“Ah, you have the new ‘toy’.”
Posted by dminor Sat, 19 Jul 2003 08:25:00 GMT
Why is it that product developers can’t get it together and make things work before they release product??
Just when I thought all hope of getting 75% of my “want-list” for a new cell phone was lost, Cingular brought out a new phone with a plan and a phone that met almost all of my needs.
Now I can sync my addressbook and calendar via Bluetooth plus get a bluetooth headset!! So I got all the pieces I needed: a Wireless USB Bluetooth Adapter and a Plantronics M1500
WRONG! None of them will work together. Siemens continues to deny compatibility with Apple products even though Apple has approved the phone for iSync. Each vendor has (for 2 months now) pointed the finger at the other vendor. Apple has been the only one who even tries to make an effort to get things working. And I can’t leave out mention of Shawn at my local Cingular store. She has done, I believe, everything she can to help in this matter when we both know this is not Cingular’s issue.
What I have hard time with is companies half-heartedly embracing standards and specifications that are agreed upon by those companies and others in the industry. They got together and wrote the specs for Bluetooth! Why are we having problems with devices “just working” like they should?
Siemens has been especially rude even though I spent a good chunk of money on their phone. Today when I called to find out the newest software version of my phone, “Chet” asked what phone we were going to be talking about. His response to the S56 was, “Ah, you have the new toy.” What is that supposed to mean? Am I beta-testing this phone for them? Am I just a sucker? Is this just an expensive toy phone instead of one that really works?? About this time in the conversation (like others I’ve had with Siemens customer service), Chet turned cold as ice and started demanding that he couldn’t help me since I use an Apple. I had to ask him 3 times to find out what the latest software version for this phone was. Obviously my record in their files has a big red flag on it and therefore I should be treated like complete trash—an outsider. I am so sick of hearing, “well, it’s not our problem. You should contact XYZ.”
I am also sick of having to explain what bluetooth is to these help desk people who work for these companies that sell these products! ARG. Learn your product features and how to use them or get out of the business!
I don’t know much else I can do but enjoy my very expensive telephone. If Apple doesn’t come through for me this week in figuring out the issue, that’s about all I can do. :-( I’ve spent many hours on the phone the last few weeks and I really need something to be figured out soon. In a year, I can cancel my Cingular service and get a Sony-Ericson T68i from AT&T or T-Mobile who hopefully will have better coverage than what they have now.
