# Cell phone companies: fuck you for breaking your phones **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 21, 2010, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016 "2010-06-21T18:38:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/41 "2010-06-22T23:27:55Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > I’ve never had a problem with getting stuff onto phones except for Motorola phones, even on Verizon. Granted that you generally need third-party software and potentially a third-party USB cable, but it almost always works for me on LG phones. > > I upgraded to a Motorola Droid the other week, and it too only needs the USB hookup to put whatever you want on there. > > A lot of this is the interaction of the phone software and Verizon/your-carrier-here, not really in the carrier itself. If the phone has the (to my way of thinking in this day and age) basic functionality of being able to be a USB data device, you can generally put stuff on it without Verizon’s fees. It wasn’t about getting in on there, that’s simple enough via either USB or the memory card. It’s about the phone recognizing it. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/42 "2010-06-22T23:38:55Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > It wasn’t about getting in on there, that’s simple enough via either USB or the memory card. It’s about the phone recognizing it. Yeah. When I got my Verizon Moto Razr in… 05 or 06, I was told how I could use this awesome software and just plug my phone to my computer and put my _own_ ringtones and my _own_ wallpaper on there just like that! And they lied. Verizon specifically had an OS for the Razr that blocked these features. If you connected your phone to your PC, you could charge it and that’s _it_. The software you were supposed to be able to use would flat out say it didn’t recognize the device. If you wanted to _actually use one of the features of the phone you bought_, you had to downgrade the firmware. This, coincidentally, would also void your warranty with Verizon. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/43 "2010-06-23T02:43:12Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Perhaps you could take them to court? Who says cheap shots can’t be funny? ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/44 "2010-06-23T04:26:43Z")
> [@redtail23](#): > > Hi **Cell Guy** , welcome! > > I think your company is the one my SOs use (mine’s through work, so I’m not on that plan). US Cellular, yes? Overall, they’ve been pretty happy with the service. The only gripe I’ve heard is having to dial the area code for every single call. > > But if I understood correctly my conversation with the company rep the other day, you only allow USC phones and have no SIM cards - same complaint **Stoid** had about VM below. So there’s no possibility of purchasing the phone I want to use, only the ones you allow. Right? Since you said the name I guess it’s okay for me to admit it, right? We do not use SIM cards–those are used with GSM technology (AT&T and T-Mobile in the US). U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Sprint run off CDMA technology. There are ways to get another company’s handset active on our network as long as it’s a CDMA phone. While I’m secure in my anonymity here I’m not comfortable discussing how to do that. There are some places online that can give clues how to do it. Since I’m new here would it be okay to suggest where to find those sites or would it be best to tell you trust your Google-fu? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/45 "2010-06-23T05:43:29Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Yeah. When I got my Verizon Moto Razr in… 05 or 06, I was told how I could use this awesome software and just plug my phone to my computer and put my _own_ ringtones and my _own_ wallpaper on there just like that! > > And they lied. > > Verizon specifically had an OS for the Razr that blocked these features. If you connected your phone to your PC, you could charge it and that’s _it_. The software you were supposed to be able to use would flat out say it didn’t recognize the device. > > If you wanted to _actually use one of the features of the phone you bought_, you had to downgrade the firmware. This, coincidentally, would also void your warranty with Verizon. My first experience with this bullshit exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/46 "2010-06-23T06:09:37Z")
Can you not just email ringtones to your phone? I have Verizon and that’s what I do. I edit my own and then send them as an attachment or through [Phonezoo.com](http://Phonezoo.com). ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/47 "2010-06-23T14:22:14Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > It wasn’t about getting in on there, that’s simple enough via either USB or the memory card. It’s about the phone recognizing it. That’s potentially a phone thing–I never had a problem getting the phone to recognize 'em with any LG or my Droid. Moto software for non-smartphones is particularly finicky though, I will grant that, and that’s definitely Verizon’s fault. I wonder why the Verizon software for the LG Chocolates and NV2s doesn’t block that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/48 "2010-06-23T16:16:35Z")
> [@Amp](#): > > This is one of the reasons I switched from Verizon after 6 years. I was sick and tired of buying a phone that on any other network would allow you to do wonderful, even magical things, except for on Verizon’s network, which is locked down tighter than a Texas tick on a bull’s scrotum on the Fourth of July. > > That plus the fact that I could get the same service for $40 a month less with T-Mobile made it a no brainer. Exact same reason I made the switch from Verizon, too. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/49 "2010-06-23T17:16:51Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I think the lower end your plan, the harsher the restraints. > [@not\_alice](#): > > Right. > > Pay for less, get less. > > You gotta problem with that? _Should_ you, as a “good capitalist”, have a problem with that? > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Perhaps you could take them to court? > [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Who says cheap shots can’t be funny? Heh. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/50 "2010-06-23T17:20:31Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Since you said the name I guess it’s okay for me to admit it, right? > > We do not use SIM cards–those are used with GSM technology (AT&T and T-Mobile in the US). U.S. Cellular, Verizon and Sprint run off CDMA technology. > > There are ways to get another company’s handset active on our network as long as it’s a CDMA phone. While I’m secure in my anonymity here I’m not comfortable discussing how to do that. There are some places online that can give clues how to do it. Since I’m new here would it be okay to suggest where to find those sites or would it be best to tell you trust your Google-fu? As long as it’s not illegal, it should be OK to mention the sites. I’m just trying to find a really cheap used phone to add my mom to the plan for a couple-three weeks. I don’t online shop much, so I’m a little leery. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/51 "2010-06-23T18:04:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > People who own iPhones have no souls. Maybe so, but at least I can create my own ring tones. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/52 "2010-06-23T19:13:00Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > The least expensive service I could find was Virgin Mobile - $25 per month (NO CONTRACT - pay as you go) gets 300 anytime minutes and unlimited text and data. I’m still grandfathered in to a VM plan where I pay $20 _per calendar quarter_. Nyaah, nyaah! It doesn’t get me that many minutes, but I don’t need that many. I don’t like chatting on a cell phone; I’m making calls of the ‘can we get together at RT’s Restaurant at about 6pm, or would later work better for you?’ or ‘I’m stopping by Safeway on the way home, do you need anything?’ nature. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/53 "2010-06-24T00:09:57Z")
I cut right to the chase a few years ago, when they pulled the “we are changing our system” crap, and the “you just got your phone and now you have to buy another one” bullshit. I cancelled. They don’t get shit from me anymore. There’s no one I need to talk to so bad I can’t wait anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/54 "2010-06-24T01:07:45Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’m still grandfathered in to a VM plan where I pay $20 _per calendar quarter_. Nyaah, nyaah! I have a Verizon plan that’s $100 for a year, but they have better coverage than Virgin, or at least they did 7 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/55 "2010-06-24T01:46:40Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I have a Verizon plan that’s $100 for a year, but they have better coverage than Virgin, or at least they did 7 years ago. Last time I couldn’t make a call with my increasingly ancient VM phone, I was hiking the Appalachian Trail - no, not in the Mark Sanford sense, but actually hiking the actual trail. I’ve been able to connect in places where my wife’s shiny new Verizon phone couldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/56 "2010-06-24T02:28:10Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Last time I couldn’t make a call with my increasingly ancient VM phone, I was hiking the Appalachian Trail - no, not in the Mark Sanford sense, but actually hiking the actual trail. > > I’ve been able to connect in places where my wife’s shiny new Verizon phone couldn’t. This is more or less why I still have a late 1990s Motorola Startac phone that I keep with me. The antenna on it is absolutely superlative. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016/57 "2010-06-24T03:05:25Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > This is more or less why I still have a late 1990s Motorola Startac phone that I keep with me. The antenna on it is absolutely superlative. Is that GSM or CDMA? Are you in the States? Because I was just reading how most of the analogue networks had been shut down around 2008 and the frequencies given over to GSM or CDMA transmissions. Even if I could find a bettery for the old Nokia 101 AMPS analogue phone that was my first cellphone, there’s be no compatible network for it to connect to… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cell-phone-companies-fuck-you-for-breaking-your-phones/544016.md?page=2)