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Do Verizon Phones Have Intentional Design "Flaws" That Scam You Into Data Charges?
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Do Verizon Phones Have Intentional Design "Flaws" That Scam You Into Data Charges? |
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11/14/09
My sister got an HTC Fuze for the full keyboard and wifi internet access (wifi is freaking everywhere). #datacharges
11/13/09
In related news, I know there was some open forum a few months back discussed on PreCentral. The presenter made some jab at cell providers that have the long menus people have to listen to as possibly just there to drive up minutes. The big four simply grinned at him.
They do it. We fall for it. #datacharges
11/13/09
At least they are the ethical ones. Except for that whole "long menus eating up minutes" thing... but last I heard some companies were trying to correct that problem. Hopefully. #datacharges
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/14/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
11/19/09
While Listening:
1 -<
4 -slow
5 -date/time
6 -fast
* - Cancel/Exit
0 - Help
#- Finish/Skip
4 -Replay
7 -Delete
9 -Save
0 -Help
After Listening:
1 1 -Rewind to Beginning
3 3 -Fast Forward to End
7 -Delete Message
11/13/09
My mom tried to block data from her account, which ended up blocking her from receiving picture texts. So now we're stuck with a 12 dollar charge, and a tough decision between allowing this to happen again or blocking a service that we pay for.
11/13/09
The solution is to get a phone without the Carrier designed OS installed. HTC/Apple/RIM/Palm/Google couldn't care less if you incur data charges. So they tend to not create a UI that has you accidentally logging on at least twice a month.
Point is, you want to avoid conflicts of interest. 1. Don't let your cell carrier design your phones UI. 2. Don't let your media provider build your audio/video hardware.
...any others? #datacharges
11/13/09
Its nothing about conflict of interests. I still have a extremely hard time believing that VZW or any other carrier is really part of some grand scheme to place buttons so that people are inadvertently charged for stuff. They are about increasing data usage yes. One of the ways that they can do that is to make getting to it more convenient to get there and I see nothing wrong with that. If a consumer is constantly butt dialing their way through the prompts and warnings I'd probably put my phone in a different pocket. #datacharges
11/13/09
And it's not so much a "Grand Scheme", as much as it is an inflated perception of how often people use VCast/VZWeb in comparison to their phone's address book and voicemail.
11/13/09
I don't think that VZW things people use those more (address book is a dedicated key after all on most phones) but they do have a vested interest in making it easy for people to use. No one is going to jump through six menus to get to web or get it now. They'd probably forget why they wanted to go there by the time they got there. #datacharges
11/13/09
To-mA-to vs. To-Ma-to #datacharges
11/13/09
11/13/09
11/13/09
Unfortunately now they tell me that they have taken the charge off so many times that they won't do it anymore.
I spoke with a manager and basically they told me that I can block the feature, but that I wouldn't be able to send or receive picture or video messages on the phone!
I told him that was ridiculous and he basically told me that that was all they could do. #datacharges
11/13/09
[en.wikipedia.org] #datacharges
11/13/09
"Now, you can ask to have this feature blocked. But even then, if you one of those buttons by accident, your phone transmits data; you get a message that you cannot use the service because it's blocked–BUT you just used 0.06 kilobytes of data to get that message, so you are now charged $1.99 again!"
As that's completely not true. I had mine turned off on my VX6800 (back before they required smart phone data packages)
and i would frequently hit the stupid go on the internet button only to have it tell me i cannot connect.
I have never once been charged 1.99 for this. I mean i'm sure the shady practice takes place, for the people not smart enough to turn the service off, but really seems strange that he would be charged when i'm not. #datacharges
11/13/09
11/13/09
And I should read other people's comments too lest I sound like a parrot.
11/13/09
11/13/09
11/13/09
11/13/09
not here, man. i got t-mo prepaid (no cards) on a nokia shitbrick that isn't even capable of MMS. $100 for 1,000 minutes that dont expire for 1 year means i end up paying about $200-$250 a year for service, and never any erroneous charges. #datacharges
11/13/09
11/13/09
Whenever i try to connect to it by these buttons, it says data is now locked and i get billed....NOTHING! #datacharges
11/13/09
"This design "flaw" might be netting Verizon $300 million per year."
then the article says:
"That's over $300 million per month"
month? year? #datacharges
11/13/09
11/13/09
Both Pogue's post and consumerists puts it in months...
Which I find even harder to believe. #datacharges
11/13/09
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11/13/09
11/13/09
You do know people can change their default passwords on their iPhone, or install proper anti virus software on their PC, or not download and execute software claiming to be a video codec for some smut you want to watch.
It's pretty simple, too. #datacharges
11/13/09
My Q9H has a key with the ATT globe on the upper left.
You hit that and the default brower (Opera opens).
Not needing a WEB plan (still don't have one or need t) for the first few months I paid several $.99 fees for data.
You hit that button and it starts downloading . before you can stop it you downloaded at least several Kb.
So I loaded DOCOMO's "not data" application to KILL the web for good. No data has gone out for 2 years....
I had the same problem with a V3 Razor before, that I had to hack to kill the web too.
I already pay $50 for the web at home I do not need another $30+ Fees to get it on my phone sporadically. #datacharges