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Well... rumors about it have been going on for quite a while now. Market analysts privvy to Google's Master Plan for world domination have been hinting at their phone service. Word is that google participated in a federal auction for network bands for that service.
That phone service being a very plausible motive for the development of Android. I mean... its not like a giant like Google would design a mobile OS just for fun and no money.
But that service...A phone service where your minutes, texting and data will be free. Well, not totally free, you have to spend some time on their targeted ads in exchange for those "free" services. Amazing though, isn't it?
Just think about the implications of it.
To put it in perspective, let's play around with a few numbers.
In 2006, the number of wireless subscribers in the US was about 236 million people. A massive customer base. Being conservative, on average, about $40 a month was spent on that service. Do the math...
About $8.5 billion monthly.
About $25 billion quarterly.
About $100 billion annually.
What would a free phone service do to that? Google rocking that industry is obviously an understatement. With current economic conditions, the number of people that would move over to Google would obviously be enormous.
Let's be generous and assume Google takes half the market share. Simply put that's $50 billion a year put back in consumers pockets. $50 billion that simply moves from those corporate giants like At&T and Verizon over to anywhere and everywhere else.
The layoffs by those companies would be enormous, but the growth of Google would rival that deterioration.
Giants recede, but one succeeds.
Wow I <3 google
this has been talked about for over a year now. It would be nice. And I could see it happening. And with google voice service that is going public soon, it seems to be on track. But you never know what they plan on doing.
APrinceAmongMen said:
Well... rumors about it have been going on for quite a while now. Market analysts privvy to Google's Master Plan for world domination have been hinting at their phone service. Word is that google participated in a federal auction for network bands for that service.
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Click to collapse
Google's involvement in the auction is OLD NEWS and hardly a secret as you seem to think it, this was well publicized for months. Further, you're a tool for spreading FUD by using any absurd terms like 'world domination'.
You also didn't follow the REAL news that came during the auction lead-up. It was well documented that Google's involvement in the auction was purely to ensure that the network bands would be left open instead of closed off for proprietary use only. They were also encouraging a higher cost of entering the bidding to ensure more money came from the final winner. They never had any intention of winning the auction. ALL of this was publicized before they even submitted their bid.
APrinceAmongMen said:
That phone service being a very plausible motive for the development of Android. I mean... its not like a giant like Google would design a mobile OS just for fun and no money.
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You're right here, Google wouldn't design a mobile OS just for fun (actually, they might, but that's another story). Fact is, that OS is so heavily oriented towards using Google's various services, all of which give them more chances to push ads through their network, which equates to money. It's just like Microsoft creating a web browser that defaults to MS's own search and home pages, or any OEM adding another company's software (ie. AOL) to a pre-build computer.
Additionally, Google will make money on their App Market...much like Apple makes more on their app store.
APrinceAmongMen said:
Just think about the implications of it.
To put it in perspective, let's play around with a few numbers.
In 2006, the number of wireless subscribers in the US was about 236 million people. A massive customer base. Being conservative, on average, about $40 a month was spent on that service. Do the math...
About $8.5 billion monthly.
About $25 billion quarterly.
About $100 billion annually.
What would a free phone service do to that? Google rocking that industry is obviously an understatement. With current economic conditions, the number of people that would move over to Google would obviously be enormous.
Let's be generous and assume Google takes half the market share. Simply put that's $50 billion a year put back in consumers pockets. $50 billion that simply moves from those corporate giants like At&T and Verizon over to anywhere and everywhere else.
The layoffs by those companies would be enormous, but the growth of Google would rival that deterioration.
Giants recede, but one succeeds.
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<shudders> Gawd where did you get this garbage???
First, why did you use numbers from 2006? Updated numbers from 07 or 08 are readily available.
Second, the math is far too optimistic, and it also ignores how many of those cell phones belong to corporations who would rarely if ever decide it was better to force their employees to stare at ads in place of doing work.
All of this post was based on old news and theories that were thrown out by even the most fanatical of the tin-foil hat crowd. I'm curious why you're posting it at all. I also seem to remember a post almost identical to this a few days ago, though it may have been from another user. Please stop spreading FUD.
Somehow, I doubt that Google is going to move into the physical service providers market. They already provide many online services that lure customers, number one being their search engine. Search, Gmail, Youtube, Calendar, Maps, Tasks, Voice Mail, there's not much you can't do with Google and internet access.
I don't see why they'd need to move into providing physical services, such as phone, cell, 'net or tv. It doesn't seem like that would fit Google's personality well. They seem to prefer to operate in the virtual environment, let another company provide access (internet, in this case) while they provide the service.
Take Android. Google is not a hardware company, nor did they dive into the hardware market. Much less could they have viably made a handset that could have punched such a hole into the market as the G1/Dream already has. No, instead Google focused on making a software OS that could perform well on multiple hardware platforms, and provide a modern, multi-tasking OS for smartphones. They orchestrated the Open Handset Alliance to push Android forward, and now we're seeing the introduction of multiple Android handsets this year from HTC, Samsung and presumably Motorola.
It seems uncharacteristic, given their method of pushing Android to the consumers (letting manufacturing companies and service providers step in rather than creating their own hardware and carrier companies), that they would be entering the phone service market. I can't see how Google would benefit in the end. What would they do, give you free phone service by forcing you to listen to an ad at the beginning of all your calls and voicemails?
I don't see it happening in the near future. If it did, I'd expect Google to purchase an existing carrier, rather than try to forge a new customer base out of nothing. With Android intending to hit multiple carriers in the same region (much like the WM and Blackberry platforms do), it seems unlikely that Google could carry Android exclusively to make their carrier profitable. Not even Apple took this route, preferring to let carriers carry their phone exclusively rather than trying to enter the market on their own.
Google Voice is now taking advanced invitations, go sign up now!
https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/
They say on the site that we are only a couple weeks away from it going live.
thats been there for a couple of months now. I signed up the first few days.
Signed up. Looks like a full fledged phone service might not be too far away. Also seems as though calls could be made via the website, could be a mis-understanding on my part. I can see making calls from my g1 browser and talking through my phone. possibilities are endless.
Just when it appeared that Sprint was finally pulling their head out the sand, they finally have good (rather, great!) devices, they are rolling out the fastest network available in many cities, they fumble, pathetically. Kinda like handing it off on the 1 yard line, running back jumps over the pile and ball gets knocked loose, game over, you lose.
Effective now, if you are getting ANY employee discount, they are discontinuing it on every line after the first two:
"Discount Policy Change Notice
Effective 8/27/10, discounts will no longer apply to the monthly recurring charge for Add-a-Phone lines beyond the first two lines on family or share plans."
And if that weren't enough, if you have any add-ons (regardless of if it is first, second, or 5th line) your discount is gone too.
Discount Policy Change Reminder
"As a reminder, effective 8/1/10, employee/member discounts no longer apply to add-on services with a monthly recurring charge of $29.99 or less. Examples include, but are not limited to, Messaging Add-Ons, Data Packs, Data Premier."
Pathetic.
Anyone who wants to tell me "well if you don't like it, you can go somewhere else" save yourself the time, I plan on it.
That's quite the misleading thread title to get us to look at old news.
derrickj said:
Just when it appeared that Sprint was finally pulling their head out the sand, they finally have good (rather, great!) devices, they are rolling out the fastest network available in many cities, they fumble, pathetically. Kinda like handing it off on the 1 yard line, running back jumps over the pile and ball gets knocked loose, game over, you lose.
Effective now, if you are getting ANY employee discount, they are discontinuing it on every line after the first two:
"Discount Policy Change Notice
Effective 8/27/10, discounts will no longer apply to the monthly recurring charge for Add-a-Phone lines beyond the first two lines on family or share plans."
And if that weren't enough, if you have any add-ons (regardless of if it is first, second, or 5th line) your discount is gone too.
Discount Policy Change Reminder
"As a reminder, effective 8/1/10, employee/member discounts no longer apply to add-on services with a monthly recurring charge of $29.99 or less. Examples include, but are not limited to, Messaging Add-Ons, Data Packs, Data Premier."
Pathetic.
Anyone who wants to tell me "well if you don't like it, you can go somewhere else" save yourself the time, I plan on it.
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So what? If not getting discounts that MOST people don't get anyway, is a deal breaker for you ("waaah, I'm no longer in the special club"), then buh-bye.
If it's a matter of not being able to afford the STANDARD rates... then I say, learn how to manage your damn $$.
Such a sense of entitlement in America these days. C'mon people, the biggest hurdle in a lot of people's lives is their own ego.
Good luck finding what Sprint offers for cheaper even without the discount.
Yeah.. old news man
Your thread title suggests they are discontinuing ALL discounts, not just on the added lines. Considering my 27% discount only saves me ~$5 on my $20 added line I'm not sweating it. Not to mention (and I could be mistaken) I believe this applies to FUTURE lines, not current.. My discount is still there for my 3rd line.. guess we'll see when my next bill drops..
Jye75 said:
So what? If not getting discounts that MOST people don't get anyway, is a deal breaker for you ("waaah, I'm no longer in the special club"), then buh-bye.
If it's a matter of not being able to afford the STANDARD rates... then I say, learn how to manage your damn $$.
Such a sense of entitlement in America these days. C'mon people, the biggest hurdle in a lot of people's lives is their own ego.
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Couple of tips for you:
1) Read original post, already mentioned I was leaving, has nothing to do with being in a "special club" rather Sprint, not me, Sprint, changed their terms. I made my decision.
2) I would be willing to compare W-2's with you, I can assure you that my money is a) being managed far more effectively than yours and 2) there is more of it to manage.
3) Learn definition of entitlement. Why do you think anyone offers discounts? As an "entitlement"?!!? I think the word you are looking for is "incentive" and I have lost mine with Sprint.
nebenezer said:
Yeah.. old news man
Your thread title suggests they are discontinuing ALL discounts, not just on the added lines. Considering my 27% discount only saves me ~$5 on my $20 added line I'm not sweating it. Not to mention (and I could be mistaken) I believe this applies to FUTURE lines, not current.. My discount is still there for my 3rd line.. guess we'll see when my next bill drops..
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I edited the title. This is definitely for existing lines, I already had the discussion. It is also new news to me because I have electronic billing and you have to click a hyperlink to see it. Seriously, you have to click a hyperlink. All the other text is printed and a major change is announced and you have to click a hyperlink, I'm just saying.
derrickj said:
I would edit the title but it won't let me. This is definitely for existing lines, I already had the discussion. It is also new news to me because I have electronic billing and you have to click a hyperlink to see it. Seriously, you have to click a hyperlink. All the other text is printed and a major change is announced and you have to click a hyperlink, I'm just saying.
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Interesting about the link..
And you cant edit the title of the thread? I've never had that problem before..
When you hit edit on the OP the thread title shows as the title of the OP.. cool
derrickj said:
Couple of tips for you:
1) Read original post, already mentioned I was leaving, has nothing to do with being in a "special club" rather Sprint, not me, Sprint, changed their terms. I made my decision.
2) I would be willing to compare W-2's with you, I can assure you that my money is a) being managed far more effectively than yours and 2) there is more of it to manage.
3) Learn definition of entitlement. Why do you think anyone offers discounts? As an "entitlement"?!!? I think the word you are looking for is "incentive" and I have lost mine with Sprint.
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1) I did read, and said, "Buh-bye". So why are you still here?
2) What are you, 5? I manage my money just fine, and something tells me that if you are so up in arms about losing discounts that don't amount to much over the course of a year, then a) your money ISN'T being managed better than mine, not that it matters either way. b) WTF makes you believe you know where my 6 figure annual salary lies?
3) I know the definition of entitlement, and you are displaying a sense of it with your words. Boo-hoo, you don't get a discount anymore, so you're going to stomp away mad like a child and go elsewhere. Discounts aren't incentives, they're perks. The incentive with Sprint is that you still get better rates than any other major carrier, and an awesome phone.
Now shut up and color.
/buh-bye, don't care, hate Sprint more.
there are other .. providers that might be cheaper..
Try metroPCS or similar companies in your area. the only thing is that their service is limited to local area and you pay for roaming.
but for the big 4... it will be hard to get a cheaper plan.
....
PS.. that does suck that sprint did that. They should at least grandfather the current users and plans.
Dan330 said:
there are other .. providers that might be cheaper..
Try metroPCS or similar companies in your area. the only thing is that their service is limited to local area and you pay for roaming.
but for the big 4... it will be hard to get a cheaper plan.
....
PS.. that does suck that sprint did that. They should at least grandfather the current users and plans.
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I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.
derrickj said:
I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.
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Really? In what advertisement campaign, might I ask, did you see this as a selling point to the general public?
I don't really care if you don't like Sprint, to each his own. However, you're leaving over a matter of a few dollars a month that was never promised to you to begin with... and it's Sprint's poor business decision?
Take this for example, I spent 14 years in the Air Force, and over that time, many stores and companies offered various levels of military discounts. Many of them stopped for one reason or another, and there were some military members who complained, "Lowe's (or whatever store) doesn't do military discounts anymore, I'm not going there." But most of us knew it was originally something that the chain did to show appreciation, and it simply came to a conclusion as things do, and we would then pay full price for purchases like everyone else.
Jye75 said:
Really? In what advertisement campaign, might I ask, did you see this as a selling point to the general public?
I don't really care if you don't like Sprint, to each his own. However, you're leaving over a matter of a few dollars a month that was never promised to you to begin with... and it's Sprint's poor business decision?
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It was never promised to me? How do you think I got it? Magic? Did I ever say it was offered to the General Public or in advertising campaign? I said it was offered as an incentive to get people who would otherwise not use their service to use their service. Do you think they would offer it if they didn't have to?
Sprint's poor business decision?
If I have to explain that, I will just leave you wondering.
derrickj said:
It was never promised to me? How do you think I got it? Magic? Did I ever say it was offered to the General Public or in advertising campaign? I said it was offered as an incentive to get people who would otherwise not use their service to use their service. Do you think they would offer it if they didn't have to?
Sprint's poor business decision?
If I have to explain that, I will just leave you wondering.
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Obviously, they DON'T have to, which is why they terminated those discounts.
Discounts are the exception, not the standard. It's not a poor business decision to charge people the amount that is stated in the standard rates. If I have to explain THAT to you, then well...
I'm contemplating words that start with the letter "M"... moron.
derrickj said:
I appreciate your civility, obviously some true losers on these forums. My point was not that I want something cheaper, rather that Sprint makes a poor business decision by removing something they offered as an incentive to encourage people to sign up for their service. Would I have signed up with Sprint without the discount? Absolutely not. Not because I can't afford it, (that's just such a lame argument and one that I guess its those who can't think of first) but you look and see what you are getting for you money and you make the decision. I was paying less, I was getting less. Now I might be able to pay marginally less but its not worth it. My post was to inform as I just learned this. Surprised to see so many people so passionate about their cellular provider.
Can't imagine what would happen if I insulted their water company.[/QUOTE
Being new to the board I can honeslty say there are some real ****-heads on here. Then you have the people who may come off in the wrong way. Still take stuff with a gain of salt when in a fourm online.
As for the discount I have not seen or heard of anything about it, not saying I don't care. I truely do. I have worked for Sprint when it was the PCS network. One thing that my manager said that has proven time and time again is that Sprint is the LEADER in the celluar busniess. When they make a move to do something all the other cell phone compaines follow. interesting when sprint announce the Everything Plan I was expecting chaos. I have a 23% discount. My bill is $160 right now. Without it its $190. $30 is the difference with 2 phones. Even with one phone on AT&T or any other network I would not have the same thing. Plan to Plan and Add-ons ..Etc. I would be paying close to the money I pay now.
my opinion - if its 1 user 2 phones. Drop the other phone and pay a cheaper rate. If it's 2 users 2 phones. get that other person to pay there half of the bill. You might already know this, so lets move forward.
As you can see Cell Phones are not Analog anymore!! So chances are as we move forward they are going to require more and more data or coverage.
I feel your pain. We live in the US, so by proxy we are going to get screwed when big corps. like this make these desicions. I hope I wasn't rude or being a douche but stop crying about $30 or less discount or plan changes.
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Also can you provide the hyperlink. I would like to see this.
Wallabe said:
Also can you provide the hyperlink. I would like to see this.
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The hyperlink is on a secured link. I actually have to be logged into my account but here is a screen shot. Seems like there are people who don't know that the "Employee Discount" doesn't mean you are a Sprint employee, just means you have a job, which many are clearly (and understandably) lacking.
Jye75 said:
Obviously, they DON'T have to, which is why they terminated those discounts.
Discounts are the exception, not the standard. It's not a poor business decision to charge people the amount that is stated in the standard rates. If I have to explain THAT to you, then well...
I'm contemplating words that start with the letter "M"... moron.
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If you take a business class someday, perhaps it will be clearer. I have neither the time nor the inclination to shed the light on this for you and I doubt you have the ability to comprehend.
I love these threads. Boo Hoo, they are taking away my discount. I heard that they are creating a new cell phone providor called crymeariver, you might want to check them out.
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
SInce you already took the time to write this post. I would suggest you sending the story to The Consumerist website also.
These companies don't like the bad publicity they get from organizations like Consumer Reports. I'm suggesting this as a way to alert potential consumers about the risk and not to use it as a way to get revenge.
Good Luck
Wow!!!!
You posted all of that on your Xoom? I thought it kind of weird that we would have to pay full price AND still have to activate (get a # from Verizon) myself. But on launch day I decided to go ahead anyway since it wasn't really a lock-in type of plan. However, I began to experience an uneasy feeling about the whole thing after playing around with the Xoom, remembering what it cost as I went along, remembering how things usually worked (in the past anyway) in relation to price of these types of things, you know, FULL PRICE = no having to deal with a wireless provider..etc, and decided pretty darn quickly (I had the device for a total of 3 hours) that I didn't want to continue with the current setup. I therefore took the device back to BB where I purchased it. They accepted the return and called VZW to deactivate everything, which they did, but I still recieved a bill for $38.27. I was told that that was for activating the device...etc., during my call to them to try and get a refund since I had the device for only 3 fricking hours. The rep I got was pretty nice and understanding and said that she could cancel the bill and I would owe nothing. I left it at that and a couple of days later, I recieved a bill for that same amount in my mailbox, so I called again to talk them about it. Well, by the time I got done with that phone call, I was told that I owed $3.27 and that that amount was the taxes that was on the bill to begin with. I thought, and said to the rep., HUH!!!, and she told me that their system has no way of reversing taxes. Rather than argueing over $3.27, I told her that I would just send them a money order. Does this sound plausible to anybody? Does anyone else think that their system is incapable of reversing taxes and that the money is actually going to be paid on the taxes? Just all so weird to me.
Oh yea, AND a couple of days later I went back to BB to see if the activation crap with Verizon was still going on (I thought I'd at least check things out) and sure enough it wasn't. I guess it was only a launch day thing. I ended up getting another Xoom WITHOUT having to deal with Verizon's crap.
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
ixobelle said:
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
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I got a bet that says this asshole isn't from the United States or has any idea what a person in the military means to the average american like myself. We have the liberties and rights because they fight for them. Go Troll somewhere Gollum
VegUnited said:
Go Troll somewhere Gollum
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What You Said
They are a former Marine just so'you know
OP: I would for starters file with the BBB in your area
ixobelle said:
so uhh... long story short? There was a billing error? I don't even see in your post about what.
I see all kinds of stuff about the army, your job, Android in general, and your gf, but nothing to do with the thread title...
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androidlurker said:
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
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Click to collapse
So, you gave them all your information for them to be able to bill you and now are complaining. I paid full price @ Best Buy and my information was not needed. Why would it be if i'm paying full price? If they would of asked for all my info I would of called V the next day to make sure I didn't have a paying cycle as it just depends on the rep.
But you my friend failed and are blaiming Verizon.
I think the most important point that he said was missed... his gf picked it up for him. need I say more?
/thread
also, all these threads that do not belong on the board, or are viewed as trolling should be voted on. I gave this a 1 star rating.
Verizon cancelled my data on day 1 and warned of the bill. Once it came in they told me to call and it would be cleared out. Bill went from 37 to 0.
Curious how can you be billed for a data bill you declined? You must sign the contract and submit your social security for credit checks before activation.
He is trying to help the community. Most of you suck anyways. Thanks for the post op.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
androidlurker said:
I truly hope this appeal comes across to other members on this board as sincere and reasonable; for the record I am in my mid-30s; I am a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served honorably in times far safer and far less treacherus than my Marine brothers serve today; I have an undegraduate degree from UCLA, and a law degree from Chapman University School of Law. I am very fortunate to call myself employed, having graduated in the middle of the worst economy and job market that this country has seen in multiple generations. After nearly a year of fruitless searches for a job, indeed ANY job, I landed a career with a historic, admired financial services company as a fiduciary for client assets. I am disclosing this not for any reason aside from my need to communicate, as clearly as possible, that I am not here to fling poo, rant and rave about a minor error, or throw a temper tantrum in a public forum. I am not perfect, but I do believe I am rational and reasonable, and I hope to rationally and reasonably communicate this problem in order to facilitate some method of combating it.
This evening, I spent a number of hours attempting to fix a major billing error made by Verizon wireless. This is not the first call I have made since purchasing my Xoom, and the promises made by Verizon employees on previous phone calls and store visits were apparently nothing more than stall tactics. This billing error is directly related to my Xoom, which my girlfrend purchased for me for my birthday, the 26th of February. We are not wealthy, but she saved for some time to buy what she knew I wanted but did not expect. Even with the early adopter issues I and many of you have experienced, I still thoroughly enjoy my Xoom and know that I will continue to enjoy it as much, and likely more so, than I have enjoyed the moto Droid 1 that has capitalized my inner geek's attention for the past year.
In my capacity at my job, I have personally invested in, and compelled clients and coworkers to invest in, the companies that I believed would prosper as Android grew in popularity. My knowledge and experience with high performance desktop rigs and mobile devices allowed me to understand, in mid 2010, the potential value of companies like ARM Holdings, nVidia, and Atmel, when their stock values hovered at near all-time lows. And I was correct in predicting the changes in the consumer technology landscape - what I failed to take into consideration was just how deep into the grey areas of law and morality the major channel of android devices, Verizon Wirelss, would venture in order to give it a market advantage over its competitors.
I have been a happy customer of Verizon, and have had virtually zero complaints since becoming an Android user in early 2010. In fact I have been instrumental in converting a fairly large number of friends and coworkers into Android users on Verizon's network, something I would not have done if I thought for a second that my recommendation would lead to the kind of issues I am beginning to see with customers similarly situated to me.
Without explaining the details of my current complaints against Verizon, understand that I have very little faith that Verizon is going to address my complaints with any sort of good faith or fair dealings. After my repeated attempts to reverse the questionable actions of Verizon employees relating to my account, it appears as though Verizon is engaged in a series of de minimus infractions against a customer base lacking any bargaining power and damaged in amounts small enough to pass quietly over the heads of those tasked with protecting consumers from such activities.
If you bought a Xoom at full retail and declined any data plans, you will likely discover that you are being billed for the data plan you declined to use. If you already discovered this and think you have already fixed the "error" by contacting verizon, you will likely see that your call to verizon was completely ignored. If you contact verizon to ask why verizon has repeatedly ignored your desire to be free of any data plans, you will likely be treated like a child and misled to believe that purchasing a Xoom requires that you pay for a month-to-month data plan. Never mind that we know this to be untrue, because it is clear that verizon intends to collect as much revenue as it can during a product launch mired in confusing, contradictory and misleading terms.
Banking on the inability of an individual consumer to withstand delay tactics and phone shuffling from ineffective customer rep to ineffective customer rep, verizon is hoping that only a fraction of the erroneus and fraudulent charges will be fought hard enough to warrant reversal. For every $10 million that verizon will overcharge xoom buyers, if only 10% of defrauded customers fight the good fight and see theirncharges reversed, Verizon will see a $9 million windfall. Thisnis not a new tactic in business, just one I did not expect Verizon to take.
We do have some leverage, we just need to figure out how to utilize it. I presumr this is a good enough forum to seek out other not willing to take a $300 shaft from verizon, especially after paying $800 for a luxury like a xoom.
Any thoughts? Ideas? How can we become a squeaky enough wheel such that we're made right and others are not subject to deceitful tactics with little or no recourse?
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you have to do and I have done this before and won against T-mobile is go to the Small Claims Court and open a case against verizon. your case will be heard in 30 days
You'll probably have more luck on the Better Business Bureau website than posting on here. There's nothing any of us can really do about it, unless the Verizon CEO secretly lurks in here.
Good luck!
Silly me for thinking I'd find sympathetic ears here. My bad.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
@lurker these forums are full of haters man. Thanks for your service and good luck with the ordeal.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Well said my good man. Verizon is the devil, I have known this since my dumbphone days They are too big and I am praying for an event that sees them lose so many subscribers that they drop to #3 or #4 and have to change tactics. This won't happen, but I can dream.
monadzback said:
He is trying to help the community. Most of you suck anyways. Thanks for the post op.
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Click to collapse
The only difference between your post and his is you took a lot less words to say nothing.
Thank you for being succinct OP
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
I must say after reading all that I am still not sure what the problem is.. Did they get your GF in a contract instead of month to month you can cancel? Or will they just not cancel your data plan at all??
I had no issue and took 10 minutes on the phone and was told to call back if I did see a charge on my bill and they would remove it..
mjpacheco said:
The only difference between your post and his is you took a lot less words to say nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App
Boy did they pick the wrong guy to select to ask about Verizon and it's customer service evaluation. I don't have screen shots from my phone(thought about it after completing it)
But here is my response I had when I was asked why I wouldn't recommend Big Red and what they can do to change my response....
"Place more emphasis on the third party developers and customer's wishes. And pay more attention to online petitions. I can honestly say that with my recent upgrade I was More than seriously considering moving to a competitor! The Samsung Galaxy S3 locked bootloader debacle to name an example. Security and warranty issues seem false when it is said an unlocked version of the same phone will be added to vzw system but at a unsubsidized cost. I have every product Verizon offers. But not out of loyalty or even respect. In fact the opposite is true. This is mainly due to your policies and practices. Verizon products today are like Microsoft products of the late 90s and early 00s. I use them not because I would WANT to but because in my area your coverage is SLIGHTLY better than your competitors. And if you don't change the draconian nature of my experiences, YOU as a cooperation will lose out the moment your competitors catch up with your coverage. I.e. AT&T and Sprint. They booth have the same products (sgs3) but without a locked down bootloader. Soon you will too. But it is too late for me and thousands of others. Please keep me and thousands of your customers happy and placate our requests and petitions. You still have a chance. But it is fastly slipping by in this competitive market."
At the end I was told a Verizon manager will call me and personally discuss my responses. This was a few hours ago but nothing yet. I am hoping I get a call. I like to think I kept it cordial enough to merit it.
I want to see if any one else in the xda dev community got this survey as well.
Plus I think this is my first option thread. I'll return to lurking now.
sent from a locked bootloader
I'm so burnt out on Verizon. I had Alltel back when it was Alltel and I loved them. The coverage was great and the EVDO speeds were good and customer service and prices were excellent. Verizon bought them out and I could just feel them put the vice grips on my wallet. Then they made unlimited data only if you had the plan but the minute you took it off it was gone. The prices were the same for less (if you were off of contract you could get an unlimited data and SMS package for $19.99 on top of minutes on Alltel and that was OK). The only reason they had for better service was that they have battery and generator backups at each tower that they could come up with. They had the fastest network in my old town but the minute I moved I got T-Mobile. Yeesh much better.
Sent from my XT883 using xda app-developers app
When I was Stationed in San Antonio, Tx back in the early 00's, Verizon wasnt as popular in that part of the country as Nextel or Sprint; but where i grew up in Central Jersey, everyone i knew was on Verizon. to mitigate the cost of calling everyone I had to drive like 45 min. out of town just to find the nearest Verizon store. Like i said in my OP, I dont use Verizon out of loyalty, despite my near decade as their customer, I use them just because they are there and the more reasonable choice. I think that might be part of the problem customer servicewise.
PS No Verizon manager ever called me back.... Too bad
Hay guys not sure if this is the right place to post, But if its not please feel free to let me know on move the post.
As people in the UK are aware as of today EE has just turned on there 4G network. This is fantastic in the fact that we are finally moving forward with the technology in the UK.
The only problem is , is that there data packages are stupidly expansive and you get enough data on the lowest package to last you 3 mins. How stupid is that, that not progression but a step back. So it looks like they are just out to exploit the people of the UK.
In the UK we all communication providers are governed by a governing body called Ofcom (for those of you outside of the UK). Now my point is that EE should not be allowed to exploit people of the UK . By completely over pricing there products. I am trying to rally the people of the UK ( and the world ) to get something done about this. I found that Ofcom are actually on social media sites. ( http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/). My suggestion is that if we can get as many people to comment post and tweet them complaining about this. Then it will force them to do something about it and hopefully force EE to increase data in there packages or drop there prices..
So please join me in hitting them with as many complaints as possible to get something done about this. I have already started Tweeting Ofcom. So feel free to re-tweet. Check my signature for twitter ID.
Thanks for reading guys....
+1
500mb 4G for I think £36 a month!
With potential speeds of 30mbps+ ... I don't want to know how 500mb will last
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app
After months of criticism for their meagre allowances, EE have just increased the data allowance on all of their 4G plans. For example, EE46 used to get you 3gb, now you'll get 10gb.
However, existing customers won't get the increase. I've asked, and been told no, absolutely no way will they give me the 10gb allowance that a new customer signing up today for the same plan I joined a month ago will get.
The only way for an existing customer to take advantage of the new allowance levels is to increase your plan level, ie I would have to switch the the EE51 plan, which would get me 20gb!
This is awful customer service, a huge f--- you to all of their customers who have been with them from the ropey launch of the service right up to people who joined yesterday, just before the announcement. They want more money from us, to get the same service that a new customer would get. Shocking.
If this effects you, complain loudly to the network, to your friends and colleagues, on twitter and facebook etc, make them give you a fair deal. They need to get bad publicity from this d-ck move, especially now that their competitors are about to roll out their 4g plans.