Is WiFi function hackable on Sprint Touch?
 

Based on Cnet's review and many other posts here, Wifi and internal GPS have been taken away from Sprint version of Touch. I'm wondering if this Wifi function can be hacked afterwards so that we can still enable this on Touch. I think lacking of wifi is now the only reason preventing me from getting it.

Thanks.

I think that by 'taken away' they mean that the actual hardware has been removed. It would make no sense to sell a device with wi-fi functionality locked.

Doubtful. The Sprint Touch is based on the HTC Vogue which as far as I've determined approximates the non-WiFi version that came out in Europe last month or so. There are basically 2 versions of the "Touch" the one with WiFI and GPS and a 200MHZ processor, and the one with a 400 MHZ processor and no WiFi or GPS. It's not like Sprint "crippled" any functions. The hardware just isn't there, just like the long-suspected GPS unit supposedly built into the Apache. It's fast processor and large (by PPC standards) memory will be it's heralded features, but personally after owning an Apache for a year with WiFi that I use regularly I'm gonna be a hard sell on a $500 PDA without it. It's a very cool looking little device, but if I went for looks alone I'd have NEVER gotten an Apache. Sorry to disappoint, bit the facts are out now. No WiFi. No GPS. No Sprint Touch in my future.

Yeah, it is a bad news for Sprint Touch!

unless you're at home using wifi to stream music/video over the network, or you have to connect to it at work, why do you all need wifi? I use mobile internet a lot but i find myself using evdo. I rarely turn my wifi radio on. I know some people like to sniff out "free" hotspots, but you never now what you're connecting too for all you know someone's sniffing the data you're sending out/recieving.

Don't you think the Rev. A upgrade will kind of compensate for the whole wifi not being there? I also believe the lesser hardware components in a ppc the lesser the hassle and maintenance needed and maybe even problems you'll run into. Don't get me wrong, I love my 6700, but i would of highly preferred a fully functioning bluetooth radio over a wifi one any day of the week.

I use my wifi all the time. It makes it easy for me to get some work done while talking to clients on my phone. I know i drain the battery when i use bt and wifi together, for what I do this works great for me

I use WiFi all the time as well. I suppose I am too cheap to cough up the $15 extra a month for EVDO. I am still considering upgrading from my 6700 to the Sprint Touch. I know Bluetooth from my PC is capable of serving the internet to PPC's and other PC's. My house is 2500 square feet though... and there is no way I could get signal coverage on both floors. I guess I'll have to test that out.
I really hope there is a MicroSD WiFi card option for the Touch. That would solve a lot of my reservations.

FOLLOW UP:
I did a little research, and it seems Spectec is coming out with a wifi MicroSD card.
It says it's for WM5 though...
Anyone with a Sprint Touch care to try this out when there is an option to buy it?
... If I end up getting a Touch (maybe in a couple weeks) I will buy it from you if you don't really need it and only bought it to test it.
... curious...
~Sy(\)

I don't use internet on my phone much at all. Only when I am at home, friends house, hotspots, etc. I really only use it for updating the weather and checking email (and checking ppcgeeks.com). But the cost of the WiFi microSD card could be paid for within 6 months or less of EVDO service. I will just have to see how I like it using Bluetooth at home for my regular services. Maybe when I upgrade my phone/plan I can convince Sprint to throw in PowerVision for a couple months. We'll see.
~Sy(\)

Not having wifi makes the Touch a nonstarter for me. I live in a Sprint area with no EVDO (and no ETA on getting it) and always leave my 6700 on wifi when I'm at home. Updating weather, RSS, etc., is painfully slow on 1x. - sheureka

Do you ever notice the SERO plan? Do a search here or google and you will know. :mrgreen:

Jeff

I didn't know SERO was available for the Touch...
anywho... It looks like the signup website is down :disgust:
http://sprint.com/sero

there's gotta be wifi..
 

According to the FCC release.. the HTC Vogue 100 has wifi...I think its in there.. its just how to get in there and activated. I'm wondering if flashing the original HTC Vogue Rom would somehow activate the wifi.. I just hate that you pay 500.00 for a phone.. and then Sprint says "we don't want you to have this service and disables it"

I'm sorry, I feel I am certain when I say this device does not have the wi-fi hardware on it.

I can understand with GPS/aGPS, but what sense would it make to have a device that can do wi-fi and not turn it on? With GPS they can charge you for the service, such as TeleNAV, but they wouldn't be so stupid as to charge later down the road to turn wi-fi on.

there's gotta be wifi..
 

So the HTC Vogue doesn't have Wifi...I just got off the phone with HTC America and they assured me that the HTC Vogue does have wifi but sprint has disabled it...because they want you to use the EVDO network and pay for it. It makes perfect sense for business though.. if I knew that I could connect to the internet through my wifi connection...why would i use sprint's service

Hm. i wonder if it's a physical switch that has to be flipped (like the Mogul) or something in software? I know that on the Mogul the ONLY way you could turn on Wifi was to flip the switch on the side. if it's a physical switch (or physical connection on the board) that must be used, we may never get this activated...except those with a Dremel. :-D

It's comments like this that make me wonder why people expect that every device that comes to market MUST have WiFi and built-in GPS.

No one is forcing you to put out money for a device that lacks what some of you feel are dire necessities; but that shouldnt make it bad news for the rest of us.

My Mogul has WiFi which hardly to never worked. So no WiFi in the Touch wasnt something I had to have or would even miss.

From what I remember, the WiFi cards, for phones capable of using it, didnt sit flush with the phone; not even close.

The microSD slot on the Touch sits under the right side chrome trim of the phone.