Verizon says "Oops"
Via Steve Rubel, I see that Verizon has decided to take the "oops it was a mistake (damn, they noticed being whispered) about the disabling of MP3 music on their new phones:
Verizon Wireless spoke out Monday after criticisms began appearing on Web logs including PCS Intel and Techdirt regarding the new service, which the company launched last week at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Customers wanting V Cast Music who already own one of the two compatible handsets need to visit one of the company's retail locations for a software upgrade.
"Upgrade" my foot :) - it's a restoration of the previous firmware. Meanwhile, verizon claims that it couldn't possibly be to force people to re-purchase stuff they already own:
Verizon dismissed accusations on certain Web logs that this decision was made for any ulterior profit motive such as forcing users to repurchase music through the V Cast store.
Instead, the company said, the MP3 capability was temporarily disabled so that it can be integrated into the V Cast application, rather than appearing as a separate application that might confuse customers.
Yeah, right. And I'm the Queen of Romania.
Comments
Always Improving, Not
[Jeffrey Nelson] January 10, 2006 11:20:27.178
As the PR guy at Verizon Wireless, I'm happy to report there's no "oops" at all. Rather, a planned, easy-to-use and understand evolution planned for V CAST Music - the most comprehensive mobile music service on the globe (Launches January 16). What's not noted: CUSTOMERS HAVE CHOICE, and CURRENT and new MP3 music is easily sideloaded and synched from PC via cable into WMA format for the phone. MP3 music on PC stays. A great WMA copy on the phone. Free (well, you need the cable). We noted at our CES news conference that further developments were already planned - and one of those we're developing is for dual music players. But Microsoft's Windows Media Player is TREMENDOUS, robust and is easy for customers to use There's no "oops" in that.
Choice?
[Steven Fenger] January 10, 2006 14:19:30.245
So we can have CHOICE as long as it is Window's Media Player and WMA?
YOUR CHOICE is . . .
[Jeffrey Nelson] January 10, 2006 16:25:12.084
whether you want V CAST Music - which runs on WMA - OR to keep the phone exactly as you have it now, without V CAST Music, but with MP3 player. YOUR choice.