Bluetooth on iphone 3G does not work with all other bluetooth devices

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Level 1

9 points

Bluetooth on iphone 3G does not work with all other bluetooth devices

Hi,

Sometimes when i enable bluetooth to scan and connect other bluetooth phones on my iphone 3G (OS v 4.2.1) it does not detect the phone (Nokia, HTC etc). Even the other phone is unable to detect my iphone. The UI shows that it is scanning for devices but nothing happens for a long time. Sometimes it is able to detect the device but is not able to complete the handshake and establish a connection. What could be wrong? I have seen this issue randomly even with the phone was new (out of the box).

With some devices it is able to connect instantly like Motorola Bluetooth headset etc. Any pointers?

Thanks,

Prashanth

iPhone 3G, iOS 4.2

Posted on Apr 19, 2011 7:16 AM

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Answer 1

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Apr 19, 2011 7:26 AM in response to prashanb

The iPhone does not have bluetooth profiles for connecting to other phones to do things like file sharing.

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Answer 2

roaminggnome

Level 10

106,407 points

Apr 19, 2011 7:47 AM in response to prashanb

"Any pointers?"

Yes. Use it for what it is designed to do.

Bluetooth is supported for stereo headsets/speakers, handsfree telephone devices/headsets, some peer-to-peer apps from the app store and tethering where allowed and provided by the wireless carrier.

It will not connect to other computers ( other than for tethering purposes if allowed and provided by the carrier) or other phones,etc.

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Answer 3

prashanb Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 24, 2011 11:57 PM in response to roaminggnome

Thanks for that clarification, but i forgot to mention in my earlier post that i had failures in connecting to handsfree telephone devices/headset with the default OS versions on my iphone 3G.

I have not tried with the latest OS v4.2.1 though.

Was there a known issue in connecting to handfree devices on iphone 3G?

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Answer 4

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Apr 25, 2011 4:25 AM in response to prashanb

Hands free devices can be very flaky especially if the manufacturers of those devices don't keep them up to date.

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Answer 5

prashanb Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 25, 2011 6:49 AM in response to Tamara

this particular hands free device in question was easily getting detected and paired with other phones. Only my iphone was not able to detect or pair with it. I have observed this at random times with different hands free devices (Jabra, Samsung were not detected. Motorola worked)

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Answer 6

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Apr 25, 2011 8:32 AM in response to prashanb

I've never had good luck get Motorola to pair with anything beyond other Motorola devices. I had a Motorola headset I bought to use with a Treo and could never get the headset to pair with Treo or with my laptop. I ended up giving it to someone who had a Razr.

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