Verizon Unlocks Bluetooth File Transfer For The RAZR V3c (denied by Verizon)
Thursday April 20, 2006
Last week, a blog was announcing a new firmware update available for Verizon customers with the Motorola RAZR V3c to unlock the ability to transfer multimedia files (photos, ringtones, music) from and to one's PC with Bluetooth or a data cable, but the rumor has been denied by Verizon to customers calling for information. Unfortunately, carriers sometimes intentionally cripple these functions to force users to use their cellular over-the-air method for sending data, thus encuring fees. I've even seen carriers asking a manufacturer to remove a function that allowed to assign any voice note recording as a ringtone! My recommendation, complain to your carrier about that and treaten to leave at the end of your contract if things don't change.
Comments
Yo… I have a Razor V3c and my provider US Cellular crippled it by not allowing me to recieve any files. So in turn, no one else on the US cellular network can recieve files with Bluetooth because of the “threat of a virus”.
*sighs*
They won’t enable it, and I’m not sure how.
If you wana help, my e-mail is: cloudstrife7@gmail.com
Thanks..
-CloudStrife7
Hi there.
That’s wrong that VW has any intention to renable the OBEX on the V3C. I read on cavemonkey50.com that a new firmware to enable that is released. That’s totally wrong.
Gilligan, that sounds like an important/interesting information, but can you give us specifics? What makes you think that’s not true? Any special information you could share on that?
Thanks.
I am very curious about the possiblity of having the file transfers re-enabled on VZW phones. I actually work in Verizon customer service and haven’t heard anything about it, though sometimes word takes a while to get out. I have the e815 myself and would love to be able to do file transfers without having to first transfer content to my transflash card. This is an interesting development indeed! Though having the bluetooth openned up does leave our information more vulnerable to hack.
Let’s all hope for the best!
Just Called Customer support and the rep denied of any such development. I suggest other call them and ask first. 1-800-922-0204
I talked with 4 people at VW today because of the post at the top of this thread. The final answer was there is no update to allow file transfer and there are no plans for an update. That is how VW makes more money off you, by making you use their services to download ring tones and share pics, etc. I guess after 8 happy years with Verizon, I’ll be looking to take my number to another provider who will allow me to use my phone!
Sorry about that. I’ll try to investigate that and add a new post if I learn something new about that.
Still true - as far as I can tell. Bought a new RAZR V3c (Verizon Network) on April 4 - had the firmware update on April 28 - and after *much* tweaking (USB driver updates / version updates) - was finally able to get MPT (Moto’s Mobile Phone Tools) to connect to the Phone directly through USB cable (haven’t even tried the bluetooth yet).
From what I can tell (firsthand) - it’s a kind of “mutual” agreement between Moto and Verizon to cripple the pics/ring-tones xfer feature of MPT (v4.x) - since that capability never appears in any part of the MPT application.
The reason I say it’s “mutual” is that during the installation - I was able to get the MPT application to display a non-Verizon version of the RAZR V3c - but it wouldn’t connect to my phone. There in all it’s glory - was the feature to xfer pics/ring-tones directly - for that model phone - using MPT v4.x. When it became “carrier” depenedent and successfully connected to my RAZR V3c - those features mysteriously disappeared.
I do intend to complain to Verizon - and I have no intention of using their Pic Xfer “service.” To me that’s 100% bait-and-switch based on their call plan rates and I intend to hammer them as hard as I can on that point.
On thing I’ve heard - FYI and beware - unless you use Bluetooth/USB to xfer the pics directly - you run the risk of losing image quality (file size is cut) by using the actual transfer service. The better approach - to maintain full multi-mega pixel image quality is to email the pic to a SEPARATE email account …
Best of luck - I’m prett sure this *will* change as more end-users become “pic-enabled.” Its’ not the phone’s fault - but MOTO has definitely AGREED to support Verizon’s demand … and that’s bad for both of them (in the long run) …
cheers,
AZGolfer1
It’s like purchasing a new car and finding out that I need a subscription to OnStar in order to open MY trunk! Concisely, Verizon’s Firmware disables MPT calendar & multimedia; granted, you can use MPT to sync your address book! Submitting, next we’ll need buy-it-now to sync contacts! Nonetheless, I wrote the corporate gurus @ http://investor.verizon.com/corp_gov/corp_officers.aspx
It’s it’s corporate phonejacking I tell you! litebulb
Want to hear something REALLY horrible. I have the Verizon Razr too and am totally ticked that I can’t transfer my pictures to my computer by any means - I am even willing to pay the fee to use Vcast but the towers in our area don’t support that option, the closest town with that capability is 5 HOURS AWAY! Am I supposed to drive 5 hours to send my pictures to my computer and pay $0.25 for each one?????
I bought the phonetool at http://www.wirelessground.com After spending all the waste of moeny, then I find out Verizon went against me and handicapped all usefull features, if there was some kinda hack, it would be usefull..
After reading the blog (last week), I got the same results as everyone else. However, I also purchased the SW from VW to synch with my Outlook contacts. I thought that it was interesting that the SW featured a BT connection - but not the phone. I have also been playing with MPT and it seems that the code is mixed as stated previously. I was banking on being able to ‘fix’ things, but I am very disappointed.
I create my on ringtones and send them over the air from my PC. They work when I test them on the phone but cease to work later. Any body got a clue. It’s a Motorola V325 from Verizon.
Thanks,
Merle
I feel your pain! I too contacted Verizon via E-mail and on the phone to voice my dis-satisfaction. Got the same useless info from Moto. Pisses me off! If anybody finds a way around this, please make a posting. I’ve seen the “Nextel Sucks” bumper stickers, I see the Verizon bumper stickers coming! It just doesn’t make any sense to offer the hottest phone on the market and not offer all its functions/abilities to your loyal customers.
After trying for a long time to get picture and sound files to/from my new Verizon Razr (and I actually bought two!), I finally wrote to the feedback page on www.verizonwireless.com, expressing my displeasure, and requesting that they change their policy. Two days later, the USB connection to both phones allowed me access to folders which had been locked! I am using Bitpim v0.9, and I can now transfer picture files in and out of the phone, as well as the contact list and calender. I can also see the audio files in the /motorola/shared/audio folder (which I couldn’t even open before), using the Bitpim Filesystem view, but can’t actually copy these files (they must still be trying to sell their idiotic $1.99 song downloads…). I tested Bluetooth, which doesn’t work, but at least I can use the USB connection to transfer pictures. I can also now open the motorola/system folder, so I can change the turn-on turn-off ads to something I want… Did they actually listen???
I think a CONSORTIUM or Civic Minded SW/HW Company should sponsor an ADVERTIZEMENT in major papers in NY, Washington, etc.
1. Verizon is asking for a law to open up the Video Franchise Nation wide and does not need the bad publicity.
2. It would also encourage customers contemplating going with Verizon Wireless to ASK them tough questions.
I just purchased a Verizon Razr V3c in June 2006. The Obex features are still disabled. For pix transfers, I had to email the ones that I really wanted on my phone. Unless I can find a hack, I am definitely leaving Verizon at the end of my contact, probably Cingular.
I just got 2 verizon razr v3c phones and I can get My MacMini OS 10.4.7 and isync to work for phone contacts and email. Nothing else. Bitpim does nothing. Did Verizon update the phone to a point where all the previous tips everyone on here has offered aren’t useful any longer? I even have bluetooth at work and I had no access to the system. June 28, 2006. Just to let everyone now the date this is posted.
b
Haven’t tried it, but here is a detailed description of how to mod a Razr:
http://www.themotoguide.com/
I have a LG Chocolate VX8550 (the new one). Verizon disables FILE TRANSFER, so I can’t transfer any pix, musics, videos on bluetooth. Is there any way of enabling it? or hacking it?
email me:
my email is: moto3u@gmail.com
I have a v3m. Can I enable that, too? email me at ejdahunta@gmail.com
I have the LG VX8550 and I can transfer music and pics to/from the phone memory, but I can not get it to go to/from the memory card - any clue