Verzion can burn in Hell…

Unfortunately… I think they’re already part of it…

So… my contract is almost up and I’m looking to get a smart phone and data plan. I’ve been a customer of Verizon since I was 16 (a little more than 8 years) with the account in my name since I was 18 so I thought it would just be easiest to stay with them. I’ve been watching Verizon phones in dismay for over a year. The Moto Q, the Treo 700, the xv6800/6900… most of the phones have been nearly unusable not to mention completely crippled by Verizon (i.e. they remove BlueTooth profiles, WiFi capability, and completely restrict access to the GPS chips). I kinda just figured that this wouldn’t change and when I really wanted a smart phone I’d just switch to AT&T until I saw the Samsung Omnia. It has all of the features I want, is very customizable, and actually has enough memory and processor power to be useful. The only disappointment was that Verizon, in standard normal fashion, crippled the GPS to only be usable with the VZNavigator. However, I was given hope when I read some online communities quoted Verizon execs saying it would be unlocked in the first half of ’09.

I tried to upgrade my account online and noticed I wasn’t able to select the “Connect” plan which was supposed to be unlimited data, messaging, etc. In fact… the only plans I could select were the “Basic” and the “Select” plans and I had to add a data plan on top of those… With some concern, I sent Verizon a request for information (I didn’t keep the exact wording… but I do tend to be very tactful when asking questions of this sort – they were also nice enough to “recap” the phone conversation in an email).

Question 1.) I noticed that I was unable to select the “Connect” plan when trying to upgrade my phone to the Omnia online which forces me to select a separate data plan. Is this plan unavailable for upgrade?

Phone Answer 1.) Well Sir, you have to select a data plan for the phone.

Me: Isn’t the “Connect” plan a data plan?

VZ: Yes, sir, but you have to add an additional data plan for this phone.

Me: I’m sorry, I don’t understand, you’ll have to explain this to me. The “Connect” plan is a data, but I still have to add a data plan to use the Omnia?

VZ: Yes, Sir.

Me: That makes no sense.

VZ: One moment, Sir. […] Ok, so what I found out is that the “Connect” plan isn’t compatible with a PDA phone so you have to add the “Connect” plan features separately along with the separate data plan.

[… I made some comments about the rediculous nature of this…]

Email Answer 1.) The Nationwide Connect plan is not compatible with the Samsung Omnia phone.  I apologize for the inconvenience.  You may view our current rate plan offerings at www.verizonwireless.com which is compatible with this phone.

Question 2.) If I were to upgrade to the Omnia and get the data plan and decide at some point in the future that my use of the 3G network didn’t warrant the cost, could I downgrade my account without being penalized?

Phone Answer 2.) No, Sir. The phone can’t work without the data plan.

Me: [after a short pause to keep from yelling] I understand, from a business stand point why that might be said and I understand it might be in the literature you have to answer this question, but please don’t lie to the public like this [yes, I got on my horse… but didn’t ride for very long].  I happen to be a software engineer for a large networking company and know most of your network devices and that is just flatly untrue.

VZ: Well, I can’t speak to that, but the phones won’t activate without the data plan.

Me: [much more quickly] That is also a lie. All your network needs to activate the phone is the ESN, regardless of the phone’s 3G capabilities.

VZ: [I actually don’t remember her response to this… but it included something about her passing that message on.]

Email Answer 2.) When activating the Omnia phone, we require you to add a data plan to your account and the data plan must remain active on your account as long as the Omnia phone remains active on your account.

Question 3.) Verizon has currently restricted access to the GPS functionality on the Omnia, and most of its phones, to e911 and VZNavigator only. I require the use of this functionality for private purposes and have recently read the Verizon may unlock this functionality on the Omnia in the first half of this year. So far, I can’t find anything more than conjecture, so I was wondering if Verizon has an official position or a release date for such an update.

Phone Answer 3.) What purpose do you have for needing access to the GPS data?

Me: [resisting the urge to tell her none of her fucking business and an extermely strong impulse to call the VZNavigator a steaming pile of cow shit] For myself…

VZ: I don’t mean to be personal, but I need to know.

Me: [again resisting the urge to be excessively rude] I own a copy of TomTom Navigator that I would like to use because the VZNavigator is a very poor peice of software.

VZ: Well, Sir. For security purposes, the GPS functionality is restricted to e911 and VZNavigator only and we will not authorize any other applications.

Me: I’ve read various sites that seem to quote Verizon executives that they will be unlocking the Omnia GPS sometime in the first half of this year, do you know when that might be done?

VZ: To my knowledge that won’t ever be done. For security purposes […blah…].

Email Answer 3.) The GPS service regarding the Omnia phone can only be used in conjunction with our VZ Navigator service.  For security reasons, this feature is used solely for tracking purposes by Emergency 911 Services and does not function like a typical GPS device. However, we do offer an application called VZ Navigator which allows you to map your current location, find nearby points of interest, and get audible turn-by-turn directions right from your wireless phone.

So… now that that is a collossal disappointment… lets do a comparison of cost…

The above of course doesn’t include taxes and fees which usually adds ~10%…

Why do people put up with Verizon?