this topic seems to be highly debated, do they cripple phones? why? should you leave vzw? to answer ur question!

yes they cripple phones, they do anything they can to make an extra buck off of us, but so do the other carriers, tmobile

sells there svs for more money then vzw does, and there network SUCKS< at least vzw has an excelent network. i an being forced to pay ten dollars a month if i want voice nav, because my ability to download other free third party aps is being blocked by vzw. why do you think carriers stray from wifi phones, there has bin a backlash to bring wifi phones to carrieres< IE the new universal rule is: in order to purchase a blackberry you MUST buy the data pkg (or they wont sell u the phone). my prodiction is which ever carrier produces a reasonably priced and reliable prepaid(no contract) pay per use or per day data svs will eventully win the carrier wars.