Still no EMS, really? You've got to be kidding me.

[fjl307]

I got a new Storm 2 today from Verizon and noticed it still lacks EMS capability, which means that foreign charactors such as á é í ó ú ñ cannot be typed into SMS and MMS messages. This has been a known "issue" on Verizon Blackberry devices. Emails, and PIN messaging works just fine.

Hopefully my letter to the CEO will do something.

Dear Mr. McAdam,
I am a longtime Verizon Wireless customer and also a Spanish speaker.I have been through two Blackberry smartphones and perhaps my biggest gripe (other than blocking the GPS) is the lack of EMS capability on these devices. EMS or enhanced messaging enables a phone to override the 160 charactor limit on SMS, I do not recall what the limit is but In additon, it allows the user to type foreign charactors such as á é í ó ú ñ, etc. The Verizon Blackberry devices are typically bundled with the option of English, Spanish and French How come is it that these devices cannot support EMS in SMS and MMS messaging on Verizon branded Blackberries? It is supported in other CMDA carriers, other Verizon smartphones (WinMo, Treo) and regular Verizon branded "dumbphones". Can we come up with a workaroung for this? Especially when Verizon Wireless caters and sells the Spanish speaking market by having a website in Spanish and support in Spanish. While it is not important in English, Spanish relies heavily on accented charactors. Lacking an accent can completely change the meaning of what is being said, or the conjugation of a word. The Spanish letter Ñ is also very important. "Año" means "year" while "ano" means "rectum". These devices are not only upper end, almost flagship models but they are used by business professionals and consumers alike many of which who communicate in Spanish. Lack of such capabilities when even the most basic "dumbphone" sold by Verizon is ridiculous. Last time I made a suggestion to modifying software, I was rudely told by a Verizon employee that it would not be economically viable for Verizon programmers to make the change, this was when I had a Pearl, and it was almost two years ago. I would hope I do not have to hear the same excuse again, especially for the brand new Storm 2 which I hold in my hands. Please make these changes. According to RIM, the lack of this capability is due to limitations of the carrier. If nothing else, I´m sure it wouldn´t take much to make a Verizon branded application for EMS that runs on the Blackberry much like the VCast software or the song ID software. I believe that Verizon Wireless has a distinct edge over the competition due to it's solid, reliable network, constantly updated equipment selection, lack of 1984-style control (Apple / AT&T), and great customer service. Making such changes would benefit Verizon greatly. Please take this into consideration. Thank you for your time and have a great day.

[phillyphreak]

Cool story Bro!

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[stillborn86]

The GPS isn't locked from what you remember. I use it all the time with Google Maps. Sometimes it's a little glitch, but it works overall for me.

And your argument for "business" use won't hold water. If you really need to conduct "business" type of communication, E-mail would be the way 99.99% of communication is conducted for that situation. SMS and MMS are not an appropriate way to conduct "business" and, therefore, are not a priority in this matter. If you must communicate with people through BES (or BIS for that matter) within your company use PIN messaging which is covered. For communicating outside use E-mail. Simple as that.

VZW will most likely return a "rude reply" because your E-mail was arrogantly rude to begin with. They may also not reply at all. I know I wouldn't respond to an E-mail like that. Now if it were in EMS format... I probably wouldn't even look at it before I simply deleted it.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[famoustgun]

Originally Posted by fjl307

I got a new Storm 2 today from Verizon and noticed it still lacks EMS capability, which means that foreign charactors such as á é í ó ú ñ cannot be typed into SMS and MMS messages. This has been a known "issue" on Verizon Blackberry devices. Emails, and PIN messaging works just fine.

Hopefully my letter to the CEO will do something.

Dear Mr. McAdam,
I am a longtime Verizon Wireless customer and also a Spanish speaker.I have been through two Blackberry smartphones and perhaps my biggest gripe (other than blocking the GPS) is the lack of EMS capability on these devices. EMS or enhanced messaging enables a phone to override the 160 charactor limit on SMS, I do not recall what the limit is but In additon, it allows the user to type foreign charactors such as á é í ó ú ñ, etc. The Verizon Blackberry devices are typically bundled with the option of English, Spanish and French How come is it that these devices cannot support EMS in SMS and MMS messaging on Verizon branded Blackberries? It is supported in other CMDA carriers, other Verizon smartphones (WinMo, Treo) and regular Verizon branded "dumbphones". Can we come up with a workaroung for this? Especially when Verizon Wireless caters and sells the Spanish speaking market by having a website in Spanish and support in Spanish. While it is not important in English, Spanish relies heavily on accented charactors. Lacking an accent can completely change the meaning of what is being said, or the conjugation of a word. The Spanish letter Ñ is also very important. "Año" means "year" while "ano" means "rectum". These devices are not only upper end, almost flagship models but they are used by business professionals and consumers alike many of which who communicate in Spanish. Lack of such capabilities when even the most basic "dumbphone" sold by Verizon is ridiculous. Last time I made a suggestion to modifying software, I was rudely told by a Verizon employee that it would not be economically viable for Verizon programmers to make the change, this was when I had a Pearl, and it was almost two years ago. I would hope I do not have to hear the same excuse again, especially for the brand new Storm 2 which I hold in my hands. Please make these changes. According to RIM, the lack of this capability is due to limitations of the carrier. If nothing else, I´m sure it wouldn´t take much to make a Verizon branded application for EMS that runs on the Blackberry much like the VCast software or the song ID software. I believe that Verizon Wireless has a distinct edge over the competition due to it's solid, reliable network, constantly updated equipment selection, lack of 1984-style control (Apple / AT&T), and great customer service. Making such changes would benefit Verizon greatly. Please take this into consideration. Thank you for your time and have a great day.

If u hold your finger over the letter you get an option to chose! try it out it works for me.

[howarmat]

Originally Posted by famoustgun

If u hold your finger over the letter you get an option to chose! try it out it works for me.

+1..i dont even have the languages install and have that option....wow you are going to look like a frakking ***** to Mr. McAdam

[NurseBerryAddict]

Hovering your finger without tapping definitely brings up the other characters you want. You should have read the tips and tricks in the storm2 forum and you would have found that information.

[jbdale]

When will his madness stop! Another case of someone who doesn't know how to work their device. Shocking.

Your PS to McAdams should read;

Kindly send me a users manual.

[fjl307]

Originally Posted by jbdale

When will his madness stop! Another case of someone who doesn't know how to work their device. Shocking.

Your PS to McAdams should read;

Kindly send me a users manual.

Look who´s talking, as I have mentioned, and as many others on Crackberry have mentioned, it DOES NOT work in SMS. If the input language is selected as Spanish or another foreign language, there is no option for foreign characters in SMS. If you do it in MMS, they show but are stripped when the message is sent.
This has been a known issue, searching the forum might dig up something instead of being rude about it like a few of the other posters. I thought that I was clear about it in my "letter¨

I really didn´t feel like my letter was [I]that[I] arrogant. Even though SMS isn´t according to some a business application (matter of opinion), when Verizon sells and markets in Spanish, and when the phone has the simple capability on other carriers, AND when even the simplest phones Verizon sells have this capability, it should be included.

If you spoke Spanish and you couldn´t communicate with your friends and loved ones via SMS (all who do have EMS capable phones) you might not be happy with the 500 dollar hole in your pocket either.

Lowell and his office assistants are actually quite professional and understanding people, at that high of a level, who isn´t. I bet I´ll get a call within the next week with at least an explanation is to why this hasn´t been implemented.


Last but not least...lañguage install. Under the add and remove apps option in Blackberry Desktop, there is the option to install languages. Before anybody steps up to say it, I understand and have mentioned this was an option placed by RIM.



Related links
Re: Length of text message - BlackBerry Support Community Forums

Foreign Characters on Verizon Blackberries

[jbdale]

Originally Posted by fjl307

Look who´s talking, as I have mentioned, and as many others on Crackberry have mentioned, it DOES NOT work in SMS. If the input language is selected as Spanish or another foreign language, there is no option for foreign characters in SMS. If you do it in MMS, they show but are stripped when the message is sent.
This has been a known issue, searching the forum might dig up something instead of being rude about it like a few of the other posters. I thought that I was clear about it in my "letter¨

I really didn´t feel like my letter was [I]that[I] arrogant. Even though SMS isn´t according to some a business application (matter of opinion), when Verizon sells and markets in Spanish, and when the phone has the simple capability on other carriers, AND when even the simplest phones Verizon sells have this capability, it should be included.

If you spoke Spanish and you couldn´t communicate with your friends and loved ones via SMS (all who do have EMS capable phones) you might not be happy with the 500 dollar hole in your pocket either.

Lowell and his office assistants are actually quite professional and understanding people, at that high of a level, who isn´t. I bet I´ll get a call within the next week with at least an explanation is to why this hasn´t been implemented.


Last but not least...lañguage install. Under the add and remove apps option in Blackberry Desktop, there is the option to install languages. Before anybody steps up to say it, I understand and have mentioned this was an option placed by RIM.



Related links
Re: Length of text message - BlackBerry Support Community Forums

Foreign Characters on Verizon Blackberries

I rest my case

[Lenerdosy]

I dont got anything other than English installed on mine (pretty sure I removed them) and I can still send Spanish letters.

[stillborn86]

Originally Posted by fjl307

Look who´s talking, as I have mentioned, and as many others on Crackberry have mentioned, it DOES NOT work in SMS. If the input language is selected as Spanish or another foreign language, there is no option for foreign characters in SMS. If you do it in MMS, they show but are stripped when the message is sent.
This has been a known issue, searching the forum might dig up something instead of being rude about it like a few of the other posters. I thought that I was clear about it in my "letter¨

I really didn´t feel like my letter was [I]that[I] arrogant. Even though SMS isn´t according to some a business application (matter of opinion), when Verizon sells and markets in Spanish, and when the phone has the simple capability on other carriers, AND when even the simplest phones Verizon sells have this capability, it should be included.

If you spoke Spanish and you couldn´t communicate with your friends and loved ones via SMS (all who do have EMS capable phones) you might not be happy with the 500 dollar hole in your pocket either.

Lowell and his office assistants are actually quite professional and understanding people, at that high of a level, who isn´t. I bet I´ll get a call within the next week with at least an explanation is to why this hasn´t been implemented.


Last but not least...lañguage install. Under the add and remove apps option in Blackberry Desktop, there is the option to install languages. Before anybody steps up to say it, I understand and have mentioned this was an option placed by RIM.



Related links
Re: Length of text message - BlackBerry Support Community Forums

Foreign Characters on Verizon Blackberries

I know that the characters get stripped in an SMS, which is why I say to use E-mail. Why is this such a difficult thing to grasp? If you are offered two options, and one of them doesn't work for you, use the other one. Simplicity is the key.

I also understand that it would be easier to text family members, but calling would be even easier than texting! What about that?

And when you say things like:

Originally Posted by fjl307

Verizon sells and markets in Spanish

Is your goal to make them stop marketing in Spanish? Would marketing in only English solve your problem?? This would avoid these unnecessary letters and the unnecessary need for "business" (or just casual texting to family -- whichever you feel like using as the "truth") EMS which would cost more for the company who would trickle these costs into my pocket.

So, you have said in your first post that you needed EMS for "business" where I suggested using E-mail, but it seems that you only want it for texting family. Which one is true? You even aimed your E-mail to VZW as a "business" E-mail and not an "I just want this for the convenience of texting family" E-mail.

I feel you should get your facts straight before trying to pull something like that.

[aviator24]

I have been suffering with 2 Storms since they came out. Both of em are totally un-reliable. Whenever I really need to use my phone, I get to see the "Hour Glass Of Death". I have maybe 3 apps installed. Even after a battery pull and a memory clean, I still am forced to do a battery pull a couple times a day. This phone is a joke.
I called and even wrote Verizon and they were not very sympathetic. Sorry, but I have better things to do than stand in line forever to hear a tech tell me there is nothing wrong.
I am sooo thinking of giving up on Blackberry altogether...

[PensHockey]

Originally Posted by aviator24

I have been suffering with 2 Storms since they came out. Both of em are totally un-reliable. Whenever I really need to use my phone, I get to see the "Hour Glass Of Death". I have maybe 3 apps installed. Even after a battery pull and a memory clean, I still am forced to do a battery pull a couple times a day. This phone is a joke.
I called and even wrote Verizon and they were not very sympathetic. Sorry, but I have better things to do than stand in line forever to hear a tech tell me there is nothing wrong.
I am sooo thinking of giving up on Blackberry altogether...

It sounds like your running .65. Have you upgraded to 5.0 yet?

[aviator24]

yes...no help.

[ottonomy]

I came to this thread looking for answers to a similar problem I have with entering foreign characters into SMS messages on my Tour 9630. I found the sentiments of the open letter to McAdam to nearly echo my own. It was anything but arrogant. One might interpret it as condescending, but in my experience, such letters must include information that the recipient would be expected to know, or else the reply will most certainly contain the typical pat answers which are given to those who do not spell out the details of their concerns in such detail.

Verizon has a reputation for crippling the features of its hardware lineup, sometimes for profit, other times inexplicably. A bit of browsing on this forum will reveal that most of the people who are unable to enter foreign characters in SMS messages are Verizon subscribers. It has been put forth repeatedly that this is a limitation of CDMA. I am here to tell you that it is NOT. I cannot, however, say why Verizon has chosen to make this so difficult for BlackBerry users.

On my 9630, I can use the standard procedure for creating accented characters (holding down the key of the base letter and rolling the trackball until the appropriate accent comes up) while composing an email. I can then select those characters, paste them into an SMS text, and send them, without having the accents or tildes stripped. I can not create those characters within an SMS. It is clear then, that Verizon's CDMA is perfectly capable of sending them intact, at least for some of its subscribers. Furthermore, as stated above by fjl307, many of Verizon's dumb phones can do this, some even from their limited alpha-numeric keypads.

What I understand even less than Verizon's lack of attention to this issue (which has bounced around in these forums for years now), is the animosity in this thread toward the person having the problem. Why must someone be made to feel stupid even if he or she hasn't found an answer that was lurking in the manual? Does it cost you anything to click on a link and see a question for which there is an easy answer? Does it not take more of your precious time to berate someone than to ignore or help? In this case, there wasn't such an answer, and those who wasted their collective breath bellowing that there was are the ones who have ended up looking silly to someone like me who stumbles upon the thread when it's grown cold.

Originally Posted by jbdale

I rest my case

How, sir, do you rest your case, when it has just been rendered rubbish by the text you quoted? Clearly, you are not speaking to someone who hasn't read the manual, who doesn't know how to operate the device, or who hasn't put quite a bit of thought and research into the topic of the original post.

Originally Posted by stillborn86

I know that the characters get stripped in an SMS, which is why I say to use E-mail. Why is this such a difficult thing to grasp? If you are offered two options, and one of them doesn't work for you, use the other one. Simplicity is the key.

I also understand that it would be easier to text family members, but calling would be even easier than texting! What about that?

And when you say things like:

Is your goal to make them stop marketing in Spanish? Would marketing in only English solve your problem?? This would avoid these unnecessary letters and the unnecessary need for "business" (or just casual texting to family -- whichever you feel like using as the "truth") EMS which would cost more for the company who would trickle these costs into my pocket.

So, you have said in your first post that you needed EMS for "business" where I suggested using E-mail, but it seems that you only want it for texting family. Which one is true? You even aimed your E-mail to VZW as a "business" E-mail and not an "I just want this for the convenience of texting family" E-mail.

I feel you should get your facts straight before trying to pull something like that.

Again, why the hostility, stillborn86? Is it not possible that someone might have a need to express things in another language, in writing, in both email and SMS, and both for business and pleasure? To presume otherwise is arrogant, to use one of your own words of choice. I can imagine many reasons why email is not always the answer for business communication. A person running a business might be expected to have a smartphone, but what about clients? Imagine someone working as an attorney for immigrants, many of whom might not have a command of the English language. Would he or she not want to be able to accommodate all possible means of communication with said clients? Mightn't one also use the same phone to communicate with family and friends? Cannot all of these things be true? Email, also, is not instantaneous or expedient for the many who choose other devices besides the BlackBerry.

Further, why has SMS exploded in popularity over the last decade? Because it's harder than calling? I think not. There are hundreds of reasons to text instead of calling, and I wouldn't be so self-important as to suggest that someone else's unexpressed reasons were invalid.