Sprint Denies PPC customers from sending picmail - Page 10

neodorian · #91 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 01:13 AM

I guess they found a legit-sounding way of describing it. Rather than work out any kinks with a theoretical MMS functionality, they bring in the whole fear or unsolicited porn. Rather than just working out a way to prevent MMS spamming they blocked MMS in general on PPCs. I'd be interested in seeing if there were ever any such complaints or if it's just a hole that could be exploited with Windows (mobile or otherwise) and the MMS protocol. I'm sure any porn spammer could just as easily alter their script to send an email to 123-456-7890@pm.sprint.com instead of just sending an mms to 123-456-7890.

IsLNdbOi · #92 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wldthng842

Again I do not speak for Sprint, and I don't work anywhere near the division that controls this stuff.

But think about it, what exactly did Sprint do that was wrong? They sold you a phone under the premise that it does not support MMS and you are complaining that it now doesn't work. Am I saying it is right? No! I hate it just as much as the rest of you and have signed all the petitions.

The only reason I said to contact HTC was that they could build it into the new rom due out for GPS and rev A. They can influence Sprint to fix the problem since their website is posting conflicting evidence.

Sprint from a legal point has done absolutely wrong. From a moral point of view they pissed us all off by doing something we fell they shouldn't have.

Don't hate me for what my company did to both you and me. I didn't do it and I'm not justifying them doing it, but they have the power and the legal ability to do it and there is not a thing we can do about it.

Sprint's taking our $5.00 a month for the picture mail / MMS service and then disabling it or not allowing it on our WM phones. So why are they taking our $5.00 a month then if they know we can't use that $5.00 a month service with our WM phones?

What do you mean by "...they could build it into the new ROM..."? The necessary software is in there already. Sprint just blocked the use of the software.

itsall_cooool · #93 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 01:55 AM

LoL at 'porn'...that is just too funny.

Regular 'dumb phone' users can send whatever they like, its just us PPC users who have clogged the network by sending porn?

wow, someone there has a whole bunch of screws loose... this seems more like retribution over all the GPS and Video Driver complaints than anything else....

**wldthng842** · #94 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:01 AM

The software was removed from both the mogul and the touch before release on sprint. Alltel chose to keep it which is where the hacked version came in.

You are choosing to pay the $5 per month, you also know and have known that this feature is not supported. You can call and cancel paying the $5 a month any time as it is not tied to your contract. Only you know why you choose to pay for a service that you know does not work. It is kindov like paying for DSL from Att even though you live in the sticks and know it is not available and then calling ATT and saying where is my DSL.

**wldthng842** · #95 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Which, of course, still doesn't answer why they removed the *legitimate* functionality from those phones in the first place....

This is why I said complaining to HTC would have been a better option. They say on their website that it is a supported feature. If they build it in the next ROM then "It would appear that these security changes, which included increased blocking on access to the server by non-Sprint applications, had the side effect of disabling a popular but unauthorized third party MMS "hack" that has been used by PPC users for some time." Would not be a problem as it is no longer unsupported 3rd party software.

**guitardoc64** · #96 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neodorian

I guess they found a legit-sounding way of describing it. Rather than work out any kinks with a theoretical MMS functionality, they bring in the whole fear or unsolicited porn. Rather than just working out a way to prevent MMS spamming they blocked MMS in general on PPCs. I'd be interested in seeing if there were ever any such complaints or if it's just a hole that could be exploited with Windows (mobile or otherwise) and the MMS protocol. I'm sure any porn spammer could just as easily alter their script to send an email to 123-456-7890@pm.sprint.com instead of just sending an mms to 123-456-7890.

A valid point, it seems more of a plausible cover story than an actuality. They obviously have set up new server protocols. Wonder what some of the minds here could do with the Arcsoft app to make it appear more "legitimate" to the Sprint server....More like a dumbphone...

**guitardoc64** · #97 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

Which, of course, still doesn't answer why they removed the *legitimate* functionality from those phones in the first place....

According to Sprint's exec, it was disabled because it "created problems and slowdowns of the devices"...In other words they disabled it to prevent complaints. Ironic, dontcha think?

**wldthng842** · #98 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 03:00 AM

more like complete stupidity. but that is how sprint runs their business. And I see little hope for that changing even with Hesse at the Helm

jimmiekain · #99 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaun0207

The question I have is... why? What would it benefit Sprint to block PPC users from sending Picmail? Do they not think that business users send pictures?

This is exactly what i wanna know! I could see if they had a service for the phones that we could pay for, but they dont. Us using the free mms didnt cost them a dime and shouldnt have made a differnce because they dont offer the service on the phone in the first place. Sprint better clean there act up or I'm leaving and i know im just one person but im sure others feel the same way. I have a sero plan, and even with that this phone is garbage! Fact is i was ready to sell this damn thing pay the fee to cancel and go to vzw or att the only thing that made it good enough to keep was the pic mail now they come up with this stupid bull??? This is just sad! Last day of March thats my limit if evdo rev. A is not on my phone or if i can download a new rom with it on there by then im out! No joke! I will pay the fee and go to another carrier! this is total bull!

Soundy · #**100** (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wldthng842

This is why I said complaining to HTC would have been a better option. They say on their website that it is a supported feature. If they build it in the next ROM then "It would appear that these security changes, which included increased blocking on access to the server by non-Sprint applications, had the side effect of disabling a popular but unauthorized third party MMS "hack" that has been used by PPC users for some time." Would not be a problem as it is no longer unsupported 3rd party software.

Complaining to HTC is pointless: it's not their call (pardon the pun).

Sprint goes to HTC. They say, "We want to carry these phones of yours; we want X-thousand of each, and we want you to customize them like this...". HTC modifies the phones the way Sprint (or any other carrier) wants them. In other words, they're giving their customer what they ask for.

If you were to buy your phone directly from HTC, you can probably get it with all features unlocked and intact, or theoretically even customized to your own specs (although I doubt they'd do that for "just one" phone), but if you buy it from Sprint, you get the version that is made *to Sprint's specs*.

There is no REASON to complain about HTC - you are not their customer, Sprint is.