Pairing Jabra BT160 Discovery Mode & Other Headsets with iPhone

Quite awhile back I purchased the Jabra BT160 as a wireless bluetooth headset for Ashley. Given California's pending law going into effect July 1st, 2008 -- all users of mobile phones in their cars must be "hands free" so to prevent accidents. Over the next 3 weeks, there are sure to be millions of Motorola, Plantronics, and Jabra headsets sold.


We had not setup Ashley's iPhone to use Bluetooth yet. Of course, I had lost the manual -- so I had to search around to navigate the Jabra site, find a PDF, and then follow the procedure. It is easier for me to post how I paired the device here than it will be to find it again. So, hopefully it may be of use to you as well.

In terms of the iPhone, the pairing went off without a hitch. I have read about a number of users having issues with discovery and pairing of various brands of Bluetooth headsets. The good news here is that if you need to pick up a headset for your iPhone here in California -- the BT160 works really easily.

Here are the instructions that I followed:

1. Put the headset in pairing mode. In order to do this, you first need to make sure the headset is in. Once the headset is turned on, all you need to do is press the answer/end button and press the volume up (+) button at the same time, until a solid blue light comes on. For me, this took about 15 seconds.

2. Set your Bluetooth phone to ‘discover’ the Jabra BT160. To perform this, follow your phone’s instruction guide. This usually involves going to a ‘setup,’ ‘connect’ or ‘Bluetooth’ menu on your phone and selecting the option to ‘discover’ or ‘add’ a Bluetooth device. On the iPhone, I went to Settings --> General --> Bluetooth --> on to start the phone's discovery.

3. Your phone will find the Jabra BT160. Your phone then asks if you want to pair with it. Accept by pressing ‘Yes’ or ‘OK’ on the phone and confirm with the passkey or PIN which is set to 0000 (4 zeros). The iPhone itself skipped the 'Yes' or 'OK', all I needed to do was click on the device to add it.

4. Your phone will confirm when pairing is complete. I completed a quick test call and the iPhone was connecting to the BT160 via Bluetooth with no issues.

Some of the other Jabra models this may work for include:
Jabra BT125
Jabra BT130
Jabra BT135 Bluetooth Headset
Jabra BT150
Jabra BT160
Jabra BT200
Jabra BT2010
Jabra BT2020
Jabra BT2030 Bluetooth Headset
Jabra BT2040
Jabra BT250v
Jabra BT3010
Jabra BT3030
Jabra BT320s
Jabra BT325s
Jabra BT350
Jabra BT4010 Bluetooth Headset
Jabra BT500v
Jabra BT5010
Jabra BT5020
Jabra BT5030 BT HDST Silver
Jabra BT620s
Jabra BT800
Jabra BT8010
Jabra BT8030
Jabra BT8040
Jabra BT8040 BT HSDT Black
Jabra BT8050 BT HDST Ebony

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iPhone International Travel Tips for Data Usage

Plan to travel internationally and want to bring your iPhone along? If you not careful, you may end up with a surprise when you return in the form of a $10,000 phone bill. Think I am kidding? On my recent travels to India I heard about a colleague who did not contact their mobile provider before the trip -- made a few calls and used data for about 10 days. And that phone bill approach a 5 figure total, crazy as that may seem!


Recently, I received an email with a number of tips from AT&T that I thought I would pass along with a few tips of my own. From my experience, if you are traveling internationally and plan to use your iPhone at all for calling -- it is best to pay up front and know what to expect when you get your next bill from AT&T.

The first is to turn on International Roaming for your phone for making calls. By following the link, you can compare the rates between international roaming and standard rates. In most cases, you save at least 30% with International Roaming instead of standard rates.

The second is to consider and international data package. There "Data Global" packages for the iPhone that offers a pre-set amount of 20MB / 50GB for $24.99/$59.99 respectively. In many cases this will be sufficient for a trip lasting 1-2 weeks, depending on your usage.

If you are not keen on calling AT& T, then you can try and reduce the amount of data that your iPhone will use while you are roaming internationally. Some key ways to minize your international data usage include:

• Turn Data Roaming "OFF":
  Be sure to download and install the latest version of iPhone software from iTunes. These software updates will enable the ability to turn on/off data roaming when traveling outside the U.S. By default, this setting will be in the "OFF" position.
• To turn data roaming "ON/OFF" tap on:
  Settings>General>Network>Data Roaming
• Utilize WiFi instead of GPRS/EDGE:
• WiFi is available in many international airports, hotels and restaurants to browse the Web or check email.
• Turn off your iPhone's "Auto-Check" Function for Email:
  Data usage from email can accrue quickly. Check email manually using WiFi instead of having emails downloaded to your iPhone automatically. This way you can control the flow of data coming to your iPhone.
• To turn off the Auto-Check functionality tap on:
  Settings>Mail>Auto-Check and select Manual
• Reset the Usage Tracker to Zero:
  When you arrive overseas, you can track estimated data usage in Settings.

In case you are wondering, why does your iPhone use more data than other devices? Here are a few of the reasons

• Full HTML email: All data associated with emails are downloaded to iPhone, including full attachments and associated graphics.
• Automatic check for email: Customers who set their device to automatically check for email in 15, 30, or 60 minute intervals are incurring international data charges, even if no email is downloaded.
• Enhanced Internet experience: The Safari browser supports full HTML browsing for a more enhanced experience, which uses significantly more data than a WAP browser on a standard handset or PDA.
• Feature-rich applications: iPhone applications like Google Maps, YouTube, and others, depending on frequency of usage, can use a large amount of data.

Here are the current list of countries in the international roam zone for AT&T:

Country	Carriers	Technology	Frequency
AUSTRALIA	Hutchison 3G	UMTS Only	2100
	VodaFone	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
AUSTRIA	Hutchison 3G	UMTS Only	2100
	ONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 1800; UMTS 2100
BELGIUM	BASE NV/SA (KPN ORANGE)	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1800
	Proximus	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900; UMTS 2100
CANADA*	ROGERS WIRELESS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	1900
	FIDO (MICROCELL)	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1900
CHINA	CHINA MOBILE	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	900
COLOMBIA	Columbia Movil	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1900
	Movistar	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	850/1900
CZECH-REPUBLIC	OSKAR MOBILE A.S. (VodaFone)	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	900/1800
DENMARK	3 (Hutchison 3G)	UMTS Only	2100
	TELIA	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1800
EGYPT	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900; UMTS 2100
FRANCE	BOUYGUES TELECOM	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 1800; UMTS 2100
	VODAFONE SFR FRANCE	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
GERMANY	E PLUS	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 1800; UMTS 2100
	O2	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 1800; UMTS 2100
	VODAFONE GERMANY	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	900/1800
GREAT BRITAIN(United Kingdom)	O2 (UK) LIMITED	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	Hutchison 3G	UMTS Only	2100
	Vodafone	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
GREECE	VODAFONE - PANAFON	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900; UMTS 2100
GUAM	Guam Cellular and Paging (HafaTEL)	GSM/GPRS	GSM/GPRS 1900
	Pulse Mobile	GSM/GPRS	GSM/GPRS 850/1900
HONG KONG	CSL	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	SMARTONE Vodafone	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
HUNGARY	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
INDIA	VODAFONE (formerly HUTCHISON) - Andra Pradesh, Chennai, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh East, Uttar Pradesh West, West Bengal	GSM/GPRS	900
IRELAND	Vodafone	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	O2	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	Hutchison 3G	UMTS Only	2100
ITALY	VODAFONE OMNITEL S.P.A.	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	H3G (HUTCHISON 3G)	UMTS Only	2100
JAPAN	SoftBank Mobile (J-PHONE)	UMTS Only	2100
LIECHTENSTEIN	SWISSCOM	GSM/GPRS	900/1800
MEXICO*	TELCEL	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1900
MONACO	BOUYGUES TELECOM	GSM/GPRS	1800
	VODAFONE SFR FRANCE	GSM/GPRS	900/1800
NETHERLANDS	KPN MOBILE NETHERLANDS BV	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
	Telfort	GSM/GPRS	1800
	VODAFONE NETHERLANDS	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
NEW ZEALAND	VODAFONE NEW ZEALAND LIMITED	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900; UMTS 2100
POLAND	PTK CENTERTEL (Orange)	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
PORTUGAL	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
ROMANIA	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900; UMTS 2100
SAN MARINO	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
SINGAPORE	MOBILEONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
SOUTH KOREA	KTF	UMTS Only	2100
SPAIN	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100
SWEDEN	3 (HUTCHISON 3G)	UMTS Only	2100
	TELE 2 (Comviq)	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900; UMTS 2100
SWITZERLAND	ORANGE COMMUNICATIONS (SWITZERLAND)	GSM/GPRS/EDGE	1800
	SWISSCOM	GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS	GSM/GPRS/EDGE 900/1800; UMTS 2100
TAIWAN	TAIWAN MOBILE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 1800; UMTS 2100
VATICAN CITY	VODAFONE	GSM/GPRS/UMTS	GSM/GPRS 900/1800; UMTS 2100

*Countries and carriers included in the DataConnect North America Roam Zone.
Important Information: Available countries and carriers are subject to change without notice.

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Apple iPhone Will Not Charge -- At Least It Appears That Way!

My Blackberry 8800, which needs a good reboot once in awhile. However, until now -- Ashley's 8GB Apple iPhone has behaved well and until this post, had never required a reset. However, I am getting ahead of myself.

First it is important to realize that Ashley's iPhone has not been hacked or received a jailbreak -- boring, I know -- and is running version 1.1.3 of the Apple iPhone firmware. The iPhone device had been very dependable, only needing to be charged every few days to make sure it was available for use.

Then, the other day Ashley was greeted with the following icon on her iPhone:
Battery low on the Apple iPhone.

In the usual manner, we connected her Apple iPhone up to her computer to charge it overnight via the USB cable for charging and syncing. However, when we woke up in the more, the same image and the message "low batter" still appeared. Shrugging it off, we assumed that the USB cable must not have clicked in properly.

On our way into work, I used our car charger to attempt to charge the iPhone. After 20 minutes connected on our commut