Daryl Goard
Postmodern CriticDoes Verizon get it?
August 17th 2008 17:37
I have been a Verizon customer for a couple years now. I will say the network coverage absolutely rocks. I think Verizon knows this because they do everything in their power to aggravate their customers and force them to switch. There are a couple of reasons that keep rearing their ugly heads for us gadget freaks.
1.Devices
Verizon passed on the opportunity to be the exclusive vendor of the iPhone a couple years ago. Apples demands to make the deal were a bit crazy but still it makes Verizon look bad since the iPhone has been such a buzz since its release. Not to limit this type of stuff to the iPhone, Verizon will also not carry the Blackberry Bold when it is released in a couple weeks. See the pattern? Verizon loves throwing the fact that they have the best network in your face and not carry the best devices that it can. They are always the last to get a phone or they wont get it at all.
2. Charging for services others give away.
Got a GPS in your phone? Sorry, you have to pay Verizon 10 bucks a month to use their proprietary application and you cant use anything else. If the same device is on another network you could fire up Google maps and bam, free GPS. They intentionally cripple the devices they do sell to squeeze more money out of the customer where AT&T leaves the devices open so you can use the features with no extra charge. The next wave of this is called social GPS, this is a service that allows, for instance, your friends on facebook to see where you are based on your phones GPS. There are several FREE services that do this, like Loopt for instance, but NONE of them will work on Verizon for free. Loopt is a pay service on Verizon (4 bucks a month) even though it is free everywhere else.
I wouldn't have such a big problem with this if I had the option to use other programs to access features inherent on the device. The issue for me is I cant use the feature at all unless I pay and then I'm forced to use whatever software Verizon deems is best for me. I know I will get comments from people like "If the calls don't drop then why do you need all this other stuff?"
Because as the cellphone evolves into so much more than a device to talk on I need the providers that control the data running in and out of the device to embrace the technology and nurture it to its potential. I know that sounds sappy but if they don't do that, what we will end up with is half-baked apps and devices that could do much more than the providers are allowing it to.
Can you hear me now Verizon?
1.Devices
Verizon passed on the opportunity to be the exclusive vendor of the iPhone a couple years ago. Apples demands to make the deal were a bit crazy but still it makes Verizon look bad since the iPhone has been such a buzz since its release. Not to limit this type of stuff to the iPhone, Verizon will also not carry the Blackberry Bold when it is released in a couple weeks. See the pattern? Verizon loves throwing the fact that they have the best network in your face and not carry the best devices that it can. They are always the last to get a phone or they wont get it at all.
2. Charging for services others give away.
Got a GPS in your phone? Sorry, you have to pay Verizon 10 bucks a month to use their proprietary application and you cant use anything else. If the same device is on another network you could fire up Google maps and bam, free GPS. They intentionally cripple the devices they do sell to squeeze more money out of the customer where AT&T leaves the devices open so you can use the features with no extra charge. The next wave of this is called social GPS, this is a service that allows, for instance, your friends on facebook to see where you are based on your phones GPS. There are several FREE services that do this, like Loopt for instance, but NONE of them will work on Verizon for free. Loopt is a pay service on Verizon (4 bucks a month) even though it is free everywhere else.
I wouldn't have such a big problem with this if I had the option to use other programs to access features inherent on the device. The issue for me is I cant use the feature at all unless I pay and then I'm forced to use whatever software Verizon deems is best for me. I know I will get comments from people like "If the calls don't drop then why do you need all this other stuff?"
Because as the cellphone evolves into so much more than a device to talk on I need the providers that control the data running in and out of the device to embrace the technology and nurture it to its potential. I know that sounds sappy but if they don't do that, what we will end up with is half-baked apps and devices that could do much more than the providers are allowing it to.
Can you hear me now Verizon?
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