Smartphones/PDAs
I just spoke with a VZW cust service rep regarding their PDA/Smartphones, NOT Blackberry's, regarding the requirement to order a data plan if you order online (probably in a store also?). I was [B]PLEASANTLY SURPRISED [/B]that after I pushed the rep on the issue she stated that she spoke with tech support and they [B][U]can block data and I would NOT need to pay the monthly data plan fee[/U][/B].
[B]I would appreciate it if anyone else can confirm/deny this?[/B]
[B]I would appreciate it if anyone else can confirm/deny this?[/B]
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Update,tried to verify the about claim about canceling data plan so I call Vzw again. Now customer service tells me I can NOT block data and cancel the data plan.
Guess my only option is to swtich to ATT before Sept 7th when then require data plans!
I HATE these cell carriers!
Wish I had the time to start a Class Action lawsuit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess my only option is to swtich to ATT before Sept 7th when then require data plans!
I HATE these cell carriers!
Wish I had the time to start a Class Action lawsuit!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Class action lawsuit, knock your socks off doing so, no one is forcing you to buy their product. Companies can set the requirements for features as they see fit. You choose if you are going to buy the product or not
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@2centsworth Quote "Companies can set the requirements for features as they see fit. You choose if you are going to buy the product or not."
This is a tired excuse to limit the use of available technology!!
Hardware manufacturers are being locked into sell PDAs only through carriers, therefore, we can not buy a decent PDA and then select a carrier of choice. We are forced to pay for data services to get a specific hardware device.
Prior to the successful lobbying activities of the carriers, this would have been considered a blatant case of "restraint of trade" AND other federal statutes.
This is a tired excuse to limit the use of available technology!!
Hardware manufacturers are being locked into sell PDAs only through carriers, therefore, we can not buy a decent PDA and then select a carrier of choice. We are forced to pay for data services to get a specific hardware device.
Prior to the successful lobbying activities of the carriers, this would have been considered a blatant case of "restraint of trade" AND other federal statutes.
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I'm not a vendor, but I agree that NO ONE has "forced" you to do anything. You have CHOSEN to use cellular service, so either abide by the providers rules, or DON'T USE A CELL PHONE.
YOUR choice!
Gregg
YOUR choice!
Gregg
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UncleWilley said:
Hardware manufacturers are being locked into sell PDAs only through carriers, therefore, we can not buy a decent PDA and then select a carrier of choice. We are forced to pay for data services to get a specific hardware device.
This, really, is the onlyh problem. When handset exclusivity ends, all these other problems will sort themselves right out.
Or, just wait for LTE. Verizon will not be able to mandate the kind of things they do now on open spectrum in the C-Block.
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Which device are you using? Only Blackberries and the newer PDAs require a data package with Verizon. It does not matter when you signed up with them but rather when they began selling the device. So basically PDA/Smartphones which were sold prior to November 2008 can be activated by any customer and have the data plan blocked. Some examples would be the XV6800, XV6700, 700WX, 700P, 755P.
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The first reps were wrong. All PDA/smart phones released after Nov 14 2008 must have a data plan. Data can not be blocked.
Your idea of a class action suit is without merit. You do not need to have a pda smartphone. The data plan is your entry fee if you want to join the PDA/Smartphone/Blackberry club. ATT is requiring plans on their pda/smartphones as well so this trend is only going to continue.
Your idea of a class action suit is without merit. You do not need to have a pda smartphone. The data plan is your entry fee if you want to join the PDA/Smartphone/Blackberry club. ATT is requiring plans on their pda/smartphones as well so this trend is only going to continue.
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We'll see about legal and legislative actions!
I don't see any difference between this mess and the European Union action against Microsoft on the Internet Explorer issue!!!
It's part of the corporate America GREED MENTALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention the heck with what customers want!!!! That attitude has brought down a lot of corps in the long run!!
I don't see any difference between this mess and the European Union action against Microsoft on the Internet Explorer issue!!!
It's part of the corporate America GREED MENTALITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not to mention the heck with what customers want!!!! That attitude has brought down a lot of corps in the long run!!
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The difference is that With Microsoft, they made internet explorer a integrated part of the OS, so even if you got Firefox, most core functions used IE, on top of them not shipping their OS with other Browsers.
With Smartphones, the device you use is an access point to the network, and courts basically always side with companies when it comes to them controlling what devices or services they offer over their network, especially if they are providing the devices at a discounted cost in exchange for service.
With Smartphones, the device you use is an access point to the network, and courts basically always side with companies when it comes to them controlling what devices or services they offer over their network, especially if they are providing the devices at a discounted cost in exchange for service.
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You're citing an EU case. First of all, cell phone companies do business differently there. Laws and policies tend to be a lot more business friendly. Also, it seems that the people who are griping are consumers like yourself. Unless manufacturers get in on your gripes, you won't get very far.
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I meant to say laws and policies are a lot more business friendly here in the states. My apologies
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Your right, consumers like myself are griping. Too bad the carriers and mfgs don't listen!!!
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People like you make me sick. Are too stinking lazy or cheap to get a standard cell phone and carry a Palm or similar PDA that requires no data plan? So you blame someone else and threaten lawsuits? Wonderful, that's all this country needs. A bunch of freakin' lawyers bringing us down even further.
YOU are the one in error. Just because you WANT something does not mean you have the right to sue to get it.
Keep your no-data-plan-required normal cell phone and go buy a non-wireless PDA. Save us all a lot of grief.
Who the heck do you think pays for your frivoulous lawsuit in the end run?
Gregg
YOU are the one in error. Just because you WANT something does not mean you have the right to sue to get it.
Keep your no-data-plan-required normal cell phone and go buy a non-wireless PDA. Save us all a lot of grief.
Who the heck do you think pays for your frivoulous lawsuit in the end run?
Gregg
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Trust me, the carriers have all thought of what you're thinking and have made gigantic contracts and terms of uses as a result.
Also, you're nowhere near close to being the first to suggest a lawsuit against carriers.
And while we're at this subject, are you going to pay for the law suit?
Also, you're nowhere near close to being the first to suggest a lawsuit against carriers.
And while we're at this subject, are you going to pay for the law suit?
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You can buy non-cellphone PDA's (I use an Ipod Touch for just this reason) meaning I don't have to pay a data plan. Granted, I'll be switching to a blackberry/android soon, but that's because I need push email for my job. No one is preventing you from doing the same. There are still WINMO/Palm PDAs, you just need to look a bit harder for them
You only need a data plan on all newer smartphones and blackberries. So if you have a Vx8600 (also known as the HTC Touch), any Palm (we don't have newer models), or older WINMO phones (basically anything not released in the past year) you can go to blocked data or PPU.
And yes, it is absolutely within their rights to require a data plan on these devices. Now, I agree that if you pay 1 year p...
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You only need a data plan on all newer smartphones and blackberries. So if you have a Vx8600 (also known as the HTC Touch), any Palm (we don't have newer models), or older WINMO phones (basically anything not released in the past year) you can go to blocked data or PPU.
And yes, it is absolutely within their rights to require a data plan on these devices. Now, I agree that if you pay 1 year p...
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Menno - thanks for your response.
Re the iPod Touch, I may check it out. Had no idea it had contact/calendar functions.
I want PDA type phones so that my wife and I can sync calendars and phone books with our PC based systems. We do not want to carry two devices.
Regarding that older PDA/Smartphones, first such phones are not available from Verizon at least online. Second this would only be a stop gap measure until the phones need to be replaced in the furture.
I understand the company line reason of avoiding problems with customers getting surprises with big data bills; however, there is NO reason why the PDA can not be set to a default of blocking data and only enabling upon request/signing ones life away.
As the carriers ...
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Re the iPod Touch, I may check it out. Had no idea it had contact/calendar functions.
I want PDA type phones so that my wife and I can sync calendars and phone books with our PC based systems. We do not want to carry two devices.
Regarding that older PDA/Smartphones, first such phones are not available from Verizon at least online. Second this would only be a stop gap measure until the phones need to be replaced in the furture.
I understand the company line reason of avoiding problems with customers getting surprises with big data bills; however, there is NO reason why the PDA can not be set to a default of blocking data and only enabling upon request/signing ones life away.
As the carriers ...
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I am a huge fan of unlocked phones. at the moment you are limited by technology though because the big two carriers (ATT and Verizon) operate incompatible tower set ups so until they are both on the same page (LTE) you won't really see phones that work across carriers. Even then the device will still need CDMA/GSM radios because that is what most carriers will still use for voice (something about government regulations stating that companies would be forced to share 4g voice spectrum or something like that)
Those "preventative measures" are there because the phone manufacturer wants them just as much as the phone company. Exclusivity agreements give these companies much needed funding to launch products. It can be annoying, but there'...
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Those "preventative measures" are there because the phone manufacturer wants them just as much as the phone company. Exclusivity agreements give these companies much needed funding to launch products. It can be annoying, but there'...
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Menno - thanks for the addt'l info.
I'll check out BitPim.
Too bad it would double our wireless bill to go with a PDA (app. $72 to app. $150/month). I would certainly prefer to go with a BB. BUMMER!!
I'll check out BitPim.
Too bad it would double our wireless bill to go with a PDA (app. $72 to app. $150/month). I would certainly prefer to go with a BB. BUMMER!!
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Wait if you are claiming manufacturers would rather customers block data, you are dead wrong. In fact, the first manufacturer Verizon did this with was Blackberry and its Blackberry that makes resellers agree that their devices must be activated with data or not activated at all.
All Verizon (and soon att) has done is make this policy uniform among all their PDA phones.
If all the vendors are in on this, who is restraining who?
All Verizon (and soon att) has done is make this policy uniform among all their PDA phones.
If all the vendors are in on this, who is restraining who?
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Blackberry would only push data use if they are making $$$S from it. BTW,ATT has allowed customers to block data although that will apparently stop app. 9/8/.
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I know that at&t through an agreement with Apple has never allowed a data block on iPhones. Looks like Apple will gain even more now that there is no incentive to get a non-Apple PDA now through at&t
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Gee, "We do not want to carry two devices."
That really justifies a lawsuit!
Just what America needs. Another damn lawsuit to kill our economy. We ar ethe laughing stock o fthe world with all of the frivolous lawsuits.
Why don't you just go get a screaming-hot cup of coffee, spill it on yourself, cry foul, sue the coffee supplier, and take the money and put it towards your data plan?
You and the lawyers win...the rest of US suffer.
Gregg
That really justifies a lawsuit!
Just what America needs. Another damn lawsuit to kill our economy. We ar ethe laughing stock o fthe world with all of the frivolous lawsuits.
Why don't you just go get a screaming-hot cup of coffee, spill it on yourself, cry foul, sue the coffee supplier, and take the money and put it towards your data plan?
You and the lawyers win...the rest of US suffer.
Gregg
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The real problem is with exclusivity and subsidies. AT&T and VZW take huge losses on the initial sale of Blacberries, iPhones and other PDA devices which are recovered over the periood of the service contract- moreso then standard hadnset subsidies.
They should have at least one model available which is sold completely unsubsidized and does not require a data package.
If theyr'e worried about cusotmers getting surprise bills, just eliminate eh Pay Per Use billing option and set up a 100% data block on cusmters not wishing to utilize data on their handsets.
However, logistically this would be impossible to do without simply having 1 or 2 models designated as no data required.
They should have at least one model available which is sold completely unsubsidized and does not require a data package.
If theyr'e worried about cusotmers getting surprise bills, just eliminate eh Pay Per Use billing option and set up a 100% data block on cusmters not wishing to utilize data on their handsets.
However, logistically this would be impossible to do without simply having 1 or 2 models designated as no data required.
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My ? is why would you want a modern pda/cell phone and not have the data? I understand that you may be trying to consolidate your devices but you are purchasing the equipment from a cell company. You don't need any data? What about email? What about looking things up or answering questions for clients/customers. You can get some of the feature phones like the env3 or env touch that have some pda like features and avoid the data. IMHO modern pda devices are powerful, versatile, pieces of equipment and you only use a small amount of their potential by not using data services.
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he's a customer, these are the people who also want to come in 3 months into their contract and get the latest and greatest for free, you could offer them a solution but if it is not the one they want they turn from 30 to 3 in a heart beat and start with the attorney general fcc threats and walk out the front door screaming. I have been in this biz for awhile and i used to sell pdas without packages with a very firm warning not to use the internet or e-mail functions or they will be billed, at the time I worked at an indirect in jersey we came up with a form to have the customers sign and date in store when they purchased a pda without data do you want to take a guess how many of these people created a giant bill giant as in 3-4 times the c...
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I think it's more accurate to say that the makers of these devices are saying HOW DARE anyone active our devices without using the data? Particularly Blackberry on Verizon's network and Apple on at&t's network
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While I definitely side with the consumer on this one, I'm somewhat upset and happy that customers are forced to have data plans.
I'm upset for now because they take up bandwidth since they have the access anyways. This slows down my connections.
I'm happy because this revenue is making 4G come faster 🙂 So, I'll have access to extremely high speed wireless sooner than later.
I'm upset for now because they take up bandwidth since they have the access anyways. This slows down my connections.
I'm happy because this revenue is making 4G come faster 🙂 So, I'll have access to extremely high speed wireless sooner than later.
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