This article by Eliot Van Buskirk in Wired called ‘Verizon Cripples New RAZRs’ is interesting not only for the information about how different cellular network providers alter the software on phones they offer – but also on how we, the consumer, are both becoming more aware of established practices and they are also reacting to it.
My brother and I each own an Apple iBook and a Motorola RAZR — you could chalk it up to genetics, because we never discussed these purchases beforehand. That makes two genetically similar brothers, two identical laptops, two identical cellphones, and one key difference: I’m able to create my own ringtones, and my brother is not. That’s because I use Cingular for my cell service, and he uses Verizon.
Earlier this week, he showed me how the RAZR he bought from Verizon last month blocks your ability to transfer files into its Audio folder, in an apparent brazen attempt to force users to buy ringtones rather than creating their own tones from CDs or from scratch. We stayed up late that night trying to figure out how to get the files onto the phone and around Verizon’s blockade, which bans users from transferring MP3s and other data from their computers to their phones using either the Bluetooth or USB connections.
I find it abhorrent that Verizon disables the transfer of MP3s onto a phone that is advertised as having that feature. People are signing two-year service contracts for hardware that’s been intentionally, knowingly, and deceptively crippled by their cellphone provider.
While we see a boom in systems that are open-source and collaborative, there still seems to be a lot of manipulation by technology providers to make that extra buck. On the other hand, there seems to be a rising awareness of the attempts by tech companies to make changes to restrict us. Eliot rights about it in Wired, the blogs discuss, Engadget highlights, Treehugger damns and Digg diggs the news. We’ve achieved consciousness – are technology companies ready to face that fact?
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