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You know more than most, but less than anyone who owns one of these.

there seems to be some gigantic gaps when enhanced services bit is highlighted from verizon, I'm sure out west the population might be sparse enough for them to not care, but still, eastern spots have people there.

and also, you've forgotten something, where do people typically live?

Your link compared with, Where aussies live. Notice that in order to not get 3g coverage, you basically have to be more than about 200km+ into absolute nothingness of desert, that's an effort.(alternatively just standing near faraday cage equivalent works)

Now This map (with enhanced etc selected when you get there, 3g does broadband, mms etc) vs US population distribution

From the looks of the maps you've linked, in the US the moment you drive out of a major city you've lost reception for data etc, but will pick it up again when you pass another town. with AU it seems to be the case that you can drive a fair way into nothingness before your reception dies.

Not really. Compare a coverage map for Telestra, Australia's carrier with by far the widest coverage, and a map of Verizon's coverage.

I know. I should have been clearer.

The point of my comment was simply that when referring to a "per kilobit/byte" rate I would refer to them as "data usage rates" or "network usage rates" rather than "network transfer rates", as this phrasing (to me, at least) implies a measure of speed.

I guess my other inadequately articulated point was that in our society's vernacular, people tend to refer to a 20 Mbps connection as "20 Megabit", even though this is technically incorrect. Consequently, most regular people really only hear and use the terms "kilobit", "megabit", and "gigabit" in ways related to data transfer speed.

In retrospect, I should have been clearer. However, my point still stands. All the providers I've checked (in addition to the aforementioned AT&T) bill in Kilobytes and advertise speeds in Kbps.

VZW: "The speed of the Verizon Wireless data network is measured in Kilobits (kb) per second. However, the amount of data transmitted over the Verizon Wireless data network is measured in Kilobytes (KB), Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB). " -- http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&action=viewPlanList&sortOption=priceSort&typeId=5&subTypeId=13&catId=409

Sprint: "Data: Services are not available with all Sprint phones. Usage is calculated on a per kilobyte basis and is rounded up to the next whole kilobyte." -- http://nextelonline.nextel.com/en/legal/legal_terms_privacy_popup.shtml

The Dial-Up Networking profile on most current VZW phones is enabled, so in theory you should be able to set up a connection through Bluetooth. This isn't officially supported, though, which means you're on your own setting it up. There's a BT profile compatibility chart at http://www.verizonwireless.com/bluetooth.

Sell it to verizon to be subsidized some what like their HP netbook, give it unlimited wifi, and apple may have killed its iphone. Granted you can't stick an itablet, inote, isheet? into your pocket, but it takes what a lot of people view to be the compelling reasons to buy an iphone (always on internet, nifty apps, nifty user interface). I'm sure someone would hack skype or some other voip solution to work for it, then you could make free calls from anywhere, and it wouldn't quite be as redundant as making voip calls from your iphone.

Well verizon are selling something like that

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/vzhub/overview.jsp

for example, the Japanese ISPs probably dont need to provide any kind of stuff to handle phone connections since just about EVERYONE has a mobile phone whereas Verizon has to support phone connections over FIOS with an expensive UPS to keep things going if there is an outage and someone needs to call 911 in a hurry.

Then why doesn't Verizon just bundle basic cell phone service with FiOS? Verizon is The Network.

All US cell phone companies require a contract.

Stop filling slashdot with crazy.

After signing in to My Verizon (the online account management page) click on the My Profile tab, In the Phone Controls section there's a link titled "View/Edit Privacy(CPNI) Settings" Direct link for people logged in.

You can also opt out on-line. Took me a while to find where, but if you login to your account https://login.verizonwireless.com/amserver/UI/Login/. The link is under My Profile -> Phone Controls. Under that section you'll find a link labeled "View/Edit Privacy (CPNI) Settings". Clicking that allows to opt out.

I had to go through 3 websites/blogs before I got the direct link. So if you have Verizon and want to opt out directly, here you go.

https://ebillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/accountholder/profile/CPNISettings.action

If you are a Verizon Wireless customer like me, the number to call to opt out is given in the actual legal document, here:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?contentType=Legal%20Notice&textId=181

It takes about two minutes.

~Ben

Replying to myself. Looks like it is Verizon Wireless. But it also looks like it's fairly easy to opt out of. You can either do it through your settings on the Verizon Wireless website, or via phone at 1-800-333-9956.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/ - Menus popped under the flash box. Works now.

https://www.citicards.com/ - Flash covered all of the site obstructing login box. Works now.

I guess I no longer need a flashblock plugin operating in a blacklist form.

I canceled my Verizon Wireless yesterday (for other reasons). If you want out of your contract with no questions asked, print out This page and take it in with you to the verizon office. Tell them this is a change to your contract and that you would like to cancel. Ask them to waive the cancel fee. Done. You even get to keep your phone (they told me to sell it on Ebay). This assumes that you were a customer back in April.

Ummm...that change took effect on March 2nd, and you have 60 days from the time that they notified you of the change (which was probably before march 2nd) to cancel without paying the ETF. If you got out with yesterday using that as a justification, then you got extremely lucky. Verizon doesn't play around with waiving their ETF's...I learned that the hard way. It took me hours on the phone and a handful of representatives before they finally agreed to waive my ETF.

I canceled my Verizon Wireless yesterday (for other reasons). If you want out of your contract with no questions asked, print out This page and take it in with you to the verizon office. Tell them this is a change to your contract and that you would like to cancel. Ask them to waive the cancel fee. Done. You even get to keep your phone (they told me to sell it on Ebay). This assumes that you were a customer back in April.

Honestly, they can't call it unlimited anymore. Unlimited has a set definition. It's not open to interpretation. If you introduce caps, or limits, well, you're giving a different service.

Why? Helio still markets their "unlimited" internet with a *160MB*
limit.

3G with a 160MB limit, just like a firetruck using a silly-straw to put out fires.

At least Verizon's "unlimited" plans have a 5GB limit but they don't let you use Wifi.

The problem is that they're essentially telling you to sign a two year contract committing yourself to paying whatever bill they send you, but won't tell you what the bill will be.

It's actually a bit more complicated than that, as I found when I shopped last fall for a major carrier:

• Verizon seemed to have the best agreement; it allowed me to cancel (within 60 days of notice) without early termination fees for any billing change that would cause a material adverse effect on me--including any tax they were not required to pass to the consumer but did anyway. I cancelled mostly due to their locked-down phones, their anti-consumer attitude, and their anti-openness lobbying; but when they chose to pass to me an increased state tax it was a last straw and get-out-of-ETF-free card.
• As I recall, Sprint's agreement was similar to Verizon's, but specifically allowed them to increase text message fees without limit, and you would have no recourse. When I see their material adverse effect clause now, it seems that they've removed that exception to be equivalent to Verizon standards (but you must cancel within 30 days of when higher rates take effect).
• When AT&T raises any fees, you may cancel without ETF (within 30 days of first affected bill), except for a change in how much tax they wish to pass to you (in which case you have no recourse).
• T-Mobile's terms are the worst: they say you can cancel without ETF (within 30 days of notice) only if the advertised monthly charge changes, but they can change any "fees" arbitrarily!

I ended up going with T-Mobile's prepaid FlexPay account, which is the same price as the normal one but without the 2-year unbounded risk and without subsidized phones.

Easier said than done when none of the competitors offer anything w/out a contract.

Why not use a wireless modem from AT&T or Verizon? http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=3324

I have the phone for you!

Without knowing your provider it's hard to say but there is the Verizon Wireless CDM 8905 which is pretty bare bones in comparison with most of today's offerings.

Most providers do offer it in major metropolitan areas. AT&T Wireless, the carrier for the iPhone, for instance, shows their data coverage here. A subset of these areas supports 3G, as shown here. It's pretty easy to take a look at the data map, though, and get a feel for where there is population density that supports the rollout of the tech. If you go here you can see a similar coverage map for Verizon Wireless -- click "Broadband & V CAST" and look at the dark blue areas.

Speaking as someone who is stuck on the Verizon network I say THANK GOD. My biggest complaint with Verizon is their OS. They have it on every phone and it's an unwieldy piece of crap. They might be a corporate super giant but they seem to be realizing that people don't like being fucked with. At first we just wanted good service, this is now their advertising corner stone. Then we had to teach that when you say unlimited you have to mean it. So they might be looking at things like Android and seriously consider it. A better OS for their phones that other people will take care of for them? Sounds like a good deal. I just hope to see something good from them soon because their iPhone want-a-be is the best they have and it still sucks

but why is that you cannot get cell service at all without the contract?

As far as I know, AT&T, Alltel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless offer cellular service without a contract.

Hard to guess what is actually usable in her area.

I have a phone something like this one:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2506 ... though in their listing of models they also have this similar one:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2687 ... but that's for Verizon, if you're not even in their service area then that doesn't help.

Hard to guess what is actually usable in her area.

I have a phone something like this one:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2506 ... though in their listing of models they also have this similar one:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2687 ... but that's for Verizon, if you're not even in their service area then that doesn't help.

Also, it has a flashlight. As gimmicks go, this has been pretty useful, and doesn't distract from the 'just a phone' bliss.

I just looked, and it looks like Verizon no longer carries the Nokia 1100. I does have a Nokia 2366i. I've never used it, but it looks similar in spec, except now with Bluetooth. LINKY

I believe you got bullshitted, see here: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/support/governm entgpse911.jsp verizon is definitely selling the 6750 blackberry and enabling service on the phone.

So... for 450 minutes and unlimited data,

ATT is $39.99 + $19.99

and Verizon is $79.99

ATT Data
ATT Voice
Verizon Bundle

How sure are you the iPhone data plans will cost more than a Treo now?

Dear Valued Customer:

As Verizon Wireless and its affiliates (the "Verizon Companies") provide services to you, we may each collect certain information that is made available to us solely by virtue of our relationship with you, such as quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location and amount of use of the telecommunications services you purchase. This information and related billing information is known as Customer Proprietary Network Information ("CPNI"). The Federal Communications Commission and other regulators require the Verizon Companies to protect your CPNI.

In order to better serve your communications needs and to provide products and services to meet your requirements, we need your permission to share this information among our affiliates, agents, and parent companies (including Vodafone) and their subsidiaries. The protection of your information is important to us, and the Verizon Companies acknowledge that you have a right, and we have a duty, under federal and state law, to protect the confidentiality of your CPNI.

You have a right to keep your CPNI private by "opting out." Unless you provide us with notice that you wish to opt out within 45 days from the date of this letter, we will assume that you give the Verizon Companies the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies as described above. You may opt out by calling us at 1-800-372-5750 and following the recorded directions. Please make sure you have your CPNI ID and password available. These can be found in the box below:

CPNI ID: XXXXXXXXXX
Password: XXXXXXXXXX

TTY users can opt out by first dialing a telecommunications relay service (TRS) center via 711 in order to contact a TRS Communications Assistant (CA). Then simply ask the CA to dial 1-800-372-5750 and notify us that you wish to opt out.

Please be advised that you can disapprove of the uses of CPNI and deny or withdraw access to CPNI at any time. Your consent will remain valid until we receive your notice withdrawing it. You may withdraw such consent by faxing us at 1-866-745-4661 or emailing us at cpni-notices@verizonwireless.com.

Furthermore, note that opting out will not affect the status of the services you currently have with the Verizon Companies. In addition, we can disclose your CPNI to comply with any laws, your contract, or with a court order or subpoena.

For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions listed below or visit verizonwireless.com/cpni.

Thank you,
Verizon Wireless

Frequently Asked Questions about CPNI OPT-OUT

What is CPNI?
Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) is information created by virtue of the relationship between a carrier and a customer, including the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location, and amount of use of a customer's telecommunications services purchased (including specific calls a customer makes and receives) and related local and toll billing information. It does not include published information such as one's name, address or telephone number.

Why does Verizon Wireless need my consent?
Verizon Wireless needs to share your CPNI with our affiliates, agents and parent companies in order to better provide to you the full range of the Verizon Companies' communication related products and services. The Federal Communications Commission requires that we obtain your consent to do so.

If I give consent, what can Verizon Wireless do with my information?
With your consent, Verizon Wireless will be able to share your CPNI with our affiliates, agents and parent companies. Sharing such information will enable us to collaborate on how to better serve your telecommunications needs.

Can I change my mind about giving consent?
A customer has the righ

Dear Valued Customer:

As Verizon Wireless and its affiliates (the "Verizon Companies") provide services to you, we may each collect certain information that is made available to us solely by virtue of our relationship with you, such as quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location and amount of use of the telecommunications services you purchase. This information and related billing information is known as Customer Proprietary Network Information ("CPNI"). The Federal Communications Commission and other regulators require the Verizon Companies to protect your CPNI.

In order to better serve your communications needs and to provide products and services to meet your requirements, we need your permission to share this information among our affiliates, agents, and parent companies (including Vodafone) and their subsidiaries. The protection of your information is important to us, and the Verizon Companies acknowledge that you have a right, and we have a duty, under federal and state law, to protect the confidentiality of your CPNI.

You have a right to keep your CPNI private by "opting out." Unless you provide us with notice that you wish to opt out within 45 days from the date of this letter, we will assume that you give the Verizon Companies the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies as described above. You may opt out by calling us at 1-800-372-5750 and following the recorded directions. Please make sure you have your CPNI ID and password available. These can be found in the box below:

CPNI ID: XXXXXXXXXX
Password: XXXXXXXXXX

TTY users can opt out by first dialing a telecommunications relay service (TRS) center via 711 in order to contact a TRS Communications Assistant (CA). Then simply ask the CA to dial 1-800-372-5750 and notify us that you wish to opt out.

Please be advised that you can disapprove of the uses of CPNI and deny or withdraw access to CPNI at any time. Your consent will remain valid until we receive your notice withdrawing it. You may withdraw such consent by faxing us at 1-866-745-4661 or emailing us at cpni-notices@verizonwireless.com.

Furthermore, note that opting out will not affect the status of the services you currently have with the Verizon Companies. In addition, we can disclose your CPNI to comply with any laws, your contract, or with a court order or subpoena.

For more information, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions listed below or visit verizonwireless.com/cpni.

Thank you,
Verizon Wireless

Frequently Asked Questions about CPNI OPT-OUT

What is CPNI?
Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) is information created by virtue of the relationship between a carrier and a customer, including the quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location, and amount of use of a customer's telecommunications services purchased (including specific calls a customer makes and receives) and related local and toll billing information. It does not include published information such as one's name, address or telephone number.

Why does Verizon Wireless need my consent?
Verizon Wireless needs to share your CPNI with our affiliates, agents and parent companies in order to better provide to you the full range of the Verizon Companies' communication related products and services. The Federal Communications Commission requires that we obtain your consent to do so.

If I give consent, what can Verizon Wireless do with my information?
With your consent, Verizon Wireless will be able to share your CPNI with our affiliates, agents and parent companies. Sharing such information will enable us to collaborate on how to better serve your telecommunications needs.

Can I change my mind about giving consent?
A customer has the righ

That's why there's aGPS. Check out what VZNavigator can do without ever looking for a satellite.

I guarantee this technology, if it's true, won't use traditional satellite signals for triangulation.

Everyone let them know how great they are :)

https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/contact/email. jsp

This audio was definitely good entertainment; just listening to the man's incredible patience trying to unsuccessfully explain to a couple oafs the difference between dollars and cents was both painful and hilarious. He was smart when he called because he was verbally (verbally is key) quoted "point zero zero two cents", and made sure they got that specifically in the contract. It is highly probable the Verizon employee on the other end of the line saw "$0.002" and erroneously read aloud "point zero zero two cents". Now, he did sign the contract, and it probably did say $0.002 in it, but how can you fault him when the Verizon rep said something on the phone and it turns out to be different in the contract? It even says $0.002 (clearly dollars) on Verizon's website: http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/businessSolutio ns/global/globalaccesspriceandcoverage.jsp?section =smallMediumBusine The problem here is these Verizon reps. Because they see a decimal together with a $, they are inclined to read "cents" instead of the proper "dollars". They probably will end up costing their company a lot of bad publicity, and around $70. (That's dollars:) I recall a similar case although it was minor: McDonald's (or some other joint) had some deal for .99 cents (they actually had the cents symbol and not $), and a guy went in and ordered 10 of them and was charged around $10 when he should have been charged $1. It was settled in his favor, of course, but this Verizon case is different because he was verbally given something different than what he was given in print. Still, I believe this guy has everything going for him. Just my two cents. :)

It looks like you're right. Here's a seemingly still-working "Contact Us" page for Californians, though: http://www.verizonwireless.com/care/contact_us/con tact_us_california.html. If enough of us bombard Verizon, will the technician that comes in to fix the problem charge by the hour or the minute? I don't think Verizon would know the difference.

The only way this blog campaign is going to be successful is if Verizon realizes they're creating a public relations problem. Therefore I recommend people email Verizon, referencing the customer's blog and name (George Vaccaro), and explain why his bill should be 72 cents instead of 72 dollars. Here's a link to Verizon's email page:

https://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/contact/email. jsp

I really like the bananas explanation: Convert .002 cents to .002 bananas. Multiply by 3600 and you get 72 bananas. Now since we switched cents to bananas, replace bananas with cents and you get 72 cents. Which is $0.72. I don't believe explaining the difference without a switch in units has been effective in either the phone calls or the emails.

Good luck everyone! :)

He's arguing mathematical correctness against common terminology.

They're reading $.002 as "point zero zero two cents," and he's reading it as "point zero zero two dollars." That's why they're so confused and claim there's no such thing as ".002 dollars." They may be saying it wrong, but what they're charging him is correct:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/businessSolutio ns/global/globalaccesspriceandcoverage.jsp?section =smallMediumBusiness

It's (more or less) clearly written on their website, and almost certainly in the contract he agreed to.

The difference between common usage and correct terminology is an unfortunate one, and until education changes it, they only way to protect yourself is to verify it character by character:

Them: "OK, that'll be point zero zero five cents per megabyte sir!"
You: "Is that dollar sign zero decimal zero zero zero zero five?"
Them: "No, that's dollar sign zero decimal zero zero five."
You: "OK, so five tenths of a cent per megabyte?"
Them: "Correct."

Verizon customer support *is* reading the price wrong, from a technical standpoint, but it's an unfortunately common mistake, and you'd probably be shocked at how many people would think *George* is the idiot here.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/CoverageLocator Controller?requesttype=newsearch

It's like europe was in 1993.

An original IBM PC weighed 28 pounds with two floppy disk drives. A cell phone (err... mobile?) with a heavy gauge steel case would probably be pretty durable, but I wouldn't want to carry one around.

Seconded!

If any of you actually took the time to go and see what Loopt is about or looked for more information, you would realize several things.

For starters, this is OPT-IN ONLY. You can't just see everyone's info, and you get to pick who you share your info with. You can choose who can and cannot see your info.

Second, the point of this is to see when you're in the same three blocks as your friends. You may not be in the same restaurant or same building as your friends, but you would be surprised at how often you are within a few blocks of them.

Third, this service updates your position about every 15 minutes. This is based on GPS, but phone GPS doesn't work like regular GPS. The location your phone gets probably isn't created from satellites, it probably comes from the cell tower. If you have enough signal to get/send a call/SMS, you have enough signal to locate your phone within a few hundred feet. This is the same thing that E911 uses to find you when you call for police/ambulance - it's by no means perfect, but it'll do.

Finally, this is no different than the Family Locator or similar services that the cell companies have available. Most people would probably love to know when their child (or at least their child's cellphone) goes outside of that same 1/4 mile of the schoolyard during the day, or deviates from the path between school and sitter/home. Yes, the data is a potential problem if it gets into the wrong hands, but there are safeguards in place, and in general this will help more than hurt.

This is not everything, but this type of phone might help-
It is normally meant for kids, but it has reduced number of buttons, and a dedicated emergency button...

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2060
from the site-
Migo from Verizon Wireless is a kid-friendly wireless phone that lets parents and kids stay in touch. It's fun for them, and added peace of mind for you. The Migo phone has a simplified keypad that allows you to program in 4 numbers, an incredible speakerphone and a dedicated emergency key. And with Chaperonesm, you can use your handset or PC to locate your child's Migo. This is the perfect phone to keep kids and parents connected.

Note: I have no interests / investments / work relationship with verizon wireless.

Verizon has phones that have a GSM mode for international service, here's their list of three- Verizon Global Phone. The Samsung i830 on that list has SDIO so it could be possible to add wifi.

Cingular, Sprint and Verizon all estimate 400-700 kbps download speeds: http://www.cingular.com/broadbandconnect_consumer http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/w irelessHighSpeedData_tabB.html http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobileoptions/b roadband/serviceoverview.jsp

The biggest difference is coverage. Sprint claims EVDO coverage in 220 markets with Verizon claiming 181 metro areas (148 million people). Cingular claims only 63 metro areas for HSDPA coverage.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controlle r?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedP honeId=2060

Sure, 16 year olds work and drive. Let the parents program their cell phones, home phone, and the kids work phone number. That's all they're legitimately need.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/GlobalNavContro llerServlet

Uh, Verizon Vireless = verizon the phone company. The check I write out each month for cell phone service is written to "Verizon Wireless." I think you are confused...