Overview:
Verizon Wireless, based in Basking Ridge, NJ, hails itself as the most reliable wireless company in the USA. Consumers know them as the “can you hear me now?” people. It is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodaphone.
Pros: If you’re looking for features, you’ve got them with Verizon’s BlackBerry plans. Their plans come with 3-way calling, basic voice mail, call forwarding, wall waiting, caller ID and caller ID blocking, message waiting indicators, and text messaging options. You also get unlimited domestic long distance and no domestic roaming charges. If you purchase a plan over $34.99 and maintain two years of service, you can get a new phone. You have an option of how many minutes a month you want to buy.
Cons: Plan prices are quite expensive, but it evens out when you consider what features you get for free on the plans. Text messaging, if you don’t buy the more expensive plan with this feature included, is $0.15 cents for each message that you send and receive.
Detailed Provider Information:
Voice Plan Options: Verizon provides its BlackBerry customers with six different voice plans. The 450-minute plan is $79.99/month; the 900-minute plan is $99.99/month; the 1350-minute plan (which is their best offer) is $109.99/month; the 2000 minute plan is $129.99/month, the 4000-minute plan is $169.99/month, and the 6000-minute plan is $219.99 a month. If you go over your minutes, the charges range from $0.20 to $0.45, depending on your plan.
Data Options: For all plans, wireless data is received in 2 KB increments. If you want to receive more, simply request to download another 2 KB.
Messaging Options: You get unlimited text, picture, instant and video messaging with Verizon’s BlackBerry Email and Messaging plans. The plans are slightly more expensive - $99.99 to $239.99, depending on how many minutes you purchase.
Customer Service: When you enter your state’s zip code, the site directs you to the customer service representative and telephone number in your area. As well, there are email addresses and telephone numbers on the website. If you have a support question, there are also FAQs posted on just about any topic.
Contract: If you want to terminate your contract early, you’ll have to pay $175 per line. Contracts vary, depending on the plan that you get, but most contracts with Verizon are two years. After two years, Verizon offers you a new phone.
Messaging: Text messaging is $0.15 for each sent and received message if you don’t have a messaging plan. You can send messages of up to 160 characters. This is not available in some areas.
International Calling and Messaging: International roaming charges can be as low as $0.69 and vary from country to country. Verizon does offer long distance calling, but it’s only unlimited for domestic calls. International calls will be subjected to long distance charges.
verizonwireless.com/international has more information for customers looking to call overseas. Overseas text messages are $0.25 for every sent message and $0.15 for every received message.
Roaming Charges: There are no roaming charges, but your BlackBerry may not work in some areas where there is no coverage.
Activation Fee: There is a $35 set-up fee for each new line.
Additional Features: You can get 411 access for $1.49 a month, enhanced voice mail services, and more.
Insurance: There is a one-year warranty on the phones.
Phones: Verizon offers the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition Smartphone and additional models listed below. All of these phones have online prices of $199.99 to $299.99 and include Bluetooth, Broadband Access, a speakerphone and text messaging.
Some Additional BlackBerry Models Available:
BlackBerry Pearl 8130
BlackBerry 8703e
BlackBerry Curve 8330
Coverage Map: The Verizon coverage map can be found here.
As much as I would love to hate on Verizon - I simply can't. Their coverage is unreal. No matter where I am in the country I can pretty much count on being able to talk on my BlackBerry and have it be crystal clear. I almost don't even need a phone in my house or office because their service is so good.
So with heavy heart (due to some past experiences and their corporate policies) I give them the highest rating.
I have never been happy with Verizon's inability to give you the full features of a phone without disabling to charge you for something. However, the strongest strength they have is their network, which is second to none.
I would have to disagree, Verizon is a horrible company with outragous customer service. I had no reception in my house, even though it was in bright red on their coverage map. I had to walk about 15 yards away from my door to make a phone call. There network is incredible outside, best there is. Once you are inside any building it disapears. I couldnt use internet in 8 out of 10 buildings i would walk in too. It was horrible i was paying over $100 a month and couldnt use my phone unless i was outside. 3 of their representetives told me that verizon phones are not made to work inside. And i hated how verizon bloks most of the useful features on their phones ( even smartphones). I got so frustrated after changing 10 phones in 3 years they send a technitian to my house to see what was the problem, and he determined there was no tower around that area. I live in the heart of Baltimore city, lol no tower? they kept exchanging my phone as faulty equipment. Anyway they let me out of the contract after some serious negotiations simply i because they were faulse advertising the coverage map. Knowing that there is no tower signal and they didnt know when the tower will come up. I switched to T-Mobile got a curve for $50 with $50 rebate (free phone) and my plan is $65 before taxes. Service is incredible, unlimited internet - e-mail $19.99, 1000 minutes $39.99 and 400 text $4.99 unbelivable. And i swear i dont work for t-mobile. Verizon is just as bad as at&t i had them too. Get tmobile you will not regret it.
Coverage is good. They will disable functions of a phone so you will have to pay them more to use their services, such VZW Navigator. They disable the GPS on Blackberries so you have to pay Verizon, when you would be able to use the one on the phone for what you paid for it.
Hello,
I'm a Network Engineer for VZW, and after reading B. Brooks review, I wanted to say this. VZW does have hands down the most reliable network. If you do the non bais research you'll see how clear that is i.e. (JD Power and Assoc.)
As for your service not working in your house or in certain buildings, it is noted in the contract that we(VZW) cannot garuntee service inside certain structures. There are MANY reasons why, cabling, Electronis, Electrical wire, Building material. On a cell phone you need a direct signal, if there is an obstruction, with no matter what company, you will not have that signal, HWOEVER rest assure that VZW does have the best coverage as far as quality, reliabilty, and coverage. Customer service is great too.
Got the blackberry Curve because of the touted turn-by-turn GPS service - they didn't tell me they had disabled it so that it will only work with their Navigator (another $10/mo) "service". It COULD work nicely in conjunction with their Maps program, but they were toio greedy. Sprint, here I come.
You MUST be kidding..Sprint? Makes perfect sense, purchase a phone to work with a company that probably won't be around for much longer. Get over price, to have nice stuff you gotta pay for it. If something is cheap, do yourself a favor and simply ask "Why?". Most cases it is because something is lacking. Believe it or not, the reason Verizon DOES have such a good network is the revenue they take in and then REINVESTS into that network. I bet you always ask to have the charger "thrown in for free" too. Oh yeah, T-Mobile? Hope you don't plan on leaving town. Cause if you do, expect an earfull of static if that at all. For God's sake people just look at a coverage map! Even if not 100% accurate, the difference is undeniable. Hate all you want but the two major carriers "At&T and Verizon" are just that because of quality of service, not who can sling the cheapest phones and features. Network does not mean just service at your house, that's called a landline.
Also, some of the information listed here has changed for example early termintaton fees are now prorated down the longer you keep your service
I used my 8830 World phone in Germany, Hungary and Taiwan (no service in the Tokyo airport). I had a few problems but they were manageable. My data in Taiwan took about 1 day before it became active. Also, sometimes incomming calls did not go through. Outgoing was fine once I figure out the exit code for Taiwan. Europe had zero issues.
The one thing I have to agree with is the Vcast crap. I do not have a problem with charging for services (GPS, etc.) but at least let me customize my phone. My wife has a RAZR and they locked down the menu. That is why I can only give them 4/5 stars.
To Brian B, it may suck but what you describe is typical for all carriers. My brother's service (Cingular/AT&T) in rural FL was so bad I found an indoor repeater for him. Now he gets better service in the house than he does outside.
Pros: Awesome coverage. Excellent customer service. 20% Discounts on accessories if you have a plan over a certain monthly price. Unbelievable data speed.
Cons: Phones models are not the latest in the industry. Disabling features on phones (like GPS) and limiting internet services (like messenger clients) needs to stop!
I have been a Verizon Wireless Customer back in the Bell Atlantic Mobile days. The service is the best! I have sold wireless products and service for Cingular, AT&T, and Sprint PCS, but always kept my personal service w/ Verizon. I carry the Blackberry 8830 and I love it, especially because I'm on Verizon. "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW"!
I have a Blackberry 8830 World Edition. I have used, Cingular, Sprint, ATT and TMobile and finally ended up with Verizon. Why? Because there service was literally better than all the rest. It just took me a while to get there and realize it. ATT and TMobile are both owned by ATT. But, the don't work on each others backbone. Crazy huh? Cingular in my opinion ranks 2nd to Verizon both in reliability and customer service. But, they still have lots of dropped calls. I know this due to using them for a while and my wife has ATT through her company. She complains about the problems with it all the time but, she is stuck with them. I work in IT and everytime I call Verizon, they have given me top notch service. Even if I do something stupid, they don't talk to me like I'm an idiot. I'm glad to have Verizon and will not change for any below cost coverage!
I've read some of the reviews for Verizon Wireless and I have to join the bandwagon because I've had Tmobile, Sprint and At&t and I've finally stuck with Verizon. I've been with them for the last 2 years and I will never ever go anywhere. Like one of the posters said Sprint might not be around much longer, they're hemorrhaging subscribers by the boatloads and their network is downright shoddy, tmobile is also a joke with horrible reception and dropped calls, and again, if you dont need to talk on your cell phone where you need it the most, sure get tmobile and sprint. at&t's network was reasonable but the customer service and in my opinion unethical billing practices caused me to leave quickly .. so ive been there, done that and have to admit that verizon wireless is the best hands down. wherever i am i know that im going to have coverage and im my group of friends im the go to when everyone needs a phone but no one can get any reception. verizon has earned my business for life albeit they are a bit pricey and i too own a curve that has disabled GPS for the NAV system, but I would have bought their Nav anyway because it gives live turn by turn directions which is also another great feature. Oh .. and they have unbelievable customer service! Best out there by far.
I was with Sprint for several years and had "okay" service and customer service. I wasn't picky. I left them when I got a job with U.S. Cellular. Ugh. They have good solid service, but it's regional. I got the phone and service for free, so who am I to complain? Except the free phone I got was a 7130e! LOL I felt like Wilma Flintstone!
I didn't fit in with U.S. Cellular and when I lost my free phone service, I signed up with Verizon strictly because of their phones. I worked in the Engineering Department at USCC so I know all about the Neilson Drives and that Verizon always kicked our butts in the drives (except on Data). I got my hands on a 8830 (beauty) and love it. Am not disappointed whatsoever with the service I receive or the customer service I received! My RWC was outstanding! He let us walk out the store with two phones and a plan (the most expensive, mind you) without giving him one red penny. How is that for customer service?
I'm on the Verizon Bandwagon. I LOVE my Blackberry! Now I just have to figure out how to get it to do all the things I want it to!
I've been with Verizon wireless for along time and I have no complaints. Their coverages and customer service is great, though I think I know as much about my Blackberry 8830 as they do. No matter what question I had whether it be billing, products etc. They always came thru. I did call on the VZ Nav recently to express my concern that traffic updates were not availible on my 8830 and was told that they may or may not have it availaible in the future. Their only black mark with me. My advice to unhappy consumers is that you must read and ask questions on any product you might be interested in buying. the information is there and if you want outstanding service you got to pay for it.
I've been with Verizon Wireless for a few years now and I have to say hands down they have the best customer service. They're plans are comprable with AT&T and the only provider who gets service in the basement at my hospital. Now that I have a Blackberry I love them even more.
Cons:
Disabling phone features - specifically on the 8830World Edition.
Local Service isn't always helpful.
MY local coverage area isn't always the best.
Pros:
My travel coverage is good.