Expert: DebiN - 2/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: I have the IPAQ 910C from HP. I have been dealing with HP back and forth. They did not resolve the issue. They have changed my handset for 5 times but this issue is with every set that they have sent me. So I think it would not a guess to say that this issue is with all the sets. They also asked to upgrade the bios supposedly a fix for this and other known issues. But this get worse not better.
I am missing calls because of this and I am upto my neck dealing with this issue.
Wha I have noticed in teh past it might be bluetooth. When I use bluetooth taht is the time it will turn off the ringer. Funny thing is it would show on today screen that ringer is at "ON". But would not ring. So there is now way of telling will he phone ring or not. Only when you try to use it and find out that the dam phone has turned off the ringer. Any how when I dont use the bluetooth then I notice the ringer stays ON longer but still as a habit will turn off eventually.
HP DOES NOT have any sloution to this even if they claim tah they do. You think you camn suggest something before I take a brick and destry this set so that accidently somebody find this set and go through this agony atht I am going through with out any support from HP.
I thank you in advance. and hoping you would have some solution.

ANSWER: I've searched around to see if I could find out anything additional relating to an issue with the ringer turning itself off and I wasn't able to find anything concrete (though I don't doubt for a minute that there is a known issue and that's what you have been experiencing). What I can tell you is that when you have the bluetooth on, it is very likely that the device will only ring in the bluetooth headset and not on the phone, but if you do not have the bluetooth on at all, it should definitely be ringing without turning itself off on the phone. When you say that the ringer is turning off, are you saying that it is changing to Silent or to Vibrate instead of ring? And I'm assuming that you have tried different ringtones? Is this a device that you got directly from HP or did you buy it from your carrier? If you bought it directly from HP and it is an unlocked device and you are using it with a carrier's service who may not be completely compatible with the ringtone you are using, that could potentially be an issue. Not all carriers support all ringtones. So, basically with your bluetooth on, the phone should only ring in the bluetooth earpiece. With it off, it should ring on the phone. Let me know about the carrier, and the ringtone and maybe, I can help you get to a solution. Personally, if there is any way that you can return this device without having to pay for it, I would suggest that you might consider doing it. I used to be a big fan of HP and Compaq devices (before they were integrated with mobility), but now, I'm not a FAN. I much prefer other SmartPhones and BlackBerrys over these devices. Thanks. DebiN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I bought the phone over ebay obviously it was under warranty. But cant be returned because it was 3rd party. Default ringer has the same problem as customized does which means the ringer will on silent. Using bluetooth it does ring in the bluetooth and it does vibrate because I am using both vibrate and ring. this is the only way I am aware of if someone is calling me if I happend to be in the room and can hear the weak vibrate.

I am using t-mobile and they seem to have no solution/support for this.

I truly value the support you providing, and I see the limitations.

On a separate note would please be able to tell me if there is a way to add ring tones in the mms or text. Because when I add the ring tones in the defult ringtone folder of the IPAQ all the files will show in phone ring selection but not in text or mms eslection. Which make me think may they are using differnet folders.

Once again thanks for the support.

Answer
I'm thinking that the issue is either that the phone itself has some issues or the ringtones just aren't completely compatible with T-Mobile. Either way, I have a bad feeling that you won't be able to solve this problem regardless of the ringtone. And unfortunately, you can't put ringtones in text or MMS. I wish that I could help you more. Thanks. Debin