Software Update 4.6.1.128 (225)

Wouldn't you know, one day after I find that fix and post it, I get an email from my rep at Sprint/Nextel that there is a software update that will fix a bunch of issues... see details of fixes below.
Here are the details for update:

You can either get it at Sprint.com/downloads or you can do it over the air. Below are the steps to update OTA and some of the issues it will fix. Let me know if there are any questions.

BES Customers Only - Download BlackBerry 8350i MR1 Software Over the Air (OTA)
Set up a Wi-Fi Connection.
Press the Application button to get to the Main Menu.
Scroll to the Options Icon.
· Picture of a Wrench.
Click on Advanced Options.
Click Wireless Upgrade.
Click Next.
Click Check for Upgrades.
Select a 4.6.1.128 wireless BlackBerry Device Software upgrade package.
Click Next.
Click Start Download.
Click Upgrade Now.
· Note: To schedule a time to install the BlackBerry Device Software, click Schedule Upgrade.
Click Upgrade Now again.
· Warning: You will be unable to use the BlackBerry smartphone or make emergency calls for up to 2 hours during the installation process.

The following Known Issues have been fixed with this software update:
· MMS Issues:
· Not receiving messages, missing messages and delays.
· Commercial Location Services:
· Several confirmed issues with location services.
· Not E911.
· Commercial Network initiated location request will fail.
· Corporate Security can’t locate handsets within corporate security tool and handset-based java applications are slow to obtain first GPS fix.
· NXTl:
· Device may lose data connectivity show status NXTl not NXTL.
· Blank Screen:
· Device screen loses all information and goes blank.
· The device could not be recovered without a battery pull.
· Multiple IP address issue.
· Media Missing Audio Tracks:
· After adding multiple albums by a same artist to device, the songs might not appear as expected when searching by artist first then album, all tracks may not show up.
· This is only occurring when multiple albums present by same artist.
· Direct Connect Audio:
· While in a Direct Connect call, when toggling between speakerphone and handset audio, there is no visual indication as to whether speakerphone or handset as the audio mode setting has been selected.
· However, it can be audibly determined.
· Direct Connect/Direct Send My Contact Device Reset:
· If the device is reset, the customer might lose all unsaved Direct Send contact messages from the Direct Send mailbox.
The following Known Issues will be improved with this software update with complete fix set for MR2:
· Phone End of Call Noise:
· When ending a call the device may make a low, garbled noise through the earpiece.
· Most noticeable on bluetooth headsets.
· Bluetooth Voice Commands:
· When using a bluetooth headset for Voice Commands device may not be 100% accurate.
· Audio Speakerphone:
· When calling voicemail audio might unexpectedly play from the speakerphone and the headset simultaneously.
· Camera Delayed Application:
· After closing third party applications the customer may have challenges opening the camera.
· Memory clears after a few minutes and camera will function again

Text Messaging

Special Thanks to www.blackberryhomepage.com for this one.

If you've experienced any issues with sending or recieving text messaging... check out these instructions:

On your 8350i, go to Options
Go into Advanced Options
Go to Applications
Once your Applications List loads, go to Docs2Go
Once Docs2Go is highlighted, hit the MENU KEY (don’t press down on the trackball!)
In the menu, go to “Edit Permissions”
Change all of the Permissions from allow to DENY
Press the back button and save your changes (It will prompt you to reboot, so go ahead and do that)
TADA! Once your BlackBerry powers back on, your MMS messaging woes are no longer! Send and receive text messages to your little hearts content!

http://www.blackberryhomepage.com/blogger/2008/12/24/8350i-text-messaging-work-around-merry-christmas-nextel-users/

Direct Send

Direct Send is a great feature that Nextel has, allowing you, with a compatible device, to send your contact info (or even a picture) via PTT.
It appears with the new 835oi Curve, that when using PTT with another user who has a Direct Send capable phone (other than another Curve) that each and every time the other user presses the PTT button a request is received from that person, and like most transactions, this information appears in the main mailbox which really clutters your "inbox" when you use PTT often. I have spent hours on the phone with Blackberry support who were unable to solve my issue and this issue spans across each and every 8350i I've encountered (about 25).
This is a major design flaw in my opinion.

Wifi

The Curve is the first Nextel to connect to Wifi Networks. When you are within range of one that you have the security key for, it will utilize that network to receive email and browse the Internet. While this does increase the speed of data transfer, it is still a far cry of what a mobile device that connects to Wifi should do.

What a great feature but terribly under utilized. With the technology that is available today, there is no reason I can think of that calls should also be routed over Wifi. T-Mobile has the right idea when it comes to this. The phones that they have that connect to Wifi also route calls over that connection (perhaps using VOIP technology). What is even more amazing is if you make a call over the Wifi connection and go outside of its coverage, you will seamlessly switch back to the cellular network.

To me this seems like a no-brainer any carrier would want to offer for two main reasons:

1. The calls that go over the Wifi network drastically reduce the usage for that carriers own network.
2. The ability to make calls over Wifi also appear to drastically increase the coverage area for that carrier.

The two reasons I can think of why they would not are:

1. Technology not available (which we know is available, so there goes #1)
2. Overage... yes, minutes... perhaps some carriers don't want to participate in something that would wind up costing them fees in overage minutes. Again, I can't imagine this would really stop them, since I believe the telecommunications industry is one of the most creative when it comes to figuring out ways to charge the consumer extra fees. Anyway, T Mobile addressed this issue somewhat as well... in order to be able to use the ability of making and receiving calls over Wifi, you have to pay like $10 extra a month. Sprint/Nextel also has the Simply Everything plan, which is a flat fee for unlimited minutes, so for these users, there is no overage, so it only makes sense to offer at least to these users to lessen the strain in their network.

Ultimately the fact that it connects to Wifi is cool but I don't notice any difference in speed (I haven't conducted any speed tests on network vs. on wifi)... either way, my emails still arrive and the browser is still slower than what I think we'd all want it to operate it at, although it is acceptable for me.

Love @ First Sight?

First Impression: NICE!

Now, keep in mind, I've been dealing with the 7100i for the past few years.

At first it was tricky to get used to the 7100i keyboard... visually I believe the interruption of the color of the numbered keys was designed to be an aid but caused a mental hiccup when using it as a keyboard. My eyes wanted to follow the grey back and black text pattern, not the line that the letters were on. Not disimilar to the supermarkets of old that used to change the tile pattern in the middle of the aisles to make you subconsiously recognize the change and consiously try to identify it (it was presumably a psycological experiment designed to make the shopper stop as a result of the change in pattern and think "hmm, I must have just missed something" and go back to pick up something they didn't want).

Anyway, the 7100i was a far cry from it's predecessor, the 7520.

At it's time a great device but soon became just too bulky when compared with it's sucessor. Also the Direct Connect Button being on the top wasn't the best design. Not terrible but completely different than any other Nextel device up until this point.

Initially it seems a bit bigger than other carrier Curves. Again, like the 7520 and the 7100i it seems that RIM made this Blackberry based on an existing model and just kind of cramed in the Direct Connect somewehere. In this case it seems to have taken the place of the Voice Dialing button found on other Curves. Connecting to the Nextel network was not a problem on first starting it up, nor was activating it on my BES (Blackberry Enterprise Server). Looking forward to start using it and write more as I uncover more.

FINALLY!

For too long Nextel has had Blackberry's that were always behind the times... they were always "all business" and lacked capabilities all other Blackberry users enjoyed. Needing the direct connect capabilities of Nextel, my hands were tied. Finally, The Curve has arrived at Nextel. I support many users in my organization and will chronicle my experiences with this phone (8350i) and hopefully provide useful tips and tutorials.