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 | B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| Re: This can be a very good thing, said by l33t  :or very ugly... The reason Verizon blocks out Bluetooth is for security reasons, but I think it's sorta stupid. No, you're mistaken. That is NOT why they disabled it.
They disabled it in order to MAKE MORE MONEY. And they said so very clearly:
Verizon says it disabled the Bluetooth file-transfer capability because it conflicted with contractual agreements it has with content providers participating in its "Get It Now" application download service offered with the v710.
"The v710 includes Get It Now, our virtual mall of games and productivity tools that customers can download. The agreements we have with our content providers preclude our allowing anyone to download these applications beyond the phone. The open architecture of Bluetooth could also allow customers to download Get It Now applications beyond the phone," said Verizon Wireless spokesperson Brenda Raney.
However, to use Verizon's Get It Now service, Verizon Wireless users must pay a fee to download applications, while users could, for example, transfer photos for free using Bluetooth. You'd have to be crazy or lazy to succumb to Verizon and actually order ANYTHING with their stupid button-wasting GetItNow spamware.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function | |
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roamer1
sticking it out at you
join:2001-03-24
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
| Re: This can be a very good thing, said by B :However, to use Verizon's Get It Now service, Verizon Wireless users must pay a fee to download applications, while users could, for example, transfer photos for free using Bluetooth. Transferring pictures is done not via GIN apps but via PIX messaging, which is a separate product. Pix can be pulled out of the phone via the TF card, but IMO the V710's camera is one of the worst there is, almost to the point of being useless. 
As far as worry over theft of GIN apps goes, BREW "locks" the apps to the phone's ESN anyway, and even the data-cable hacks I'm aware of don't permit access to the part of the phone where BREW/GIN apps are stored.. As far as ringtones, it should be easy enough to permit transfers of ringtones TO the phone via BT but not FROM it. (Of course, allowing people to import their own MP3s/MIDIs would cut into GIN revenues...)
I dumped VZW and the whole V710/GIN mess is one of the reasons why (money and "having too many phones" being the others...)
-SC
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"it seems like all you ever buy is Abercrombie and cell phones" --a friend | |
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BonezX
Basement Dweller
Premium
join:2004-04-13
Canada | Re: This can be a very good thing, the, here's the Free Phone*!@$^&
* not really a phone
! more like a brick
@ with a 40 year contract
$ at $1500 a year
^ prepaid
& doesn't actually work | |
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Dominokat
"Hi"
Premium
join:2002-08-06
Boothbay, ME
clubs:
1 edit |
Verizon wants you to use THIER network to transfer files, etc. Thus, you use up your minutes and/or pay extra to use the feature. Its all about sucking the money from you. Why give it away for free when there is money to be made? | |
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| peurifoy
join:2000-12-07
San Jose, CA
| I also had this issue with Verizon. Before switching to Verizon I visited two stores and asked if "Full" Bluetooth capability was part of the V710. To my surprise it is not. Plus I had issues with the V710 and had it replaced under warrant. At the end of my contract I"m out of here to a provider that is "Honest" and offers full functionality. ->As a California resident Verizon should pay or ??? | |
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Nzorke
join:2001-10-16
00000 | mo money??!! awe yea... its all bout the $$$$..
why would they let ppl share?
oh cuz they would not get $$$$$ if they did!!
doh.. sukkers! | |
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technick
Premium
join:2000-12-16
Loganville, GA
|  Tear Them A New Arse!!!
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"Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising everytime we fall." - Confucius - - - - - - - - - - - Streamfire.net- - AIM - CoNFuCiUsNiCk | |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Re: Tear Them A New Arse!!! Even if they get a big fine they will simply increase rates so the actual users will cover the cost...
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anon43@gmail.com | |
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Steve
Pipe Wrench Fight
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Yorba Linda, CA
| said by technick :I hope that they are slapped with a huge fine and forced to stop disabling features on phones so they make more money. That's not the only solution: if they simply disclose the conditions of the service, then consumers can make their own choices up front.
Steve
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Stephen J. Friedl • Unix Wizard • Microsoft Security MVP • Tustin, California USA • my web site | |
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| | JPCass
join:2001-01-23
Denver, CO
| Re: Tear Them A New Arse!!! said by Steve : That's not the only solution: if they simply disclose the conditions of the service, then consumers can make their own choices up front. They may well have disclosed it - in one of those magazine-length EULAs - and if not, that is where it probably would go, where it would do consumers little good. | |
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| | markj99999
join:2003-01-13
Manhattan Beach, CA
| Steve, well said!
My big objection to Verizon's behavior is that they don't actually come out and SAY that pictures YOU take can only be extracted via their pay per item service! It may be "common knowledge" to some, but it's certainly not common knowledge. And that's the way Verizon wants it.
While they don't even mention the disabling of the USB transfers, when they do actually mention the limitations to Bluetooth, they claim this modifications were made "for security of our customers".
That, my friends, is an out and out LIE. And Verizon managment knows it. It's this underhanded and deceptive aspect of their "business model" that being challenged.
If Verizon had just come out and admitted UP FRONT, in their ads and/or on the box, that media cannot be changed with paying Verizon a fee per item, or even A SINGLE PARAGRAPH in the manual, this whole issue would change from one of deceptive advertising to one of informed consent, and this thread and the lawsuit, would likely not even exist. | |
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Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK | I think that they can make Verizon enable it if they do win. Don't these phones have everything but the firmware? | |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
 ·Cogeco Cable
| Re: Tear Them A New Arse!!! said by Derch :I think that they can make Verizon enable it if they do win. Don't these phones have everything but the firmware? Pretty much, yup. GSM users would never put up with this sort of crap. I don't know why CDMA users do.
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Bigot - Someone that has won an argument with a Liberal.
Yes, I CanChat. Can You? www.fiberal.ca | |
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| | | | Appraiser
join:2005-01-17
Santa Cruz, CA | Re: Tear Them A New Arse!!! I have 4 Verizon accounts and am gradually moving them to T-Mobile as contracts expire. Wonder why there is no security issue with my GSM phones? | |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| Re: Tear Them A New Arse!!! said by Appraiser :I have 4 Verizon accounts and am gradually moving them to T-Mobile as contracts expire. Wonder why there is no security issue with my GSM phones? Because GSM providers know that the more intelligent users - the ones who actually want these features - will be able to get the phone unlocked and move it to another GSM provider, or flash the firmware/modify the FLEX to enable the feature anyway. GSM providers couldn't care less what phone you use as it's all in the SIM card. CDMA providers, however, have a notoriously bad habit of not activating any phones that aren't in their database of 'valid' ESNs. 
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Bigot - Someone that has won an argument with a Liberal.
Yes, I CanChat. Can You? www.fiberal.ca | |
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Daemon
Premium
join:2003-06-29
San Francisco, CA
·Comcast
| not likely to succeed This is probably going to be quickly dismissed when Verizon pulls out a service agreement that has a clause allowing them to do whatever they want to the phones.
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-Ryan
Computational Engineering Student looking for BioMedical/Computational BioEng internship. PM me if you know of any available! | |
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| AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA
| Re: not likely to succeed True...but the problem arises even before any user signs or agrees to terms of Verizon service. You could go out to any store and buy the phone retail (ie. full price) and have the features you want disabled, because the branded company doesn't want you doing .
This is akin to Palm with the new Treo 650 lines. Granted, I love the phone, but "Bluetooth" only means it's supposed to work with headsets...it might work with PC synchs too, but it certainly didn't work as a modem. (well, until Treo enthusiasts started hacking that feature back into their phones) | |
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reub2000
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Evanston, IL
1 edit | This is bringing attention to the issue. After all, the consumer has choice. I am definitly not switching to veriozon when my contract is over. | |
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cchhat01
The Guru
join:2001-05-01
Elmhurst, NY
| No wonder.... »Verizon Hunting Line Cutter
... someone if cutting up their wirelines and frustrating them.
Obviously, if they disable the key file-transferring option through bluetooth, some users are going to be very frustrated. Look, I buy a handset device by looking at what features it has and file transfer has become a very important part of it since i now carry a phone which has a memory card in it (nokia 6620). That is why I stay away from Verizon. I like GSM devices better because Cingular (and former AT&T) and T-Mobile don't user such tactics.
Chris
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Athlon64 3200+, Gigabyte K8NPro, 1GB DDR400 (2x512MB GeiL), 200GB Seagate w/8MB cache, 80GB and 160GB WD HDD (both w/8MB cache), TOSHIBA SD-M1712 DVD-ROM Drive, NEC ND-1300A DVD-RW, ATI RADEON 9800XT, Audigy2 ZS Platnm, RTL8169 GBit LAN, Logitech Z-5300. | |
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cprgolds
Woof Woof
Premium
join:2000-12-22
Portland, OR
| Verizon / Motorola V710 I have one.
It's pretty easy to work around Verizon's defeaturing of the bluetooth file transfers with a Transflash card.
The problem is, that the camera images are so bad that they are hardly worth transferring.
And then there's the matter of the promised firmware upgrade to make the features that Verizon intends to work, work!
In all, this one will cost Verizon their top-end customers.
Now, only if they didn't have the best coverage where I live...
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| newyorkslick
join:2001-12-19
Rosedale, NY
| Re: Verizon / Motorola V710 They promised a 1.3 Megapixel Camera, but the pictures i take with it are so bad and grainy its not worth using, not to mention the crippled bluetooth.
I brought a Bluetooth Adapter before I brought the V710 so I could hopefully save my address book and download mp3's to the phone, but sadly I cant even do that.
Its a case of false advertising and shotty merchandise. Motorola and Verizon should both be sued. | |
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crybabies
@rr.com
| when and where did verizon advertise that you could do a file transfer on the V710 through bluetooth? should a company be accountable for your presumptions? i guess what they say is true: "there's no act so dispicable as failing to live up to another's expectation". | |
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kaila
join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL
clubs: | Verizon isn't the only one...... Sprint has been degrading phones performance/feature sets for a while now. | |
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| raIDERspeed
join:2002-07-26
Soledad, CA | Re: Verizon isn't the only one...... Just buy a data cable off e-bay much better... | |
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| | newyorkslick
join:2001-12-19
Rosedale, NY
1 edit | Re: Verizon isn't the only one...... When you pay this much of a phone, you DESERVE to have these features enabled. Its all about them making money off thier Get it Now business model.
They Advertised this phone with Bluetooth, not stating that it can only be used with the headset.
They even said themselves that they would come out with a firmware update to enable the transfering of the addressbook to a PC. 
Havent even seen that yet | |
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mfeeny
Sweeper51
Premium
join:2000-06-03
Detroit, MI | hell i bought a cable from radioshack and i use bitpim. all info is transferred to computer and back to phone pix, phone# etc. why pay any more than you have to? | |
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MDboyz
join:2001-01-11
Silver Spring, MD | Yeah.. Sprint has disable all the phone function to transfer pictures, ringtones...etc.. between computer and phone a long time ago. And yet nobody has stood up and sued them yet.
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@Home, I want to go @Home!!! | |
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| | bigpapae35
join:2002-10-25
Great Neck, NY
| Re: Verizon isn't the only one...... What are you talking about I use a data cable with all 7 different models of my sprint phones, and I could pull all my data off the phone like phonebook, ringers, and pictures. YOU ARE SURELY MISTAKEN DONT START RUMORS. On some models they have disabled bluetooth networking and on some models it is enabled. But honestly it is somewhat of a security issue to have enabled. Imagine all the idiots who just leave their bluetooth on and its already hackable. | |
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | Re: Verizon isn't the only one...... most BT phones dont come with BT on. If a stupid user manages to stumble around and find way to turn it on, it is their faultfor getting hacked. Getting hacked is pretty hard anyways due to the range and how long a device stays in one place. | |
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK
| The outcome of this suit. Verizon will have to enable the features on this phone and make a clarity statement on all future BT phones stating which profiles are supported, but in turn verizon will never enable these profiles again.
Fuck it anyways, the EDGE providers out there don't have these policies with their phones, so cingular will just get more customers. | |
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jasqid
Fiber In Your Diet?
join:2002-04-02
East Palestine, OH
| Pictures Some of you have it right on. They want to make more money by disabling the bluetooth so that picture transfers can go through their network. Much like Sprint PCS.
I do software upgrades and maintenance of Kodak Picture Makers. We've installed Infra Red and Bluetooth adapters into many of the Picture Makers so that consumers can transfer their pictures from camera phones and PDAs into the units to make prints. Thus, by-passing network use through your cellular provider.
It really bothers me that companies squash, hinder, and oppress technology that is beneficial to consumers. I understand it's capitalism, but Hell, there has to be a fair use too. I also speak of devices such as Replay TV and Tivo. I have a replay that USE to skip commercials and share shows with friends but the MPAA and networks b!tched and moaned about loosing $$.
Down the road, it will only get worse. New devices and technologies will emerge and they will yet again try to squeeze another bloody dollar from our pockets. | |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| CDMA phones and providers suck, end of story. Telus did the exact same thing with their version of the V710. Yet again one more reason not to buy a CDMA handset. Unlocked GSM handsets are far better than any of the crap you'll get on CDMA.
--
Bigot - Someone that has won an argument with a Liberal.
Yes, I CanChat. Can You? www.fiberal.ca | |
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See 10 replies to this post |
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hoyter
join:2004-01-21
Franklin, TN
| Cingular still keps customers happy well i am happy to say that i have stuck with cingular. I am using a v551 and have no problem transferring anything to and from the phone with cable or web. When i first started with cingular, that was the reason i choose them. i have sold all major carriers and cingular is the only one i would pay for the web access just because of these features. I have friends with sprint. They have great phones but have to pay money to "rent" games for a predetermined amount of time before they expire. I think that it should be false advertising if they sell you on features like the data connections, pictures, and downloading from the web and then force you to pay to use their proprietary software. they already have you in a contract and try to push you to shell out more for the features you really want. This is why i think more users will switch over to cingular where they still let you download any phone files from any website accessible to your phone, as long as you pay for the mobile media.
a great website to findout how to get all the features from your phone that the carriers often try to hide try »www.howardforums.com.
well that is all i have to say
Hoyter | |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| Re: Cingular still keps customers happy said by hoyter :I have friends with sprint. They have great phones but have to pay money to "rent" games for a predetermined amount of time before they expire. I think that it should be false advertising if they sell you on features like the data connections, pictures, and downloading from the web and then force you to pay to use their proprietary software. BREW was a sham from the very beginning, I have no idea why people just roll over and let themselves be screwed over stuff like this.
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Bigot - Someone that has won an argument with a Liberal.
Yes, I CanChat. Can You? www.fiberal.ca | |
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F-Verizon
@adelphia.net | FU*$ Verizon If thats all true about Verizon disabling this feature to make more $$$. I "F YOU VERIZON YOU FILTHY F's"!!!!!!
****END OF TRANSMISSION**** | |
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crybabies
@rr.com
| Re: FU*$ Verizon i'm pretty sure verizon never advertised or disclosed in any way that their bluetooth phones would do file transfers. both the info on the display and the owner's manual say that it supports wireless headset, speakerphone and car kit profiles. i bought the v710, i am happy with the v710.
my question is why would you file suit against a company for providing exactly what it said it would provide? granted, it would be cool if it did do file transfers, but in all of the printed info i can locate from verizon for this phone, nowhere do i find one piece of info stating it supported anything other than the 3 profiles listed. if you don't like verizon for not allowing file transfers and you can get it somewhere else, then excersise your rights as a consumer and BUY ANOTHER PHONE. it's very simple. if company X offers a service you like and company Y does not, spend your money with company X.
this is likely to be a non-issue for most of verizon wireless's customers anyhow, since at 149.99 (with a 2yr agreement and the $100 "new every two" discount) it's nowhere near as widespread as the ubiquitous LG, samsung and audiovox phones i see most people with. i highly doubt this is going to affect verizon's popularity. | |
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F walker
Hey Intern, Get Me A Campari
Premium
join:2003-04-10
Vancouver, WA
clubs:
| Hope Tmobile does not do this...... I just ordered a brand new Nokia 6600 form Tmobile, if i get it and they have disabled the bluetooth functionality i will send it back and switch to ANYONE else.... I bought it so i could xfer photos and video from the filed to my PC via bluetooth dongle....
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"GOOD, adaptation, improvisation, but your weakness, is... not your technique..." | |
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Snickerdo
Premium
join:2001-02-28
Niagara Falls, ON
·Cogeco Cable
| Re: Hope Tmobile does not do this...... said by F walker :I just ordered a brand new Nokia 6600 form Tmobile, if i get it and they have disabled the bluetooth functionality i will send it back and switch to ANYONE else.... I bought it so i could xfer photos and video from the filed to my PC via bluetooth dongle.... You'll get all the Bluetooth features supported by Nokia in the phone (that is, you'll be hard pressed to find a GSM provider that castrates phones) but then again, Nokia Bluetooth isn't exactly known for being reliable  You might want to head on over to www.howardforums.com and see what other people have to say. It's a great resource.
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Bigot - Someone that has won an argument with a Liberal.
Yes, I CanChat. Can You? www.fiberal.ca | |
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europe_trex
@user.a | Re: Hope Tmobile does not do this...... 3G operator in UK, gives/sells you also their "branded" bluetooth phones with file sharing disable like the new Nen e616V - which is a great phone, but now dissabled! - Hope we can go against 3 too! | |
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Nodec
@sbcglobal.net
| Any other providers disable Bluetooth? i was really mad when i learn that Verizon disables their Bluetooth. i want to end the contact but can't because there are to separate contracts and i would have to pay them $175. anyway does any other providers disable blue tooth? because i don't want to make the same mistake get a crappy company like Verizon again. | |
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curlygirl
join:2007-05-28
Napa, CA
1 edit | Dasterdly Verizon OK, so there's a lot of faulty information out there. One of the things that most irks me is that everyone is complaining about the Motorola Razr not being able to do bluetooth file transfers with Verizon. Here's what I learned when I called Verizon and Motorola:
Verizon makes EVERY manufacturer of Bluetooth capable phones disable all bluetooth functions except headset connection. My hot new LG 8700 has been disabled in the same way that my Motorola Razr was. Verizon says they do this because they don't want to have to technically support all the other bluetooth functions, but then they should not make you have to pay for "Get it Now" services, in my opinion. Since they do make you pay to get files through their service that you'd be able to get via operable bluetooth functions intrinsic to a phone they didn't have disabled by the manufacturer, I think it's obvious that it's a profit-making policy.
Those of you who use the go-around of flash cards or wires are getting what you are entitled to the hard way, but at least you're getting it. But don't lose sight of the fact that with a fully enabled Bluetooth phone, you shouldn't have to use hardware to connect with your PC or Mac.
I think what Verizon is doing sucks, and I hope that market pressure will make them "see the light," but the best thing customers can do in the meantime is to write letters of complaint to the corporate headquarters: Customer Service, 140 West St.,New York, NY 10007. You can bet that I'll be writing my letter today, and if I hear from anyone in particular, I'll update this posting. But there is power in numbers, folks, so write them. There is also a link to email them on the Verizonwireless website. | |
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Disabled Bluetooth
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Hmmmmm......
