Considering that cell phone hardware and software technology changes every 6 to 9 months, I already have concerns about VZ making customers wait 2 years before upgrading their phones. I am also wary of the "do you know how much these phones cost new" excuse that you get from VZ when you complain about this policy. After 6 months on the market - even the best of phones cannot compare in price to the amount of $$$ VZ stuffs in their pockets on cell phone minutes, downloads, music, ringtones, etc.
Why the complaints? Well, this Web Link reflects 1 of the reasons...
http://crackberry.com/verizon-gets-ready-bid-farewell-storm-9530-curve-8330-8830-and-pearl-flip-8230
After 2 years of a Curve (that has been replaced many times due to defects) I am finally at the point of renewing my contract. This is supposed to be an exciting time, right?!?
So what does VZ have for me that will work with my corporate Blackberry Enterprise Mail System? Well, right now I see the Curve going away, the Pearl going away, Pearl Flip going away, and the old Storm going away. That leaves a half-baked new Curve with a crappy camera with no flash, the Storm 2 that STILL freezes (read the VZ phone reviews), and the Tour with the bad trackball that weighs 2 tons. Droid and Palm are not supported on my email server, so they are not a consideration.
Also note that the light at the end of the tunnel has dimmed. Now it seems that VZ is not releasing the "Tour 2" that we all have been waiting for. Both RIM and VZ have delayed this release, but state that they plan to "sometime in the future" release the "Tour2" rebranded as a Bold 96XX or 97XX. Seems that the executive decision was made that VZ can't call this new phone a "Tour 2" because all of the suckers who bought the bad trackball Tour during Christmas will be angry because it was replaced so soon with a touchpad and WiFi. Can you say refund, exchange or class action suit?
So the BIG QUESTION is when do I make the move to AT&T for the iPhone? After all, if I have to dump the BB idea, might as well go rogue with a good phone. Unfortunately, that decision is not as easy as it sounds as I am stuck with a corporate standard to live by. VZ - if you are going to support the BB, Palm and Droid platforms and devices, you need to make sure that all of the balls stay in the air while you are juggling. Right now, you have dropped the ball with Blackberry. (...and it looks like Google wants to take away your Droid business too.) Please get your act together with RIM and improve your offerings. Faithful customers are getting frustrated and you just inherited a slew of Alltel Blackberry customers who will leave you for the iPhone if your BB selection does not improve.