http://www.droid-life.com/2012/11/29/verizons-galaxy-nexus-is-now-3-updates-behind-other-nexus-devices/
This is completely unacceptable .. I got a Nexus device because I wanted long support from Google. Why is Verizon doing this? On top of that Google refused to put the Nexus 4 on Verizon because of Verizon's choice to hold back updating...
This is expected from our "beloved" carrier. Look what they did with the 4.1 update... we were DEAD LAST to get it. This from the premiere cellular provider in America!!!! As usual, the so-called "best rating" by consumer reports serves only to validate VZW's "We stink less, so we can do anything we want to our customers" policy, and this relatively lowbrow mentality marches on to this day. VZW, you are only the best we can get. The level of frustration serves to force people to do things to their phones (and I state this in a sanitized way so that VZW's thought police will leave this post be, MAYBE) that void warranties and so on. And it is no surprise that the NX 4 isn't on VZW either. The Nexus line very likely makes far less money for VZW since they are not allowed to load bloatware on the device (like what Motorola allows...)... although my GNEX did have ONE pre-installed VZW app. At least it didn't have absolute and total garbage like twitter, facebook and the EVER popular amazon mp3 store. Look at the piles of d*g ex******t put onto the Moto phones.
I will say one thing... if a carrier comes along with on-par coverage, and an unlimited plan without the kind of shenanigans that this one (and to be fair, the current, comparable, competitors are not much better) plays, *I AM OUTTA HERE*
Oh, and in case you there at VZW missed it... YES, I AM ANGRY WITH HOW THESE UPDATES ARE HANDLED BY YOU! If the GNEX devices updated directly by Google are running 4.2.1 then there SHOULD BE NO REASON AT ALL that it would take THIS MUCH TIME to validate the LTE versions. I believe VZW simply wants us to have a device that THEY can effectively obsolete any time they see fit... but not so fast, me buck-o's... you are not going to be able to do that with me. Frankly, I'd rather not have to resort to warranty-voiding procedures to get bug fixes, but if I HAVE to... and it's YOU, and only YOU, that would make me have to.
You didn't know that Verizon has a very "strict update policy?" Basically controlling the update process allows them to steer a customer towards the phones that, although subsidized, make them much more profit ("Droid" branded phones). This way when someone comes in the store and sees the $99.99 Galaxy Nexus the salesperson can steer a customer to a cheaper phone. The Droid RAZR M and look it even has the same version of Android. Verizon is in this game for one thing.... MONEY. The Galaxy Nexus doesn't make Verizon much money. Its not "Droid" branded, and doesn't have their money making bloat. That gives them ZERO initiative to speed up their "strict update policy" (AKA Update control process to control profits). This is why as soon as my contract is up I will be switching.
BTW I wish Google would just say "Forget Verizon here is the 4.2.1 update and factory image for 'toro' they are dragging their feet with to download."
Everyone should stop doing business with Verizon, I am.
i have had sprint t-mobile and now verizon so far in the last 2 years and if you think its bad here just hop on over to sprint where the network barely has any strength to stream a 2 minute video or tmobile where there fastest speed is half of what i get on VZW and its spotty while standing in the same dang spot and do we even have to say anything about AT&T. I have taken "warranty voiding procedures" with every android handset i have had , EVO4g, GalaxyS2/3, Razor, Wife's Note 2. the first thing to go is the crapware and then i spend months flashing radio after radio trying to get the best and most reliable signal. tried in Atlanta, Augusta Ga, Dallas tx, Killeen, Tx Miami, Fl and ya know this is the first time i ran into a device that i dont NEED to take advantage of just to gain respectable signal. Sure the svc is more expensive but you dont buy a corvette and complain about gas prices.
dcmed1 wrote:Everyone should stop doing business with Verizon, I am.
dcmed1 wrote:
Nope still getting my business.
And it starts again....*sigh*
You aren't too bright are you.
Verizon seems to be very cheap control freaks who only do the bare minimum with everything. They only put up the bare minimum of lte towers to claim they area is covered. They have a list of reasons not to update phones on how many sold, popularity, etc. Even if there is an update for the phone they don't have to update and have passed on updates for phones before if they "deem" it unworthy. Verizon has to pay for updates and pay for the testing of the updates and if the update falls into any category to Not update it, they won't.
After all these years of having smartphones you'd think verizon would get there crap together and and invest a little more for the update process just for the customer satisfaction alone. But they seem to be too cheap, and could care less as long as they get our money on time every month. How they were rated top carrier is beyond me with price gouging tiered data, delayed updates, dissatisfaction of customers, and abysmal 4G speeds. We pay for premium lte and don't get lte speeds in major cities here in St.Louis and Chicago. Chicago is worse than St.Louis with spotty coverage at best, and here in St.Louis we get 12 mbps up if we are lucky and 5 down, I average 10/5 daily which is the same as my home wifi.
I just hope Google partners with Dish because Dish is now approved to create a carrier with its spectrum, I hope a google carrier will be available when my contract is up.
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Message was edited by: Verizon Moderator
you waited for verizon to get a nexus and now you wait for updates. xD
This will be my last device with them, been a customer for some time.
Highly doubt VZW will ever offer a nexus device again.
<< Comments removed. Rooting, hacking, and otherwise modifying a device voids the warranty; discussion of such is not permitted on this forum.>>
Fingers crossed on Google/DishNet lte service said to launch mid 2013 just around the time my contract ends w/vzw.
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Btw. Saying that the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is three versions behind is not true. If the Verizon GNex was three versions behind that would mean it is running Android 1.2.1.
The version is the first number in the sequence. The second two numbers are different releases to that version and nothing more.
Calling the BBB won't work. They will ask this one simple question: Is Verizon providing what is in your contract? The answer will be, "yes." Because nobody has a contract that says Verizon will provide regular software updates. Read it, learn it, and stop complaining.
There is an 'implied' behavior (for lack of a better term) that comes with the Nexus brand. Verizon clearly does not live up to that expectation of what a Nexus device is all about. It is evident that as an organization Verizon is a company that does not want a phone that can last several standard contract cycles in the hands of its customers. By offering software updates that the phone is clearly capable of handling it obviously extends the life of that phone beyond the limit of profitability for an organization as boneheaded of Verizon... even when the monthly payment terms of its contracts literally bleed us dry... it is simply not enough money for them and they have us coming and going. Unfortunately implied behavior is not a part of the contract and alas you are quite right... The BBB isn't going to help. Even if it is, I'm sure Verizon's army of weasel-toothed lawyers have things well in hand. However we are not talking about versions we are talking about udates and by that reckoning the Galaxy Nexus is 3 updates behind.
I don't blame Verizon for being in business ... I don't blame them for making a profit ... but I do blame them for not living up to the expectations that they themselves set.
<< Please address any comments regarding moderation driectly to the moderator via DM >>
I'll be careful about what I say because I don't want my post to be removed. I think Verizon should have never released the Galaxy Nexus. Their OTA update policy is a joke. I feel you. I sent them an email of disappointment. A customer care person did call me back but they really just try to make you feel like your trying to bring their network down for wanting them to release the OTA update sooner without testing it. Verizon relax. It's fine. Google is a respected company and their name is also at stake. I then asked about the iPhone update policy. How come these customer don't have to wait for the iOS updates. It seems like Verizon doesn't have any control over this. This is why they will never (only guessing) release another Nexus with Verizon. I dislike Verizon so much. I cancelled my contract and ate the termination fee. Yes, I went to Tmobile. Tmobile is so much better. I don't have anything to complain about with the OTA updates. Verizon sure screwed up my pure Android experience. I will be sure to tell everyone about my experience. I will make sure none of my friends and family ever join Verizon. I will soon get my parents to leave as well. My brother left and more will join. I will make it a point to write something negative about Verizon on a daily basis.
...1008, 1009, Dallas, Denver, Anaheim....
So after all the posts above, countless articles online.... what is the root cause that Verizon has decided to put a hold on the last 3 updates for this phone.
it's designed to obsolete your phone well before it should be. you want the latest OS ? Then you have to get the latest phone and sign up for another 2 years... and if you have unlimited data ... well, not anymore you don't.
I understand being a business is all about making money but it sure as heck shouldnt be about gouging the customer and shaking them down for every dollar they've got.
That all would like this un-biased article.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/12/the-checkered-slow-history-of-android-handset-updates/
35,000 towers supposedly and not ONE within 50 miles of me.
On route 1a in Rye, NH, right near the ocean, VZW has next to ZERO signal. Being such a fancy, high-falutin' town, it's got boatloads of dorky nimbys that won't put one darn tower near the coast... and there's lots of places where they could go that are not particularly picturesque.
There may be 35,000 dollars but as is painfully obvious, they're not distributed evenly... I lost all my cellular signal less than 10 miles west of Hartford Connecticut... but it's only a matter of time they will get more towers actually and there will be a more equal playing field ... and when it happens VZW better watch out.
Very nice find, this article. But is it not true that the nexus phones purchased on the Google Play Store received their updates independent of the carrier?
I'm pretty much fed up with Verizon's OTA update policy at this point. As others have said, it's inexcusable that we have to wait so long for updates from VZW on a Nexus device. I know 4.2 will eventually come, but by the time we get it 4.3 or 5.0 will already be in the pipeline. I've been a loyal Verizon customer for a long time, but I think when my contract is up next year I will finally start shopping around for other carriers.
Indeed, they sold us the nexus deal and totally reneged on it because we have no effective recourse as per 1) the contract agreement neuters our power and 2) the others are even worse.
Nice going VZW... you really are the best available but I hate you >Comment deleted< because you only do what you have to do to stay in the lead rather than espousing a culture of excellence... >Comment deleted<
I doubt anything more than the mods brushing makeup over the words that Big(UmbrellaCorp)Red doesn't care for will be the only answer a customer will recieve here.
One of my lines is already tossing me the upgrade eligible.
Contract ends on the 08/2013, already looking around and will most likely just pay them to get out of the contract.
Comment deleted due to profanity
Much rather pay full price for a device that can be updated without having to root to keep up due what ever Big(just take an upgrade)Red feels they need holding off updates sticking it to the customer base.
>Comment deleted<
anywho Mod this right mods do what you do best. Or should I put it in a DM>?
Company tactics like this are why people say >Comment deleted<
MODERATOR COMMENT:
>We are Moderators, not customer service reps, or technical support, that is why we do not answer your question, we do not know the answer. We are here to keep posts on topic, remove personal attacks, remove comments about rooting and profanity<
Well then... since no 1 from Verizon who knows anything actively monitors the threads here, perhaps someone should show the "stellar" leadership of this phenomenal organization some of the post here so that they get a feel for how their customers feel about them and the incomprehensibly poor level at which they seem to mete out service. I think those of us with the Galaxy Nexus feel that bait and switch tactics have been employed, and your so called "leaders" should know that we feel that YOUR marketing of this device makes us believe that VZW is not providing the entire services the nexus brand deserves in return for the hard earned money from which the customers have paid
A NEXUS DEVICE IS SUPPOSED TO GET UNFETTERED ACCESS TO OS UPDATES. WE ARE BEING DENIED BUGFIXES AND SECURITY UPDATES.
PS. I'm done with this forum because it is quite clear that Verizon doesn't care or doesn't listen. Enjoy your profits... all great empires fall. Your low cost mentality is low class.
sprint & the toroplus thier gnexus is on the sme boat.
There are no stock images past 4.1.* - https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
big red is not alone with how the lte variant is being handled with updates.
Hell I have a thunderbolt that POS which htc and the two point at each other.
I've a few devices, nexus 7 get's alot love.
I do not consider the vzw nor sprint models nexus. It's just another samsung device that happen to get the branding many users would jump on.
So again I say if you wait on your cell provider ei: vzw/sprint forget it.
The phone is oem and developement status. Take it upon ones self to dive into to android and learn a bit. You may realize how much better it can be.
Mod's you're doing your job very understandable.
everyone have a happy new year learning android.
*sigh*
You geniuses just don't get it do you? Verizon...aka "Big Red"...aka "The Man" is a privately owned company with millions of customers using a couple of dozen different phones ranging from the Galaxy S III to a simple flip phone. They have a WHOLE lot more on their plate than catering to a bunch of whining, selfish children such as yourselves. ANY Android or Symbian update will get approved by them BEFORE it goes on to ANY phones on THEIR network. The iPhone is the only exception, and that is only because Apple is known for its high standards (and they put it in the contract).
Just like when Jelly Bean came out, you all complained and threatened to leave them. Well now it's three months later, another update is out, and I see the same people making the same complaints and the same threats. If you are going to leave Verizon then stop talking and start walking. Me...I'm happy with my 4.1.1 and if I get 4.2.1, then I will be just as happy. The only thing that I care about for 4.2 is the notifications on the lock screen and the two finger swipe to get to settings. Beyond that...who cares.
To the moderator. I recommend shutting this discussion down, mainly because there hasn't been ANYTHING instructive discussed here except for a bunch of complaining.
Peace out!
Congratulations.... you pulled me back into this thread... but only long enough to reply since.
First off, I resent what you called some of us. Yes I've hurled a bit of invective around here.... and my only defense is my frustration... for that I'm sorry, at least it wasn't at any of the other participants in this little free for all, but I've been stewing about this for along time and I'm sorry. But we pay Verizon a lot of money and we expect in return what was promised to us, either explicitly or implied. I'm not going to call anyone any names in this post, but I hope to show you why we're angry.
But back to the matter at hand... why this thread is going down this road.
Did you enjoy the months of frustration you had with the pre 4.0.4 release? That only took 5 months. With such a devastating effect on the user base, any normal company with serious competition would have had that solved far sooner... or at least put out a series of incremental fixes that would have progressively solved problems. And it seems Google DID have it solved far sooner. But it still took 5 months to roll out. I work for a software company with alot of competitors, and I can tell you we don't make our customers wait for the entire enchilada when there is that much going wrong.
Let me cherry pick some of the points you made...
This entire thread from post 1 is a complaint. You couldn't possibly have expected anything instructive to a thread titled in the way this one was. VZW isn't monitoring this, the moderator said as much MikereDD's post, so it's all falling on deaf ears anyway. The moderator can't answer the questions, but evidently whoever can isn't reading this either.
But we have a Nexus phone. This phone is pure android. It has no bloat, no skin, no "enhanced user experience" to interfere with the android os and vice versa. Testing the Nexus should be a breeze compared to MotoBloat phones. I suppose that's why it only took two months to get 4.1.1 and a whole lot more time to get it on any other phone. And I'm willing to wager that Google puts alot of effort (at least as much as apple) into updates for the nexus devices. There
Apple is known for it's "high standards" such as Apple maps I guess. Frankly Apple is like toyota. Everyone thinks they are soooo great. They aren't. They're no better than the others. Macs were among the first computers ever to get viruses and the iPhone is no prize... I know several people who are dumping their iPhones... , Siri gets boring after a while I guess.
Yes VZW has a lot on their plate... then they should not have signed onto the NEXUS bandwagon. There is an implied level of service... and this was MARKETED as a NEXUS device. That means updates from Google in a timely manner, not people left to linger with bugs for months on end. I'm a person, and when I don't live up to my promises I get beaten up for it, don't you? Or do you live by a different standard? Didn't Mitt say "corporations are people too..."? Should they not be held up to the same standards of business conduct as you or me? When you promise or imply a promise, should you NOT have to live up to your promise?
And btw, we ARE smart enough to know there is no place else to go. None of the others are any better, and that's why we're frustrated. If that isn't enough for you to understand, try reading this:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-26/how-at-t-and-verizon-manipulate-your-smartphone.html
or this:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-27/u-s-internet-users-pay-more-for-slower-service.html
The problem sir, is we are being manipulated and our hand is being forced. They are making enormous profits with little effort on their part. I think VZW *is* the best provider available... but from what I've seen sprint has taken the lead fwiw. Yup we've threatened to leave in a fit of rage perhaps, but on reflection there is no where else to go. I only pine for the service my European colleagues get... twice the speed for half the price.
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-gets-top-marks-annual-customer-satisfaction-survey/2012-05-15
a bit dated perhaps but VZW has been dropping for the last three years straight as they have been tightening the screws to us... not just for this ridiculous issue... we are being gouged sir... pure and simple.
PS. If I've offended... I humbly apologize... it was not my aim in this one. Personally I was hoping someone at VZW would take note and say, "we can do WAY better than this". Perhaps a bit misguided.
