Can I get support for the PRIV?
INQUIRING-MINDS
Enthusiast - Level 3

I am a long time VZW customer. From pre-smartphone days, to Android, then to BB and now considering going back to Android. Having experience with both OS's, I feel BB10 is truly a superior OS as compared to Android, but I get it. Kind of like the Betamx vs. VHS days. It's not always the better (IMHO) product that wins out. So the white flag is coming out and a move back to Android is becoming a necessity due to specific business app functionality that I can't achieve on BB10.  That being said, I am looking at retiring my Z30 and replacing it with the PRIV, which might help alleviate some of my BB separation anxiety. The problem I have is, I can't get a truthful, knowledgeable answer from anyone at VZW as to their level of commitment to future support for this device (i.e. security updates and more specifically, the MM update). The MM update in particular appears to much improve this phones functionality and security based on reports from non-VZW PRIV owners that have received this update.

I could buy a factory unlocked GSM version of this phone for less$$ than VZW is asking and receive all updates direct from BB, however, as we know, that phone would not work with VZW. So, if I would like to continue my long standing relationship with VZW (and I would) I'll need to purchase this phone from VZW and only VZW. And I'm willing to do that. But, here's the rub: I'm being asked to commit $720 retail dollars to VZW for this device with virtually no commitment from VZW as to what level of future support I can expect. No assurance that if I buy the phone today that I won't be left out to dry with Android LP and no monthly security patches, which are released by BB. That's just not right, is it?

So now to the question: Can someone at VZW answer my question? Does anyone at VZW read these posts? If anyone at VZW with factual knowledge of my concerns reads this long-winded post/question, please, help me. Help me commit to handing over more of my hard earned dollars to you!!!

Thank you for your support.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
INQUIRING-MINDS
Enthusiast - Level 3

Crickets............

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Acrillix
Specialist - Level 2

Short answer.

No.

But seeing as I spend 9pm-9am on here 4 days a week, I suppose I got a minute to dive into the black scary hole of the BlackBerry PRIV.

As you already have seen, the PRIV features the fluidity of Android but with the backbone of BB. Yeah, security is BB's #1 concern, and it will stay that way. As it states with every device, VZW will support every device with updates at the earliest 1 year. However, for example, the iPhone 4, released back in 10/14/2011 and the last update was aired on 7.1.2 06/27/2014. That's 3 years. So, you know you will be covered. VZW gets updates first pretty much. Have fun.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
INQUIRING-MINDS
Enthusiast - Level 3

Acrillix - Not to sound rude or unappreciative for your reply, but I honestly don't understand what you are saying here.

Question: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Short answer: No.

"VZW will support every device with updates at the earliest 1 year."

"So, you know you will be covered. VZW gets updates first pretty much."


On the one hand, you appear to be suggesting that I shouldn't expect any further software support from VZW for this device (short answer: no), and then seem to suggest that VZW will support for 3 years and that they get updates first. Can you clarify your responses?

You state that "you spend 9pm-9am on here 4 days a week". What does that mean? Do you work for VZW? Are you a forum moderator? Do you have inside knowledge of VZW's support criteria for the devices that they offer?

Thanks for you help.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Acrillix
Specialist - Level 2

Firstly, no I don't work for VZW. It would be on my profile if I did. I am (as my profile states haha) a very knowledgeable customer. I never said I work for them. I work with phones on a daily basis and I'm on here a lot because at night it's slow and I'm bored.

Look... BB should've known it was (as I said) a dark scary hole they were opening when they created this. Is it even going to work?

I mean they changed the whole OS framework. Of course the phone will be supported by VZW, they sell it. So yeah you call they'll be your knight in shining armor. Just don't expect them to know specifics of when your precious jewel of security updates are coming or even what they mean.

BB is and always will be the leading smartphone for security.

As to clarify, and I apologize for the confusion... Yes. VZW will probably (suggesting that BB doesn't wave the white flag because they bit off more than they can chew) continue to support the PRIV for 3 years. And yeah VZW gets updates first, everyone knows that.

Hope it helps at all. Mark as helpful if it is.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
INQUIRING-MINDS
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thanks for the clarification Acrillix.  I don't know if VZW gets updates first or not, but if they do, they certainly are keeping it to themselves then.  When it comes to the BB PRIV, VZW is virtually the only major carrier in the US (that I know of) that has yet to push the MM 6.0.1 update through for this device.  And, they are now 2 months behind on those "precious" security updates.  One of the selling points for this device from the get go was in fact that BB, in cooperation with Google, could and would push monthly security updates to the phone. It doesn't seem logical for VZW to gate-keep these security measures.  That's what troubles me.  That and the fact that all we get from VZW is the blank, glassy-eyed stare when pressed on the subject.  I don't know, call me crazy, but I like security.

Help me out here with this part Acrillix:

{Look... BB should've known it was (as I said) a dark scary hole they were opening when they created this. Is it even going to work? I mean they changed the whole OS framework."}


What do you mean by "when they created this"?  Created what?  An Android based phone?  Hardly ground breaking.  "Is it even going to work"?  Well, I would have to ask why wouldn't it?  It's just another device that runs Android.  Again, nothing ground breaking here. "They changed the whole OS framework"?  How so? Seems to me they ran with a stripped down, vanilla version of the Android OS and built some apps that tend mimic some of the BB10 experience.  I'm no expert, but it doesn't seem that that constitutes changing the whole OS framework.  Just the opposite, it seems like a minimalist approach to getting things done.

So, I ordered a PRIV the other day anyway.  The recent price drop made it more palpable to give it a go.  I just hope I can can count on VZW to offer the proper software support for this device going forward for a little while, just as they count on me to pay my bill every month as I have for the last 15 years.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Acrillix
Specialist - Level 2

I somehow just saw this....

Let me explain. I have been doing a ton of research on this BB Priv and talking to my contacts. It appears the Priv has been abandoned and won't see much activity since like virtually there are not enough users for BB to actually maintain it. It hasn't received Marshmallow and it probably won't.

If you have the Priv... I am sorry.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Jack66
Newbie

It is helpful--though very sad--to see your comment that the Priv is not being supported with OS 6.0.  However, other carriers apparently have 6.0 for the Priv.  Why not Verizon?

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Acrillix
Specialist - Level 2

Guess it's not just worth it. I'll see what I can find out and will post back with more info.

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Re: Can I get support for the PRIV?
Acrillix
Specialist - Level 2

VZW has indicated that the Marshmallow 6.0 Software Update is currently still being tested in-house. They cannot speak of a release date because it is unknown at this time. They are ensuring the update will not cause any issues to us, and once testing is complete, they will push out the update OTA.

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