Unlock the GPS on Windows Mobile Phones Verizon!!!

http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1515861

that's why i got a handheld garmin instead

it's not cheap, but... it's a one-time purchase for the unit. after
that, i can check my location as much as I want without paying for
anything except the electricity to run it.

and, i've been told it's more accurate than the phone GPS apps

What it sounds like is you have another app that will tap in to the
GPS antenna or whatever you want to call it. Why would Verizon allow
another sort of GPS related app to tap in to the GPS when they can
charge you for their own service?

is reading and looking into all features of it before signing it (this
includes checking out the equipment and making sure all questions are
answered before the sale).

Because you have the free right to shop for phone service where you
want to, you need to assert the responsibility of the place you choose
to go with. This mean abiding by:

A. Their equipment (including the UI)
B. Their terms
C. Their contract rates.

There are no rights without responsibility. Is it selfish for VZW to
lock out GPS and make you pay for navigator? Maybe.

But it does not mean they should have to change because it was not
properly researched by the user.

The problem is people think that they have an individual right, but
put the responsibility of that right on everyone else (namely trying
to make the phone carrier change to make that person happy).


Its a bad craziness that is starting to fill this country.

I am a Verizon customer and know that Verizon does lock out a lot of
features that are built into the phone by the manufacture. The even
put their own screens and menus on the phones. So someone with Razr
phone with another carrier has a much different UI (the manufactures)
than I do on my phone (Verizon's UI). They do lock out the GPS
functionality on many phones so you have to buy the VZ Navigator and
pay $9.99/month instead of using google maps for free.

It really doesn't matter if the OP knew about this beforehand or not.
It something he doesn't like about Verizon and as a customer (probably
locked in a contract) he has the right the express his concern.

I'm sorry, but if you had that much of an issue with "locked"
features, why didn't you purchase an unlocked phone? My husband
purchased unlocked phones for us a few years back. They worked well
and did what they were meant to do. When I purchased a phone a couple
of months back, I decided to go with a blackberry that my provider was
offering for $50 rather than purchase another unlocked phone. Why?
Because it was cheaper for me to do so and I decided I didn't need the
"locked" features.

It isn't as if the company isn't providing you with some alternative
correct? The alternative to purchase an unlocked cell phone through
the manufacturer or a 3rd party?

I'm assuming you were aware of these limitations when you purchased
the phone?

If there is a certain service you need, then you should pay for it.
This information was most likely provided to you when you entered the
agreement that for GPS service, you need "VZ Navigator".

...there is sufficient consumer choice on this particular topic, that
there would be little need for government intervention. And I say
that as a strong liberal.

Until all of the cell companies collude to disable GPS, I just don't
see the government stepping in.

It's possible that they would require more clear language, however.
After court cases, Verizon was required to be more explicit that they
disable certain Blutooth profiles. But there was no act of Congress
to force Verizon to enable all profiles.

Sorry, but there's consumer choice on this topic. If you don't like
it, switch to Sprint or AT&T or... My Sprint phones have never had
GPS locked out. And it's one of the reasons I stay with them, as
opposed to switching to Verizon.

The feds will eventually step in and require any device to be used on
any network. Carriers can do what they want with GPS because
consumers will simply buy directly from the manufacturer and not have
to deal with this garbage anymore. VZW has already promised to "open"
their network to most CDMA devices. The reason we haven't seen them do
anything yet is because it was all a big lie. They only said it to
keep the feds off their backs a little longer.

CDMA and GSM are on their way out. LTE will replace much of it.
Everything else will be a hybrid device and still compatible with
everyone's networks. This is the future of wireless phones.

Adam..you know they are not going to do this no matter how many people
ask. NYC is so easy to find your way around, you don't need any of
that!