Rob, first, thank you. You obtained productive attention much more quickly than our other efforts would have. I appreciate your time and attention.
To your questions:
1. If you know the G-Nex will be out by year's end, why is the specific date between now and then crucially important?
The date is not crucially important. It is, however, quite useful for planning. One important way is the double-data promotion (see #3).
2. If Verizon announced a release date, testing hit a hiccup and the launch was delayed, would you be more angry than if they simply told you "by the end of the year"?
No.
3. Does this suffice or would you ask that I do more on behalf of our community?
Consider doing one other thing, and this is narrowly focused: Ask about the end date of the double-data rate promotion.
For those of us without unlimited data, the current double-data promotion is quite significant (of course). I am, therefore, really surprised that this has not received more attention this evening, for it has been discussed quite a bit in the thread previously. Indeed, a concern that the Nexus might not be released until after the double-data promotion expires has been a significant motivation behind RAZR and ReZound "rentals."
A VZW decision to confirm that those waiting for the Nexus release will still be able to take advantage of the double-data promotion would be a big help to the community. VZW need not specify an end date or even commit to general availability (they might not want to do that for competitive reasons). A commitment to keep double data available for Nexus purchasers for at least XX days (say 7-14 days) after the release and general availability of the Nexus would be adequate.
This would help the community, reducing the perceived pressure to "rent" a new phone to preserve the special promotion. But this would also help VZW, for it does not want a bunch of returned phones that it must refurbish and sell for less. In this respect the interests of the community and of VZW seem to match.
As to posting your letter and going into all the detail, I would lean against it. I think that there are things VZW does not want to discuss (as someone has already observed, the "They aren't ready" statement is inconsistent with the "they'll be ready before the year is over"), and pushing is not likely to change that.
However, should VZW send a brief statement in response to your contact stating that the Galaxy Nexus is currently undergoing rigorous testing, that it WILL be released BEFORE the end of the year, and that the double-data promotion will still be available to Nexus purchasers at that point (along the lines described above), I think that would be worth posting along with a brief explanation (not all the gory details).
Thanks for considering this.
So, folks, would you like Rob to ask about the expiration of the double-data promotion? Click "Thanks" or post your own response.
