DanLacher.COM

If you recall from an earlier post, I have had some issues with Verizon.  Today I received a response from them on my support call again after they pushed out the NFL app to everyones Blackberry service book.

Thank you for contacting Verizon Wireless. As a reflection of my commitment to provide the best customer service possible, Unfortunately there isn’t a way to turn off automatic update on your blackberry. The phone is designed to receive automatic updates the only way not to receive automatic updates is to turn data off completely. By doing that you will not be able to utilize the full experience of the phone.If this continues to be an issue for you we do have other devices that doesnt not allow automatic updates.

If you have any further questions or concerns please call us at your earliest convenience from a landline phone at 1-800-922-0204 option 3 for technical support. You can also visit a Verizon Wireless store. To find the nearest location, please click on the following link: www.verizonwireless.com/storelocator

We appreciate your business and thank you for using Verizon Wireless products and services.

MW Analyst Team

Well what are your thoughts on that?  I say fine if they are not going to turn off automatic updates to my phone then stop putting apps on my phone.  Again, I state that I understand that these are not the full app but app install links.  I would really be interested to hear what some technical folks have to say, is this not possible from the servers that VZW is running for their customers?

For those that know I have had a sorta love / dislike relationship with Verizon for 10 years now. I have been a Verizon customer since March of 2000, so I am by no means an original customer but they have been my only wireless provider since I entered the marketplace. In the past my only real complaint has been how they sell/subsidise phones that have had functionality crippled or turned off all together.

Now fast forward to December of 2009 when Verizon decided that they would push the Bing application out to all of their Blackberry users. Really, for a device that owned by the user and not the company and for a device that is password protected from application install I don’t understand how a company would make that move. Now I understand that it was not a full application push but a shortcut to install the application and until recently no apparent way to remove it… I don’t consider hiding the application icon a solution.

Move ahead again to February of 2010 when Verizon pulls the same stunt and pushed a shortcut install application for Slacker Radio out to my device.

WHAT! At this point I was out right pissed off. I called Verizon to find out what they heck was going on. After a discussion with the front line customer service member who clearly had no idea what I was talking about he informed me all he could do is file a complaint for me, which I did. The following day I received a follow up phone call on the complaint to gather further information and clarification and was told they were going to escalated the issue further along. I am still waiting to hear back from them.

The saga continues when I then connect up the Blackberry to back it up before installing OS updates. The backup went fine but I can’t say the rest did. My device is currently running v4.5.0.138. In the process of updating to v4.5.0.175 one of the main application Blackberry Messenger disappeared. Details of the applications showed it installed, so I tried all the combinations of reinstalling, uninstalling, installing… with no joy. So I decided to swallow my pride and go in to see if the techs in the Verizon store could help. Well that was a waste of time, they did all the sam steps I had all ready done and then concluded that a device wipe would fix it. Well it does not. The store also has no ability to reload the OS on a Blackberry device. So I venture back home, downgrade the OS back to v4.5.0.138 and Blackberry Messenger is back and fully functional. So they failed in understanding devices they are supporting and I am just glad I was able to figure it out to get the functionality back.

So while restoring my device and poking through some deeper options, specifically: Options, Advanced, Service Book I found Bing and Slacker Radio. So I figured what they heck, can’t hurt to delete them, the worst that happens is I have to restore like I just finished doing after the Messenger fiasco. I am glad to say that did the trick, no more application shortcuts on the device.

I have been so pissed through this process that I have been researching a switch of the Verizon network. The devices and networks out there that have my interest are the iPhone, Blackberry (not on Verizon) and the Google Nexus One.

The story is not finished yet, but I am waiting to hear back from them on their next move.