Verizon based Blackberry phones work with bluetooth syncing?

stonestatue · 11-07-2009, 10:39 PM

I understand one of the fundamental issues of getting your cell phone to work with Freefone (or any other phone control software out there) is the networking technology of CDMA vs GSM. I know Verizon and Sprint use CDMA and At&t and T-Mobile use GSM. I also understand that GSM is the global standard while CDMA is mostly a US standard. Finally, I know that GSM phones are more successful in general than CDMA phones in working with your front end software for remote phone commands, such as Freefone.

I am consideirng switching to Verizon (I currently have Sprint) as their network coverage is the best in the US. Does anyone have any luck in getting complete phone control with any Blackberry phones provided by Verizon? That includes making phone calls with the dial pad on the computer screen, seeing phone calls coming in AND being able to answer them, getting phone book information, etc.

Also, if successful, do you use Bluetooth or USB tethering. And if bluetooth, what profile?

DarquePervert · 11-08-2009, 07:20 AM

Tethering is something entirely different.
Tethering is using the phone as an internet conenction, whether it is through a physical cable or a bluetooth connection.

Using the PC as a headset for making phone calls and displaying caller information does not require tethering and is usually done through a bluetooth connection.

stonestatue · 11-08-2009, 03:03 PM

Ok, do any of Verizon's Blackberries support that?

justchat_1 · 11-08-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

Ok, do any of Verizon's Blackberries support that?

They all do

DarquePervert · 11-09-2009, 06:18 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

Ok, do any of Verizon's Blackberries support that?

Quote: Originally Posted by justchat_1

They all do

justchat_1 is correct, regardless of what "that" you mean. All but the oldest Blackberries support both bluetooth headset capability (which is what the PC uses) and tethering for internet access.
Curious about which one you meant when you said "that".

Maheriano · 11-09-2009, 11:42 AM

It depends on which JSR profile is used in the development of the connection application. I know for instance my Blackberry doesn't work with JSR-82 (bluetooth AVRCP) because the cellular provider blocked all OBEX on the device. I'm pretty sure Verizon is the same way, there is no data transfer over bluetooth available on the device without hacking it but as long as the software doesn't use OBEX then you should be good.

justchat_1 · 11-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

It depends on which JSR profile is used in the development of the connection application. I know for instance my Blackberry doesn't work with JSR-82 (bluetooth AVRCP) because the cellular provider blocked all OBEX on the device. I'm pretty sure Verizon is the same way, there is no data transfer over bluetooth available on the device without hacking it but as long as the software doesn't use OBEX then you should be good.

Close...but not quite. Its usually a bad idea to base generalizations about a spec on the way java does things. Obex and AVRCP have absolutely nothing to do with each other nor anything to do with HFP/HSP or DUN(what the OP was actually asking about). You did get the carrier lock part somewhat right though-> some carriers (mainly verizon) will disable bluetooth features like DUN/tethering, obex transfer or even spp access. No carrier (AFAIK) has ever disabled HFP or HSP.

Some more info:
Blackberrys until very recently didn't start shipping with anything useful other then hfp/hsp (like the iPhone until 3.0) requiring proprietary software for all sync related operations. They still require proprietary syncing software for most operations but now have the ability to do PBAP and A2DP streaming.

stonestatue · 11-09-2009, 08:33 PM

Why is OBEX blocked?

justchat_1 · 11-09-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

Why is OBEX blocked?

It competed with their ringtone downloads (you could transfer ringtones from your computer for free) and undercut their profit

stonestatue · 11-10-2009, 06:52 AM

Which ones don't block OBEX?

stonestatue · 11-10-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

justchat_1 is correct, regardless of what "that" you mean. All but the oldest Blackberries support both bluetooth headset capability (which is what the PC uses) and tethering for internet access.
Curious about which one you meant when you said "that".

I was referring to full remote phone control through the carputer (answer, send, hang up calls, phone book, etc).

My decision on what phone to get and what provider to go with is based mainly on this capability, primarily with Freefone.

Maheriano · 11-10-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by justchat_1

Close...but not quite. Its usually a bad idea to base generalizations about a spec on the way java does things. Obex and AVRCP have absolutely nothing to do with each other nor anything to do with HFP/HSP or DUN(what the OP was actually asking about). You did get the carrier lock part somewhat right though-> some carriers (mainly verizon) will disable bluetooth features like DUN/tethering, obex transfer or even spp access. No carrier (AFAIK) has ever disabled HFP or HSP.

Cool, that was interesting. He was talking about controlling the phone from the computer though, not just synchronizing it. The thread title is wrong.

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

Why is OBEX blocked?

I used to work for one of the providers here that block it and the reason they did it is because there's no revenue gained from it since there is no connection charge. Therefore they chose not to waste time on the phones supporting something which is not generating revenue. Same with bluetooth, if they can't charge for the connection then they aren't going to support it.

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

Which ones don't block OBEX?

It's blocked per carrier. Basically each provider is given an integer code value and the firmware in the Blackberry does a check on the integer to see which provider it's supposed to be with. Say it finds a 3 and that's related to Verizon, it'll block certain services based on predetermined settings in the firmware at the request of the provider. So therefore you need to find a provider which doesn't ask RIM to block these services......this includes Sprint for sure and I think T-Mobile and AT&T.

justchat_1 · 11-10-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by stonestatue

I was referring to full remote phone control through the carputer (answer, send, hang up calls, phone book, etc).

My decision on what phone to get and what provider to go with is based mainly on this capability, primarily with Freefone.

If your basing your phone choice on freefones capabilities your going to be very disappointed. Your looking for one answer to about 3 different questions so lets start by clearing that up. Only old motorolla phones support sync over the DUN connection (via AT commands), certainly not blackberrys or any modern phone even close to that category.
Now for real bluetooth software (not freefone), the technologies you are talking about are PBAP for phonebook transfer which does rely on the obex protocol but is usually not blocked even if obex is. Answer, send and hangup are done over the HFP which most phones support but not all will provide callerid over this connection (its optional in the HFP spec). If your talking about using your phone as a media player over bluetooth, the technology there is AVRCP (sink) and A2DP (source) which allow media player control and high quality audio streaming respectively.

Hopefully that clears some things up.

Quote: Originally Posted by Maheriano

It's blocked per carrier. Basically each provider is given an integer code value and the firmware in the Blackberry does a check on the integer to see which provider it's supposed to be with. Say it finds a 3 and that's related to Verizon, it'll block certain services based on predetermined settings in the firmware at the request of the provider. So therefore you need to find a provider which doesn't ask RIM to block these services......this includes Sprint for sure and I think T-Mobile and AT&T.

The problem is these settings are firmware locked so unless you really know what your doing your outta luck...I was pretty sure verizon stopped that policy due to some angry customers and negative PR. So it should be as simple as just a new blackberry or any blackberry sold by verizon after whatever date the change was made.

stonestatue · 11-10-2009, 02:13 PM

Alright so it's not so much the phone but the software (Freefone)? If that is the case, what software can I use that would support a Blackberry for computer phone control?

stonestatue · 11-12-2009, 06:35 PM

I checked out mobilephone.net. Does that show any promise?

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