Friday, October 11, 2002
pt does a quick Q&A with T-Mobile
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "ARTICLE" @ 05:00 AM
pt logged into the T-Mobile developer web site and asked the tech support a few questions that he had or he has seen asked in the microsoft.public.pocketpc.wireless and microsoft.public.pocketpc.phone_edition newsgroups. If you are interested in their answers, click More to read them.
T-Mobile's responses are in bold. I corrected some spelling errors and loaned my [SHIFT] key to pt. :wink: Also keep in mind this was in a developer forum, so they wouldn't know the answers to all of them but they were very helpful in each case. We'd have far fewer issues if all technology companies had tech support like T-Mobile in the US. I personally had two issues with GPRS and VPN when I got my account recently and their voice support was top notch. Ok, on with the Q&A.
1. It seems that most of the issues users are reporting are resolved by removing the T-Mobile today application from the today screen and removing the T-Mobile applications from the start up folder (battery monitor, which is the SMS app, T-Mobile apps, etc..).
Removing apps will in some cases improve performance and stability, however, T-Mobile does not recommend completely removing the apps as this will affect EONS as well as roaming indicators (customers will not know they're roaming while in California).
2. What's the best way (web, email, phone, etc..) for customers to get help from T-Mobile?
Customer Care will be able to support you for any billing, service, price plan, and usage related issues. Use this developer center for developer related issues.
3. A T-Mobile device out of the box says "make sure to view the videos", it's very misleading since there are great videos that Microsoft created and are free on the ActiveSync CD, BUT the other CD from MicroVision Learning requires people to pay for more than 2 of the 30 or so videos. Would it be possible to update the packaging / tell customers where the Microsoft videos are? They're pretty much hidden, here's an article about it - http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/tmocd.html
I will pass this feedback on to our Pocket PC Phone Edition product group.
4. Are there planned updates to the phone software? If so when, what will it be, where will users get it, etc...and can the MVPs help test it?
There is a planned update to the phone software provided by T-Mobile. This software should be available sometime in Q4 2002. We do have need for beta uses of this software. If you're interested, please email us your information.
5. Some of us (and the users out there) order accessories about 2 months ago now. What are the planned accessories and will they ship the old orders soon? (people are turning to many 3rd party vendors now for accessories).
Please contact customer care with this issue or visit www.t-mobile.com for product/accessory information on the Pocket PC Phone Edition.
6. "Paint peeling" some users are reporting paint peeling, what's the official response? I had users send me pics I can post them. Some of them got new units, some didn't.
We are working on an official response to this issue.
7. Will there be an unlimited data plan for Pocket PC Phone customers like the danger / sidekick device?
We are currently working on data price plans for pocket PC users. Please visit www.t-mobile.com rate plans section for the latest.
8. Will there be Pocket PC Phone ring tones on T-Mobile?
T-Mobile does not have plans at this time to make ring tones available for the PocketPC Phone Edition via our website. You can certainly add your own ringtones (they are just .wav files) to the device. Simply place the .wav files in the windows/rings/ directory. Then go to settings "Add Ring Tone" to add your .wav file to your ring tones. Then set the phone's ring tone as you normally would.
9. When will the Handango T-Mobile store open?
The Handango T-Mobile store will be opening in Q4 2002. Please stay tuned to www.t-mobile.com for details on this launch.
T-Mobile's responses are in bold. I corrected some spelling errors and loaned my [SHIFT] key to pt. :wink: Also keep in mind this was in a developer forum, so they wouldn't know the answers to all of them but they were very helpful in each case. We'd have far fewer issues if all technology companies had tech support like T-Mobile in the US. I personally had two issues with GPRS and VPN when I got my account recently and their voice support was top notch. Ok, on with the Q&A.
1. It seems that most of the issues users are reporting are resolved by removing the T-Mobile today application from the today screen and removing the T-Mobile applications from the start up folder (battery monitor, which is the SMS app, T-Mobile apps, etc..).
Removing apps will in some cases improve performance and stability, however, T-Mobile does not recommend completely removing the apps as this will affect EONS as well as roaming indicators (customers will not know they're roaming while in California).
2. What's the best way (web, email, phone, etc..) for customers to get help from T-Mobile?
Customer Care will be able to support you for any billing, service, price plan, and usage related issues. Use this developer center for developer related issues.
3. A T-Mobile device out of the box says "make sure to view the videos", it's very misleading since there are great videos that Microsoft created and are free on the ActiveSync CD, BUT the other CD from MicroVision Learning requires people to pay for more than 2 of the 30 or so videos. Would it be possible to update the packaging / tell customers where the Microsoft videos are? They're pretty much hidden, here's an article about it - http://www.pocketpcmagic.com/tmocd.html
I will pass this feedback on to our Pocket PC Phone Edition product group.
4. Are there planned updates to the phone software? If so when, what will it be, where will users get it, etc...and can the MVPs help test it?
There is a planned update to the phone software provided by T-Mobile. This software should be available sometime in Q4 2002. We do have need for beta uses of this software. If you're interested, please email us your information.
5. Some of us (and the users out there) order accessories about 2 months ago now. What are the planned accessories and will they ship the old orders soon? (people are turning to many 3rd party vendors now for accessories).
Please contact customer care with this issue or visit www.t-mobile.com for product/accessory information on the Pocket PC Phone Edition.
6. "Paint peeling" some users are reporting paint peeling, what's the official response? I had users send me pics I can post them. Some of them got new units, some didn't.
We are working on an official response to this issue.
7. Will there be an unlimited data plan for Pocket PC Phone customers like the danger / sidekick device?
We are currently working on data price plans for pocket PC users. Please visit www.t-mobile.com rate plans section for the latest.
8. Will there be Pocket PC Phone ring tones on T-Mobile?
T-Mobile does not have plans at this time to make ring tones available for the PocketPC Phone Edition via our website. You can certainly add your own ringtones (they are just .wav files) to the device. Simply place the .wav files in the windows/rings/ directory. Then go to settings "Add Ring Tone" to add your .wav file to your ring tones. Then set the phone's ring tone as you normally would.
9. When will the Handango T-Mobile store open?
The Handango T-Mobile store will be opening in Q4 2002. Please stay tuned to www.t-mobile.com for details on this launch.
