Another sad Bluetooth saga...

My question to Nextel Support:
Why can't I listen to music through my Bluetooth headset on my i870 phone? I get the error message "Connected Accessory is not compatible." How do I remedy this? I am using an i870 phone and a Motorola HS850 Bluetooth headset.

The answer from Sprint (together with Nextel) support:
Please be advised, the Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset is only compatible for voice conversations. In order to listen to music, you will need to purchase a stereo headset.

Bluetooth has always suffered from over promising and under delivering. It should be a lesson to us. It's just now an acceptable technology in a very limited number of circumstances. Much of what we wanted it for, however, it just isn't delivering in a way that delights.

Nextel is telling me that they have included an MP3 player for my phone, but to listen to the music through a headset, I have to use a wired headset even though my phone supports Bluetooth headsets.

It's so ridiculous that I am still having a hard time believing it. Maybe I can appeal to a higher power. (Would that be Odin?)

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About Phil Yanov

Phil Yanov is a Technologist, Columnist and Public Radio Commentator.

He is the founder of Tech After Five as well as the founder and President of the GSA Technology Council and the IT Leadership Council.

His personal technology column appears in Greenville Business Magazine and the Columbia Business Journal.

He co-hosts the Your Day technology shows heard on NPR radio stations across South Carolina and is a frequent contributor to technology stories appearing on radio and television.