I now want away from Verison and want to buy a cradle off ebay and go with a SIM phone carrier.
Dose anybody know who can flash and re-program other (SIM) phones to integrate with the MB system???
Ideas?
B
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The V60s phone is CDMA (a way of separating many simultaneous transmissions all using the same frequency; GSM is simply another way of doing the same thing, but the two are not compatible). Verizon is the only major carrier using CDMA, although some smaller local networks re-sell Verizon service under different names. In the U.S. a CDMA phone can only be used on the Verizon network or through one of the resellers.
Complicating matters more is that the firmware for your plug-in V60 was written specifically for the MB and for Verizon. Replacing it with any other firmware will make it an expensive brick that your MB will reject.
You have two options:
1) Replace your expensive V60s phone with a Bluetooth puck, and buy another phone that is compatible with that puck. Be sure you check the AWS site for compatible phones to avoid problems. They (and the firmware versions tested to work) are at http://www.wireless4mb.com/MB.pdf. You do not have to buy the phones from AWS, but you should ensure that the firmware on the phone you buy is compatible with your car's system.
2) Continue your Verizon service on the V60s (perhaps at the least expensive plan price that meets your needs) and initiate service with another company, with the GSM phone of your choice. Then use no-answer call forwarding from your Verizon phone (that you leave in the car) to the phone you carry. You will receive (and can place) calls on the V60s when in the car; but when you are not in the car, incoming calls will be forwarded to the phone you carry. I used that system for several years (giving out only the number of the phone that stayed in the car, to avoid confusion on the part of callers).
The one thing you must do for option 2 is to be certain your plan allows no-answer call forwarding, with some plans it is a nominal cost option, and with others it is included in the base price.
The V60s phone is CDMA (a way of separating many simultaneous transmissions all using the same frequency; GSM is simply another way of doing the same thing, but the two are not compatible). Verizon is the only major carrier using CDMA, although some smaller local networks re-sell Verizon service under different names. In the U.S. a CDMA phone can only be used on the Verizon network or through one of the resellers.
...
Sprint and Verizon use CDMA (code division multi-access) and AT&T, T-Mobile and others use GSM, a kind of TDMA (time division multi-access). Verizon had announced they will open the carrier/subscriber lock on their phones. Sprint had not decided yet.
Subscriber lock on GSM phones are sometimes called SIM lock. Carriers generally has some modifications in the phone firmware other than subscriber lock. I have heard AT&T phones' firmware are very complex due to the many different smaller carriers that had merged into the AT&T system and they have slightly different way of handling messaging.
For the next generation 3G, Verizon had announced they will go with LTE (long term evolution) aligning with Vodafone instead of W-CDMA that is in used by many WW carriers.
I use Sprint for work and AT&T for home. While traveling, I use a GSM/3G unlocked phone bought in Hong Kong with a Sprint international roaming SIM.
Question; If I 'Puck it' (-; do I still have all of that fantastic integration with all the MB functionallity?
THX
B
Yes, the puck breaks out all the normal connections that would go directly to the MB v60 and instead routes them over a standard bluetooth connection. From there you can almost any bluetooth phone from any carrier in place of the factory v60. You will still be able to dial/send/hangup using the factory HU and most phones with the notable exception of some smartphones will automatically transfer their phonebook contents to your HU so that you can scroll through your contact list on the radio screen..
The only major difference as skylaw noted is that you lose the direct connection to the factory outboard antenna and antenna amplifier. This will only affect you if you operate the vehicle in an area that has fringe or spotty cellular coverage for whatever carrier you decide to use. Now keep in mind that it *is* possible to use the bluetooth puck and still have a cradle for the new phone that you wish to use. This is not a MB part but rather an aftermarket retrofit. To do this would involve relocating your factory cradle with the bluetooth puck out of the top section of the center console and replacing it with a cradle to match the phone you decide to get (assuming the phone manufacturer also sells a cradle for that phone and not all do...). The new cradle would then be plugged into the existing factory antenna connection as well as having the charging circuit wired. This would allow you to place the new phone in the cradle and have it charge and use the outboard antenna.
Sprint and Verizon use CDMA (code division multi-access) and AT&T, T-Mobile and others use GSM, a kind of TDMA (time division multi-access). Verizon had announced they will open the carrier/subscriber lock on their phones. Sprint had not decided yet.
Yes, I forgot about Sprint. However, Sprint's implementation of Bluetooth standards has always been odd, and very little of their firmware is compatible with MB equipment. There is no approved Sprint firmware for the V60s phone (and in fact, very little for any phone), so even if Sprint would accept a V60s on their network, the phone would most likely no longer integrate with the car. The MB shuts down plug-in phones that do not have compatible firmware.
Rob13572468, I could not have answered the "puck" question better. There is information concerning one type of 3rd party cradle, and discussion of why it may be advantageous to use one, and a link to the site at post #3 at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/audi...bluetooth.html.
Re-Program any phone for MB 
Linear Mode
