Verizon has disabled the GPS feature that RIM has made available on all of their 8830 Blackberries. Verizon has disabled this feature in order to force customers to purchase its own locator services for an additional monthly fee. The crippling of this feature is unnecessary and unfair to Verizon customers. Competitor wireless companies such as Sprint and ATT have allowed full functionality of the GPS feature in their 8830 phones without charging additional fees. The GPS information is delivered to phones using technology that is not controlled by Verizon and available to anyone-free of charge-who has a receiver capable of receiving signals. I object to Verizon's decision to remove features from a phone that I would find useful. A feature that does not interfere with Verizon's ability to deliver its core services. This practice is unfriendly and unfair to Verizon customers who pay premium fees for sub-par services. Why should we be forced to pay more for a feature that was intended to be free by the original manufacturer?

I would like to add that the advertising from Verizon about the GPS feature is confusing at best. It is unclear that in order to use the GPS functionality, additional fees have to be paid. While I have the option of returning the unit, the time and trouble I have gone to through to resolve this issue - combined with the cost of breaking my contract and still being without a phone that delivers the functionality I desire, leaves me no choice but to turn to you for help. Thank you for your attention.

Please send a service book to enable the GPS feature for all customers who bought the 8830.

DW
Richmond VA