 GPS Feature Disabled by Verizon
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
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by jeremy Posted Wed July 23, 2008 @ 9:21 PM
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Verizon's Marketing department is responsible for this decision. It
is not only your phone with this issue. I have a Motorola Q9C in
which on the Sprint network is fully functional, but is disabled on
the Verizon network.
When entering the program menu and selecting "H" (GPS Settings) a
screen is displayed that says, "ALERT: Modifying GPS Settings
disabled." with nothing but an OK button.
I have, and suggest everyone do the same, written two letters to their
corporate offices. One to New York, and the other to Illinois. These
letters express my distaste for this kind of business practice. I
also went to http://aboutus.vzw.com/leadership/executive/index.html
and copied the letter I mailed into an email to many of the
executives. I hope everyone does the same because it is the only way
they will change their business practices.
I got a call from the Assistant to the President who thanked me for my
input, and gave me 1000 free bonus minutes to use if I every go over.
They are good for my entire two year contract.
In the mean time, does anyone know if the alert screen in the
programming menu is issued by the Windows registry, in a dll, or
somewhere else? I have been unable to find a registry key for it, but
have found keys that control other message screens on my phone.
Any help would be appreciated. I do not expect Verizon to change
their business overnight. I do, however want my GPS working by
tomorrow. :)
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by jeremy Posted Wed July 23, 2008 @ 9:19 PM
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Verizon's Marketing department is responsible for this decision. It
is not only your phone with this issue. I have a Motorola Q9C in
which on the Sprint network is fully functional, but is disabled on
the Verizon network.
When entering the program menu and selecting "H" (GPS Settings) a
screen is displayed that says, "ALERT: Modifying GPS Settings
disabled." with nothing but an OK button.
I have, and suggest everyone do the same, written two letters to their
corporate offices. One to New York, and the other to Illinois. These
letters express my distaste for this kind of business practice. I
also went to http://aboutus.vzw.com/leadership/executive/index.html
and copied the letter I mailed into an email to many of the
executives. I hope everyone does the same because it is the only way
they will change their business practices.
I got a call from the Assistant to the President who thanked me for my
input, and gave me 1000 free bonus minutes to use if I every go over.
They are good for my entire two year contract.
In the mean time, does anyone know if the alert screen in the
programming menu is issued by the Windows registry, in a dll, or
somewhere else? I have been unable to find a registry key for it, but
have found keys that control other message screens on my phone.
Any help would be appreciated. I do not expect Verizon to change
their business overnight. I do, however want my GPS working by
tomorrow. :)
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by ntxwire4 Posted Sat October 6, 2007 @ 3:16 PM
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Verizon didn't disable a navigation system for the phone. In fact, you
can't even buy their navigator service for the 8830. That being said,
this isn't an issue of anyone being unfair to you. Next time, do some
research to see what it out there. In less than 3 minutes, I found
this:
https://store.telenav.com/newstore/PhoneAndGpsLoad.do
This will work for Verizon's 8830 Blackberry. Just gotta buy the
receiver and pay the $10 per month
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