We all know how fond Microsoft is of fobbing off support of its operating systems onto the computer manufacturers. But one reader recently discovered the same rules can apply with mobile devices and Windows Mobile 5.0.
"I recently purchased a Pharos GPS 525 pocket PC with Windows Mobile 5.0, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS," the reader wrote. "It's a great little device. But I wanted to use my Bluetooth headset so that I can use the device for VOIP calls using Skype."
The reader followed the instructions on Microsoft's help page for setting up a Bluetooth headset. "Everything seemed to go well at first," the reader wrote. "I paired the headset with the handheld, but the last step where Windows is supposed to show the device as a headset did not show up. I even tried another brand of Bluetooth headset; with the same result. OK, I started checking Microsoft self help, knowledge base articles, etc. Nothing to help."
The reader then contacted Pharos. "Pharos tech support says that the Windows Mobile Bluetooth supports just the serial devices, not headsets," the reader wrote. "This is in spite of the fact that the Windows Mobile 5.0 help page indicates that I should be able to use a Bluetooth headset."
Not sure if he was getting the whole story from Pharos, the reader tried contacting Microsoft support. "I had noticed that some of Microsoft's support pages seemed to be saying that the first two e-mails or phone support calls for Windows Mobil was free," the reader wrote. "I called them up. Their answer was unless I paid $35, no help. They said that the free support incidents are only for those who purchased Windows CE separately, not bundled with the pocket PC. This really puzzles me, because I can't find anyplace where one can buy Windows Mobile 5.0 without a pocket PC and vice versa."
So the reader is left with that familiar choice when a hardware vendor proves unwilling or unable to support a Microsoft OS: pay Microsoft for support or forget about it. "I do not want to waste $35 to find out that Pharos tech support was right," the reader wrote. "Oh, well, a wired headset will do. I probably should have kept my old Palm Vx."
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