Today is the first day you can pre-order an iPhone 4, and would-be shoppers have created long lines, both in front of Apple brick and mortar stores, and – online? [More]
telephony
You Could Opt Out Of T-Mobile's Arbitration Clause… If Their Site Wasn't Broken
By 6.14.10
Consumerist is no fan of mandatory binding arbitration, a clause in many consumer contracts that forces you to give up your right to sue in small claims court and have all disputes resolved by a professional arbitration firm that gets paid directly by the companies. So when I saw that there was an way to opt-out of T-Mobile’s arbitration clause online, I was stoked. Then I tried to go there, and the site was broken. Fail phone! UPDATE: T-Mobile Fixes Broken Arbitration Opt-Out Site [More]
Ben Popken On WJLA Warning About Robocall Scammers
By 6.10.10
UPDATE: Here’s the video. If you live in the DC area, tune into ABC 7 tonight at 5:45 pm to see a Consumer Alert I shot with local reporter Kris Van Cleave. Apparently, this morning like six of their reporters all got scam robocalls on their cellphones with a recording saying their ATM card had been deactivated and they needed to call the bank back. Hello, scam! [More]
Will The iPhone 4 Cripple AT&T's Network?
By 6.10.10
AT&T’s network is notorious for the connectivity issues surrounding the iPhone, and Silicon Alley Insider thinks that the iPhone 4 is only going to compound them. Steve Jobs’ assurances that AT&T has assured him the network is going to get better by the end of the summer won’t be enough, because of specific changes Apple made to the phone itself. [More]
AT&T To Let Nearly All Buy New iPhone At Subsidized Price
By 6.7.10
AT&T customers Many AT&T customers who weren’t eligible for iPhone upgrades until later this year, and would have had to pay the full, non-subsidized price, or an early termination fee, have now had their dates bumped up to June. [More]
AT&T Raising iPhone Early Termination Fee To $325
By 5.21.10
Having cold feet with your iPhone will cost you $325 starting June 1. AT&T is increasing the fee for breaking early two-year smartphone contracts from $199. The carrier is also decreasing the early termination fee for “dumb” phones by $25 to $150. [ [More]
Reach HTC Executives
By 5.20.10
If you need to reach upper management at handheld manufacturer HTC because of some intractable issue with their device that regular customer service can’t or won’t solve, consider lofting a well-crafted letter over to some of these folks: [More]
Woman Sues Cellphone Company For $600,000 For "Exposing" Her Adultery
By 5.17.10
A woman has sued her wireless provider for $600,000 for outing her as a cheater to her husband. After the they added internet and TV services to the woman’s previously single-user cellphone bill, the wireless company began sending the husband a unified bill, which included several hours long conversations to an unknown number. The husband walked out, and the lawsuits began. [More]
Apple: 10 Million CDMA iPhones On Order – For Verizon, Perchance?
By 5.14.10
This minute’s latest rumor is that the can you hear me now guy could be put to work testing iPhones soon. DigiTimes reports that Apple has placed an order with Taiwan-based Pegatron for CDMA iPhone that could reach up to 10 million units. CDMA devices don’t work on AT&T’s GSM network. Verizon’s network is CDMA. [More]
Top 7 Legalized Ripoffs
By 5.7.10
We busted the trusts! Oil! Rail! Coal! Kapow! You just got Tafted! Yeah, but that was a century ago. Industries have had more than enough time to mutate and adapt, especially when it comes to technology, and figure out new anti-consumer ways to develop and maintain hegemony. You get higher prices, lower product quality, and fewer rights. They get more yachts to waterski behind. In no particular order, here are some of the top 7 legalized ripoffs consumers face today: [More]
New Craigslist Scam Harvests Your Cellphone, Crams $9.95/Month
By 5.4.10
A new Craigslist scam is targeting your cellphone. Sellers report getting a message from a “serious buyer” who is busy “at work” and “can’t contact” them now. The fictional buyer says they “use a website that can save information” and asks the seller to “leave your phone number there” so they can call you after they “get home to arrange a meeting.” Based on one users’ experience, the site, which has already been pulled, then starts cramming $9.95/month monthly charges onto any cellphone number that gets entered. Here is one of the scam emails: [More]
Google Kills Nexus One For Verizon, Says Get An HTC Incredible Instead
By 4.28.10
If you’ve been waiting for the Nexus One to hit Verizon, you can stop waiting. The HTC Droid will take the place of the Nexus One on the Verizon network, Google announced via a blog post Monday. It’s supposed to support better multi-touch sensors, so, win? Perhaps given the customer service issues that arose after the initial Nexus One launch – they didn’t even offer any phone support at first – Google decided it would be better to get out of the retail business. [Google via PhoneScoop] [More]
Cellphone: Go Prepaid Or Contract?
By 4.26.10
When shopping around for a new cellphone plan, or simply a cheaper one, consumers have more choices besides the standard 2-year contract wireless companies try to cram down your throat. But do you go prepaid or with a contract? Which company delivers the best value? It all depends on your usage and what you’re looking for. To help you decide, Lifehacker has put together a bangin’ guide on picking a new wireless plan. Check it.
How to Decide Between a Prepaid or Contract Wireless Plan [Lifehacker]
Get Sprint Billing Issues Fixed Fast With This Number
By 4.22.10
The person who sent in this escalated Sprint contact says, “If you enjoy Sprint’s excellent phones, wireless service, and call clarity you almost certainly have MAJOR headaches with your account/bill. So don’t wait in line with their f’d up offshore billing department. Go bug Celina the account manager.” [More]
iPhone Hacked To Run Android
By 4.22.10
This guy has hacked his iPhone so it runs Android. In fact, he can choose to run either the iPhone OS or Android. It only works on the original 2G iPhone and it’s a little buggy, and not recommended that casual users try it, but the future could hold implementations on the 3G and 3Gs. Apple’s secret garden just got further pried open. [More]
The $7,865.84 Verizon Bill
By 4.21.10
Yowza! David’s eyes popped out his head when he saw his $7,865.84 bill from Verizon. [More]
Calling Card Bills In 5-Minute Increments
By 4.19.10
Have you ever read the back of a calling card? This one takes the cake. I’ve seen, one and three, but this card billing calls in 5-minute increments. So if your call is five minutes and one second long, they’re going to deduct 10 minutes worth from the card. Yeeks. Better talk fast. [More]
5 Secrets To Get Better Verizon Wireless Customer Service
By 4.15.10
Here’s 5 things you might not know about Verizon Wireless that could also help you be more successful when dealing with customer service and customer service issues: [More]
