Katie and I have been AT&T customers for years and years. Ever since Cingular bought AT&T they have been spamming our physical mailbox trying to get us to migrate over to Cingular. Well, Katie’s phone was “crapping out” so I decided now would be a good time to make the switch.
I bought her an average Motorola camera phone. Nothing to special. It takes pictures, has a speaker phone (a requirement for her), and does the other normal things all phones do.
For myself I wanted a Bluetooth enabled phone. I have heard rumors that there are cool things I can do with my PowerBook and a Bluetooth enabled phone so I made Bluetooth a requirement in my phone search. I settled on the Motorola V551. I’m not 100% sure it is what I want, but I have 30 days to return it for something else. I’ll spend a fair amount of time playing with it and make a decision in 30 days if I’m gonna keep it.
So now I need to know what I can do with a Bluetooth enabled phone and if I made a bad choice going with the V551. Let me know if you’ve got any insight on these topics.
I got a V551 when my Nokia started fritzing out. I am pleased with the basic call features and coverage. I am very frustrated with the alarm features which I used all the time on the Nokia. No indication on the display if the alarm is on unless you drill down to the alarms. No 24 format option which provides unambiguous confirmation of the alarm time if you have already been up 31 hours when you set it. The Bluetooth handset made by Motorola works great and I use it all the time when driving. If you have any insight on how I could write my own Java applet and download it I would appreciate hearing…
I, too, just got a new V551 to replace an aging Nokia.
Have run across a few references to the difficulties of using it to offload any pictures taken with it if you don’t want the extra messaging services – haven’t found a way to transfer using the data cable yet.
Just downloaded the Motocoder SDK for it, tho – perhaps that will shake something loose.
I’ll look forward to hearing more about your progress with the phone, and your decision in 30 or so days…
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If you get a bluetooth adapter for your PC (PhoneTools from motorola & BT adapter ~$50 on ebay), you can transfer pics & audio throught Windoze explorer. I’ve got 3 V551’s in my family and it works GREAT!
I don’t know how anyone has been able to connect their V551 with the PowerBook via Bluetooth because I, after a couple of hours, cannot. Actually, one in a while I connect, I think, but I can’t do anything with it. All I want to do is to transfer pictures from my phone into my PowerBook via Bluetooth. Is this actually possible?
Ken
Hi Ken. Yes, it is possible, and I’m up until 4 struggling with my new V551 phone tonight. It turns out that the secret is to delete everything you have done, leave bluetooth enabled on the phone (powered, but delete the bond with the powerbook in the device history), and TURN IT OFF! Restart the Mac also for kicks (deleting the BT bond first). Then, in the virgin state the Mac will be able to discover the 551 (turn it back on…) as a mobile phone (instead of an ‘other device’), and will successfully be able to browse the phone from then on, easily uploading and downloading pictures, video (which is actually QuickTime compatible!), and audio/ringtones (ringtones are evil though).
Now, maybe you can help me out with some other issues that I’m leaving for a few days.
– How to successfully connect the powerbook to the internet using the phone as a wireless modem. Various posted instructions on the net seem to be stale. It should only use plan minutes, and it should take advantage of the EDGE protocol built into the 551.
– How to download Java applications to the phone.
Ridolph
1. Download the Motorola GPRS Modem scripts from here.
2. Unzip the scripts, and copy the “Motorola GPRS CID1” script file to the “/Library/Modem Scripts” folder.
3. Set up Bluetooth. System Preferences > Bluetooth. Make sure that “Show Bluetooth status in the menu bar is checked”.
4. Turn on your Motorola v551, and make sure that Bluetooth is on and discoverable (Connections > Bluetooth > Find Me).
5. On your Mac, in the Bluetooth settings (System Preferences > Bluetooth) select the Devices tab, and then press the “Setup new device” button. You can also select this item from the Bluetooth icon on your task bar.
6. Follow the instructions and pair the Motorola with your Mac.
7. In step 4 of 5 of the pairing process, make sure to check the “Access the Internet with your phone’s data connection” checkbox, and select the “Use a direct, higher speed connection to reach your Internet Service Provider (GPRS, 1xRTT)” Radio Button. Select continue.
8. In the next screen, leave the username and password blank. For the GRPS CID String enter *99#, and for Modem Script, select “Motorola GPRS CID1”. Click continue. Then click Quite.
9. Open Network Preferences (System Preferences > Network), highlight USB Bluetooth Modem Adaptor, and click configure.
10. Don’t change TCP/IP settings. Switch to the PPP tab.
Telephone number: wap.cingular
Account Name: WAP@CINGULARGPRS.COM
Password: CINGULAR1
11. Click the PPP Options button, and make sure that “Send PPP echo packets” is unchecked. This is very important. If you don’t do this step, the connection will disconnect after a few seconds. Click OK.
12. Switch to the Bluetooth Tab, and make sure the correct Modem Script is selected, and everything is checked except for “Wait for dial tone before dialing”.
13. Switch back to the PPP Tab and click the “Dial Now…” button. Set configuration to “Other” and leave everything blank. Press the “Connect” button. After a second or two a terminal window will come up, just hit the continue button.
14. You should now be connected. Open a browser and browse to a web page to make sure you are connected.
How do I email with this phone? It’ keeps saying my set up is incomplete. I don’t get it!
I just purchased a Motorola Razr V3m it has Bluetooth capability however I am unable to connect to the Bluetooth HS810 a friend of mine gave me, is it possible to connect to a device that was previously used by someone else on their cell phone?
Any help with this issue is greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Karyne