[NJBlackBerry]

Originally Posted by bruced

Most of the people who miss Wi-Fi have AT&T and T-Mobile. Those with Verizon have great service throughout the majority of the county and really don't need Wi-Fi. I have Verizon and travel throughout the entire country and there was only one time (Northern California) where I did not have great service.

Since Verizon customers have never had WiFi on their BlackBerrys, there is no way they could miss it!

And, believe it or not, there are places where Verizon's super duper powerful signal doesn't work. Like in many places in Manhattan. In any event, many customers of all kinds like having the option of WiFi. Some even really like and use UMA.

[SteveO86]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Since Verizon customers have never had WiFi on their BlackBerrys, there is no way they could miss it!

True, and I would love to have it!

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

And, believe it or not, there are places where Verizon's super duper powerful signal doesn't work. Like in many places in Manhattan. In any event, many customers of all kinds like having the option of WiFi. Some even really like and use UMA.

Knowing VZW's track record highly doubt they would allow UMA, just my thought. It took this long to get GPS lol.

[nosidam]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

And, believe it or not, there are places where Verizon's super duper powerful signal doesn't work. Like in many places in Manhattan. In any event, many customers of all kinds like having the option of WiFi. Some even really like and use UMA.

Manhattan, Kansas?

I ask because I live and work in Manhattan, NYC, and I've never not had signal, even in the middle of a computer room in the center of a building 40-stories up.

That said, it would be nice to have the option of using WiFi. Of course, knowing VZW, they'll charge extra for using it, or cripple it to only 802.11b.

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

I found the signal hit or miss. I have similar experiences to you but may have trouble near an open window on a ground floor

[TheBigNewt]

The Verizon WiFi controversy never dies lol. They omit it because it'll decrease battery life on BB devices for some reason. Actually RIM is the one that refuses to make it in Vzn phones for that reason I think. They want a certain battery performance so people won't take it back (G1 owners listening?). Vzn has WiFi on other phones and it's just fine.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by TheBigNewt

The Verizon WiFi controversy never dies lol.

The next version of the VZW Storm, and all VZW branded BlackBerry devices that follow it will have WiFi.

Originally Posted by TheBigNewt

Actually RIM is the one that refuses to make it in Vzn phones for that reason I think.

Nonsense. RIM builds the device to the carrier's specification.

Honestly... do some more homework.

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

I agree with you Penguin. The Tour is a good example

[scottd.home]

I guess I'm confused about this WiFi issue, so please shed some light on the following question. Advocates of WiFi like it apparently because it appears to provide service when a "regular" phone signal is not available. But, in reality, is WiFi readily available "everywhere", particularly in areas where regular phone signal coverage is poor? It would seem that there would be fewer WiFi hotspots in more rural areas, rather than more. What am I missing, please?

[NJBlackBerry]

Here are some scenarios:

- people live in homes with poor cellular coverage, and they have WiFi. Like in my basement, which gets little to no coverage, even with Verizon Wireless

- offices is cities with tall buildings constantly have reception issues. WiFi solves all of that.

One of the carriers gave me a 3G card to use on my laptop - for places I went to without WiFi. Took me several weeks to find a place that had no WiFi.

And WiFi works REALLY well for data if you go outside of the US (I know Verizon is slowly learning that there is life outside of the Continental 48) but WiFi is GREAT.

[scottd.home]

NJ...Thank you for your response, I really am a complete novice at this. So, I had thought the benefit of WiFi was restricted to internet access for surfing on the net (news, sports, etc.). Similar to how I utilize the wireless router in my home for my laptop. But the issue here then, for WiFi capable phones, is:

1) Being able to derive phone service through the router?

2) If the above is true, do you really find unprotected WiFi widely available in rural areas?

Thanks very muchin advance, and like i said..I really am new at this so forgive the naiive questions!

[akosnitzky]

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)

For my Tour, I am using a network extender which helps give a little boost.

NJBB,
I may look at wifi with Verizon soon but NOT the 8530

[usblues1965]

Any news on a new os? my news alerts are only set for release dates for the storm 2..LOL

[SteveO86]

Originally Posted by akosnitzky

Wirelessly posted (Its All About the U!)NJBB,
I may look at wifi with Verizon soon but NOT the 8530

Yea with the 8530 as the first wifi BB, it's kind of depressing.. I mean having on such a cheap model you really don't get any improvements other then the wifi and OS 5.0

But the camera isn't that good, no 3G.. I think the screen is the same as the 83xx as well..

[akosnitzky]

Originally Posted by SteveO86

Yea with the 8530 as the first wifi BB, it's kind of depressing.. I mean having on such a cheap model you really don't get any improvements other then the wifi and OS 5.0

But the camera isn't that good, no 3G.. I think the screen is the same as the 83xx as well..

That wont be my first trackpad device

[kjjb0204]

ARRRRGH! Still no leaked beta OS for the Tour out there? I know about irtehun's hybrid, but that just scares me.

[SteveO86]

Wonder if they will just jump the Tour to 5.0..?

[akosnitzky]

I am still surprised nothing is out yet. I am with this device for at least 9 more mos

[SteveO86]

Counting down already

[jgb@etree]

Even if (when) WiFi comes to VZW BB's, is it really going to matter? I'm somewhat doubtful that VZW will offer UMA access (My understanding is that TMO allows UMA, but AT&T does not - can someone confirm this?).

That being said, VZW has always been very serious about protecting their revenue stream. Even if customers are clamoring for WiFi (and it sounds like VZW's ready to give it to them) I have serious doubts that they're going to allow people to use UMA to place calls that they won't be able to bill you for.

Someone please let me know if I'm wrong here, and VZW does plan on allowing you to place calls via UMA.

So I guess my question needed a bit more detail:

If VZW doesn't offer UMA, whats the big deal about having WiFi?

[TheBigNewt]

Vzn won't offer UMA. UMA makes you able to make calls in places with no EDGE (in the case of Tmob) but with WiFi. I'm sure Vzn has no plans for UMA, which allows you to call from Europe in WiFi places back to the US almost for free. The big deal having WiFi on Vzn is coverage for data, not voice. It's probably not that great of a deal and that's why they have lagged behind ATT in their BB wifi offerings (the Storm2 will be the first). The reason they have not offered it for a BB phone is reportedly because RIM said NO, we won't build you a WiFi phone because the battery life is not within our specs. We don't want people returning our phones for bad batteries (a huge reason for returns btw). So no WiFi for you. According to various threads on this that is the reason why there are no WiFi BBs from Vzn.