Verizon starts to budge on MP3 policies

gwilks98 · 07-31-2006, 10:53 AM

http://blog.wired.com/music/#1530757

Quote:

Verizon Budges on MP3 Support; Still No MP3 Ringtones
Topic: News

In an apparent attempt to salvage its reputation among music fans who use cellphones, Verizon has announced that it will discontinue the $15 per month it charges users for the right to even think about downloading music directly onto your phone. This means that music on Verizon phones will now "only" cost $2 per song (without the additional $15 monthly VCast fee).

First of all, I've been complaining about Verizon's practice of disabling the MP3 ringtone feature on its Razr's lately – a practice that forced my brother to toss his Verizon Razr into the sea in an unconscious protest against their overly-restrictive ringtone policy. Readers of this blog sent in suggestions on how to re-enable Verizon Razr's with ringtones, but I still wish the company would just sell the phone with the features it's supposed to have.

Second, what about the "Chocolate" LG cellphone that Verizon also just announced, that will have an iPod-style scrollwheel? According to reports, it'll be able to sideload MP3s from a computer, which is a big improvement.

According to the Verizon spokesman I just asked, users cannot use those MP3s as ringtones, "due to licensing issues," so owners of that "Chocolate" LG phone will still have to pay separately for ringtones and won't be able to make their own.

To my ear, "licensing issues" translates as "ringtone revenue goals." It's hard to say how much the policy stems from Verizon or the record labels – all that's clear is that Verizon's policy of blocking MP3 ringtones sucks for its users. I think that if you own a song legally, you should be able to have that song play when you get a phone call without paying again for that privilege.

This has been my biggest complaint of verizon: They will not give you a single feature for free. Apparently, they're starting to get the hint.

I had to hack my LG VX8300 with bitpim to get my ringtones on there (and my photos off) without giving Verizon an arm and a leg.

Cubsfan · 07-31-2006, 10:57 AM

I totally agree. They actually cripple phones just to get you to pay up. It's really disappointing to see that other people have the same phone, with cooler features, for free.

guiseppewv · 07-31-2006, 12:01 PM

That is why I left Verizon. I figured if enough people started bailing on them and letting them know why then they would get the hint.

ray · 07-31-2006, 12:41 PM

I love Sprint for this exact reason. A month ago or so I was shopping for a PDA phone and was comparing all the various carrier fees for their data plans.

Sprint was by far the cheapest offering unlimited data at $15/month in addition to my phone plan. In total I only pay $41/month for my phone plan which includes 300 anytime, unlimited nights weekends, unlimited pcs to pcs, & unlimited data.

The cheapest comparable plans I could find with any other carrier was about $65/month.

This issue of add-on services is only going to get worse with all the companies. I'm shocked Sprint hasn't decided to move over to more expensive/tiered pricing plans than they have, but maybe they're better off than the others because of their merger with Nextel.

Airencracken · 07-31-2006, 12:45 PM

I hate how verizon nickels and dimes you but I've had the best experience with signal and service with them. That's what keeps me verizon.

guiseppewv · 07-31-2006, 01:18 PM

I agree that Verizon has the best cell service but their fees are ridiculous.

ramazank2 · 07-31-2006, 02:31 PM

I switched to Verizon in January, and since then I have gotten so fed up with dropped calls. I never had a single dropped call with Tmobile. I cant wait till my contract is up.......

guiseppewv · 07-31-2006, 02:34 PM

Completely opposite problem here. I switched from VZW to Cingular in May and since then I have had more dropped calls and more poor quality calls than I had with VZW despite having a better phone?

What phone do you have with VZW and what did you have with T-mobile?

bachviet · 07-31-2006, 04:07 PM

I had Verizon in the past and it has the best coverage out of the 4 I had/have used (PacBell, AT&T, and T-Mobile). However T-Mobile is the cheapest, has 1 year contract, and it's easy for me to switch phones. Unlocked GSM phones have no restriction whatsoever of what can be done to it. Currently my wife is using a T-Mobile MDA with a custom ROM and I use a Cingular-branded unlocked Treo 650 with an unbranded firmware.

clutchy · 07-31-2006, 05:57 PM

I dropped verizon and switched to cingular.

My family had cingular back in 2000 and dropped it b/c the signals were crap, but recently they've gotten significantly better.

A buddy of mine has verizon and we've gone to quite a few remote areas and I get service everywhere he does, but i also get it in quite a few spots where he doesn't... including an 8000ft. lake in mammoth...

I've been trying to convert my friends, but it's fairly difficult considering verizon's excellent advertising... people here in california *it seems* default to verizon. It's working slowly...I've gotten 2 so far and they've both been happy.

ray · 07-31-2006, 06:38 PM

And to add insult to users who like their old phones, Cingular will be imposing a $5/month surcharge to customers who still use TDMA phones.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...e_x.htm?csp=34

07-31-2006, 12:45 PM	#5
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	I hate how verizon nickels and dimes you but I've had the best experience with signal and service with them. That's what keeps me verizon. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre

07-31-2006, 04:07 PM	#9
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	I had Verizon in the past and it has the best coverage out of the 4 I had/have used (PacBell, AT&T, and T-Mobile). However T-Mobile is the cheapest, has 1 year contract, and it's easy for me to switch phones. Unlocked GSM phones have no restriction whatsoever of what can be done to it. Currently my wife is using a T-Mobile MDA with a custom ROM and I use a Cingular-branded unlocked Treo 650 with an unbranded firmware. __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

07-31-2006, 05:57 PM	#10
clutchy Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 2,863	I dropped verizon and switched to cingular. My family had cingular back in 2000 and dropped it b/c the signals were crap, but recently they've gotten significantly better. A buddy of mine has verizon and we've gone to quite a few remote areas and I get service everywhere he does, but i also get it in quite a few spots where he doesn't... including an 8000ft. lake in mammoth... I've been trying to convert my friends, but it's fairly difficult considering verizon's excellent advertising... people here in california it seems default to verizon. It's working slowly...I've gotten 2 so far and they've both been happy. __________________ LK was treated unfairly thanks X

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07-31-2006, 10:57 AM	#2
Cubsfan Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,743	I totally agree. They actually cripple phones just to get you to pay up. It's really disappointing to see that other people have the same phone, with cooler features, for free.

07-31-2006, 12:01 PM	#3
guiseppewv Admiral Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: East coast Posts: 7,116	That is why I left Verizon. I figured if enough people started bailing on them and letting them know why then they would get the hint.

07-31-2006, 12:41 PM	#4
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	I love Sprint for this exact reason. A month ago or so I was shopping for a PDA phone and was comparing all the various carrier fees for their data plans. Sprint was by far the cheapest offering unlimited data at $15/month in addition to my phone plan. In total I only pay $41/month for my phone plan which includes 300 anytime, unlimited nights weekends, unlimited pcs to pcs, & unlimited data. The cheapest comparable plans I could find with any other carrier was about $65/month. This issue of add-on services is only going to get worse with all the companies. I'm shocked Sprint hasn't decided to move over to more expensive/tiered pricing plans than they have, but maybe they're better off than the others because of their merger with Nextel.

07-31-2006, 01:18 PM	#6
guiseppewv Admiral Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: East coast Posts: 7,116	I agree that Verizon has the best cell service but their fees are ridiculous.

07-31-2006, 02:31 PM	#7
ramazank2 Commander Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Costa Mesa, CA Posts: 1,295	I switched to Verizon in January, and since then I have gotten so fed up with dropped calls. I never had a single dropped call with Tmobile. I cant wait till my contract is up.......

07-31-2006, 02:34 PM	#8
guiseppewv Admiral Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: East coast Posts: 7,116	Completely opposite problem here. I switched from VZW to Cingular in May and since then I have had more dropped calls and more poor quality calls than I had with VZW despite having a better phone? What phone do you have with VZW and what did you have with T-mobile?

07-31-2006, 06:38 PM	#11
ray captain awesome Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 7,054	And to add insult to users who like their old phones, Cingular will be imposing a $5/month surcharge to customers who still use TDMA phones. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/20...e_x.htm?csp=34

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