Verizon support for LBS on blackberry 8830

hopefully this answers some questions that may not have been answered as far as the gps service on the bb 8830. if its a repost,my bad.. also if your concerned about this being valid, it did come directly from verizon. nuff said


Historically, we have always taken a pragmatic approach when allowing location based services on any Verizon Wireless device. We test phones and applications more than other carriers and the RIM GPS mapping tool has not passed our testing for security and performance. We plan to offer Verizon Wireless. VZ Navigator and a number of third party GPS based applications for the BlackBerry 8830 later this year once the services pass our testing. It is important that we use applications that have been tested and approved because it directly impacts the level of performance as well as the assistance customers can expect when they call Verizon Wireless Tech Support.


Below are some Q&A's that will help assist with inquiries you may have. The responses below are directly from Corporate Public Relations and should not be altered.


1. Why isn't the native GPS mapping tool available on the BlackBerry 8830?


The tool has not yet met our standards for performance, security and privacy.


2. Will Verizon Wireless have mapping software on the BlackBerry 8830?


Verizon Wireless is currently modifying its own location based mapping service, VZ Navigator, for the BlackBerry 8830. The plan is for VZ Navigator and certain third party GPS applications to be available for the BlackBerry 8830 this year. The Blackberry is currently GPS capable to support Enhanced 911 Phase 2 automatic location identification.


3. Why didn't Verizon Wireless use the native GPS service on the device at least until your service was tested and ready for use?


The GPS service that is native to the Global BlackBerry does not have the level of security, protection or performance that Verizon Wireless requires (security precautions are important to prevent unintended use or misuse of location data). From a performance perspective, Verizon Wireless expects its network assisted approach to provide more accurate and faster location information, and better performance indoors and in dense urban areas.



4. Is it true that the reason Verizon Wireless doesn't allow the use of the native GPS service on the BlackBerry because the company won't make money if customers use the BlackBerry service?


While it is certainly true that we receive revenue from Verizon Wireless applications that we may not receive from native GPS solutions, it is also true that when our brand is associated with a device or service, it needs to meet our standards for high quality and secure service. The GPS service that is native to the Global BlackBerry has not been approved for the level of security, protection or performance that Verizon Wireless requires.


5. Why don't other carriers have issues with the GPS service from RIM?


We can't speak for other carriers but Verizon Wireless takes a very conservative approach to protecting customers privacy. Any service offered by Verizon Wireless must pass testing and have the necessary security to protect customers from unintended identification.



6. This phone was advertised as having GPS but I now find that it does not because Verizon Wireless disabled it?



Verizon Wireless is very careful to only advertise the features and services available on the devices it sells to ensure that customers get what they want and expect when they purchase a new device. None of the Verizon Wireless advertising on this device referenced mapping tools. Any service offered by Verizon Wireless must pass testing and have the necessary security to protect customers from unintended identification. The current GPS service does not currently meet our security requirements.


7. For some other carriers, Blackberry Maps, Google Maps, Telnav, etc. have access to the GPS functionality in the 8800. Why wouldn't your company allow this type of service?


Verizon Wireless supports Assisted GPS (AGPS) rather than stand-alone GPS like some others use. AGPS uses the Verizon Wireless Network to provide more accurate, faster location information, in addition to better navigation performance indoors and in dense urban areas. At launch, we elected not to implement other applications because of the overall impact they could have on the devices performance.


8. How is the Verizon Wireless GPS service secure?


Our location based service requires customers to choose to be identified by a GPS service before the users location is shared. It is the best way to protect customers and minimize the potential for "man in the middle" attacks. The Verizon Wireless Location Service encrypts the customer location information in the device before transmitting it to the network. Verizon Wireless requires all location requests be authenticated before the handset or network can obtain a customers location information.



9. What do I do for GPS service now since Verizon Wireless hasn't approved any service? I'm unhappy and want my money back.


While we respect your request, we would encourage you to be patient for our updates to the BlackBerry 8830, which will support several options for GPS. The BlackBerry 8830 is a great device that allows customers to stay in touch while traveling in over 170 countries for voice service and 90 countries for email. Should you wish to return your device, the Verizon Wireless Worry Free Guarantee allows customers 30 days to be completely satisfied with their service or they get their money back. Please call *611 on your Verizon Wireless phone to discuss options based on your individual circumstances.

My personal opinion.... Verizon is full of it and just wants to make money on their service.

Security my behind. They just want to make money off of every little feature.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

All verizon wants to do is have total control! They are control freaks and everyone knows it. The second a better service comes out people will jump ship. I would change in a heart beat but there is no one else so i am stuck. Verizon could have enabled the gps and if there are security concerns why can i use a bluetooth puck? Everyone know they just want more money!!!

Originally Posted by Trevor

Security my behind. They just want to make money off of every little feature.

+1. Pretty much par for the course with Verizon. Why think of the customer when they have a chance to squeeze a few more dollars out of us?

I'm sure security is a concern, but I am inclined to agree with everyone else here, it looks like a money grab. IMHO, that's not really a good call on their part, as they have the best network and this will only discourage customers from joining/re-joining. Then again, revenue is revenue I guess. :(

with my experience with Verizon I would take this with a grain of salt.

I bought a Motorola V710 as soon as it came out with the earth shattering feature called bluetooth. This was however crippled by Verizon out of the box, but they said within the year they will have and update to enable it. never happened, went to a class action suit beacause they advertised it as bluetooth while it was only able to use the ear piece, like many of their other phones. They did not want the V710 to have bluetooth so you had to transfer files through their network and pay for that service, in order to get those files onto your computer, rather then simply using bluetooth.

So over all I would not count on it, Verizon has a great business model and it is working for them, they have the best network, but the crappiest phones that are locked into what they want you to do. the do not want their phones open, they want you to go through them and have to pay for ring tones, all those other crappy services and near in the future for the blackberry GPS navigation.

Also just another thing that shows how they like to keep things closed...they some how got a special meeting with the FCC to change the 2 out of 4 open standards that google got them to implement in the 700mhz auction


Martin working to revise 700 MHz open-access provisions - RCR Wireless News

What a load of baloney.

Sad thing that whatever marketing genius wrote this drivel explanation - (s)he probably has no idea whatsoever about any actual "security" issues.

It is just a money grab. They get $250, or some extra 10% for people ordering this VZNavigator thing over two years. Since their costs are fairly fixed, they need to loose less then 1 customer for each one who bought their feature to compensate for crippling.

Given the amount of negative publicity they are getting, and people are not too dumb, I am sure it is not pure gravy - but I bet they still make money.

Originally Posted by mcj0422

So over all I would not count on it, Verizon has a great business model and it is working for them, they have the best network, but the crappiest phones that are locked into what they want you to do. the do not want their phones open, they want you to go through them and have to pay for ring tones, all those other crappy services and near in the future for the blackberry GPS navigation.

Still better then what Apple does. :)

What a load of @!*&

Verizon - please tell my why this web site at WALMART lists your phone as having GPS position:

//walmart.letstalk.com/product/browse.htm?pgId=100&serviceCorpId=660]Verizon Wireless Cell Phones

If they do not UNLOCK GPS fully on the 8830 on Nov 8th - as many CSR's have been quoted as saying they will - I will leave Verizon and also move my wife's account over as well. She's out of contract, I still have a year and a half left on mine - and I'm willing to pay the ETF. I'd rather pay up the ETF rather than pay them the same amount to use their VZ navigator service year after year.

Yes they do have the best network - but at this point I'm sick and tired of their 'conservatism' and them looking out for my best interests.

AT&T Curve - here I come.


VZ KMA

I was thinking of going to t-mobile myself.

Originally Posted by CrownSeven

What a load of @!*&

Verizon - please tell my why this web site at WALMART lists your phone as having GPS position:

//walmart.letstalk.com/product/browse.htm?pgId=100&serviceCorpId=660]Verizon Wireless Cell Phones

If they do not UNLOCK GPS fully on the 8830 on Nov 8th - as many CSR's have been quoted as saying they will - I will leave Verizon and also move my wife's account over as well. She's out of contract, I still have a year and a half left on mine - and I'm willing to pay the ETF. I'd rather pay up the ETF rather than pay them the same amount to use their VZ navigator service year after year.

Yes they do have the best network - but at this point I'm sick and tired of their 'conservatism' and them looking out for my best interests.

AT&T Curve - here I come.


VZ KMA

The only comment I can really make here is know people with Treos on Verizon and on other networks is that the Verizon Treos are much more stable than the non-Verizon ones. Yes the cripple the phones to a large extent, but I think there IS a good leavening of truth to their claim about security and stability. Now the security may be more for them then the customer, but I have seen the stability difference first-hand. I remember specifically friends who got the Sprint Treo 650 and how long it was before the Verizon 650 came out, but my Dad's 650 is so much more stable than my friends (of course now many of theirs are as well since they applied the OS patches that Verizon wouldn't carry the phone without) that it's almost like a different phone. Based on how the CDMA pearl pretty much hit Verizon and Sprint at the same time, I would guess that for the most part it was already pretty stable.

I highly doubt that Verizon's certification process is making the Treo more stable on their network versus other carrier's networks.

I have had a Treo and Motorola Q before my BlackBerry 8830 - and they we're both stable - until I started loading applications onto them. The windows OS just was not handling memory allocation very well which would force me to restart both phones all the time to clear up memory leaks.

Anyways - now that Verizon has announced that next year they will allow non-verizon phones to use their network - kind of throws their whole security argument out the window.

Originally Posted by cywelchjr

The only comment I can really make here is know people with Treos on Verizon and on other networks is that the Verizon Treos are much more stable than the non-Verizon ones. Yes the cripple the phones to a large extent, but I think there IS a good leavening of truth to their claim about security and stability. Now the security may be more for them then the customer, but I have seen the stability difference first-hand. I remember specifically friends who got the Sprint Treo 650 and how long it was before the Verizon 650 came out, but my Dad's 650 is so much more stable than my friends (of course now many of theirs are as well since they applied the OS patches that Verizon wouldn't carry the phone without) that it's almost like a different phone. Based on how the CDMA pearl pretty much hit Verizon and Sprint at the same time, I would guess that for the most part it was already pretty stable.

See other thread indicated in my signature. :)

Having made the announcement that you can bring your own phone to the Verizon network, can you bring a Blackberry Curve with camera to Verizon, and will you have GPS support? Also which model of the Curve will work with the Verizon Network??

kcruss

If we are headed toward a network independent device marketplace for cell phones, why doesn't RIM catch on to the fact that they could raise the price of their product significantly if they put a better camera in the Blackberry. Even if you limited the transmission of images to lower resolution images, having a great camera in the phone would be something that consumers would gladly pay for.

kcruss

I think if Verizon doesn't give us back our GPS capabilities we should get rid of our Verizon stocks and have others go along with us... if you have any... If they are going to screw us out of money I saw we screw them where it may hurt the most.

Originally Posted by kcruss

Having made the announcement that you can bring your own phone to the Verizon network, can you bring a Blackberry Curve with camera to Verizon, and will you have GPS support? Also which model of the Curve will work with the Verizon Network??

kcruss

There is no CDMA curve made! They are all GSM! We are still waiting!:rolleyes: