cellphone companies...

[Pete Jenkins @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Mithch, verizon is evil because they disable technology and make things less interoperable. those are the same sort of misdeeds that got microsoft in trouble. trying to disable useful features so that you can make $.25 per pic message or charge a couple dollars a ringtone is downright despicable. carriers know they're doomed though. voip and skype are going to take over once hsdpa and the new version of evdo come out. in any case, i want a phone that lets me do what i want, when i want, without being locked down by my carrier. i pay good money for my airtime and data. i also pay for my phone, be it retail or not, i want the ability to do with it as i see fit!

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I totally agree with Pete. These companies are evil and are about as highly regarded as used car salesmen and taxi drivers. Its enough that they put their logos all over the phone, but having full bluetooth functionality is a must and there is no excuse for them cripping this feature

[Verizon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Wont you sissy nerds just give up already? Capitalism always wins, we will always be there to ensure that money drives the industry rather than innovation. Don't think just spend.

[jay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Well, next time just buy your phones from 3rd parties an not from networks. That's what I always do.

[Tom Robinson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Absurd. That is all.

[Pepto Bismol @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why are some people still with Verizon? One of my friends handed me his phone the other day during a call. Once I started talking I immediately remembered my days with Verizon. The static, the crackles and the occasional fading were all too familiar. I have yet to experience any of those effects with GSM. Cingular's got better national coverage than T-mobile. But, in major cities like NYC and Boston TMO's coverage is not bad at all!

[Sommerfeldt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I've yet to understand people in the US, even though I have to admit being half American myself. The continuing use of cheques for payment (try that in Norway, Sweden or other Northern European countries, and they'll laugh in your face. Literally.), credit cards instead of debit cards, and not to mention cell phones. SMS messages have been used for years here, and the US is just now catching up - that is, beginning to not look at you like you have some strange disease when you mention you got an SMS.
GSM technology has been here for years, and the new generation, G3 is now being put into service (operational in at least Norway and Sweden) with high-speed data transfer and video calls readily available. From a cell-phone that fits in your palm. No matter how small a hand you have.
The US claims to be at the peak of world technology, but yet the people endure being held down by money-greedy companies, who has realized that keeping people on the old methods pays better.
For crying out loud. Wake up.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Sommerfeldt:

If the people had any power in this country, things would be different. However, power belongs to our corporations, outranking even the state.

[pthree @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

well said brian

[josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Also, our country is 100x larger in physical land than any of the countries you mention. It's hard to roll out anything when you have to consider the entire USA when you make those types of decisions. Hence our inability to keep up.

[eleongonzales @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I will pay $300 US for the person that gets the OBEX profile unlocked on my verizon Moto v710! I am dead serious. I need it.

[Mikey Goldman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why cant you you just copy the files to your SD Card and then transfer it to you computer (a run around)

[F%$# Verizon! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I'm going to use a walkie talkie instead!

[pete @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

eleongonzales:

OBEX was never included in the V710, except for a couple of rare engineering prototypes.
Bluetooth file transfer with the (hacked) v710 is limited to Windows machines running Motorola's "Mobile Phone Tools" software. This uses the DUN profile to move files.
It sucks, but better than nothing.

[Ian Jardine @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Brain,
G3 in the rest of the wrold is basaed upon Qualcomm's technology re W"CDMA".
Also T-Mobile in the USA (owned by Deutsche Telcecom) has no time-frame for rolling out 3G. Why is that?
At least Verizon and Sprint are well on the way to a decent "G2.75" rollout with EVDO.

My only gripe is true "SMS" isn't inter-operable with the rest of the world. Everyone should have gone for CDMA2000 then everyone would have been on the exact same platform.

[Greg Burch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I will never use verizon. Most cell companies tactics I do not agree with but verizon has continually going overboard. I stick it to them by sending no money their way and telling everyone thinking of using them to run the other way. There is absolutely no reason other than greed for them to disable these features.

[rick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

all my pics show up after a sync in the palm desktop anyway, what am i missing? What is locked out?

[Desco @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I don't agree with these tactics either, but as long as Verizon pays for half of your phone and you enter into a contract (which presumably says they can do things like this) I think it's well within their right to cripple the phone any way they see fit. You want an uncrippled phone? Buy the damn phone yourself, unlocked and uncrippled.

[pete @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Desco:

Verizon is CDMA, not GSM where you just pop your SIM into an unlocked phone.
You are pretty much stuck with whatever Verizon deems "suitable" for their network.

[poulsbo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

funny, i never had a problem with Verizon's service, but when it came time to re-new my contract or get a new phone this spring i realized that every phone they offer SUCKS. the V710 is fine, but in addition to their crippling the bluetooth, that phone is HUGE. bigger than my shitty old T720 (which, another reason i doubt i'll ever get another motorola).

however, now with cingular, i LOVE my phone, but i get very spotty service in my apartment (top floor even, city of chicago, shouldn't be a problem!!)

basically, they all suck, and it's a matter of picking the least of the evils.

[milhous @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

yep, i don't like verizon's policies either. but show me another provider that provides the broadest coverage in the us (especially in rural areas) and i'll switch.

what i'm really hoping for are more mvno's to start popping up, hopefully ones that will run on the verizon and sprint networks that will offer handsets that are completely unrestricted. i'd definitely switch then. that way you're getting verizon's coverage and using devices that are not bound to verizon's policies.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"The continuing use of [...] credit cards instead of debit cards"

Debit cards are for suckers.

1) Credit cards give you 15-45 days of "float" on your money

2) There are strong federal guarantees when you pay by credit card. Essentially you can dispute any payment and the credit card company is obligated to investigate until there is a resolution

3) Debit cards have no such protection

4) If a debit card is misused and your account is drained, there is little protection.

5) If a merchant inadvertently drains your bank account from a debit card there is almost no mechanism except for the courts to get your money back.

Debit cards are a terrible choice for most people.

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Ian, you have no idea what you'te talking about. First of all, WCDMA has little resemblance to CDMA, they are very different technologies. Second, you think the whole world should use CDMA2000? Typical American thinking, over 90% of the worlds mobilephone users use GSM, but Ian thinks they should all use an outdated, stagnant standard instead.
Third, EVDO, once it rolls out will have a max throughput of 2 MBPS. HSDPA, the true 3G technology that Cingular will roll out has maximum rates of 8-10 MBPS.
Oh, and SMS interoperability does exist with overseas countries. Try using a GSM phone and you'll be learned.

[Iceman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Tom --

You need a new bank. Most debit cards have the same protection as credit cards. At my bank, they call it a "check card" and give me frequent flier miles every time I use it, provided that I use it as a credit card (signature verification) instead of as a debit card (PIN number). They get more money from the merchants that way, and pass some of it along to me.

[Tom Karches @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Vote with your wallet. I did. That's the only way to "stick it to them". One of the reason that we can't keep up is that we have multiple, incompatible mobile technologies : GSM, CDMA, TDMA, PCS, analog. It's a wonder anything works.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

"The continuing use of [...] credit cards instead of debit cards"

Debit cards are for suckers.

1) Credit cards give you 15-45 days of "float" on your money

2) There are strong federal guarantees when you pay by credit card. Essentially you can dispute any payment and the credit card company is obligated to investigate until there is a resolution

3) Debit cards have no such protection

4) If a debit card is misused and your account is drained, there is little protection.

5) If a merchant inadvertently drains your bank account from a debit card there is almost no mechanism except for the courts to get your money back.

Debit cards are a terrible choice for most people.

[toast @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Iceman,

I bet your bank still takes the money out of your account right away, where with a credit card they wait until the end of your billing cycle to bill you, and you get at least 15 days to pay them after that.

Also, the banks that give you the same protection as credit card are giving it to you out of the graciousness of their heart, and may show their true face by removing the protections once they get you hooked.

[Frankenstein Black @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Why all this hoop jumping? Just use CINGULAR! For the most part they have the same phones, UNGIMPED, and the combined network is massive ever since they sucked up AT&T. And guess what else? Almost all of Cingular�s phones work WORLDWIDE. Verizon has one global phone. No wonder Vodafone (45% owner of Verizon) is pissed off. Only one phone works on both networks. Don�t stress it. Do what I and others have done. Kept their number (the number portability mandate/law ) and moved it over to Cingular. That�s all!

[BK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Sommerfeldt (#12): Although SMS is available by most service providers, we don't really use it in the U.S. because it's a lot easier, and cheap enough (w/ all the minutes plan), to call the person than to wade though the numeric keys to create SMS msgs. Other countries use SMS more readiy because it make more economic sense to do so over calling. But, that doesn't make a country more technologically advanced IMO.

BK

[BK @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I wish I could stick it to Verizon. But, I just signed up for another two year contract so I can get the Treo 650 at $399. Damn! (I'm sure others are in the same boat) Anyway, I've promised myself no more phone upgrade until my contract expires. Then, in 2007, I will be free to choose the service provider that does right by me at that time. So Verizon: you have two year years to get it right, or I'm switching.

[Mad Cow @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Ok, given that Europe has an edge in tech, (I live in Germany and you should see the phones...oh, you should see the phones) but you PAY for it. A normal 500 minute calling plan costs $100-130! With out free nights or weekends! In the states I can get 1000 minutes with nights and weekends for $40. Some of you might be able to pay for that, but I can't!

[Carlos Gonzalez @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

1. I can't stand it when companies like Verizon Wireless use these deceptive practices to get more of our money and lock out useful features. And I am not just talking about the Bluetooth picture transfer, I bet you can't connect to the 650 to use it as a dialup networking device without some kind of shadowmite hack (if it even works on the verizon "version" of the Treo 650). We will we see who laughs harder when these companies are all relegated to the role of wireless data providers, which they deserve. In 2015, can't wait to spit on the $9.95 monthly check they will get from me for providing unlimited 4G broadband wireless for my Treo 900 phone...and they'll be happy to get my scraps too...and delighted to wipe off my spit.

2. Anywhere you use a Debit card you are charged a convenience fee that ranges from .25 cents - .75 cents. Use your check card as a credit card, and there is no such fee. Remember, watch the cents and the dollars take care of themselves.

3. We are in the dark ages of wireless broadband. This will be excellent and ubiquitous soon enough.

-Carlos

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I read that most US mobile phone operators have ~17% annual customer turnover. Verizon has just ~2%. So Joe Public must hate Verizon's service less than they hate the other US operators'.

[h0mi @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

I wanna know if I can get a treo 650 from Palm with full BT & DUN and activate it on Verizon.

[flamer's grill @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

Cingular and TMo may be fine if you stay in the city and on the highway, but once you stray off the beaten path you are SOL. I live in maryland, a scant forty minute drive from Baltimore, and GSM is nowhere to be found.

To be fair, even Verizon gets crappy (read: almost none) service at my place. Nextel is a bit better, but still spotty. Sprint, thanks to their odd tower placement scheme, has decided that my neck of the woods is worth its very own tower. Four bars!

[Blaze @ Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM]

To unlock the OBEX on your V710, if you have the right version, follow these steps and it should work.
Press the menu button and then 048263*.(Do this rather quickly)
Enter 54* and press Ok. This will dim the backlight.
Press the camera button and the backlight will come on and you should see SUCCESS.
If this doesn't work then your software is a little different than mine and probably can't be unlocked.