I’ll be the first one to say how much I love Verizon’s network and pretty much recommend it to anyone who travels and / or needs to know that they are going to get a strong signal pretty much everywhere and never drop calls.
I will also say that all the crap that Verizon installs on their devices in an effort to control or lock down what said devices can do natively unless, of course, you are willing pay an additional fee, is a horrible way for them to treat their customers and if T-Mobile or AT&T work well enough for you, go with them.
Case in point, the Verizon Droid, which happens to be coming out this weekend, can connect to Microsoft Exchange without any help from Verizon, however, because Verizon says that the Droid is “primarily a consumer phone” they are going to charge you an extra 15 bucks per month to do so even though they aren’t providing you additional service. To be completely honest Verizon probably spends less money supporting customers who pay the $15 Active Sync charge simply because they don’t have to actively block you from accessing Exchange Servers which the Droid can do out of the Box.
If only AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint didn’t suck when it comes to network coverage in comparison to Verizon.
[Source]
Seems like Verizon is trying hard to topple AT&T as the most hated wireless carrier.
The dichotomy between how good their network is and how bad some of their business practices are is remarkable.
The dichotomy of how in one sentence you can say you recommend Verizon and then say they treat their customers horribly in the very next is what I find remarkable.
There is a reason why the iPhone is available on AT&T and not Verizon. Do you seriously think that a company like Apple would put their device on a network with bad service?
Face the facts, the iPhone has set the bar for smartphones and when it comes to lackberry, android, palm pre, or whatever else, they simply cannot compete.
Seriously dude… You completely misrepresented what I said. I qualified when I recommend Verizon and you conveniently left that part out in your attempt to make your point.
I make no bones about… In my opinion, Verizon, by far, has the best coverage of any network and if this is what is most important to you, they are the way to go. You pay a premium for it, but, compared to what you get elsewhere, is well worth it so long as you are willing to put up with all the other BS that comes with being a Verizon customer.
In my neck of the woods (North Eastern Alabama) AT&T data coverage is ABISMAL – rendering the iPhone unusable for data services. You’re better off with T-Mobile’s GPRS service here because it at least WORKS.
How is charging a premium price for a premium service evil? Sounds like capitalism to me…
Actually, he was contrasting specifically the quality of network with the poor business practices and it is spot on. Apple (I own various Macs, Ipods, even stock) is probably the one company in the industry that locks their devices down more than anyone. App store approval process? Itunes syncing? Protected AAC files? Unlocking Iphones? Etc?
It’s the same desire for control that Apple and Verizon share that saw Apple pick AT&T for it’s domestic carrier. AT&T (and GSM inherently) are more open and were willing to bend further backwards than Verizon.
I’ve twice left Verizon for AT&T (and one of it’s predecessors) specifically for this reason (crippled hardware), but keep coming back because of the quality of the network.
WTF?
How did this become an iPhone vs. BlackBerry post?
It really didn’t which is why I didn’t respond to the iPhone portion the previous comment.
Wait, isn’t this already the case with BlackBerries? You have to pay MORE for BES access? I don’t understand the problem with something that’s “par for the course”…
How will they block 3rd party apps like TouchDown or Moxier?
P.S. – in my personal experience the 3rd party Exchange apps are WAY better on Android than the built in one…
Right and like AT&T customer support is much better? That’s a joke. With AT&T you get a crap network and crap support. With Verizon the support is ok and the Network is top notch.
I would rather go with Verizon.
I will say this (and yes, I have had complaints about VZW locking down their phones, bluetooth, etc), the support I get when I have called or emailed VZW over the last few years has been nothing short of outstanding. When I have had overages they gave me free minutes for that month to carry me over (they have done that twice… for free). I have bought a couple of phones that I have returned and had to contact them about getting my new every two back and it is never a problem.
Other people might have had problems and I am sure they are valid to them, but to me VZW coverage and call clarity are what I need. I do not get that from AT&T. I’ve tried AT&T, TMO, Sprint, and obviously VZW. AT&T might have decent coverage (does not compare to VZW), but their call clarity is awful. Whenever I want to sound like I am talking through a tin can and/or have static and calls fading in and out (I deal with this when my AT&T friends call me) I will be sure to switch back to AT&T.
I also don’t see this being any different from what carriers charging more for BIS service (and even more still for BES service which makes little sense to me). The cost of doing business I guess. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it.
First off, how much is the initial cost of the data plan for the Droid Phone? If it’s $25 and then a $15 a month OWA fee then I can kind of understand it as most data plans run close to $40 a month.
If the data plan is going to be $30-$40 a month on top of a $15 a month fee, I for one will not be purchasing this phone or any other phone like it from Verizon. Nor will I support them on our corporate account. People who use exchange activesync to access their email usually have to go through their IT department for one reason or another anyways so I don’t see how Verizon can justify having a support cost with it.
I’d be surprised if Google will allow this to continue as I would think it could hurt their market share if consumers realize they’re being forced to pay $15 for no reason.
I have an email address that is through MS Exchange and I also have two Gmail addresses. The way I handle it now is to have all my emails go to my Gmail account and then I have no need for the exchange. I hope that helps.
Chris
Mystery solved: no extra cost for Exchange unless you are a business user:
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/11/personal_droid_data_will_cost.php
I used to have Sprint for a while back when the best my phone would do was 15 minutes before needing a charge. They tried to charge me for a 2 hour call on it and that’s when I dumped them, although I’m sure it has probably improved by now. I went to Cingular which means now I have at&t by default. I haven’t had any problems at all with at&t. I get a full signal while at my house and very seldom do I lose the signal while on the road. I am saving a bundle with at&t because I have Satellite TV, Internet and Wireless all through at&t and the combination has saved me a bunch of money. I can even tether without any additional charges and I don’t have a tether plan. I have never had any other carrier (yet) so I can only speak about what I know and so far at&t has served me well.
at&t + iPhone = free wifi in Starbucks and other locations nation wide… On the other hand the company which claims they are “always working for you” is…
Verizon To Nearly Double Termination Fee
http://www.lockergnome.com/oztech/2009/11/04/verizon-to-nearly-double-termination-fee/
Nice and yet another ANTI-CONSUMER move by big red.
Who needs AT&T at Starbucks? iTouch + Free Wifi totally avoids the Death Star. You can even use Skype plus a microphone to get the phone service if you want.
Of course, Apple is pretty anti-consumer itself. It locks down Google Voice and other apps that it doesn’t like.
Also there is no beating Open, Standard, Global, technology GSM. At&t and t-mo’s got it, and verizon is now desperate to upgrade to it.
Open, Standard, Global GSM doesn’t work in my neck of the woods. The service here is dreadful. Been there, done that, dropped AT&T like a hot potato after getting skunked by bad telephone service.