Expert: DebiN - 1/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have a Moto Q9C paired w/ Plantronics Voyager Pro BT headset. When I receive a call the assigned ringtone plays on the phone as well as in the BT headset. I just tried to update to a Blackberry Pearl Flip, HTC Touch Pro 2 and even a Moto Razr. All of These phones play the assigned ringtones but all I hear in my BT headset is 3 short beeps. I fail to hear this sound in noisy environments and can't seem to get these newer phones to play any ringtones in the BT headset. I have tried a Moto bluetooth headset with the newer phones also and get the same 3 beep sound when I am getting a call. I was missing incoming calls all the time because I am frequently in noisy environments I had to return the newer phones and am now back to using my old Moto Q. Are all the newer phones not able to play ringtones in the BT headset to announce incoming calls?

ANSWER: Though the Plantronics Voyager Pro is supposed to be compatible with the Pearl Flip, HTC Touch Pro 2 (GSM) and Razr, it is compatible in that you can answer the phone or make calls using it, however, it is not compatible as it relates to being able to play the tones through it. What you can try to do is to take the Razr for example and delete the Voyager profile. Then remove the battery from the phone. Next, replace the battery and do a discovery again and pair the headset and the phone. Try to the ringtone and see if it works through the headset. If it doesn't, it's not going to and there isn't any way around this. You can try other ringtones, but if none of them work, the issue is with the full compatibility of the headset. This is the only thing that I am aware of that you can try. It's likely that the type of ringtone may be the issue, but more likely just the "real" compatibility. All of these phones are different than your Q and there may have just been a better "marriage" with the Q and this headset. I can assure you that if you had a different headset with these devices, you wouldn't have this issue, but since you like using this particular headset, I know it's frustrating. I might also recommend that instead of wearing your headset and relying on hearing the ringing that way, have you considered setting the phone to vibrate and then when you answer the phone, just transfer the call to the headset. It will save on wear and tear of your headset and allow you a little more freedom. Just a thought. Let me know if the taking the battery out removing the profile thing works for you. Also, please let me know where the ringtone came from originally and if there are any ringtones that do work through the headset. Thanks. DebiN

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QUESTION: I can't try the profile thing because I have returned the phones. As far as ringtones, I was using the ones that came in the phones. None of them would ring in the Bt headset when receiving a call. I have tried the vibrate feature but sometimes I still miss calls. I did try using the Motorola BT headset but got the same beeping sound on incoming calls. My service provider thinks they have changed the programming on the newer phones to not ring in BT headsets. I can't imagine why they would do this. I only use this particular headset because people can usually hear me when I am outside in the wind or around alot of other noise. I guess I'll see if others are having this problem- maybe the manufacturers will address this??

ANSWER: I believe that the rep from T-Mobile may be correct and based on the information that I have found so far on this, I am seeing the same thing. It also may have to do with the fact that these newer devices are stereo and the ringtones may only play when a stereo headset is used. If I were you, I might try a wired stereo headset and see if the ringtone comes through it. If it does, that may be the issue. Just a thought and I hope it helps. Thanks. DebiN

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QUESTION: I did try the stereo wired headset supplied with the HTC Touch Pro 2 and still could only get the same 3 beeps with a incoming call. Thanks for all you have done but I believe the problem is in the phones software or design. Maybe this is the way the newer phones are setup. These will not work for anyone using headsets in noisy environment.

Thank Again

Answer
I just tried this with my BlackBerry BOLD and a Jawbone II headset. In the Jawbone, it rang "de de de de" and on the BOLD it range with my ringtone. This is both a new phone and new headset and I am getting the same thing that you did - it doesn't play my ringtone in the headset. I then tried my stereo wired headset that came with my BOLD. It rang on my phone and nothing in my headset, but when I answered the phone, it transferred to my headset. No matter what I did, I could not get my ringtone to play in any headset which validates for me that the newer phones and/or headsets do not support the ringtones in the headset. Not sure exactly why, but I will definitely try to figure this one out. Thanks. DebiN