Hey VZ - You are going the wrong way with your BB selection...

[MadDogFL62]

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.

[srviratavw]

I think the problem with us trying to analyze their decisions is that they know their sales numbers and obviously know when the plan on releasing various models, etc.  I don't have a problem with a touchscreen (Storm 2), traditional business (Tour 2 or Bold), consumer (Curve), +/- flip model and think it makes it easier for the average person to decide.  Kind of like Apple simplifying their computers to Mac Pro, iMac, and Mini for desktops, and MacBooks and MacBook Pros.

But the real problem I see is their OS is lagging behind the competition.  They can only hold on to the "world's greatest email" for so long until somebody surpasses them.  Everyone knows the web on a BB is painful and the Webkit browser should have been released a long time ago.  I've never heard of memory leaks on an iPhone, Android, or Palm device.  And across the board, if you take the same phone, there are multiple different "official" OS's depending on the carrier--why?  They've had the same basic OS for years, why can't it be stable?

I am upgrade eligible but my contract ends in a few months.  I am an Apple fanboy, but don't like AT&T in my area, nor do I like the fact that they're unbundling data ($30/month) and texting ($20/month).  So I'm just waiting to see what comes out in the next few months.  Any chance the Storm 3 is out by then? - just kidding

[twirlspin]

Just like to say I enjoyed both posts, and agree whole heartedly.  I swithced from ATT cause my service was beyond useless decided to go with a Blackberry Tour 9630 and have already had the phone replaced because the trackball failed ((3.5 months and then replacement?  And of course its not a replacement is a refurb unit so I have someone elses "fixed" phone.

Internet browsing?  certainly not with the tour. 

So I am just waiting for a class action lawsuit so I can switch to another phone   uhm no not holding my breath

[MadDogFL62]

More bad news from loose lipped Verizon employees about VZ dumping the Blackberry Tour.  See story below.

Get your Curve or get your Storm before they are buried too.

If you think that sunsetting a product before coming out with something new is a good idea - well, I can confirm for you otherwise.  Our corporate options are the VZ BB World Edition (silver brick) or the Tour.  We travel international and need phones to support our travel.  Not only do you not have to pay for the VZ hardware as an employee, but your calls, texting and data are also covered.  Sweet deal? 

EVIDENTLY NOT.  Just went to a meeting up at corporate and saw more iPhones in the room than an Apple Store.  That means my coworkers are not only giving up on a "free" employee perk, but they are also opting for "The Blue Map", as well as paying for most of their phone bill on their own.

Great plan VZ.  Thanks for all of the support. 

http://crackberry.com/verizon-blackberry-tour-9630-its-way-out 

[tracyschef]

I am amazed at the audacity of a VZW customer service person to say that it is a user problem, and not a problem with their blackberry. I am on my fourth one as of tomorrow. I am disgusted with Verizon, and am seriously thinking about cancelling service and going with T Mo or Sprint. VZW if you are reading this, I better get better customer service the next time I call which means you should be offering me a different type of phone on an early upgrade pricing. It is a breach of contract to not provide me with a phone that I can use. Getting a new phone every two weeks is just wrong.