Comments on: Verizon: Please Stop Disabling GPS in Smartphones on Your Network

By: Kirk Landreneau

Kirk Landreneau — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:40:47 +0000

My Tour GPS is locked. Doesn’t work with Intelligolf GPS range Finder.

Sadness

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:37:03 +0000

Can anyone tell me how to get the new ROM for the Omnia that unlocks the GPS?

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:38:11 +0000

Did Microsoft have the right to disable other browsers or to be the default browser on their operating system? Sounds like Verizon is doing the same thing. The only difference is Microsoft is practically a monopoly in the computer operating system market while Verizon is more like an oligopoly.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:21:11 +0000

I have been ticked off with VWZ for programming the PN820 smartphone so you cannot remove the data connection. This means all pix messages are sent automatically as data usage messages, when the manual states that as long as you do not enable your internet connection pix messages could be sent both ways.

I complained about it and they played dumb about it. And I don’t want to hear it about they have the right to disable features, because what was advertised is not what is capable, and they are not doing anything about it.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:59:16 +0000

Have a alltel curve and it just looks for satellites

By: Ronnie Sherard

Ronnie Sherard — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:04:24 +0000

I just got an 8330 two weeks ago. The BB Maps GPS works fine. With any other application, including Google maps, the GPS does NOT work. I’m kinda miffed actually…

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:04:21 +0000

@Nate – I have a Blackberry Pearl 8230, from Verizon, and the GPS is LOCKED. This is not an “older model”. So, now you do know of a new phone from Verizon that was shipped with the GPS disabled.

By: Levi

Levi — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:02:27 +0000

“Your right to do so is not in question.” – I would love to have a conversation with some Fed anti-trust lawyers about this statement. After all they are starting to investigate the exclusive handset contracts. Along the same lines I would not be surprised if they wanted to look into the issue and in the end concluded the above statement does not stand.

By: Richard Garrett

Richard Garrett — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:44:47 +0000

While I appreciate James’ point of view, I cannot agree with what seems to be the underlying premise. VZW has every right to enable/disable features on phones. Meanwhile, it is the consumer’s right to vote, with their subscription and dollars, to select a phone and carrier. I think its great to lobby for features and capabilities but I question whether a carrier has an obligation to enable any feature in the hardware and/or firmware that is not enabled on the day the contract is signed for service. I’m glad that James’ is appealing to the business model side of the issue and hope that he has stimulated some discussion at VZW.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:58:02 +0000

I’m curious why you think the site is biased towards Verizon. After years of being a happy VZ customer, I left them for AT&T to get an original iPhone. I still maintain a 3G data account with Verizon. I also bought a Palm Pre on Sprint’s network and had a brief stint with T-Mobile when I used my Dash. James currently has phones and voice plans on all 4 carriers as well, and has written extensively about all of them.

Again, just curious on how you’re forming your opinion; not arguing it any way.

By: Jim D

Jim D — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:41:40 +0000

Have you considered switching carriers? Verizon is within their rights, however jerkish, to disable whatever feature on whatever phone they sell. ATT disables MMS on their IPhones. In my opinion, this blog seems to slightly prefer Verizon over other carriers, even though the alternatives like Sprint and T-Mobile do not come with the same shortcomings. Of course, that’s your right too, but I would consider checking out the competition if they offered better advantages.

By: Alan Edwards

Alan Edwards — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:01:11 +0000

Completely agree. I live in the UK, and can’t believe the things the US carriers think they can get away with. It’s part of the reason I won’t use handsets with carrier-customised firmware, I always buy unlocked generic handsets.

Another one for your campaign – useless, bug-ridden carrier-branded driver software for dongles. I have an 02 (UK carrier) branded unlocked Novatel MC930. It has the crappiest driver software on-board, it’s slow, often hangs or crashes on startup, and doesn’t work properly with other networks.

You can’t officially download the generic software. I managed to get hold of the generic software, but the generic drivers don’t work, so I have to start and close the 02 software every time I use the dongle.

Alan.

By: Joel Slade

Joel Slade — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:13:12 +0000

Verizon is not alone with this behavior.

ATT has chosen to disable Blackberry Maps on the Blackberry Bold. You can install it, but ATT service books will hide the App effectively preventing it’s use. The GPS hardware is still active and you can use other GPS software such as GoogleMaps or Garmin’s software, but you will not be able to use BlackBerry Maps.

This was particularly frustrating since when the Bold first came to ATT, BlackBerry Maps could be loaded and would work just fine. An update to their service books “disabled” BlackBerry Maps.

CellularSouth specifically tells me the GPS hardware is fully usable with any software with the BlackBerry 8830.

Not so. Only the TeleNav software will use it. This is identical to Verizon’s setup. GoogleMaps and Blackberry Maps can be loaded, they just do not have access to the GPS signal. GoogleMaps will find you location by using Cell Towers, but it is not accurate enough.

It seems that CellularSouth got their BlackBerry 8830’s setup identically to Verizon’s. Unfortunately, tech support did not even know about this.

I would gladly move to Sprint or T-Mobile if either of those carriers had better networks where I live.

By: BK

BK — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:37:33 +0000

Verizon’s excessively-aggressive removal of features, relatively high prices, and the notion that it’s the Verizon App store or no app store is a bit baffling to me.

I gladly paid a $175 termination fee to leave them for AT&T and I now pay $30 less a month. With recent events being what they are, I cannot fathom going back to Verizon.

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:05:46 +0000

Pearl
Pearl Flip
Curve

By: Geancarlo

Geancarlo — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:33:33 +0000

Now all we need is one for AT&T