Security deposit required by wireless company

I'm shocked to learn that AT&T Wireless required me to have security deposit on the fourth and fifth lines. Ten years ago I was with AT&T before switched to Verizon Wireless. I liked Verizon Wireless network and its customer service. However, Verizon is a most expensive. Thus, I move all five lines from Family Sharing account to AT&T Wireless. I never pay late any payment. I have very good credit that the bank love to lend me a lot of money. I could not understand why AT&T Wireless require customer put deposit? Five high-end smartphones less than $3000 is nothing to my mortgage, my car loans.

If a customer pay late, you cut off the phone. Same thing as the other utility companies: gas, electric, garbage disposal.

Require a good credit customer make a security deposit for the fourth and fifth lines in family sharing account is not reasonable. It's suck!

Verizon Wireless should remove $30 upgrade fee

I'm waiting for Verizon Wireless to announce family data share plan. Instead I got this news "On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract"

I disappointed. I did not use Verizon Wireless workshop, why I must pay $30? I did not call Verizon Wireless for support to use the phone, why I must pay $30?

Verizon Wireless should not follow the crowd to charge loyal customers the upgrade fee. Do Verizon Wireless learn any lesson from NetFlix, from Bank of America?

Drop the upgrade fee and introduce family data share plan ahead your competitors.

Android or iPhone App?

The question is not which one is better. But, it's a privacy issue. For the same application, if it have two versions: one for Android platform and one for iPhone or iPod Touch, I will check to see which permission should I grant for an Android app. iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad does not give me that choice. Since I have no way to know what privilege an iOS application exercise on my mobile device, I will not using the iPhone. My iPod Touch and iPad does not contain any sensitive information like my contact, my phone number, so it's Ok.

For Android app, if it ask for

READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY
Allows the application to access the phone features of the device. An application with this permission can determine the phone number and serial number of this phone, whether a call is active, the number that call is connected to and the like.

or

READ CONTACT DATA
Allows an application to read all of the contact (address) data stored on your device. Malicious applications can use this to send your data to other people

I will not download to my Android phone. I may download to my iPod Touch or iPad if I need. Thus, if someone say there are more iPhone app download than Android app, is wrong.

I play the game, why you need to read phone state and identity or contact data? The game and many application just need this permission:

FULL INTERNET ACCESS
Allows an application to create network sockets.

I have chess.com game and Huffington Post on both Android and iOS devices because they don't ask for the right to read my phone state or my contact data.

What should you do when you receive the spam text?

Although I have unlimited text message plan, I don't like spam. It's really disturb my life.

Here my actions regarding to spam text message:
1. Go to my wireless company web site to block the phone. I hope my wireless company give me more numbers to block and no expiration date.
2. File complaint at https://complaints.donotcall.gov/complaint/complaintcheck.aspx
3. File complaint at FCC Consumer Complaints (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm)
4. Post comment at these sites:

• http://www.numberinvestigator.com/
• http://mrnumber.com/
• http://whocalled.us/
• http://whocallsme.com/
• http://phonenotes.org/
• http://800notes.com/

Why we must pay to receive the spam text? When our congress take action regarding to this kind of spam?

Time for Free Text Message

Few days ago, I received couple spam text messages (SMS). I logged into my wireless account to place a block. Next, I filed a complaint at DoNotCall.gov. Why I must paid for unwanted text messages from others? Why the wireless companies like Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile,... charge the sender for the fee like the post office charge them for mailing or phone company bill them for cold calling?

With the free text message offered by Google Voice, TextPlus, TextNow and TextFree, why we need to pay to receive a text message?

It's time for wireless phone companies stop billing customers for receiving text messages (SMS) or no charge for both send and receive text messages.

Samsung Intensity vs. LG Cosmos?

I'm trying to decide whether I get the Samsung Intensity and LG Cosmos. I like LG Cosmos but it don't have music player while Samsung Intensity has it. Also which one have better signal reception? which one is better?

New AT&T Wireless Data Plans for Smartphones

Today, AT&T announced two new data plans for smartphones: DataPlus cost $15 per month for 200MB of data and DataPro $25 per month for 2GB of data. The new pricing will start next week, June 7. It was a good news. It stock went up $0.45 today. I like that. I love to buy a smartphone but it's ridiculous to pay $30 per month. Most of my internet usage are from computer in my office and laptop at home through wired and wifi networks.

I wish Verizon will follow AT&T in restructure their price for smartphone to retain existing customers.

Reference:
AT&T Announces New Lower-Priced Wireless Data Plans to Make Mobile Internet More Affordable to More People

iDon't, Droid Does

Last night, I saw this ad on TV:

iDon't have a real keyboard.

iDon't run simultaneous apps.

iDon't take 5-megapixel pictures.

iDon't customize.

iDon't run widgets.

iDon't allow open development.

iDon't take pictures in the dark.

iDon't have interchangeable batteries

It's fun. I love to see Verizon offers its customer a smartphone can compete with iPhone. Go The Droid!

Related articles

AP: Verizon's big ad push for Android targets iPhone
WSJ: Verizon Droid Ad Aims for iPhone

Palm

Palm F1Q10 (Qtr End 8/29/09) Earnings Call Transcript
http://seekingalpha.com/article/162120-palm-f1q10-qtr-end-8-29-09-earnings-call-transcript

Palm Slashes Mobile Platforms: What Exactly Is Its Problem?
http://seekingalpha.com/article/162332-palm-slashes-mobile-platforms-what-exactly-is-its-problem

Palm F4Q09 (Qtr End 5/29/09) Earnings Call Transcript
http://seekingalpha.com/article/145462-palm-f4q09-qtr-end-5-29-09-earnings-call-transcript

Motorola Sholes

After Motorola released CLIQ, its stock went up to 9 until yesterday. People anxious looking for a new handset Motorola make for Verizon. Is it Sholes? There are rumor that Motorola Sholes will release in next few months?

Motorola need to regain market.

Verizon need to retain existing customer. I saw many Verizon customers jump ship because iPhone.

Prepaid Cell Phone Service

It look like prepaid cell phone service gain more traction in the U.S. market. Many big wireless service providers such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobil has attractive pre-paid plan. After AT&T and Verizon offerred $99 unlimited voice call. Now, Boost offers $50 unlimited voice, text, and web, ... (Read more here). It's a good  news. I hope it will make the other companies lower their price. But is Boost offer a good service?

Verizon Wireless Phones

Motorola W385 (Certified Pre-owned):
Month to month: $149.99
Two years contract: Free
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Samsung Juke SCH-u470 - blue:
Month to month: $189.99
Two years contract: Free
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Samsung SCH-u550:
Month to month: $189.99
Two years contract: Free
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Samsung Alias™ – SCH–u740 in Silver
Month to month: $269.99
Two years contract: $49.99
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Motorola MOTO™ W755 in Black Slate
Month to month: $239.99
2-yr Contract Price: $69.99
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Samsung Glyde SCH-U940: Available for new customer.
Month to month: $379.99
Two years contract: $79.99
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

LG Chocolate® 3 VX-8560 in Black
Month to month: $379.99
Two years contract: $129.99
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

LG Dare VX-9700: Available for new customer.
Month to month: $409.99
Two years contract: $149.99
Verizon: here PhoneScoop: here Mobiledia: here CNet: here

Compare phones:
CNet PhoneScoop Mobiledia

Other phones:
Samsung Gleam 2-yr Contract Price $99.99
Samsung Sway™ 2-yr Contract Price $119.99
Motorola MOTORIZR Z6tv 2-yr Contract Price $119.99
Motorola MOTO™ Z6c World Edition 2-yr Contract Price $149.99
Motorola Adventure™ V750 2-yr Contract Price $169.99
LG VENUS™ in Black 2-yr Contract Price $199.99

So if you're switching to AT&T for two years, you will get a very good deal with AT&T. And after two year with AT&T, switch back to VZW. It's good to flip-flop. LOL :D

Other links:

• TheGioiCDMA
• S-Telecom
• TuanKhangMobile.com
• TheGioiDiDong.com
• motofunvn.com
• TheGioiPhang.vn
• HowardForums: Samsung U550 thread
• Samsung - CellPhoneForums.net