Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
whynotlumia950xl

Verizon Explain this one. You are greedy [removed]. What's is your freakin deal with windows phones. Get with the program or I'm switching. I've been with Verizon since year 2000 and I have 4 phones on my account, are you ready to lose my business??? I hope you are happy about trying to monopolize your stupid network. Have a great holiday season.

Verizon may be blocking Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950 XL from operating on its network

Profanity removed as required by the Verizon Wireless Terms of Service

Message edited by Verizon Moderator

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Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

Microsoft did not submit the 550 and the 950s for CDMA certification. The phones were purposely restricted to GSM networks. It wasn't just us VZW customers that cannot use these phones. VZW, Sprint and their respective resellers are all in the same boat.

Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
SickFreak
Specialist - Level 1

We've been asking for years why VZW pushes people away from Windows phones, but VZW doesn't answer us.  If another carrier works in your area, vote with your dollars. I just did and not only can we use the devices we want, we got a few additional bonuses too!

Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

There are alternatives to buying a Windows Phone at a Verizon Wireless Store. A 735 can be purchased at a Microsoft Store for the same pricing that is found at a VZW Store. Likewise VZW sells phones over the Internet for the same pricing as at their brick and mortar stores.

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Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
SickFreak
Specialist - Level 1

Except that there has never been a Windows phablet on the VZW network.  And we all know VZW's attitude toward Windows devices...

Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
Tidbits
Legend

The answer is personal preference. What sells well is what is being pushed in stores. Name One multi product company that pushes their worse sellers or often hold a display. Also have to consider the person doing the selling comfort level on a product. Most reps don't know a lick about a lot of products and just push the canned responses they learn from experience. You'll see it all the time especially those who are not eager for their jobs to learn every product they have. I don't buy into the conspiracy theories of Verizon intentionally doing it.

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Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
dexman
Community Leader
Community Leader

If a device is made and certified to operate on Verizon Wireless's network, it can be used and VZW cannot stop it even if it was purchased outside of a VZW Store or kiosk.

Because Microsoft limited the three new handsets to GSM networks, sales figures will be lower than had been certified for everything...and Microsoft knows this.

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Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
Mikhael928
Enthusiast - Level 2

Wrong!

Microsoft did not limit these devices, Verizon chose to lock out the product identifier so that it's network will not allow these phones to work on its network. The phones ship unlocked and ready to work on all networks, including. Missing, however, is Band 13, which is a set of 700MHz frequencies used by Verizon in some locations. So even if the phones were used on the Verizon system, there may be some spots where they would have trouble with network availability. Why the Band 13 frequencies were left out of these devices but in included in previously manufactured devices is a mystery to me. Still, I am taking my dollars to another carrier that is not so biased against Windows. I happen to love the way that my four Windows 10, multi-platform devices all work in harmony with each other. No matter what I use, it's the same experience. Not even their "Golden Child" Apple can make that claim.

Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
primortal
Master - Level 1

No sorry you are wrong, Microsoft did limit these devices by not enabling CDMA bands via the firmware.  Here are the FCC reports for them, 950 (OET List Exhibits Report) 950 XL (OET List Exhibits Report) neither lists CDMA being enabled.

If CDMA (along with some LTE bands) were enabled out of the box VZW would have to allow the devices on the network.  The biggest question on why Microsoft chose not to enable the necessary bands for VZW and Sprint in the first place and sell the devices from their store....

Re: Microsoft Lumia 950 and 950XL
Mikhael928
Enthusiast - Level 2

True, the FCC OET List Exhibits Report does not include the 950, as you stated but there could be reasons for this that have nothing to do with phone capability or ability to pass the Office of Engineering and Technology at the FCC. I do know that the OET list is not always complete, not always up to date and even occasionally has errors. Since these are new devices and only a handful have made it to AT&T, the final OET list will likely match the Microsoft printed specifications, as it usually does. This I know from having worked in the industry for many years. The problem is not technical, but philosophical. It is obvious, as many have already stated, that Verizon is not at all interested in diluting it's stake in Android and Apple by training their people about Windows.

I have a 928 running Windows 10, as a member of the Windows Insider Team. It has worked very well on the Verizon network thus far. I got the original phone from Verizon because I had switched to them because ATT did not cover the area that I was moving to very well. Since then ATT has improved coverage to the point that they now cover more of the area than Verizon.

I do believe that the 950 and 950XL are both interim devices that were rushed to market to keep the slot alive. I won't buy one right now, because I am waiting to see how Microsoft handles their first fully in-house design. If Verizon continues to distance themselves from Windows, It may be that Microsoft will leave out the Verizon only bands completely. The fewer bands they have to include, the better the device will perform; better selectivity, signal rejection, harmonic suppression, etc. It is going to be a bumpy road for a while, but I am Windows for the long haul. That's strictly my personal opinion. I have made up my mind to switch back to ATT with my 928, since I can get support over there, as their sales people have actually seen a Windows phone. I was in a Verizon store a week ago and the salesperson had never even seen one in person.

Thank you for your response to my comment.