I had it working on my first 8700 but can't figure it out on my new one. I want to be able to search through contact from the home screen , to call or send a sms..without going into the address book. I use to be able to just start typing the name and it would pull up, but now only the numbers work and so i would need to now how the number starts. any idea?

Wirelessly posted (8700g)

I have dial from home screen enabled in phone options and works for me. Sounds like you have dial from home screen enabled as well, so I'm not sure on answer. However, I do notice that I had to type several letters before the blackberry switched to a name, at least the name I chose to test. FWIW.

ADDED: Doh! That's if the letter could be a number. If I start typing a name with letters that do not double as number keys, the names come right up. Ignore me.

I think aiharkness has it right...just start typing...numbers or letters, you're probably going to have a mixture either way and the bb will eventually turn to all letters as it realizes you aren't typing phone number and looks in address book. I just tried it with a few different entries and as long as you are true to the spelling of the name, it found it on mine everytime. OS 4.2 is slower though.