Class action lawsuit against Verizon over Bluetooth on the Motorola V710 expands

Been itching to get in on that class action lawsuit that was filed against Verizon for disabling Bluetooth on Motorola's V710 cellphone? A few months ago California law firm Kirtland & Packard filed a class action lawsuit against Verizon and Motorola for crippling the Bluetooth on Motorola's V710 handset so you can't wirelessly sync with or copy files to a PC, now they're opening up the plaintiff class to anyone in the US who bought the V710 for its Bluetooth capabilities, not just residents of California. If the outcome of this case is anything like that of every other tech-related class action lawsuit we've heard of lately, the lawyers who filed the suit will probably walk off with millions and the everyone who bought a V710 will get a $15 service credit.

[Via Blueserker]

[raaaaaa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

yeah, the lawers get rich but it has to be done. acouple more of these laqsuits and the service providers will think twice before doing it again

[raaaaaa @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

yeah, the lawers get rich but it has to be done. acouple more of these laqsuits and the service providers will think twice before doing it again

[Gillian White @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I wonder if we can sue RIM for disabling the BlueTooth functionality on their Blackberry. Currently you can only sync your handsfree and not any other BlueTooth devices like an external keyboard. You are also unable to communicate with your PC. Not too sure why BlueTooth is so crippled seeing that RIM nor the carrier can make any money off disabling BlueTooth.

[superpixel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

Yeah, that's true... But spank 'em, and spank 'em hard! Totally not cool how people don't know, care, or understand that cell phone companies are ripping them big-time by not allowing certain data transfers.

Imagine if everytime you copied a phone number from the phonebook to a memo pad the LEC charged you a nickel. I'm talking paper-based products here people. Would you be mad? Well just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD.

Just because they CAN disable Bluetooth doesn't mean they SHOULD. If they don't like a feature, they shouldn't sell the phone. But of course I'm sure the reps knew all about it, and intelligently explained to the customer the situation *cough*...

Oh well, lets just all switch to US Cellular, the old-school KMart, Blue-light special 'n' bottom-feeder provider. No data access, no phones with BT, heck not much of anything but minutes. Let's stop all the fussin' and feudin' and get SPOT watches too!

[Randolph Lee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I wondered why iSync does not work with the V710! I had to change to Verizon when I moved as the Nokia 3650 that I had working perfectly with iSync from T-Mobile is not supported here... they use a diferent Digital system and the 710 from Verizon was the only Bluetooth phone I could get in this area... then it would not work with the Bluetooth hands free kit in my MINI (a Nokia product) and I have had to order a Motorola hands free kit! I thought Bluetooth was supposed to prevent these sorts of problems not cause them! has anyone manaked to hack around the block to get iSync to work?

[david LeMay @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

yeah, I called verizon because that is who we have our service with, I explained to them I was thinking about buying a car with built in blue tooth, they told me about the bluetooth phone they sell, but failed to inform me that it would not work with the car. I bought the car went to the verizon store and was then told it may or may not work I would have to buy the phone and try it to really know for sure. I thought that was crazy, so I went over to the toyota place and they were not sure either, after some research I found out that cingular has the phones that work with the cars, verizon has blocked the technology, I spent and extra 2700. on the built in feature and now I am looking at cancellation fees on our family plan and new phones to fix this issue, why did verizon do this, block the technology, and why did they not properly inform me when I asked rather than after I bought the car.

[John Henk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

There is also a right to privacy issue here as Verizon is requiring you to send your personal information stored in your personal phone over their public network in order to transfer it from your phone and charge you for it. I believe there might possibly be laws that are broken here(or there should be anyway)

[John Henk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

There is also a right to privacy issue here as Verizon is requiring you to send your personal information stored in your personal phone over their public network in order to transfer it from your phone and charge you for it. I believe there might possibly be laws that are broken here(or there should be anyway)

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I just want to add that I just renewed 3 contracts and upgraded the phones on the accounts after researching the phones on the various manufacturers sites for features I wanted. I was not told by Verizon's sales rep that they had dissabled certain features on the phones and now I am stuck with 3 2yr contracts and 3 phones that are not what I thought I was getting. This should be stopped and all Verizon customers should be compensated.

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I just want to add that I just renewed 3 contracts and upgraded the phones on the accounts after researching the phones on the various manufacturers sites for features I wanted. I was not told by Verizon's sales rep that they had dissabled certain features on the phones and now I am stuck with 3 2yr contracts and 3 phones that are not what I thought I was getting. This should be stopped and all Verizon customers should be compensated.

[Robb S. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I'm a Verizon user living in CT, where in Oct a law goes into effect banning cell phones use while driving unless it's hands-free and the V710's Bluetooth capabilities were enticing - before doing (my usual) thorough product research. When I learned Verizon "crippled" Bluetooth, I decided to definitely NOT buy one (and I really like Motorola phones). If T-Mobile's US geo coverage was more extensive, I'd definitely switch providers - with T-Mobile I could get a Motorola V330 w/ Bluetooth AND GSM apability...

[Tisha H @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

Darned good reason to NOT go with Verizon. I have a choice of going with a Motorola V710 in my Mercedes but with Verizon's arrogance I will keep my service with T-Mobile.

Nice job Verizon, you sure know how to drive prospective customers away. Glad I found out before I signed a contract with you.

[Allen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

I just got off the phone after shouting at both Verizon and Motorola for misrepresnting the v710. I was thinking all along they were just poorly trained on the features and which ones were disabled but now after reading these posts, I wouldn't put it past them to intentionally not tell consumers this stuff. You can't download pictures using the USB cable. You have to pay $.25 each to mail them one by one by one... And you can't use the memory card as a portable drive to transfer files. I'm sure there must be some hacker software out there to get around this. If anyone knows about it, please post it here or mail it to me at [e-mail]. I'd greatly appreciate it.

[oldmaninshoe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

the v710 easy to hack. donhole26AThotmail.com

[Rsmith @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

Does anyone know why the limit 'purchased before Jan 2005' ? Does that mean that the Bluetooth technology IS enabled on phones purchased after that date? We purchased our V710 this summer, only because we wanted the Bluetooth technology. Were not aware of the lawsuit, not told about it by Verizon. Having trouble with an after-market Bluetooth Car Kit, wondering if that is due to this same problem. Any info is appreciated.

R Smith

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

The problem is most of the salespeople are not even aware there was/is a lawsuit, much less a settlement. Unless you are searching for it on the internet and other places most Verizon customers would not even be aware of it. What I don't like is that they will only give me a refund up to the price of a new phone that still has the same "crippled" features (MOTO E815).

I would be curious to know how they are handling the entire thing if the phone was purchased elsewhere, such as Radio Shack.

[Ben Bowman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:11AM]

Where do you sign the class action suite to be included? The phone hacks easily. Verizon is clueless when it comes to knowledge and service.