Sprint's Empty Promises
Over the last couple of weeks we've written a lot about Dial-Up Networking (DUN) on your Treo 650 and also had our fair share of complaints against palmOne. However, a Treonaut reminded me via email that we shouldn't forget others' lack of transparency - in this case Sprint's.
As many of you will recall, when Sprint's Treo 650 was officially released back in October there was a massive uproar when Treonauts found out that the company's version would not have DUN enabled. Among many, Marc Hedlund over at O'Reilly was furious and quickly posted a note on his blog.
Sprint saw the growing PR disaster coming its way and responded within 24 hours with the following statement by Jeff Shafer from Sprint Business Solutions Public Relations:
Due to some development deadlines, the phone has been launched as described, without the DUN [dial-up networking] capability. However, as part of a scheduled maintenance release of software (timing pending some testing), the DUN capabilities will be supported. We also support the functionality in the just released PPC-6601 (Pocket PC device). In no way is Sprint suppressing the functionality as you describe or with the motivations you assert.
Another response via TreoCentral, also by Jeff Shafer, stated:
Read your article on the Treo 650, and I wanted to make sure you fully understand the Bluetooth DUN stance from Sprint. While the functionality is not currently enabled (due to some timing issues around the launch), it will be enabled via a maintenance software release coming relatively soon (no specific timing is available as we have to test things to ensure the best possible experience). We currently support this functionality in the new PPC-6600/6601, so I want to make sure that there is not a sense that Sprint is suppressing a function. Once testing is complete, the functionality will become available.
Everybody thought that these were 'official' Sprint statements and that DUN functionality would be enabled 'fairly shortly'. The uproar stopped quickly after this and posts were proclaiming that "Sprint WILL enable DUN". Three months later the company has still done absolutely nothing about it.
As a disgruntled Treonaut rightly pointed out, currently consumers can buy an unlocked Treo 650 from palmOne with DUN enabled and this would again suggest that any delays in enabling DUN on Sprint's Treo 650 has been done on purpose or at the very least that it is still not considered a priority.
It's time to deliver on the promises and Sprint should be ashamed but unfortunately this appears to be a word that does not exist in its lexicon. Perhaps the company should consider changing its name from Sprint to Delay so at least we'd all be clear about what to expect.
How to lose customers, by Sprint [O'Reilly]
Sprint will support Bluetooth DUN on 650 [Treocentral]
[Thanks Scott]
Treonauts are not DUN yet... 
Comments
PalmOne is saying that Cingular will be fixing the BT DUN problem in a software update as well. What a joke. Since when does Cingular write palmone code? I have a cingular 650 and I will probably buy PDANet for the functionality. If I was a lawyer, or had the money to waste on one, I would take the carriers to court, like verizon has been taken. We should all start a grassroots VoIP over WLAN. If we could cut into the carriers bottom line, they would capitulate.
Hahah, they would capitulate? VOIP is just one of the things they are trying to prevent people from doing along with DUN. This is all about their bottom line and perceived threats to it. The technology is definitely going in the direciton of VOIP, and this ruins their business model. But they are not going to "capitulate" because a few people are using VOIP with smartphones. We are still a very small segment of their market and that's why they treat us like dirt. Well, maybe they really treat everyone that way. But the carriers unfortunatley have a oligopoly on stuff like this and unless some maverick comes in and starts offering open data networks for a small flat fee, nothing's going to change for a while...
DUN has nothing to do with VOIP. It's simply a matter of control on how you pay for data. By blocking access to an existing device you are forced to buy a data card and a second plan on your account. Verizon, Sprint and now Cingular / ATT are all guilty of this tactic.
I have a Sprint TREO 650 for 3 weeks and then moved to Canada. Bell Mobility is Sprint's CDMA technology partner in Canada but they currently supported Treo 600. I wanted to activate my Treo on Bell Mobility, I confirmed that the phone was unlocked and took the thing to their store but they could not figure out the "programming sequence" (that is, to change the existing Sprint phone number in the "Phone Info" under Options to a Bell Mobility number). Any ideas anyone?
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