Musings

I’m a pretty even-keeled person.  I don’t get angry very easily and I certainly don’t like to use the word “hate” in my everyday conversations but when I learn about things that just make no sense, I get furious and can’t help but “hate” on the news.
So, what’s bothered me so much today?  Well, Verizon (and pretty much all mobile carriers, actually).  I absolutely can’t stand the fact that we pay them so much money and yet they are able to cripple services that we receive.

For example, take the brand new iPhone 4 that hasn’t even arrived yet.  It’s already crippled.  How?  Verizon has decided not to allow certain features of the phone unless you pay more.

WHAT?!

Let me repeat that.  You pay $200 for a device and you are not allowed to use all of its features, unless you pay MORE money to the carrier.  They are basically hijacking the device you paid for. I wouldn’t have a problem with this if this were a free phone or if my service wasn’t “unlimited”, but surely this raises some really good questions that Verizon has and probably won’t address in a public forum.

For example, take the mobile hotspot function of the iPhone or Droid phones.  Verizon makes you pay extra for the use of this function.  But WHY?  I paid for the phone.  It is a feature of the phone.  I pay for unlimited bandwidth, and any connected devices would be using the phone’s bandwidth.  So, Verizon, what gives?!

Let’s make a quick analogy.  You buy a new car that seats 4.  You fill it up with gas.  You are ready to hit the road.  But your friends can’t enter the car unless you pay more.  Why?  Well, just because.  Makes sense?  Didn’t think so…

If you can offer a logical explanation, I can try to understand and be more civil about this, but until then, @(*^&!!!