4 ms·

I totally agree. I'm from Kenya and reading this comment section is jaw dropping. A Telco blocking features of a phone, any features is like stealing from you.

by demarq 10y ago

I totally agree. I'm from Kenya and reading this comment section is jaw dropping. A Telco blocking features of a phone, any features is like stealing from you. I buy an LG or Samsung for the features listed on the box or website and if I found a feature to be missing the box and phone will be promptly returned and I'd demand my money back, and contract canceled! It's just an unthinkable thing for a Telco to do.

pki 10y ago
> I'd demand my money back, and contract canceled $500 early termination fee, 8-12 weeks for a "partial refund" via cheque ;)
khedoros 10y ago
Generally, people in the U.S. buy a phone from the telco itself, and specific companies customize the software and packaging of their phones. Sometimes, different models are produced for sale by specific telcos. I understand and agree with the outrage you feel, but the status quo is powerful and slow to change. There are telcos that explicitly provide tethering in their plans as a standard feature, and bringing an outside device to operate with the telco is easier than it used to be, so maybe things are starting to shift.
- unlinker 10y ago
  Not on Verizon, though.
  - nommm-nommm 10y ago
    I tether with my stock Verizon phone purchased from Verizon, no problem.
    - unlinker 10y ago
      Hm, I meant as far as I know you can't bring your own phone to Verizon.
      - whatthesmack 10y ago
        You can. I just bought my phone separately because Verizon wanted an extra $20 a month if I got the subsidized phone + contract, but I'd rather not have a contract.
        nommm-nommm 10y ago
        And they dropped my bill $20/month or so after my contract was up.
      - forgottenpass 10y ago
        You can, just pop in a Verizon SIM. They act like you need a whitelisted IMEI, but the network doesn't actually care. The tricky part is getting a SIM activated on their network. The store managers pretend like they can't give/sell just a SIM. They're supposed to give them to you for free, but lie to sell you a handset. You can buy them from resellers who DGAF. They also pretend you need a whitelisted IMEI to activate the SIM card, their website and in-store people enforce this rule. I've always had good luck calling their 1-800 number and playing dumb. At the very worst you can probably find an old or broken verizon phone for free/cheap and use that IMEI.

by demarq 10y ago

pki 10y ago

> I'd demand my money back, and contract canceled $500 early termination fee, 8-12 weeks for a "partial refund" via cheque ;)

khedoros 10y ago

Generally, people in the U.S. buy a phone from the telco itself, and specific companies customize the software and packaging of their phones. Sometimes, different models are produced for sale by specific telcos. I understand and agree with the outrage you feel, but the status quo is powerful and slow to change. There are telcos that explicitly provide tethering in their plans as a standard feature, and bringing an outside device to operate with the telco is easier than it used to be, so maybe things are starting to shift.

unlinker 10y ago
Not on Verizon, though.
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  I tether with my stock Verizon phone purchased from Verizon, no problem.
  - unlinker 10y ago
    Hm, I meant as far as I know you can't bring your own phone to Verizon.
    - whatthesmack 10y ago
      You can. I just bought my phone separately because Verizon wanted an extra $20 a month if I got the subsidized phone + contract, but I'd rather not have a contract.
      - nommm-nommm 10y ago
        And they dropped my bill $20/month or so after my contract was up.
    - forgottenpass 10y ago
      You can, just pop in a Verizon SIM. They act like you need a whitelisted IMEI, but the network doesn't actually care. The tricky part is getting a SIM activated on their network. The store managers pretend like they can't give/sell just a SIM. They're supposed to give them to you for free, but lie to sell you a handset. You can buy them from resellers who DGAF. They also pretend you need a whitelisted IMEI to activate the SIM card, their website and in-store people enforce this rule. I've always had good luck calling their 1-800 number and playing dumb. At the very worst you can probably find an old or broken verizon phone for free/cheap and use that IMEI.