Black Dot Boxes at Best Buy

[jimfee]

Hi,

Just thought I would post this small piece of intell for people still strugling with firmware issues with the MPX220. I was in a Best Buy last night (Harrisburgh PA) and saw in their case both Orange dot boxes, and boxes with a small black dot that was actualy printed on the label rather than placed as a sticker. I only knew about the black dots because of information posted on Smartphonethoughts.com. I got the sales clerk to show me a phone and although she wouldn't allow me to power up to confirm the SW Ver, the phone did have the sticker on the back with the misprinted SW ver for the update. (1.0.3.0 instead of the 1.30 that is reported to be in the phones)
Now that I know what to look for I can troll my Best Buy (Mongomeryville PA) for some black dot replacements.

Jim

[Mike Temporale]

That's good news. I'm guessing that Moto has finally caught up and flashed almost all the phones. :wink:

[Jerry Raia]

That's good news. I'm guessing that Moto has finally caught up and flashed almost all the phones. :wink:

...or flashed US! :lol:

[little john]

What are the black dot boxes?

[jimfee]

They are simply MPX220 boxes with a black dot identifier to indicate an updated software version, the 1.30 firmware.

Aditionaly, my store still has no stock on them but I called on Thursday morning when the truck came in and the clerk was fully knowlegable that the black dots were coming, and even read me a note in the computer that customers can swap out the orange for the Black.

Pretty Good for "Best Buy" whose customer service posture has seemed at times to be tied to their gross sales numbers.

[little john]

Ok, so a black dot is better than an orange dot box? Why? what version firmware etc are on it? And what fixes are suppose to be on the black dot phones?

Thanks,
~lj

[Mike Temporale]

Black dot should be the 1.3 firmware

[little john]

I guess I am a lil confused, not uncommon though.

I bought my phone from Cingular Orange sticker on the box.
When I look at Start>Settings>About it says Manufacturer: 1.30.0.0

Is this not the 1.3 firmware u all speak of?

[Mike Temporale]

Yup. Some orange stickers had 1.3 in them. At least that was my understanding. Since there was 2 ROM fixes so quickly the orange was going to be the first one, but the second update happened right away too, so they all got put into orange sticker boxes.

like I said, that's just my understanding. I don't actually have a MPx220, so I'm not speaking from expereince. :wink:

[stevew]

I purchased mine from our local Cingular store and it has an orange sticker and a black dot printed on the box label. It's 1.30 firmware.

[Jerry Raia]

Well I'm glad Motorola did a fine job of making it easier for us.

[wolf55]

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrghn if you all read my mpx220 help thread you would see that I mention that the Blackdot does not signify 1.3rom!!!! It signifies the >>>>1.03<<<< not I didn't mix uo the numbers!!!!!! 1.03 1.03 1.03 HARDWARE. Now this 1.03 hardware which has also the 1.30 rom FIRMWARE on it and is read this clearly LOCKED!!!!!!! I had to get mine unlocked (for free from cingular). So what is the 1.03 it is the the newest hardware that came always came with 1.3rom, meaning it wasn't a .325 or .342 that was just reflashed. Hopes this puts this issue to rest once and for all.

peace,
love,
the wolf

[stevew]

huh?

[little john]

huh is exactly right :D

[jimfee]

Yes Yes of course, I did not mean to confuse the issue or misinform :werenotworthy: You have made things infinately more clear. :?

[Mike Temporale]

I think wolf55 is referring to his post over here (http://www.SmartphoneThoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7278)

:)

[Kris Kumar]

Okay to view the "various" version info, here are couple of ways:

- Dial *#**837# and press the Send/Call button.
It shows the hardware and software version. My hardware reads as .0006 and software as 1.03.

-Now I go into the About screen. And here my software (manufacturer) version reads as 1.30. :?

I am already confused with two software versions on the same phone. And I am so happy to know that some where out there, there is an MPx220 with 1.03 hardware. Hmm..Why Moto..Why? :cry:

[Jerry Raia]

I get the same thing Kris.

[Kris Kumar]

Isn't it interesting that when you dial *#**837# and when you view the About screen, both show different Software Version numbers. One says 1.03 and the other 1.30. Typo? :roll:

Anyway..I am too tired of going to Best Buy to see if I can get an exchange. I will just wait and see if Moto sends me a mail. :lol:

[Jerry Raia]

By the end of the year it will be a mute point as we will be starting new threads about how our Magneto MPx550's don't work. :lol:

[jimfee]

I think wolf55 is referring to his post over here (http://www.SmartphoneThoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7278)

:)

Yes, Yes, even more clarity, thank you for pointing that out

[little john]

So now I am totaly confused. I have looked bak at alot of old posts regarding firmware version and found conflicting info.

I do *#**837# > Send
SW Ver.: 1.030-0
Nov 16 2004-12:2254
HW Ver.:0006
OS Build No.:1088
HW Build Info.:4

I do *#**372# > 0 > Send
HWVer:6
SWVer: 1.300
etc.

Start > Settings > About
Manufacturer: 1.30.0.0

So do I have the 1.3 firmware or the 1.03 firmware?

Please advise.
Thanks,
John.

[Kris Kumar]

I would stick with the Manufacturer version in the About screen. And not follow the ones generated by the special key sequences. Sorry if I confused anyone. I just wanted to point out that phone reports different version depending on how where you look.

Let's stick with the About screen Manufacturer version. That is where Windows Mobile devices usually show the ROM version.

[Jerry Raia]

You know they should have named the MPx220 the "Alice in Wonderland" phone. That way none of these things would surprise us.

[jimfee]

Ok, finaly got mine swaped out even though it was 30+ days, I had swaped a pair of MPX220's out on day 30 and made a point of saying that I wasn't happy with the exchange and that the phones I was getting would probably still have the microphone issue.

When I went back it was the same salesperson. He didn't even know he had new stock untill I told him he did, then he was grumpy but swaped them out anyway. It looks like they got new stock and purged all the orange dots.

Done Deal (I hope, I think I saw someone post about a microphone cut out on a 1.3 phone. If that happens I think I will have an anurism)

Now to fight through the issues with my D-Link BT 120 adapter, another product with more firmware revisions than units sold :roll:

After that learning experience I think I will beat my head against the BT GPS wall. :roll:

[Kris Kumar]

If you are living a boring-monotonous-mundane-dragging life. Then the MPx220 is for you. ;-)

It adds a whole bunch of challenges, activities for you. Not to mention it helps you make new buddies. Some with whom you will talking all the time over the phone, some of them are overseas. And some that you will be interacting with face to face.

Thank you Motorola. The MPx220 does change life styles.

:rotfl: