bugsbunny
Well-Known Member
Check your facts. Windows Mobile and Palm Pre phones were indeed handicapped by Verizon that you could NOT use the onboard GPS chip for apps like google maps unless you paid for the $10/month Verizon nav app. Droids were/are the only handset line that Verizon waved this. I'm a long time phone geek and hacker. Go read any forum regarding verizon and gps-a. If you didnt pay the monthly fee, you were stuck using cell phone triangulation from the towers, which is awful at best. I'm not aware if Verizon has changed this policy, but I have to imagine that since they are more and more anti-consumer, there is no way they have. By anti-consumer, I mean how they just raised their ETF (early termination fees) to double what other carriers charge and also cut your ability to return it to only 14 days. And you also have to PAY for whatever you did with that phone when you do return it in the 14 day window. They also got rid of their early upgrade programs while companies like Sprint let you upgrade in only 1 year for these kind of accounts. When you compare them all, Verizon charges higher rates , has WAY more restrictions, and locks you in with no where to go unless you want to get raped by fees.
And as far as tethering goes, its available to Android phones with a simple app for like $10 that allows you to do it without having to tell your carrier so they can stick it to you for an extra $40/month. Perfectly legal and does not require hacking or "rooting" your phone. Also, the iPhone is so locked down and jammed full of whatever Steve Jobs thinks you should do, there is no ability to do the things an Android or WebOS phone could do for FREE. But alas, most Apple product users are sheep that just follow the flock regardless of need or actual practicality. Apple products are great, but twice as expensive as everything else great? I don't think so.
Sadly, its all irrelevant what phone you have. Its all about marketing and making you think you NEED to have THAT particular phone. As a long time IT engineer and CTO, I have people asking me all the time about what PC or phone to buy. I can't tell you how many people have told me they want a Droid or an iPhone, but don't want to get a data plan with it. :ROFLOL: Turns out they just think they are cool from seeing commercials or that their friend has one and they can play Angry Birds. Yes, people are actually contemplating spending close to $3000 over 2 years of a contract to play games and/or simply be seen talking on it.
