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Thursday, June 22, 2006
Verizon has finally released its update to the UTStarcom smartphone XV6700. The nearly 40 MB download will zap your current install so back everything up as there is no way to restore your old ROM install. For the most part, many are reporting easy without-a-hitch installs; however, one comment we read turned their XV6700 into a brick that even Verizon couldn’t fix.
New for this firmware update is Microsoft Messaging and Security Feature Pack. This will allow for true e-mail pushing to your device. No band-aid fix of sending your device an SMS message when new mail other PIM entries are made to your Exchange data like the old firmware. But do note this, your radio (EV-DO or 1xRTT) will always remain on unless you specifically turn off your phone now. This is done to insure that data connection is always kept with Verizon. This means a further reduction in battery life.
Also new for the XV6700 is Voice Dialing, as shown here in screen capture. While not as intelligent as Microsofts VoiceCommand, it is at least included in the ROM and free of charge. Like lesser-model phones, you’ll have to “teach” the device with voice tags for each person you wish to call by your command. This means for every phone number, home, business, mobile, you’ll have to make a voice command for them. So while you save some room in your RAM not having to put MS VoiceCommand on, you lose what you gain with your voice tags. It’s also unclear if your Bluetooth headset button will activate the application, like any voice dialer should, though the release notes does state that it allows you, “to leverage the hands free capability already on the device.”
Other updates include a way to lock the device from the Today Screen (what, you mean no more draining the device when it’s in my pouch?), a bug fix that would put the phone into “Flight Mode” without the users knowledge, and the ability to be in both Wi-Fi and phone mode simultaneously without the needed regedit hack.
Now SvenOnTech does not know if the Bluetooth DUN profile hack we reported on previously will work in this new firmware update. It’s highly likely Verizon asked for the unlock code to be changed; however, it’s also possible that it still works. Truth is, this is one of the reasons we are cautious not to install this update. We like surfing on our MacBook Pro on the beach. 
Our hopes is the that the Bluetooth DUN hack still works. Either we’ll wait for posts elsewhere confirming or denying the hack and react to that or we’ll just bite the bullet and do the upgrade…only if the good far out weighs the bad. Voice dial from the BTh is a huge plus. The device lock is another plus. As for the e-mail push, we’re happy with how it works now, so no biggy there. We’ll see and keep you informed.
UPDATE: Kevin from jkOnTheRun, the site we reference above, has told us that the Bluetooth DUN codes in fact still work! So I guess we’ll be taking plunge after NewsGator Mobile completes its first download here.
July 27th, 2006 at 6:33
I just bought an xv6700, and a Jabra bluetooth headset. Great stuff, but no voice dialing.
I see that this may be possible from reading the above, but I’m not sure I follow it completely. Sorry, I’m just a little slow.
Can you tell me the general procedure?
Thanks
July 27th, 2006 at 15:20
He Ted. Just download the update and remove your XV6700 from the cradle. Double click the downloaded update and follow the directions. Be sure to back up your unit first.