VZW Response to FTC Complaint
 

G.P.
Verizon
Executive Relations Coordinator
NE Area
7600 Montpelier Road
Laurel, MD 20723
240-xxx-xxxx

June 17, 2009
Attention: Jeffrey Tignor
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554


Re: Complainant: xxxxxxxxxxx
IC#: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Dear Mr. Tignor:

This letter is confirmation of receipt for the above referenced complaint from xxxxxx. It was received by the FCC and forwarded to Verizon Wireless on June 17, 2009. In his complaint, Mr. xxxxx asserts that Verizon Wireless has locked the GPS functionality built in to the Samsung Omnia. Unhappy with being forced to pay an additional $9.99 for the VG Navigator application available through Verizon Wireless, he has sought the attention of the Executive Offices via the FCC.


Verizon Wireless, like all carriers, orders devices to meet certain specifications inclusive of features. Each of these specs is tested to determine if it meets our performance goals. There are instances when the phone will pass our extensive testing process but a specific feature may not meet the standard. We will often choose to introduce the phone without that feature but ask that the manufacturer come back to us with revised software that has to be tested to make sure the service works the same across our entire wireless footprint —from Maine to Hawaii. In the case of open standalone GPS, we are partnering with the Windows Mobile device manufacturers to provide a software upgrade that will add this capability to the existing assisted GPS capability. This is a complex development project to provide open standalone GPS while maintaining the assisted GPS capability with the level of performance and security that our customers expect. The recently introduced Windows Mobile devices including Omnia, Saga, and Touch Pro are targeted to add open standalone GPS in the 1st half of 2009. Mr. xxxx accepts but remains unsatisfied with this resolution.

Verizon Wireless now considers this matter resolved and closed.

If Mr. xxxxx has any questions regarding this response, he may contact the undersigned at 240-568-2186 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm EST, or our Customer Service Department at 800-922-0204. Should the Federal Communications Commission have any questions, please contact xxxxx at xxxxx @VerizonWireless.com.


Cc/ xxxxx

Re: VZW Response to FTC Complaint
 

****iin VZW and there bullsh*t again. How retarded do they think people are?

Re: VZW Response to FTC Complaint
 

lol whoever wrote that email doesnt even know what they are talking about or is blatantly lying. They are coming out with an update later on to enable this feature? If the phone has GPS it has GPS, Windows mobile, as we all know, already has full support for GPS chips. They had to pay the company extra to DISABLE the feature in the phone. I find it ABSOLUTELY offensive when someone tells me a lie that underestimates my knowledge. I find it demeaning and a HORRIBLE business practice. Verizon can go f*ck themselves, I could never stand that company anyway. Someone needs to publicly humiliate these people for even thinking ANYONE would believe them. I say engadget and phonescoop should both just post a news report about "Verizon Executives Lie to Cover Disabled Features in Phones" and post that email as proof. BULLSHIT. That's why im on Sprint, they're too lazy to disable features. :P

Re: VZW Response to FTC Complaint
 

testify brudda!!!! and very true im with sprint for the same reason :) well also because they know they need the devices first which is a good thing too :)