vB Easy Archive - Proof that VZW advertised the 8830 with GPS

Pages: 1

Proof that VZW advertised the 8830 with GPS
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: BFEINZIMER

Here is the proof, it is listed at one of the highlight features...so who thinking class action?

I have the entire thing so if we need anything else scanned...also I'm posting this to BlackBerryForums, PinStack, HowardForums and CrackBerry so cross-ref links follow:

BlackBerryForums: Proof that VZW advertised the 8830 with GPS - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community
PinStack: Proof that VZW advertised the 8830 with GPS - RIM Blackberry Forums - Pinstack.com
CrackBerry: http://forums.crackberry.com/f61/pr...-8830-gps-2876/

Posted by: tgeekb

It's listed as "coming soon" so I'm not sure if you can hold someone to that. Many products change before they are available to the public.

Posted by: mbranscum

I think you're SOL on your "class action."

Posted by: tomtheguitarguy

All of the other phones on the page also have GPS - for Emergency Services. But none of them have the GPS pointed out like the 8830. It would appear (at least in this ad) that VZW was attempting to point out something other than an Emergency Services GPS. And the only thing that changed in the GPS is Verizon's crippling of it.

Just an observation.

tomtheguitarguy

Posted by: MegaMan X

don't they let you USE the GPS with their vzw navigator or something? its usable...but only when you pay them some monies to use it lol

Posted by: tomtheguitarguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by MegaMan X

don't they let you USE the GPS with their vzw navigator or something? its usable...but only when you pay them some monies to use it lol

VZ Navigator not available to us Blackberry folks as of now. Rumors here and there about it becoming available to us, but when? Who knows - only VZW.

Posted by: CowboyNYC

This crippling and removing functions is sadly normal anti-consumer behavior from vzw. They have done it before and they got busted for crippling bluetooth. On EVERY Palm Treo made versamail is a stock application, NOT on vzw's though, they remove versamail and put a proprietary email program which forces the user into nickle and diming vzw. Know at least 2 moto phones vzw "fixed" the firmware to remove functions and pretty much killed the phones function and then vzw blames it on moto.

My suggestion is if vzw 8830 customers are not happy you should bring any info saying the 8830 has GPS nav built in and DEMAND a device refund and also DEMAND to be let out of your ETF as you move on to a better service provider. One which understands that customers don't like to be lied to, FUD'ed, nickle and dimed, and their phones built in functions changed or removed.

A class action is a good idea, but better to make your issue well known since the vzw fat cats only respond when they take a hit in the wallet, a WHOLE bunch of blackberry users ch ch ch CHURNing away from verizon will make it's point. RIM shouldn't be too happy about this either.

Lesson for the future: forget vzw as a choice of a service provider. They can fool the sheep, but those IN THE KNOW, know better than getting screwed time and time again by vzw's Control Greed and Arrogance.

Posted by: ibmman69

I know I will prob hate Sprint but this crap is why I have switched. I have until Aug 2 to decide for sure. I am pleased with Sprint's service so far.

Posted by: CSOKIant

yeah, coming from an ex-verizon employee, this is a recurring theme, VZW crippling whatever feature they can, and charge more for data than any other carrier out there in the country. I'm still never going to leave them though, they actually work in my house!

Posted by: maggot17102

Realize the ad only says "capabilities" which means it has the ability for all of the things listed, but it doesn't mean that they are included and enabled.

Posted by: CowboyNYC

Really?

Nice try to excuse the vzw fat cats on this one, when will people wake up and see whats going on with vzw crippling?

Perhaps this will clear it up for the vzw sheep, more anti-consumer behavior at it's worse. Then vzw try's to FUD and lie that it's a RIM problem.

NO SIR, NOT this time. This has nothing to do with RIM and everything to do with vzw.

http://jkontherun.blogs.com/jkonthe...on-gets-me.html

Verizon gets me again with a disabled feature

I have been a Verizon customer for years, their network and EV-DO coverage in my local area is top-notch and from a service standpoint I have been quite happy with them. Where I have not been so happy with them is in their insistence on disabling features on some phones so they can ply their own services for extra cost. They bit me on their first Bluetooth-enabled phone, the Motorola V710, and I just realized today they got me again on the BlackBerry 8830. You may recall the V710 issue became a class-action lawsuit as unhappy owners wouldn't just roll over for Verizon's disabling the Bluetooth tethering ability that was integrated into the V710.

Today I am sitting here in disbelief, quite embarrassed that I missed such a key feature of the 8830 in my brief research into the phone prior to buying one from Verizon. Did you know the 8830 has integrated GPS? Neither did I as the Verizon marketing material doesn't mention it and neither did the rep in the store when I bought it. It turns out that Verizon has disabled the GPS, no doubt to push their own VZNavigator service for $10 per month. No VZNavigator service, no GPS. They got me again! I became aware of this fact after visiting a few BlackBerry user forums today and there are quite a few people a little peeved at Verizon about this. I can't say as I blame them too much. Disabling a key feature like GPS is pretty big and RIM should share some of the blame for not having the cojones to stand up to Verizon and insisting they not disable it. Both companies should be ashamed of themselves. Don't get me wrong, GPS is not that big a deal for me personally and certainly wasn't one of the reasons why I selected the 8830. Had I known about the lack of the GPS I still likely would have purchased the BlackBerry. It's the principal of the thing. Like the old saying goes, shame on me.

RIM statement after the jump

The BlackBerry 8830 smartphone houses a proprietary, autonomous GPS receiver. This
receiver is able to calculate the handheld's location relying solely on GPS
satellites with no input from cellular towers. While the device does have assisted
GPS, i.e. A-GPS capability, it houses a "full" GPS system similar in nature
to GPS systems used by GPS-only car kits and mobile devices. This is designed to
be accessible by second- and third-party applications such as BlackBerry Maps, Google
Maps, and TeleNav. Such programs do need a wireless data signal to download mapping
information, though they can figure out where the BlackBerry is in terms of latitude
and longitude with just the GPS signal.

The BlackBerry 8830 smartphone as released by Verizon has had this "full"
GPS capability disabled at a software level. Verizon has indicated that they plan
to release their own proprietary GPS mapping solution at a later time; possibly
VZ Navigator. AT&T and T-Mobile have both taken similar routes with their 8800
series handhelds; locking out GPS access for 3rd party programs and only enabling
access to the built-in receiver to the TeleNav program that they sell themselves.

If you would like Verizon to enable GPS functionality on the BlackBerry 8830, I
suggest you contact them and advise them as much.

Thank you again for contacting us, Dennis. If you have any questions or comments,
feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Adam
BlackBerry Customer Support
Research In Motion Limited

Quote:

Originally Posted by maggot17102

Realize the ad only says "capabilities" which means it has the ability for all of the things listed, but it doesn't mean that they are included and enabled.

Posted by: BFEINZIMER

Quote:

Originally Posted by maggot17102

Realize the ad only says "capabilities" which means it has the ability for all of the things listed, but it doesn't mean that they are included and enabled.

you may have a point...anyone else care to comment?