An Open Source Alternative to Verizon's GetItNow?

malachid69 asks: "Is there anyway for us, as open-source developers, to provide a free alternative to the Verizon GetItNow network, some way in which we can share and co-develop software for our phones, and provide a way for them to be emailed/SMSd onto the phones? Basically, is there any way for us to create a SourceForge equivalent to GetItNow?"

"A bit of explanation: Recently, I was trying to find ringtones for my LG cell phone, and was having some difficulties in figuring out how to even get them onto my phone without the cable.

Finally, I contacted Verizon Wireless via email.

My original email: 'How do I provide content *I create* on the GetItNow network AND/OR how do I SMS the content to my own phone?'

Their response was to first explain how to use GetItNow to download ringtones (many of which really suck, none of which are free). They continued with 'You are unable to SMS Get It Now created from any websites to your phone and [we] apologize for any inconvience this might have caused.

To my humor (due to the fact that every application I had downloaded had crashed), they also said: 'Verizon Wireless requires extensive lab and field-testing of the Get It Now applications we choose to offer, to ensure that our customers get the highest-quality applications in the marketplace today. (Emphasis, mine)

In response, I asked: 'How would an open-source developer put applications onto the get-it-now phones without charging customers for use of the program? And, while we are at it, can I only use Brew to write applications for verizon phones, or can I use Java?'

They gave me the link to the GetItNow developer site (click on Developer Zone at the bottom) and said, 'Verizon Wireless does offer SMS downloads of ringtones and graphics through our Vtext.com website.'

As a side question: I would prefer to write my applications in Java instead of Brew (which Verizon GetItNow does NOT support). Has anyone had experience using any of the Brew-in-Java implementations (like the one from IBM)?"

Comments

Ultimately.

[readpunk]

Looking at the larger picture, we all need to keep speaking with our money and only buy what we can change and have true control/access of.

The more money companies making all kinds of digital devices recieve when they allow us to really change/hack them, is the incentive for this to continue.

Re; Verizon

[wronskyMan]

In A.D. 2004
A wireless slashdotting was beginning.
Verizon: What happen?
Operator: Somebody set up us the bomb.
Operator: New phone get signal.
Verizon: What!
Operator: Main screen turn on.
Verizon: It's You!!
AC: How are you gentlemen!!
AC: All your base stations are belong to us.
AC: You are on the way to irrelevancy.
Verizon: What you say!!
AC: You have no chance to survive make your GetItNow open.
AC: Ha Ha Ha Ha ....
Verizon: Take off every "approval form"
Verizon: You know what you doing.
Verizon: Move "approval form".
Verizon: For great justice.