I’m going to upgrading my wireless phone this week. I’ve chosen the Samsung i760 available from Verizon Wireless.

Previously, I owned a Samsung i730 and remain generally happy with the device. Verizon recently released the Windows 6.1 upgrade for the Samsung i760 (within the last 2 weeks) which triggered my buying decision. Because using a phones and computers together can require a bit of research prior to getting it all together, I’m blogging some links here to help myself and the community. Here are lists (with links) to what we’ll be using and what we’re trying to accomplish:

DEVICES and SOFTWARE

• COMPUTER : Windows Vista 64 bit (running on MacBook Pro)
• PHONE : Samsung i760 (shipped with Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional)
• SYNC : Windows Mobile Device Center (at windowsmobile)
• UPGRADE : Windows Mobile 6.1 upgrade - Samsung i760

LINKS

Samsung i760 – Verizon Support

Accessories – Samsung i760

GUIDES

Users Guide – Samsung i760

Samsung i760 Simulator – Interactive How To

Demo – WindowsMobile 6.1 Features Demo (Windows Mobile Team Blog)

Mark Minasi Newsletter (also using Samsung i760 with Vista 64 bit)

I will be back soon (after I purchase the phone) to provide a walkthrough on upgrading the Samsung i760 to Windows Mobile 6.1, setting up the phone, syncing to Windows Vista 64 bit using Windows Mobile Device Center and connecting to the internet using the Samsung i760 as a broadband CDMA modem. CU soon

2008-09-14

I purchased the Samsung i760 this week. Today is Sunday. I have some spare time this afternoon so I am going to update the phone to Windows Mobile 6.1 today. After doing some forum reading on the internet, I have decided to use a Windows XP Pro box to update the phone. It appears (even recently) there are some challenges updating with Vista using Windows Mobile Device Center and even though there is now a utility to update the Samsung i760 WMDC on Vista, it’s a 32bit app. I have the 64bit version of Vista installed and have not read anywhere of a 64 bit version of the update utility. Therefore, I’m taking the safe route and updating using a Windows XP Box. Here are the steps for updating on Windows XP:

I prefer NOT to install VZAccess Manager so the following installs only the necessary components.

• download ActiveSync 4.5
• install ActiveSync 4.5 on the Windows XP computer
• use the Verizon VZAccess CD to install the CDMA Samsung Mobile USB driver 4.40
  • VZAccess CD:  <driveletter>:\Driver\SAMSUNG Mobile USB Driver(4.40.7.0) v1.6.msi
  • or download VZAccess Manager
• once ActiveSync and the CDMA USB driver are installed, Restart the computer
• download the SCH-i760 UPDATE to Windows Mobile 6.1 (WinXP version)

Connect to Verizon using Samsung i760 as CDMA modem

Verify you can connect to Verizon from the XP computer using the Samsung SCH-i760 as a broadband modem.

After RESTART
Switch Samsung SCH-i760 to USB modem

Settings | System | Data Connection | ( ) As the modem through USB

Wait for the system to discover the Samsung as a CDMA device (Samsung Mobile Modem)

GO TO Start | Control Panel
open Network Connections
Create a new connection (the Network Connection Wizard will start)
Click Next
Under Network Connection Type, select Connect to the Internet, click Next
Select Set up my connection manually, click Next
Select Connect using a dial-up modem, click Next
Under ISP Name, type VZW, click Next
Under Phone number, type #777, click Next
Under User name: type (your phonenumber@vzw3g.com) AND Password: vzw. Example
User name: 999777888@vzw3g.com
Password: vzw
Confirm settings, click Finish

Click Dial to connect

Run the Windows Mobile 6.1 update