To All Epix Explorers and Windows Mobile Mavens,

You know, I have come to truly rely on my Samsung Epix Reminder Notification Alerts.

As is the case on many Smartphones and Pocket PCs, at a predetermined time, a reminder alert will sound.  The best part of this feature is that if I do not acknowledge the Reminder, the alert will repeat every minute or so, increasing in volume, until I tap a key on the device. 

The other day I walked out of my office, effectively leaving my emotionally unstable Epix behind, alone, and undoubtedly afraid.  (We’re not apart that often) 

Anyway, Even though I returned a sort time later, I did not discover that I had a very important text message waiting for me until I happened to pick up my shivering Samsung Smartphone sibling and gazed deeply into its dazzling digitized display. 

That’s right!  The new text message had arrived after I had left the office and, consequently, I did not hear the SMS alert. 

Recalling how wonderfully well Reminder Notification Alerts serve me, I decided to enable the repeat alert functions for new SMS messages, as well.

NOTE 1:
Even though the following instructions are based on the Samsung SGH-i907 Smartphone, similar steps may be taken to access the same feature-set on other Windows Mobile devices.

SECTION 1
To modify alert notification settings on the Samsung Epix SGH-i907 Smartphone:

1.
From the Start Menu, select Settings.

2.
Select Sounds & Notifications.  A multi-tabbed Dialog Box will appear.

3.
On the Sounds Tab, make sure the “Enable Sounds (Alarms & Reminders)item is checked.

4.
On the Notification Tab, from the Event Combo Box, select “Messaging: New Text Message”.

5.
Place a checkmark in the “Play Sound” Checkbox.

6.
Although the default file chosen for the alert is fine, you can choose another audio file to serve as the New SMS alert, should you wish.

7.
Place a checkmark in the Repeat Checkbox.  Oops!  Something is wrong.  Apparently, you are not allowed to have SMS Alerts repeated. 

Well, that’s the way it used to be. 

Read the following instructions to learn how to add Auto Repeat functionality to your Windows Mobile Notification Alerts.

SECTION 2

NOTE 2:
Even though the following instructions are based on the Samsung SGH-i907 Smartphone, similar steps may be taken to access the same feature-set on other Windows Mobile devices.

NOTE 3:
This document presumes that you are familiar with the basic steps necessary to gain access to your Windows Mobile wireless device.

NOTE 4:
In order to proceed, you must have a Windows Mobile Registry Editor.

NOTE 5:
Samsung Epix users must install a free Application Unlocker on the device in order to modify the Windows Mobile Registry.

1.
From within your Windows Mobile Registry editor, browse to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Notifications

You will see a long list of Sub-Keys with seemingly meaningless names.  Not to worry for the following steps are based on Key values and not Key names.

2.
Begin Clicking on each Key and take notice of its Default value.  At this point, search for a Key with its Default value set to “Reminders”.

3.
After you find the Key, with its Default value set to “Reminder”, locate the Options item, a couple of rows down, and take note of it value.  This value will most likely be written as a decimal number.  This number is the value you will use to enable Repeat Notification Alert functionality so it is important that you copy it to a convenient place for easy retrieval.

NOTE 6:
For the Samsung Epix, this value is 1073741853

4.
The rest is simple.  To enable the repeat function for a specific Notification Alert, explore the remaining Sub-Keys under the
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\Notifications branch selecting the Keys whose Default value corresponds to the type of notification alert you wish to enable.  For example, if you want to enable Repeat functionality for New Text Message Alerts, locate the Key with its Default value set to “Messaging: New Text Message”.

5.
After you locate the Key you wish to modify, change its Options item value to match that of the Reminder Options Item Value, described above.  Again, in this example, the value you should enter is 1073741837

6.
Close the Registry editor.

7.
Reboot the Smartphone.

8.
Return to Step 7 of Section 1, listed above. And place a checkmark in the Repeat Checkbox.

9.
Finish making any changes to the Sounds & Notification Dialog Box and save your settings.

That’s all there is to it.

Enjoy,

Mark