How to Lose Treo 650 Customers, by Sprint
Marc Hedlund
Oct. 25, 2004 02:37 AM
Permalink

URL: http://www.treocentral.com/content/Stories/474-2.htm...
UPDATE: Sprint responded to this post; see the followup post for information about their response.
The new Treo 650 is out today -- and as a long-time fan of the Treo, I've been looking forward to it. I've asked in the past for "one with everything" -- a phone with all the features I could want in one device, without compromises. It looks like PalmOne delivered, with a 320x320 screen, removable battery, upgraded OS, a better camera, and Bluetooth.
Oops -- not quite! TreoCentral is reporting that the Sprint version of the Treo 650 doesn't allow you to use Bluetooth for dial-up networking through your computer. Apparently other carriers will, but not Sprint.
You see, Sprint sells connection cards, which are PCCards that allow you to dial up your laptop over their cell network. Apparently they were really unhappy when PDANet, an application for the Treo that lets you use the phone through a USB cable as a connection card, came out. I'm sure that's what's caused this "lock-out" to be added now.
As a business traveller, PDANet was a godsend (until I switched to a Mac laptop). I used my laptop online in airport terminals, hotel rooms, taxi cabs (!), and traffic jams. PDANet made my Treo completely invaluable to me, and made me a very happy customer, ready to upgrade to the 650 as soon as it appeared.
No longer. I switched to Sprint with the Treo 300 appeared, and now I'm switching away. If they think they can get me to buy another $250 product with another phone number and monthly service charge just because they switched off a built-in feature of my phone to force me into it, they are out of their minds. Their competitors offer a feature that they have decided to disable, so I'll just pay them some more money so I can carry around another piece of electronics? They must take me for a complete idiot.
I'd recommend that if you have a Treo or are thinking of buying one, you switch networks away from Sprint. They don't want the Treo to be useful to you.
Marc Hedlund
is an entrepreneur working on a personal finance startup, Wesabe.
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Showing messages 1 through 48 of 48.
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Sprint is worst when it comes to customer service
2006-05-19 19:56:00
zobear
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Sprint Service
2006-03-30 19:45:06
ukdj7
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Software
2006-02-14 23:37:17
Cas1
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How do I get Bluetooth on my Treo 600? Or is it possiable?
2006-02-08 22:04:09
casperarizona
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Trapped by the Sprint Treo 650
2006-01-23 07:46:31
RWC
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Trapped by the Sprint Treo 650
2006-05-22 09:53:28
jsatter
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no help here either
2005-12-27 14:26:46
sgtbra
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Treo smartphone as a Wireless Modem for your PC
2005-08-19 10:48:02
pegfor
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2005-03-01 19:38:33
aka_deno
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2006-01-04 13:22:55
DavidEnt
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2006-01-08 10:37:06
teeyrich
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2006-01-08 10:33:41
teeyrich
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2005-03-01 19:40:42
aka_deno
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2005-06-05 09:02:13
myrix57
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2005-09-21 11:22:38
spadester
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Sprint should give long time customers a break on new phones!
2006-05-26 19:59:03
rjprho
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Using 650 to connect laptop to internet
2005-02-28 11:00:26
Sharp650
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Using 650 to connect laptop to internet
2005-03-11 13:36:22
dkaufman33
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Using 650 to connect laptop to internet
2005-05-10 11:28:57
sebastian28
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Sprints Blows it in customer service
2005-01-25 15:13:45
jagjags
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They also dont do their rebate promise!
2005-01-19 09:11:06
VbMan
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They also dont do their rebate promise!
2005-03-04 21:30:04
etroll
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I've been using my phone as a modem with Sprint's blessing for years now
2004-12-23 02:43:36
Leif
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I've been using my phone as a modem with Sprint's blessing for years now
2005-01-10 19:06:37
dlr777
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Sprint is good at losing customers
2004-12-21 22:11:42
Madpt
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Sprint PCS Sales
2004-12-21 15:40:05
consumerfordata
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bought a Treo 650, only trouble so far
2004-12-05 11:02:09
BarneyRowe
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bought a Treo 650, only trouble so far
2005-01-07 09:36:50
ronfaywill
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bought a Treo 650, only trouble so far
2005-02-05 16:19:09
0x61
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For what it's worth...
2004-11-30 16:22:22
thornrag
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Not supposed to use it as a modem anyways
2004-10-26 15:41:52
jdb8167
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Not supposed to use it as a modem anyways
2004-10-29 21:11:03
cleanflix
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Petition
2004-10-25 15:12:12
Frosty
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How to work around it...
2004-10-25 09:03:10
ergie
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How to work around it...
2005-05-30 20:29:21
alexseg
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Re: How to work around it...
2004-12-16 05:40:22
sorokahdeen@yahoo.com
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How to work around it...
2004-10-25 09:42:15
fofer
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Won't the phone, from Palm, work on Sprint?
2004-10-25 08:31:21
Derek Sivers |
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Won't the phone, from Palm, work on Sprint?
2004-10-25 12:00:47
Evo_Terra
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Poor, poor bluetooth
2004-10-25 06:15:14
shea241@gmail.com
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Poor, poor bluetooth
2004-11-15 10:30:58
triLcat
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Poor, poor bluetooth
2004-11-27 17:07:21
Maybe
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Poor, poor bluetooth
2005-02-09 14:07:21
breathless
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Poor, poor bluetooth
2006-05-05 20:37:32
kendell
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Showing messages 1 through 48 of 48.
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Zobear.. Be smart .. Do not get taken stay way from SPRINT