Exxodium

Nailing Sprint/HTC to the wall

Let me start out this post with some explanation.

I have a smartphone. It has a good keyboard. I use this smartphone for pretty much everything but phone calls. I use text messaging a lot. (It comes standard with the plan, why not) I use data a lot.

I bought an HTC Arrive in July 2011, and it has been a stellar phone. However, one feature has been missing that is promised in the manual, and also every other smartphone platform (iOS, Android, BB OS) has: The ability to send messages over 160 characters.

Is this a problem? Yes. I regularly type messages in excess of 160 characters. So do my friends.

Even better yet, this feature is documented in the Arrive’s manual. The phone is supposed to split the messages automatically, as said on Page 83 of the user guide.

Bothered by this, I did some research.

First, I checked to see if WP7’s Mango update would fix the problem. It didn’t. But now, instead of stopping cold turkey at 160, it goes over, but just disables the send button. An improvement, sure; but not a significant one.

Second, I heard some whispers that Microsoft had never implemented the CDMA SMS code correctly. To check this, I went to a Verizon store and tried to type out a message on an HTC Trophy. Sure enough, it split the messages, as seen here.

I sent them to my phone, and sure enough, both of the messages arrived on my phone.

Which, unless Verizon is using some crazy magic, means that Microsoft is clear of any blame in this equation. The blame falls right on either HTC or Sprint.

To which I ask: Why can’t the Arrive send messages in excess of 160 characters? Why advertise this in the manual if the phone can’t do it? Why promise a fix that’s never coming? (As far as I know, Sprint/HTC has known of this problem for some time now.) If there are difficulties in finding a fix, why not tell us about it, instead of leaving us hanging?

Come on guys. I know you can do this. Please do something about it. Please.

EDIT: Want another dollop of pure rage, Arrive owners? Try this:

1. Plug something into the headphone jack on your Arrive. (Must be running the Mango update)
2. Play music. Ensure that you can hear the music coming through whatever you plugged into the phone.
3. Slide open (or close) the phone.
4. Music stops immediately.