File Complaint with FTC against Verizon for locking GPS on Omina (& other phones)

[brandogg]

Read the topic, it's a complaint with the FTC, not the FCC. The FTC is the correct group to contact with the type of stuff. Nobody is accusing them of breaking any laws, they're accusing them of being unfair, which is why they're trying to get the Fair Trade Commission involved.

[phullofphil]

Originally Posted by brandogg

Read the topic, it's a complaint with the FTC, not the FCC. The FTC is the correct group to contact with the type of stuff. Nobody is accusing them of breaking any laws, they're accusing them of being unfair, which is why they're trying to get the Fair Trade Commission involved.

It does not really matter. whats so unfair they publicly said they are working on it. DId not realize i misspelled ftc about a hundred times. I refured to fcc and ftc but never spelled ftc oops. But still are you kidding me. Its unfair. Its downright shady and ridiculous for verizon to not unlock it like other companys do espeacaly for one of there best phones. WOuld have got them a lot more business. But considering about every phone that they have uses v navigator why would this phone be different. Almost every phone has gps capabilitys that verizon has. May be agps but still gps anyhow. Should every phone offer unlocked gps. And why. Should be up to each manufacture or carrier to allow what features be unlocked. Unless the law states otherwise. All the gps unlocked phones offer that to compet in the consumer market for marketshare not because they care about weather you have a Unlocked gps or not.
So why is it even thoug two of the three phones that they said would be unlocked gps are. Verizon has always been taking long to release updates to test them. They may never accept the phoneupdate. Garantee ther is reasons that can be made up. But considering the leaked rom that did come out i would say it will happen. Also with the high turnover of phones every year what is the point. Newer phones will all be unlocked i hear. Most omnia users will probaably have a new phone by this time next year. I think it really should be somthing worth fighting for if it covered future phones and all carriers. But really who would pay for it what it boyles down to is the money comes from somwhere. Satalites are not free to put op into orbit and maintain. Look at the change over to the digital on t.v.'s Look up and check how much tax money went to that. And who is paying for it.
Everybody expects way to much thes days for free like ther owed something. All this tech is not making you smarter its making you more reliable on not having to think.
And for the billionths time Our GPS is unlocked. verizon just dont support it yet. If your reading this and dont know how your so close its almost a click away. But did you notice that there is tons of stuff not working right in them. . Well mine works great but it also has software made by different people and companys. Verizon cant do that without being suied and ppcgeeks offer beter suport than verizon. . Also the gps is not the main reasons for the update. Tech guy from Verizon said its screen issues and other bugs. Which is a cooperation with verizon and Samsung on a phone designed a year or more ago to operate just like it is right now. Verizon can stop support on this phone alltogether. If so i hope you know how to fix it. I do but i am gonna charge to do it.

[pdub73]

Lets stick a fork in this thread...

[brandogg]

I don't understand any of your rambling, unless you're just trying to derail this thread again. The digital transition has nothing to do with GPS, nor do tax dollars. Not every phone should offer GPS - but the phones that have actual built in GPS, like the Omnia, that does not require a data connection to use GPS (once it's no longer being held back by *software* of course), should give you the option of using whatever software you want. The satellites we use for GPS have been in orbit for years, and they were paid for by our tax dollars, as well as the tax dollars of citizens of many other countries. They are paid for, the military has gotten their use out of them, and now they are available for public use, free of charge. It's not like Verizon is sending your $10/month to the local GPS company. This is the same reason that Microsoft has to include other web browser software and ISP providers when you buy Windows - they all take you to the same internet, just like all GPS devices hook you up to the same satellites, so you can't force your own software on consumers and not give them any options. BTW, I've been running CC20 since the day I got my phone.

[phullofphil]

What i wwas saying was that yes ther are a lot of companys offering unlocked gps. I am just saying they dont have to. Its a business decision to make more money and get more market share. The satalites are maintained and new ones are put up so it does cost us mone as a whole and just saying the digital thing cause like if the government made it a law that we have free gps than it could cost us a lot tax money. Verizon maybe made a mistake by not unlocking but and they may know it but that would be a lot of money spent and the fact they pay a lot more that we did for the phones. We do not really know all the facts anyways to warant a complaint. We just might look really dumb and ignorant. Heck with the omnia two coming out fairley soon its a lost cause any way. Oh and Somebody does pay for thos gps chips and poop does roll down hill. We do end up paying for everything verizon does. With the vz navagator you only pay to use it but you never know and i hope not but we just might pay for it afterall. Do you really know what your paying for when you send in your bill.

[phullofphil]

[QUOTE=brandogg;975452]
This is the same reason that Microsoft has to include other web browser software and ISP providers when you buy Windows - they all take you to the same internet, just like all GPS devices hook you up to the same satellites,

Than tell me than how does google make money. Yes the internet is free and so is gps satalites kinda but advertisements pay there profits. And accessing gps is different than damanding a free tool to read the signal. Feel free to build your own gps and it will be free. Look at apple they do ofer gps but really you a are supopsed to use only apple aproved software. It seemes they are changing policy and ther is changes going on. The app thing is crazy. I think by unlocking gps it will make it so verizon can make money still but not have to test and make them themself. . Almost no overhead with mostly proffit. I believe verizon is keeping track on what happens in the forums on the leeked rom. We are a huge free recource of information on bugs and what not that actually free. Most people i bet even after its unlocked will still pay for a gps program. naavagator has free upgrades and is realy not that bad of a deal. I dont use it enough to want it.

[bike1dad2]

Ladies and Gentlemen, why so much fighting. Really, IF you want GPS, flash with the hack. IF you want VZW to release an update, don't hold your breath. IF you want to complain, contact the FTC. IF you want to gripe and moan, . . .

The update will happen when it happens or it won't. No matter how you got into the contract with VZW, which sales person lied to you, or if you simply were not educated: You are in a contract until it is either broken, changed, or time elapsed. Spending so much of your energy serves no one and it doesn't solve the issue at hand.

[htcman724]

here's a quick and easy solution to your problem knowing the verizon only uses vzn which sucks and costs you 10 bucks insted ofgetting all upset and filing a bogus complaint that will go now whare cause you really don't have a ligit case JUST SWITCH COMPANIES

[brandogg]

Yes, Google makes money from ads, and Verizon makes (**** tons) of money from our monthly phone bills.

[MrOmnia81]

Originally Posted by phullofphil

What i wwas saying was that yes ther are a lot of companys offering unlocked gps. I am just saying they dont have to. Its a business decision to make more money and get more market share. The satalites are maintained and new ones are put up so it does cost us mone as a whole and just saying the digital thing cause like if the government made it a law that we have free gps than it could cost us a lot tax money. Verizon maybe made a mistake by not unlocking but and they may know it but that would be a lot of money spent and the fact they pay a lot more that we did for the phones. We do not really know all the facts anyways to warant a complaint. We just might look really dumb and ignorant. Heck with the omnia two coming out fairley soon its a lost cause any way. Oh and Somebody does pay for thos gps chips and poop does roll down hill. We do end up paying for everything verizon does. With the vz navagator you only pay to use it but you never know and i hope not but we just might pay for it afterall. Do you really know what your paying for when you send in your bill.

I wouldn't say that. VZW could give two craps about the phone. They make money off the contract. If your spending $160 monthly for two years or ($3,840)... that far outweighs the price of the phone. Do you really think they care if they sell you a phone for $99 or $200 with a manufacture price of $549? It's not like these phones have Pentium 4's and accelerated graphic cards in them. You can by a laptop for $549 and use skype. So trust me, they did not pay anything close to $549 per phone especially when taking into consideration these phones were purchased in bulk nationwide and assembled in china. They aren't losing anything. And gps chips don't cost a lot. They only are designed to lock on to gps satellites. Anything other than that is software related where it utilizes that gps signal.