Because Verizon decided to be greedy with the GPS in the Blackberry Pearl (which, along with many other reasons, has made me suspicious of their recent “Any App, Any Device” announcement), users must pay for Verizon’s own VZ Navigator if they want any map positioning functionality. Yesterday, Google decided to save the day and announced a new triangulation location feature in Google Maps beta that can pin-point your location to within 10 city blocks, even if you don’t have GPS in your mobile phone (or your GPS has been crippled by the carrier). This can be very helpful when looking for nearby business and restaurants. Thanks for making up for Verizon’s shortfalls, Google.
If you are interested in honing your debate skills, I think I have found an effective method:
Join Verizon Wireless and call customer service, they will debate/argue with you regarding any issue. You are considered wrong until you prove your case. Truly an effective teaching method.
“Verizon’s new debate program improved my skills as an orator by 47%*. Thank you VZW!”
*results may vary
Or, if it is more convenient, just drop by a Verizon retail store. In fact, I think they recently launched a competition to see who can provide the most inferior customer service. Retail stores are in the lead by 1 point! Keep a close eye on that race folks, it is going to be close one.
/sarcasm
Verizon is lame. But, then again, so are Vermont’s mobile phone provider options.
[Update] This frustration stems from spending over one pleasant hour on the phone with Verizon customer service this morning on still unresolved issues. The Verizon rep promised she would find a supervisor and call me back within two hours. Well, it is four hours later…and still nothing. Should I have expected anything else?
A shortsighted and often just plain stupid federal government has allowed itself to be bullied and fooled by a handful of big wireless phone operators for decades now. And the result has been a mobile phone system that is the direct opposite of the PC model. It severely limits consumer choice, stifles innovation, crushes entrepreneurship, and has made the U.S. the laughingstock of the mobile-technology world, just as the cellphone is morphing into a powerful hand-held computer.
The New York Times, today, reports that Verizon Wireless (my mobile provider), is about to allow ads on their mobile phone screens.
Exactly what we all wanted, right? Not even close. We are already bombarded daily with generally useless, irrelevant advertising. Plus, this method of stuff-it-down-your-throat advertising is SO 1990’s.
I was disappointed to read this on my NY Times RSS feed this morning and was happy to see this articulate response posted on one of my favorite blogs.
Read it here (especially if you work for Verizon or care to keep your cellphone ad free).