i-mate SP3i ROM Update Version 2.3.33.21 Now Available, Includes Windows Media Player 10

[Kris Kumar]

http://www.clubimate.com

I-mate has finally released the much awaited ROM update containing Windows Media Player 10 for its i-mate SP3i Smartphone (European version, 900Mhz). :-) Wonder what took i-mate so long to release this update? As an i-mate customer, who paid over $400 for the SP3i Smartphone and decided to buy an i-mate device (instead of the one sold by the carrier), the key deciding factor was the ROM updates. Even though i-mate has been doing a good job at releasing ROM updates for fixing problems and improving performance, the update with the WMP 10 was missing. Finally i-mate has decided to make their customers happy, after almost a year. :evil:



I-mate customers can login to the Club i-mate web site and download the ROM update from the SP3i support page. Not sure if a similar update is available for the SP3 model. I cannot access the SP3 support page. Maybe one of our readers can confirm it. Don't forget to backup your Smartphone data before applying the ROM update. I was able to able to update my SP3i without a hitch.

Update: Our reader mpattman has confirmed that a similar update is available for the i-mate SP3 (European version, 900Mhz) model also.

Following is the list of updates according to i-mate:

Multimedia
• Windows Media Player 10 for Smartphone

Operating System
• Latest build of Microsoft Windows Mobile™ Smartphone 2003 Second Edition operating system

File beaming over Bluetooth
• It is now possible to beam files over Bluetooth using the file manager

Improved radio functionality
• Call audio quality is improved.
• Speakerphone function is now included in the menu for each call.
• The user can choose after how many seconds a call is sent through to voicemail.
• Sometimes the phone would say "Unable to answer call" if the user tried to answer the phone while the call was being forwarded to voicemail. This functionality has been corrected.
• USSD service support is upgraded.

Ringtones
• mp3 ringtones can now be used

Updated MMS
• Input phone numbers in "To" field using T9 "abc" mode, MMS cannot be sent while last number underlined.
• After capturing picture, the device might go to album or other photo review option instead of returning to MMS client this has been corrected.
• Sometimes, after capturing a video for inserting into an MMS, the wait cursor would cycle and it would not be possible to insert the MMS. This has been corrected.

Updated T9
• 10 x 10 symbol table introduced.
• Launching symbol table could delete words. This has been corrected.
• When browsing to the web pages with text input field and keying in words, the very first letter might appear as a number. This has been corrected.
• Sometimes requesting a capital letter would result in a lower case letter being displayed. This has been corrected.

Bluetooth
• Bluetooth serial port functionality has been improved. Users will need to install devices that use the serial port (GPS for Tomtom, Destinator, Copilot etc.) in a new way and these instructions will be posted on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Java
• Updated Java client to latest version.

[Kris Kumar]

http://www.clubimate.com

I-mate has finally released the much awaited ROM update containing Windows Media Player 10 for its i-mate SP3i Smartphone (European version, 900Mhz). :-) Wonder what took i-mate so long to release this update? As an i-mate customer, who paid over $400 for the SP3i Smartphone and decided to buy an i-mate device (instead of the one sold by the carrier), the key deciding factor was the ROM updates. Even though i-mate has been doing a good job at releasing ROM updates for fixing problems and improving performance, the update with the WMP 10 was missing. Finally i-mate has decided to make their customers happy, after almost a year. :evil:



I-mate customers can login to the Club i-mate web site and download the ROM update from the SP3i support page. Not sure if a similar update is available for the SP3 model. I cannot access the SP3 support page. Maybe one of our readers can confirm it. Don't forget to backup your Smartphone data before applying the ROM update. I was able to able to update my SP3i without a hitch.

Update: Our reader mpattman has confirmed that a similar update is available for the i-mate SP3 (European version, 900Mhz) model also.

Following is the list of updates according to i-mate:

Multimedia
• Windows Media Player 10 for Smartphone

Operating System
• Latest build of Microsoft Windows Mobile™ Smartphone 2003 Second Edition operating system

File beaming over Bluetooth
• It is now possible to beam files over Bluetooth using the file manager

Improved radio functionality
• Call audio quality is improved.
• Speakerphone function is now included in the menu for each call.
• The user can choose after how many seconds a call is sent through to voicemail.
• Sometimes the phone would say "Unable to answer call" if the user tried to answer the phone while the call was being forwarded to voicemail. This functionality has been corrected.
• USSD service support is upgraded.

Ringtones
• mp3 ringtones can now be used

Updated MMS
• Input phone numbers in "To" field using T9 "abc" mode, MMS cannot be sent while last number underlined.
• After capturing picture, the device might go to album or other photo review option instead of returning to MMS client this has been corrected.
• Sometimes, after capturing a video for inserting into an MMS, the wait cursor would cycle and it would not be possible to insert the MMS. This has been corrected.

Updated T9
• 10 x 10 symbol table introduced.
• Launching symbol table could delete words. This has been corrected.
• When browsing to the web pages with text input field and keying in words, the very first letter might appear as a number. This has been corrected.
• Sometimes requesting a capital letter would result in a lower case letter being displayed. This has been corrected.

Bluetooth
• Bluetooth serial port functionality has been improved. Users will need to install devices that use the serial port (GPS for Tomtom, Destinator, Copilot etc.) in a new way and these instructions will be posted on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.

Java
• Updated Java client to latest version.

[cesarfong]

woohooo this is great for imate sp3i owners!!!!!

I will try it

[mpattman]

The SP3 also has a similar update.

[brntcrsp]

gah! I have the US version with 800 band. I have a ROM version that includes WMP 10, but the Bluetooth stack is seriously messed up. I hope a US version is released shortly.

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by mpattman

The SP3 also has a similar update.

Awesome. :-)

Thanks

[johncruise]

At last... a file transfer over bluetooth! Thanks for informing us of the updates.

[Pennan]

I'm interested in all information found in the About page. The Windows Mobile build numer (4.21.1088 build xxxxx.x.x.x) and the other version numbers found there.

Finally a manufacturer who publish an ok list of fixes and updates. Now I now suddenly found out that my Qtek 8010 has support for filetransfer over bluetooth!

[Kris Kumar]

Originally Posted by Pennan

Finally a manufacturer who publish an ok list of fixes and updates.

i-mate also maintains a list of bugs. And informs the users thru Club i-mate whether those bugs are under investigation or if they will be fixed in the next release. I believe for now all the bugs have been fixed with this release. :-)

[Kris Kumar]

Screen shots of the About screen.

[prismejon]

Originally Posted by brntcrsp

gah! I have the US version with 800 band. I have a ROM version that includes WMP 10, but the Bluetooth stack is seriously messed up. I hope a US version is released shortly.

Damn it! So that is why the install fails... I got my iMate in the US and moved back to Europe now and the phone's reception is horrible over here (it's great on my other cellphones). I was hoping an update could fix it. But I guess it is probably because I have the 850 band version vs. the 900 band one.. I that SW flashable, or a HW feature?