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Warning extended rant

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I’m a technology geek. Recently my husband and I acquired a second cell phone to add to our plan and he wanted a hand-free headset, so we bought a bluetooth compatible phone. This move prompted me to look at all the neat applications for bluetooth on cell phones. Some of the most useful are PANs (personal area networks) and capablities to sync one’s computer contacts with one’s phone. iSync let’s you do this but only if you have a compatible phone. Problem is that not all bluetooth phones are created equal. This goes beyond the other qualities of the phone to the fact that different phones have different bluetooth profiles enabled. For example, Verizon Wireless phones don’t come with the ability for users to use bluetooth to transfer files to their phones or sync their contacts. Essentially, the darn things are neutered.

Most people would say “okay, so take your business elsewhere and deal with a carrier who doesn’t neuter their phones”. The problem is that Verizon’s national phone plan is the only one that provides coverage where my parents live and where I currently am. Since I visit my folks quite often, I really can’t switch carriers. As a result, I am quite annoyed. All I want to do is be able to keep my information consistent without having to put it in multiple places. It seems like that is too much to ask. It also would be great to transfer information (like photos) off the phone without having to hook up a cord. Removing these bluetooth capabilities from phones really destroys the whole idea of ubiquitous computing. I dream of a day where I can take less tech equipment to conferences. I get rather tired of carting all the stuff around!

So my mantra has become, no new phone for me! Not until I can get one with all the bluetooth capabilities I want! My stripped down old phone works fine and I refuse to replace it until Verizon shapes up. I told them as much when they tried to sell me a new phone recently. I also have pledged that should something happen to my current stripped down phone that I will buy the most inexpensive functional phone from Verizon possible. It doesn’t hurt them as much as switching plans, but it is one small way to get my point across.