No flash on the Verizon Touch Pro2

I'm very happy with the HTC Touch Pro2 smartphone on Verizon Wireless. However, I really miss the LED flash that was on the older Touch Pro. I used that LED flash as a flashlight more than a camera flash. If I could change one major thing on the Touch Pro2, I would return the LED flash.

Easily switching smartphones on Verizon with *228 option 3

I was driving to work today and I realized that I left my Touch Pro2 at home. Well, no worries. I pulled out my old XV6900 (AKA, HTC Vogue or Touch) and hit *228 option 3. Within a minute, I was up and running on my old smartphone. There was no need to go back home and grab my phone.

It's become much easier to switch phones on Verizon. It's not as easy as pulling out a SIM card and moving it to another phone, but the *228 option 3 is very convenient. Now, I can use a small and light smartphone when I go for a run and then easily switch back to my larger Touch Pro2 for business use. Brilliant!

Touch Pro2 is the best smartphone on Verizon

I've used many of the smartphones offered by Verizon Wireless. By far, the HTC Touch Pro2 is the best one so far. I'm very impressed by this phone and although it's not perfect, it's by far the best one that Verizon has carried on their network.

I'm eager to see how other smartphones compare. We should be seeing newer versions of the Samsung Omnia along with several other Windows Mobile smartphones this fall.

So, if you're a fan of Windows Mobile, then make sure to check out the HTC Touch Pro2. Don't expect a perfect phone, but you can expect one that has some excellent features!

HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon Wireless)

I am now using the HTC Touch Pro2 as my current smartphone. I just got it today and I have quite a few initial thoughts. Care to read them?

HTC Touch Pro2 (Verizon): initial impressions from day 1

I plan to write more each day as I test this device and install various applications on it. So far, it's a mixed review from my end...

HTC Touch Pro2 at Verizon Wireless

The HTC Touch Pro2 may be one of the best Windows Mobile smartphones this fall for Verizon Wireless customers. I'm currently using a Touch Pro and I really like it. It's probably the best smartphone I've ever owned. The Touch Pro2 has a larger screen and it will officially run Windows Mobile 6.5 (even though I'm running an unofficial ROM that contains Windows Mobile 6.5 on my current Touch Pro).

I'm eager to see how Verizon prices the Touch Pro2. In the past, they've had a habit of overpricing their smartphones. Now that other devices are averaging $200, will this new device be competitively priced?

Windows Mobile 6.5 coming in October

According to many rumors, the official version of Windows Mobile 6.5 is coming to smartphones in October. Now, does this mean that upgrades will also be available for existing smartphones? That probably won't happen for the older smartphones. Time to look for those custom ROMs that run Windows Mobile 6.5. Read:

Windows Mobile 6.5 coming in October

Tethering on a $30 Verizon e-mail and web smartphone data plan

If you're on Verizon Wireless and you'd like to tether using your smartphone, then you have to be on a data plan (or Mobile Broadband plan) that costs approximately $49.99 plus you have to pay a $15 tethering fee. Your monthly costs are $65.

On the other hand, Verizon offers a $30 data plan (called "e-mail and web for smartphone"), but you're not technically allowed to tether on this plan. So, is it possible to tether if you're on the $30 plan?

I only know of two ways this can be done:

1. Use PdaNet (must run on your smartphone and your PC)
   
2. Load a custom ROM that allows you to tether without the need for any special software

The proper way to tether on Verizon is to pay $65 each month and use VZAccess Manager (found at http://www.vzam.net).

HTC smartphones on Verizon Wireless

In my opinion, HTC makes some of the best Windows Mobile smartphones. They're now making more devices that run Google Android, but as long as Microsoft remains alive, Windows Mobile will be a popular smartphone operating system. So, if you're on Verizon Wireless and you're looking for a Windows phone, get one made by HTC. Remember that many of these devices end up getting rebranded as an XV6800 or XV6900. You'll have to do a bit of research to identify them as an HTC product.

Windows Mobile 6.5 custom ROMs for the HTC Touch Pro

I've been testing several different Windows Mobile 6.5 custom ROMs for the HTC Touch Pro. So far, I find that the one made by DCD gives you the most free memory after a reboot. However, if you really like having different utilities and options, then you may want to try MightyROM6 or my personal favorite as of right now: NFSFAN

I prefer installing my own apps so that the system RAM is freed up for memory-intense applications such as Opera Mobile.

GPS on the HTC Touch Pro

The HTC Touch Pro that I received from Verizon must have had a strange setting because the built-in GPS did not work out of the box. I loaded a custom radio ROM and a custom Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM and the GPS still didn't work! I had to dig through several forums to finally get the GPS to work.

At this point, the built-in GPS is locking to satellites very quickly. It's not receiving assistance from the network because the speed of achieving a GPS lock is the same whether the phone is on or off. I will continue to perform additional tests.

Right now, I'm using Might ROM Windows Mobile 6.5 and I have radio ROM 1.12.34F