What the fuck is this?

[BushOut06]

As I was fiddling around on the Verizon website, I came across this:

"*As part of our compliance with FCC requirements, Verizon Wireless allows only GPS-compliant devices to be activated on our network. If your current device is not GPS-compliant and you deactivate it (including deactivations occurring when you upgrade to a new phone), you will not be allowed to re-activate it (even if you wish to re-activate it because you are returning a new phone in accordance with our 15-day return policy)."

Hmmm - I wonder if this has anything to do with the Patriot Act? Now you can't even get a cel phone without the government demanding to be able to track your every move!

[Richard Steele]

1. You've answered your own question.

Because that's EXACTLY what it is.

[pinto]

2. It may also have something to do with locating 911 calls for response,

I've heard some discussion about that, given the prevalence of cell phones and the inability to respond to those calls as with land lines. :shrug:

[seasat]

4. That's exactly it. 911 calls per a new rule.

When my phone was stolen. My mom gave me her old phone. They couldn't use it because there is a new rule that all cell phones have to have the GPS locater feature for 911 service. Most of the new phones have a setting that will only allow this feature to be used for 911 service and will block its use otherwise.

[pinto]

6. Thanks for the info.

[SpiralHawk]

8. I go for the "Double Up" theory of GPS in cell phones

Yes, great for 911 calls.

Also great for Big BushCo Republicon Brother to keep you tracked,
and to be sure that your are being a Good Little Prole.

[bananas]

9. GPS or other method

I think t-mobile triangulates your location from three nearest base stations,
so they don't need a GPS in each phone.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

18. and you believe that. HEy, I have this bridge. . . .

do you REALLY believe that the NSA doesn't have a way to get that data even absent a 911 call or a warrant?

And have you ever wondered just why payphones have disappeared across the country? And who has been doing the vandalizing of those still in place, even in hotels and commercial buildings?

[w4rma]

10. That's the "official" excuse. (nt)

[Henryman]

3. Not just Verizon!

Every wireless phone carrier.

[garybeck]

5. fuck cell phones

i never figured out why people want to be "contactable" everywhere they go. they emit electromagnetic radiation that is bad for your brain. and I for one enjoy the few minutes I have in my car, away from phones, email... and cell phones are SOOO expensive. my son has one. I really don't understand, why with land lines you only pay when you make a call but with cell phones you have to pay to receive a call too. I think they charge for it, just because they can...

i'd take my voice mail over a cell phone any day.

[realisticphish]

11. because my life is hectic

it's not set on a schedule; i have class changes, work calls, stuff like that, and I need to be contacted in slightly less time than a day.

[A Simple Game]

20. Why is your life so hectic? Why no schedule?

How would you have managed your life 20 years ago?

For a while back in the '90s I worked in information services for a company. I often carried a daily on-site pager, a weekly on-call(off site) pager, and a bag phone(nothing else would or will work reliably in my area) all at the same time. Do you know why I had to carry all of those contact apparatuses? Because it was cheaper than 24 hr on-site service, or training workers how to fix their own problems. My life was hectic for those 5 years. I never want to return to a job like that again, no matter what it pays, and this one payed very well.

I dislike phones, have always disliked phones. Phones are occasionally handy, rarely a necessity, and usually are an intrusion on your life, the sooner you realize that, the sooner your life will lose most of it's stress.

I hope I never become important enough(again) to have to carry a phone.

[realisticphish]

24. I'm a college student

20 years ago, i would've had to miss meetings, etc. Now, I don't have to.

[A Simple Game]

25. I graduated college in 2003. I didn't need a cell phone.

20 years ago, people would have had the courtesy to schedule meetings at least a day ahead of time. They should do the same today.

P.S. I went back to school after the plant I worked in closed.

[realisticphish]

26. so don't buy a damn cell phone

I'm thrilled that you get by without one. So could I, obviously, I've only had it for 3 years. But you know what? I like having it. I can choose when to answer it, I can choose when to call people, and it makes meeting for parties, etc, a hell of a lot easier. I bet I could get by without air conditioning and toilet paper, too, but I like having those.

[OneBlueSky]

13. amen to that . . . don't need one, don't want one, can't stand 'em . . . n/t

.

[BushOut06]

17. I never have understood their rationale either

Especially this crap that you have to sign a two-year contract just to get any kind of decent service. Not only that, but you also have to pass a fucking credit check. Sure, you can prepay (which is what I do), but then you get screwed over on pricing, and you don't get nearly the features that you normally would. There is one new company (Metro PCS) which offers unlimited calls, unlimited texting, unlimited everything for a flat monthly rate, no contract - but they have a very limited coverage area! I also don't understand paying for incoming calls. At least they don't charge for long distance in most cases.

I don't like using cel phones, and I use mine as little as I have to. I don't use it to call my friends. If I'm in the office, and I need to call someone, I use the land-line. But there are instances when having a cel phone is quite valuable. Several years ago, I needed to call 911, but I was outside and didn't have quick access to a land-line.

[madokie]

23. I like the security the cell phone provides

so much happening all the time I feel much better with my loved ones having a cell phone with them all the time. There was one incident that stands out that makes the cost mute to me. but thats just me.

I fought the urge for a cell phone same as I did getting the internet, as long as I could stand it

[Forrest Greene]

7. Way-Ull,

...I existed just fine without a cell phone for forty-five, fifty years. Do you suppose I could again?

[TroubleMan]

12. Never had a cell phone, and probably never will.

It's not that I don't have a hectic life. I have a wife and 3 kids and work 45-60 hours per week. My wife works even more hours. People had hectic lives before for thousands of years, and never needed them. Of course there are certain jobs that require them now, and that's probably the only way I'd get one. If you're in an outside sales position, then I'd guess you'd have to have it nowadays. My wife has one, and the only way you could take it from her is out of her cold, dead hands, but me....don't want one. IMHO it would be more of a burden than a help.

[krispos42]

19. I have mine in lieu of a landline phone.

Doesn't cost much more ($56 total per month for 600 minutes with text and pic messages and voicemail), I can take and send pictures of my kid to his grandparents, and I have it ready at all times. I've called 911 on drunk drivers twice, and once to report a fire. If my kid gets hurt, my ex can contact me at work, at home, in the car, where ever.

[Truthiness Inspector]

14. LOL

This sounds like a disclaimer statement so if you do not pay for the GPS service you are advised that you can't turn around and make Verizon responsible for not finding you. Now, I think phone companies both cellular and land line ones suck marinated petrified eggs.

But on this point, that is the disclaimer. And it has nothing to do with what you think it deals with, imo.

[and-justice-for-all]

15. How can anything be applied with the use of the Patriot Act??

The fucking thing is unreadable and you need a team of super lawyers to translate the fucker for ya...The Patriot Act is bullshit, nothing more then a cheap excuse for Bushilini to invade your life without a warrant.

Fundy today has this idea that Bush is not reponsible and Ketrina was the DEMS fault. Its all about that NATIONAL REVIEW garbage mag he reads. Poor guy is smart, but no smart enough to grasp reality even when it punches him in the mouth.

[Swamp Rat]

16. 'Fuck' Verizon because they BLOCK THE BLUETOOTH so you have to PAY for your OWN files/songs!!!

Their Verizon V Cast is UTTER BULLSHIT!!!!!! :mad:

[entanglement]

22. Have you heard about Verizon's (latest) dirty game? They're trying to kill VoIP.

n/t

[ReverendDeuce]

21. You can always just shut the GPS off...

And if Verizon has locked that feature from the config, find a site where it can be hacked.

Or, better yet, switch to Cingular (or another carrier that lets you use unlocked/unbranded phones) and buy a phone that is free of the carrier taint.