[8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario Software Upgrading] rambo6:
:D :D

Please forgive the length of this post. I hope something I write will be useful.

I have been using a xv6600 (HTC BA) for over a year on verizon's network which is rather good. Their EVDO is very fast. However, the device only works in the U.S. and I wanted the following features which I have not been able to get working on the BA:

Activation of MS Voice Command Activation over a Bluetooth (VCABT) headset.

A2DP High Quality Stereo over Bluetooth.

Better Reliability.

Clearer Sound (less static) over Bluetooth headsets.

A GSM phone with a SIM card so I could travel and not be locked to any certain wireless company. And

More.

Though I love the BA, I cannot get everything I want even with the great hacks on this website. Like the rest of you, I eagerly await the Hermes which will be available shortly - I hope. I didn't want to wait so I bought an 8125 with no plan. I had a Cingular prepaid card to try with it.

With the Cingular ROM which came with the equipment, I was able to use the registry hack and get the Voice Command working through my Jabra 500 BT headset. Howver, the device locked up so much and was so slow, I almost sent it back.

Next I downloaded Lokiwiz from this site and unlocked both the SIM and CID. It was easy. Thanks Guys!!! Next, I used the UK (English) ROM referred to in this thread. I then added the MS Voice Command Software v 1.5 and performed the registry hack using Resco Registry editor to allow the button on the Jabra BT500 to activate Voice Command.

I would like to report as follows.

I was able to successfully pair and use my I-Phono mini Stereo Bluetooth Headsets (450Rx) with the 8125. The sound is great. With the BA, there was static if I turned around or went more than a few feet from the phone. With the 8125, I hear music clearly up to 12" even if I turn around. I can also get the I-Phono to change songs and pause the music. I have not been able to activate voice command with this BT device yet.

I have also been able to start VC with the Jabra BT500.

There's a little lag, but it does work. It's especially nice if your skiing or biking and have the phone in your pocket or backpack.

I also just got the Motorola BT820 stereo headsets. I was able to pair them to the 8125 and use them to activate voice command and listen to stereo music. I've only spent a few minutes with this headset and have the following comments: I had trouble switching between the phone and music. The music sound good but not as good as the I-Phono.

More importantly, this ROM is much faster than the Cingular one which it came with. I'd like to see a faster processor, but I'm not entirely sure it's necessary. I've compared tasks on the 8125 with the same ones on the BA. The 8125 isn't bad in locks up less often, including while surfing the web.

Regarding web surfing, I started with Cingular but didn't like the responses I got from them. So I decided to give T-Mobile a try. T-Mobile and has better international rates. I found their sales and support people extremely helpful. I used the phone in Costa Rica (but didn't know how to get the GPRS data to work.) Once back in Atlanta, I got the GPRS set up correctly and used it to do lots of browsing including Google searches with no problem. When I got back to Salt Lake City, I could not search on Google. Apparently this is a regional problem for T-Mobile GPRS. However, there's a good fix on this website for that problem too.

In all I'm very impressed with the 8125 Wizard. I'm not sure whether the 8125 or T-Mobile MDA is better. The 8125 looks a lot better. However, the buttons on the MDA may be easier to use. The 8125's are very small and my fingers too large.

The BA's 3.5" screen is something I may miss. However, I won't miss the short battery life and the non-existence of persistent memory of the BA. WM 5.0 is also pretty good. The controls are a little better. I have not had to reset the 8125 as much as the BA.

In conclusion this ROM works pretty good. It only locks up sometimes when I try to activate voice command over BT, or when I get too many programs going at once. I browses quickly and efficiently even on T-Mobiles GPRS network.

Now HTC needs to get the Hermes going. I'll buy that too. I hope they will plan another device which has a 3.5" screen but not as large as the JASJAR. Lot's of people complained that the BA was like holding a plate to their head. However, I liked the wide flat shape of the BA. With good Voice Command over Blue tooth, the device could be larger and be kept in a case or backpack until needed. What I'm trying to say is that I'd like a laptop replacement. I'm sick of carrying it around.

Thanks to all who contribute to this most excellent site.