In an effort to find out the answers we are looking for, I decided to call Verizon Wireless and get their responses to our questions. I've transcribed the conversation for all of you below:
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[This call may be recorded for quality assurance or training purposes]
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Rep: Thank you for calling Verizon Wireless. This is [redacted]. May I have your name please?
Me : freezyfreaky
Rep: Excuse me?
Me : fuhh-reezy fuh-reaky
Rep: Uhh.. sorry.. how do you spell that?
Me : f-r-e-e-z-y f-r-e-a-k-y
Rep: Uh.. umm.. How can I help you, Mr.. uhhhh.. Freez... umm.. sir?
Me : Please. I am a man of stature in life. Call me Mr. Freaky.
Rep: Uhh... Mr. Freaky. Can I put you on hold please?
Me : Sure, babe.
Rep: um okay.
[Music]
Rep: Thank you for holding, sir. How may I help you?
Me : Mr. Freaky
Rep: Um.. Mr. Freaky
Me : Thank you. I am part of a small but growing, vibrant community of phone enthusiaists on droidforums.net. I regularly bless them with my thoughts through posting on numerous topics regarding Android and more specifically Verizon Android phones.
Rep: ...
Me : Please settle this dispute for us. We are currently holding a discussion regarding rumors of Verizon changing their practices in the future so they can further lock down and monitor rooted phones. Are these changes being made because someone who is not me rooted their phone and flashed the NAND using Team Black Hat's wireless tether mod, or say, use an widely available app on the market like PDAnet that doesn't require root so that someone who is not me can tether for free?
Rep: Uh, Excuse me?
Me : Tethering. I said tethering.
Rep: Oh, okay, if you want to tether, we can sign you up for tethering for $20 per month with a 2GB limit.
Me : No, that's not what I meant. But since we are on the topic, why when I'm paying $30 per month for unlimited data that I need to pay extra for tethering when we both know it is the same data being downloaded through your phone.
Rep: I'm sorry, sir. The unlimited data plan is for your phone only. Using tethering to connect any other device will cost an additional $20 per month.
Me : Mr. Freaky.
Rep: Sorry, Mr. Freaky. There is an additional charge for tethering.
Me : So if I can use the analogy of an all-you-can-eat chinese buffet... if I was a phone, my girlfriend is my laptop, unlimited data plan being the all-you-can-eat chinese food, you are saying that if I wanted my girlfriend to eat too... that I would have to pay for her also?
Rep: Umm... I guess so.
Me : Seriously. Do you really think it's fair that I have to pay for my girlfriend to eat too?
Rep: Uhh.. no?
Me : Thanks, babe. You have been very helpful
Rep: Is there anything else I can help you with?
Me : Nope.
Rep: Thankyouforcallingverizonwirelessgoodbye.
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