Bluetooth + Analog or Trimode

1) Right if it doesn't mention analog then it doesn't have it.

2) It depends on where you are, but if you stick to mostly highways then even in rural areas you will usually have digital coverage and not have to worry about analog. I think for the most part analog is not needed anymore, but if you're worried about it you could carry a phone that is analog capable with you to make emergency calls, if you got in a area with no digital coverage.

 

Yikes. Let's clear a few things up...

1) Cell phones in the USA and Canada operate at 800/850 and 1900. The 900/1800 frequencies are only used overseas.
2) Phones that are "quad-band" are either GSM or CDMA/GSM combo phones (like the Moto A840), to allow for international roaming. Note that the "combo phones" can only utilize GSM overseas - in the US, the CDMA radio takes over.
3) Your phonebook download issues are a result of VZW disabling access to certain Bluetooth profiles, like OBEX and OPP. With these profiles disabled, the phone can't push the contact information to your car's onboard system. This has nothing to do with whether your phone is operating in digital or analog mode - the Bluetooth radio is totally separate, and will operate regardless of the CDMA radio's operating mode.
4) The V710 is still available in many markets, and - sorry to say it - your dealer lied to you, because absolutely VZW will activate it. The V710 is a tri-mode phone and should suit your needs, despite it's faults.
5) Many newer phones are digital-only, for two reasons: Qualcomm hasn't developed a chipset that supports both EVDO and analog, and analog networks will be a thing of the past in a few years, so VZW is trying to ween users off of the analog system as soon as possible. So if you're looking for a tri-mode phone, you can skip any VCast capable phone.
6) "Dual band" and "dual mode" do not mean the same thing. Dual BAND means it has a radio capable of operating on two frequencies (800 and 1900 in the US). Dual MODE means...well, two modes - analog and digital. The confusion comes in that, about 6 years ago, VZW labeled many phones as "tri-band, dual mode" - the three bands being 800 analog, 800 digital, 1900 digital. Not false, but not entirely truthful.

Now, as far as the digital v. analog issue, you should check VZW's coverage map to determine if digital service exists where you'll be doing the bulk of your driving, either natively or on the 'extended network' (aka free roaming). If you have Alltel service available, you might want to check their roaming agreements to see if they're more favorable. (Alltel also sells the V710, as they're also a CDMA carrier.)

Hope this helps.

 

You are correct in that Cingular and TMobile are GSM services. You are also correct in reading my (albeit somewhat confusing) description of how the CDMA/GSM hybrid phones work (CDMA in the US on 800 & 1900, GSM elsewhere on 900 & 1800).

The issue with your car is related, most likely, to a disabled Bluetooth profile called "object push" or "OPP". Verizon isn't the only carrier disabling this profile, although VZW is probably the worst offender.

Good luck!

 

Re: Bluetooth + Analog, Yes, VZW branded, Nokia 6256i!

I got a Veriozn branded Nokia 6256i. this phone is just being released and my only be available through independants. Not sure yet.

The Nokia 6256i has full Bluetooth support. I've been syncing it with my Mac, using Phonedirector shareware, with good results. However the 6256i is not documented to be used with this software, so it doesn't do everything listed. Does address book, notes, radio, calender, (gallery picture music files) bidirectionally. It's almost plug and play on a Mac.
Verizon has crippled the abiltiy to download ringtones and use them as ringers. It will hold 512-1GB MMC (dual voltage cards have been recommended) card and play downloaded Mp3's. Not sure exactly the max capacity.
There's also Nokia's free PC suite for use with a cable. Don't know about that sw.

The Nokia 6256i is analog and digital capable. There are even aftermarket external antenna adapters, to hook up an external antenna or signal booster set up. I use my cell phones in rural areas, and carry a Yagi in my trunk when I go camping, so getting a better signal with a premium directional antenna is important, but I have not hooked up the Nokia yet.

The other Bluetooth/analog/digital Verizon phone, the Motorola V710 had severely restricted bluetooth and Verizon is in the process of working out some kind of settlement with buyers of that phone. I've been told to avoid that model if one wants full supported BT connectivity.

The Nokia should be at RadioShack or maybe Best Buy soon. A few people have them, but they are not launched yet.

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Sid

 

Re: Bluetooth + Analog, Yes, VZW branded, Nokia 6256i!

Sid - thanks for the information. Quick question - do you find the lack of 'true' speech recognition for the purposes of dialing to be a problem? One of the things I love about my V710, even with all its faults, is the speaker-independent voice dialing/voice commands.

 

Re: Bluetooth + Analog, Yes, VZW branded, Nokia 6256i!

I used the V265 for a while, and true speech was nice but I didn't like the phone...small screen and no digital only mode. Motorola seems to be unable to figure out how to lock out analog. I love analog, but not all the time in certain cases. Hard to get past not being able to read the screen.
I know the Motorola v710 is supposed to get great reception. I looked at buying one, but the early users went through the wringer, with the software problems, screen scratching and then the bluetooth problems. VZW and Motorola are just a little too cozy...releasing junk at first, like the 720, first color screen (IIRC), then fixing it after the fact, which is not treating consumers very well.
Dunno, if the Nokia doesn't have great reception I might look for a used Mot V710, but not exactly a trusted maufacturer, since they shipped production off to China.

A few comments on what the Nokia does...

My last phone, an Audiovox 9500, had 100 voice dial locations, I used 50, but it wasn't all that accurate at times.

The Nokia says there are 25 voice dial locations and 5 voie command locations. I can get by on that.
The Nokia phone book is a very quick alpha look up.
What's intersting, I've already surpassed the 5 voice commands, with 8. The voice command list is limited, for instance there is no calander, but there is radio ON/Off radio up/previous station... Profiles, call log, mailbox, voice recorder, infared. Many of those have subsets.
It all works from a a one touch headset too. I assume there is someway to activate voice dial or voice commands with a bluetooth headset too, but not sure.

It's nothing like the unlimited automatic voice recognition of the Motorola.
Each of the 25 or so phone numbers needs to be recorded into the Nokia for later ID. I'm still amazed by this low tech function!

The Nokia address book is only alpha lookup, 500x5 or the 25 voice locations, which could be more, since I went over on voice command slots. Or, it could be a certain memory size and 25 is an average, shared with voice command.

The abiltiy to quickly type in transfer and update the address book using bluetooth pairing (with phonedirector/Mac) is just so quick and handy!

There may be another Verizon Bluetooth phone worth considering.
Not sure of the model or if it's all digital, which most new VZW phones are

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Sid

 

so what exactly is bluetooth?? i have it on my phone but its turned off..

bluetooth lets u send stuff like ur phonebook to other phones and cars or somethin???

i dont have a lexus so i don't know...

 

http://www.bluetooth.com/

Basically it's a wireless short range standard that allows you to send data between two bluetooth enabled things, like a computer and a phone or two phones. Depending on what profiles the phone has you can send phonebook entries, pictures, business cards, or sync e-mail, and you can use a wireless headset to make and receive calls. The range on most bluetooth devices is about 30 feet.

 

Basically, it's a wireless standard to exchange data between various devices phone to phone, computer to phone, car to phone. My experience is it's pretty slow. Ok for phone books entries but too slow to be practical for music files, but possible.

How it worked on my Mac is I bought a little bluetooth transmiter/receiver cube and plugged it into a USB port. Needs some supporting software, which may or may not already be built in. Then you enter a code into both units to pair them. Then phone books and other data can uploaded and be manipulated and then downloaded to back to the phone.