Skype and Bluetooth with my Treo
As I had previously written, Skype apparently have no intention to support their Skype Mobile service for our Treo. However, I recently met two close friends of Skype founder and CEO Niklas Zennstrom and they each promised that they would advocate the Treonauts cause of ‘Skype Mobile for our Treo’ to him. I don’t know if or when they might succeed in doing this but at least we’re trying…
In the meantime though I’ve found the next best thing. Namely, using my Treo Wireless Headset together with Skype on my laptop.
As I had mentioned a little while ago, I upgraded my Acer laptop (the one that was driving me nuts with its fan noise) to a Sony VAIO (which is nearly silent) but one of the things that I lost in the process was the built-in Bluetooth functionality. I therefore first had to get a separate Bluetooth USB adapter to enable BT connectivity to my Treo headset.
I got the Lanso USB Bluetooth Adapter and installed the dedicated Bluetooth software that came with the package. After experiencing a few problems during setup, a little online research led me to the updated Lanso drivers. I uninstalled the old drivers and installed the new ones after which everything worked just fine and I was ready to test Skype with my BT headset.
After pairing the headset with a PC its ‘Bluetooth Headset Service’ profile becomes active and therefore enables you to use your Treo BT headset as both an audio input and output device.
The second step (if you already have Skype installed on your PC) is simply to select Skype’s ‘Tools > Options’ menu and then change the ‘Sound Devices’ Audio In and Audio Out to ‘Bluetooth Audio’.
Once this setup is complete you can easily take an inbound Skype call by pressing the ‘Call Answer’ button on your Treo headset and then also on the Skype console. For outbound calls you start by pressing the ‘Call Answer’ button on the Treo headset and then simply dial out to any of your Skype contacts.
I previously had a cheap generic microphone attached to my PC for Skype calls but I always found it to be a hassle both because of the cables and the fact that I had to stay sitting in front of my PC all the time. Now with the BT adapter and my Treo Wireless Headset I have the freedom to roam up to 10 meters away from my PC with excellent audio quality and best of all free Skype calls from PC to PC and cheap PC to phone.
You might also be wondering what happens if you have BT enabled on both your Treo and PC at the same time. Well, I was glad to discover that you can receive calls to your Treo headset from either your PC or your Treo without any problem but naturally you can’t handle two calls at the same time.
There’s no doubt that until the day that Skype Mobile becomes available for our Treo this will be the next best thing for me.
Treo Wireless Headset + Review
Skype
Lanso USB Bluetooth Adapter
Updated Lanso drivers
Treonauts are starting to love Bluetooth… 
Treo Accessories , Treo Bluetooth Headset , Treo Software | Bluetooth
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» Use a Bluetooth headset with Skype from Quantum Gardener
I tried using a Bluetooth headset for Skype. After an hour or two of fiddling around with Bluetooth driver stacks, I found that when the headset is running, it wipes out my wireless network. And since that's how I connect... [Read More]
Tracked on Jun 29, 2005 11:41:56 PM
» Use a Bluetooth headset with Skype from Quantum Gardener
I tried using a Bluetooth headset for Skype. After an hour or two of fiddling around with Bluetooth driver stacks, I found that when the headset is running, it wipes out my wireless network. And since that's how I connect... [Read More]
Tracked on Jun 29, 2005 11:43:16 PM
Comments
I've also been using my Treo Wireless Headset with Skype on my desktop PC for a couple months. It works pretty great most of the time, especially with a class 1 bluetooth adapter, I can skype from most places in my house.
The downside is that once in a while, there seem to be odd volume issues where the receiver can't hear the input from the bluetooth mic very well. I'm pretty sure this is something software related, perhaps some system setting getting wedged (yes, I've played with the volume properties for the bluetooth audio device), but it happens infrequently.
The downside of the bluetooth is the voice quality is *much much* lower than Skype with a wired mic, even compared to my $2 cheapo mic. But hey, if you want to wander around while talking, it's a decent tradeoff.
I just bought a Treo 650 (Verizon) and I have been researching this particular thing for a while. What a mess. Most of the bluetooth sites don't tell us if the headset can accept multiple pairings. This headset can do that. There is no resource that evaluates bluetooth headsets and tests for multiple pairings. It seems like this headset and the logitech headset will do it. You just need a Bluetooth hub with v1.2 software.
Could you guys do an extended review on headsets that work with the Treo and Skype so we can make this solution easier?
There is a way to make skype work with our beloved Treo, atleast indirectly. I was able to use the EDGE via my Cingular Treo and my powerbook. I used my powerbook to log into the edge access and was able to actually take and make calls. I love the stuff, keep it going - you guys are great!
Chris Meadows
[email protected]
Thanks Chris - absolutely agree. With your Treo, DUN enabled, an unlimited data plan and a BT headset making Skype calls (particularly International ones) is likely to still save you a bundle + it's fun!
Cheers, A.
Andrew, Based on your article on using Skype with BT and Treo Headset, I bought a BT USB Adaptor today, and started to fiddle with setting up Bluetooth. Man, I have been in the technology field for 25 years, and this is not very intuitive at all. I printed the manual so we'll see. I am still not sure if I can pair the Treo BT Headset with more than one device.
yes it works on a mac.
1) upgrade your mac's bluetooth firmware (also works with D-link DBT-120)
2) pair headset with mac
3) tell skype to take input from and output to the headset.
done.
Read my step by step "Bluetooth headset to MAc for Skype" Tutorial at www.SkypeJourmal.com - follow this link:
http://www.skypejournal.com/blog/archives/2005/02/jon_stanleys_we.php
Thanks for this great post. You've got some really good info in your blog. If you get a chance, you can check out my blog on
{bt internet} at http://www.btinternetcapable.com.
Cindy Travers
http://www.btinternetcapable.com
I completely agree with what you have expressed. This blog has some great information in it.
Andrew, any idea how to get my Jabra JX10 working with my T43 Notebook that already has BT built in? Thanks
Do you know if exists any software to put the Treo to work like a headset (via Bluetooth or USB cable)?
I would like to use Skype but using the Treo itself.
* Is something similar to BlueRemote application but instead of putting the Treo as a keyboard/mouse peripheral to put it as a headset.
Hi i have a TMobile AMEO PPC i would like to use my jabra BT500v on skype but dont seem to be able to get it to work can any body help Thanks
THE MOTOROLA S9 BLUETOOTH STEREO HEADSET WORKS WELL WITH THE TREO. SOFTICK.COM PROVIDES THE SOFTWARE WHICH WILL ALLOW MOBILTV, AND P-TUNES TO WORK TOO. SPRINT TV DOES NOT WORK AS WELL WITH THE S9. CELL CALLS ARE MONO.
I tried connecting my bluetooth headset. I managed to pair it to my pc but skype did not give me option to use it. Help
Has anyone out there used a Motorola H700 Bluetooth headset with skype on Vista ?
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