700p MR Temporarily Unavailable

Updated Post (June 14, 2007)

We continue to investigate the Sprint Treo 700p MR installation issue reported by some customers and have been collecting phones from customers for analysis, as well as rerunning our suite of update tests on another large sample of phones to try to reproduce the issue. We would like to provide an exact date for when the MR will be reposted, but we aren't able to at this time. Also, we still aren't able to estimate when the Verizon Wireless Treo 700p MR will be available for download.

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We're sorry, but the Sprint Treo 700p maintenance release (MR) is temporarily unavailable. We have received isolated reports of an installation issue that causes the device to continuously reset when applying the software update, so we've removed the update from our site. We're investigating the issue and will make the Sprint Treo 700p update available again as soon as possible. We know this has been a frustrating process for customers and apologize for the inconvenience it may have caused.

If you have experienced difficulty with the maintenance release installation, please contact us so we can work with you to resolve the issue: 866-750-7256.

We don't have a target date for when we can make the Treo 700p MR available for Verizon Wireless users.

Also, we currently don't have plans to issue a MR for other carriers because the ROM software already contains many of the features that are included in the Sprint and Verizon Wireless updates (e.g. many of the Bluetooth improvements and MP3 playback).

Paul Loeffler - Palm, Inc.

Updated Post

This is an installation issue and it is evident immediately during the installation of the MR to your device. If you have already loaded the MR successfuly to your device, you are good to go.

Comments

[john c.]

I successfully updated both my wife's and my Sprint 700p phones -but NOT with the hot-sync method. I tried that method initially on my phone, and had the reset issue. After doing a hard reset and preventing the phone app from actually "turning on," I was able to load via SD card without issue.

With those learnings, I had my wife back up everything with a hotsync, then I did a hard reset, and then ran the SD update without a hitch.

The key here is that Palm's system testing could not have accounted for the infinite number of configurations an end user may end up with after a year of use.

So, updating from a hard-reset is absolutely the best way to go, as it is the only configuration we can be certain Palm tested.

Counting on the update process to back-up and restore is not a good idea, and is very likely where things are getting "broken."

I've been happy with the update, but have experienced the issues Chris G. has posted about. Bluetooth is actually usable and it hasn't randomly reset itself since updating. Overall, the phone seems more responsive, hopefully it will continue to work well...

[Tom]

Also - before releasing again fix the problem where it still beeps when entering and leaving a service area, even when this feature is disabled. I won't be able to install the MR as it would be beeping constantly at work where I have a marginal signal...

[michael]

i called spring as well and am receiving a new 755 as well...

[JAV]

Thank you!!!! Palm.

Did the IT/enterprise SD Card install on 5 treos without incident.

So far I have loaded all my programs
and they are all working.
I am only having one issue with the SD Card. I tried to format it with the treo application but it takes for ever to complete.(2hours?)
So I formated the card with windows vista as fat32 and then installed the card without anything on it. The treo recognized the card and added the Palm folder to it and the DCIM folder.
I then added my card programs manually.Inside the Palm folder I created one Named Launcher.
This is where i put my PRC files.
Then I Added photos to the palm album on the DCIM folder.
I synced my music with WMP11.So far so good.

Oh one more thing, I saw the reports of the new brass at Palm.
Including some multimedia oriented
people. The new Boss used to work for apple and had to do with the Ipod.

Than you Palm for getting it together. These new people should put Palm back to the top.

And if they do not,
Fire them and hire some who will.

[Michael]

If the other carriers already have this update then why can't i get a stable Bluetooth connection and why is there lag?

Michael on Bell with the 700P

[Rushi]

I downloaded and installed the patch on Monday and it works great. The process was a bit tedious and you have to follow the instructions step by step, but the phone seems to be much faster.

I have experienced a couple of crashes for no reason, so I am a bit worried. Let's hope!

[easy]

Palm I was wondering if u can fix the blurry, yellowish text (more prevalent in blazer). It can also be seen if u bring up the brightness adjustment bar, there will be a yellow line in the middle of the bar. Also there is a bug in the midi tones that seems to let out a half a second number tone (comparable to when u dial a number) while trying to play a treo ringtone. You can notice it if u go to manage tones and play ANY ringtone that came with the phone. I know in the 650 we were able to push a number while on a call to improve call clarity on the bluetooth but this workaround is not a good solution. Thanks for your time.

[Didier]

Paul,

Thank you for addressing the "other carriers" issue.
Sorry to hear about the reset loop issue...

[Gary LaPointe]

Paul,

It worked great for me. I did a hard reset first and followed the instructions for the SD chip install (and formatted the chip).

The 700p seems zippier, internet access seems faster, MUCH less skipping with pTunes, still some delays launching blazer but overall lots of improvement.

This is the device it should have been out of the box!

Gary

[k.k.]

I installed MR with SD and it went into reset-loop.
my 700p reboots right after the touch panel calibration.

anyway, I'm currently not in U.S. thus, there's no way to call the number that is announced.
Is there any way to contact them via e-mail?

[Sean McKay]

I am beginning to feel sorry for Palm. They just keep digging their grave deeper and deeper. First, there is no problem with the 700p. Then, there are minor issues. Then, yes we see there MAY be issues in isolated cases and are looking into it. Then, we are working on a maintenance release but have no timetable. Then we specify a timetable and miss it. Twice. Then we release new products before fixing current product. Then we release updates for the NEW products BEFORE the old products. Then we finally release the MR for one but not two carriers. Then we pull said MR after numerous crashes and bricked 700p's are reported.

When will the madness end, Palm?

[jeremy]

What a disaster.

[asiayeah]

Ok. Palm has been blamming the excessive testing required for the delayed release. Now, given so much excessive testing time, why the patch has to pull off? Any excuse from Palm so far? This is very sad for both Palm users and investors.

[D Canfield]

I got the MR to work, and for the most part it's an improvement. BUT, now I'm one of the users that has the random DTMF tones playing that the 755p users have been experiencing. If you've actually back-ported such a ridiculous bug from the 755 ROM, I can only assume you've screwed up your "branch" of the PalmOS beyond belief.

I love my Treo, but I'm seriously at a loss. I thought the 700p was an isolated incident, but this has caused me to learn that the 755p has it's own share of glitches. It all makes me doubt Palm's ability to build a reliable device. No other phone on the market appeals to me from a usability standpoint (certainly not Windows Mobile), and I have a fortune invested in software that I can't bear to think about losing. But at this point, I think it's maybe time to find a cell phone manufacturer that has it's act together.

Maybe you can fix the phones, but I'm not sure you can ever fix the loss in confidence you've created with the last few Treos. I'm not one of the crazies that think you're going to offer us free phones, but if you ever manage to build a stable unit in the future, a very sweet upgrade plan is probably the only way I'd make another Palm purchase.

[Andy]

Hi Paul,

I'd like to report back that after trying the regular install, then the SD install last night unsuccessfully, I decided to attempt the regular install one more time against a hard-reset, clean phone (I'd only attempted SD installs preceded by a hard-reset). The regular install told me that my phone was already upgraded, though it was still showing version 1.08?! Just another quirk that I wanted to bring to Palm's attention, thanks!

[Scott Bolasevich]

Just wanted to share my results with sprint and palm.. after waiting a year for this stupid release.. and then having it pulled before being able to even try applying it..i contacted both sprint and palm about this pile of junk they sold me.. and to no surprise both pointed the finger at each other and offered to do nothing.. LOL sprint told me i could purchase another phone or bring the 700p back to the store and if it was bad they would give me another 700p .. HOW STUPID. Im sick of sprint and im sick of nextel and i hate palm. I canceled my service and im moving to cingular. Good luck and good bye to this nightmare

[Jason Gaines]

So far the update has been successful on my 700P, with two exceptions. One was when my phone reset after I disconnected my BT headset (the Palm Treo BT headset to be exact). The other was just a few moments before I started typing this, where I tried to open Google Maps and my phone reset. I tried it twice with the same result. I then deleted the application and re-downloaded it from Google via OTA download. That appears to have solved the problem.

I'll post again if I have any other conflicts between apps and the new phone software.

[Chris Pearcy]

This matter has been frustrating, but I may have some advice that can help others.
Like many, I could not install the update via hotsync because of a HTML host error. So I installed it via SD card, but got a reset loop following the Sprint flash screen and/or the calibration screen. At this point I feared my 700p was a brick. However, I found a way to fix the loop by following these steps:

1. Do a true soft reset - by holding down the reset button (by the battery) and holding "up" on the directional pad at the SAME time. This will break you out of the loop and allow you to access your treo again (without network connectivity).

2. Next, ensure you have a truly formatted SD card (2 gb or below) and transfer the expanded SD update from palm (SprintTreo700pSDUpdate.zip) and follow the instructions. Basically, you'll then place the SD card in your treo and the update process will restart. Let it complete and you should be ok. At least this worked for me. Hope it helps.
Chris Pearcy

[AJ0230]

I dont like the habit or track Palm has gotten on already with this blog.

Yes its a start at communicating with the public and their customers but the follow up sucks.

Say SOMETHING. Be more active on this blog. Youll be surprised at how effective it will be and how easy it is.

[Ryan]

I installed the update, and it was fine! I then read a suggestion to do a hard reset, so i did a hard reset, and installed the update from an SD card. It works fine...i guess i am one of the lucky ones...

[waldo15]

In any dimension this is a complete disaster. I am now completely frustrated with Palm. I was one of the faithful, having had very solid experiences with the Palm Vx and the Treo 600. My Vx was rock solid, it gave me all the functionality I ever needed. My 600 had some kinks, but definitely was a great piece of hardware.

Now the 700p is a completely different experience. A shame. The MR takes a year to come out, when it does it comes out for a fraction of the users, and even more so it comes out with a major bug that makes the upgrade process a pain. How much more can you screw yourselves guys? Seriously. There's no more room to fail this, but I am sure you guys will find a way to make things even worse.

I look forward to when I can get a brand new device from somebody else. It will be easy though, the only reliable part of the 700p is that is will never work as advertised and so the carrier will have no option but to upgrade me to something else. So yeah, take your time to release the MR for Verizon, let's see how many users are left after your incompetence kills the brand completely.

[dj disturbed]

What about the radom beeps from the phones now.. even with the sound off switch turned to off?

[alltel]

Thanks for abandoning us lowly other carriers. I guess my bluetooth doesn't need to work. As an Alltel customer and first time Palm owner, I won't forget this.

[neurojava]

Sad state of affairs. "Isolated reports" is typical corporatespeak. Me and a bunch of coworkers tried it around the same time. 4 out of the 6 people faced this problem. I was one of the lucky 4 in that I could get out with a hard reset. One of my co-workers couldnt even get out the loop with a hard reset.

Palm, having been with you for so long, I think you have finally lost me - with your shoddy implementations, increasingly dated products, bad product conceptualization (read the Foleo), better competition (Nokia and Apple)

Sorry, I am quitting you folks and moving to generic HTC smartphones.

You remind me of Ford. Or GM. Struggling to stay afloat with bad, shoddy products desperate for some good press in the face of a Toyota/Honda assault.

[alltel]

Paul, please explain this.
My Alltel phone rom ver is 32. It was created 12/05/06. Are you telling me that you have NO Alltel problems with lags, bluetooth or resets for 18 months?

That doesn't make sense does it.
Either Alltel doesn't work and you need to fix it OR you have had a working verion for 18 months and refused to release it to other carriers.

It can't be both ways.

Please tell me again why Alltel and others won't be getting an update.

If everyone checks their 700p, they can see their rom version by tapping "about applications" while hold the "down" navigation key.

Come on, Palm and Paul. Tell us the truth. Just one time.
I don't expect anyone at Palm to respond based on their past performance.

Don't let Palm get away with abandoning other carriers!