No joy with Verizon

[YZ]

Hi,

I am forced to use Verizon because I live in the middle of pretty much nowhere and it's the only network with reasonable service.  But (from what I understand) Verizon uses Brew and not Java, so the Java J2ME version won't work.  Any chance you'll develop a Brew version?  I'm guessing there are quite a few Verizon captives out there like me.

[Team FitSync]

Hey there YZ-
My friend you are not alone.  You're not the first Verizon user we've heard from and surely not the last.  The problem you're having has less to do with Brew and more to do with Verizon's "walled garden" approach to mobile Web services.  What this means, according to Verizon, is that you can't download applications, ringtones, music, etc. from any sites other than the Verizon store and then only if you have the Verizon "Get it Now" service (only available on certain phones).  If you call them you really have to push for this answer; they'll tell you that you can go anywhere on the Web (sort of true) but ask them if you can download your school's fight song from the little alumni Web site someone's grandmother runs and then you'll get the real story.

So, your problem is a combination of Verizon not letting you download and install our J2ME app and then if you do get it installed their proxy won't let you sync.  However, our Palm and Windows Mobile apps will work fine with Verizon (and with all other U.S. carriers) but you need to install the app via your desktop - Verizon won't let you install over the air from any sites other than theirs.

Another limitation is that many (actually most) U.S. mobile service providers will disable certain features on their phones which means you can't download or install applications, can't export your address book, can only play their mp3s, etc.  While blocking access to Web services and disabling phone features is common in the U.S., Asia and Europe are the opposite.  Over there you buy your phone first and then you pick your provider which typically lets you go anywhere and do anything.  So, you can download music and games and ring tones and pretty much anything from anywhere.

There are some exceptions in the U.S.  T-Mobile (their Tour de France team had the yellow jersey yesterday!) is wide open and Sprint is pretty good too.  I hear Cingular is decent but limited experience with them.  We have a big base of T-Mobile customers using our J2ME app - you just need to get the GPRS "data"service for about $5 a month and you can install over the air and sync without trouble.  Our company has used T-Mobile for all employees for years. 

I hope this helps but unfortunately I don't have a magic solution.  If you have a Palm or Windows Mobile device you could use that on the Verizon network OR just sync it via your desktop or Wi-Fi - we have a lot of customers who buy their first PDA just for FitSync and then become converts and throw away their paper address books.  The bad news is that Verizon is pretty restrictive and there's not much we, or anyone else can do.

John Morgan


PS - I'm an old motocrosser from a few years back and raced a YZ 250- you wouldn't happen to be a motocrosser?

[YZ]

Hi, John--

Thanks for the jam-packed reply.  I am familiar with Verizon's many snarky qualities and had a feeling it was not just a matter of Brew vs. Java.  Unfortunately, I can't switch providers because Verizon is the only service with any sort of reception where I live.  But the good news is that I do own a Palm device with wireless capabilities, so I've been using that for Fitsync at the gym.  I was hoping to use my phone because, quite frankly, my Palm is a pretty big hunk of metal (it's a LifeDrive), but it won't kill me to stick with the LD.  (My Verizon provider is one of the very restrictive ones--you can't install apps, files, etc., from your desktop and only a diligent internet search for a hack opened up address and calendar syncing for me).

It's nice to know you guys know so much about this and are trying so hard to make the apps widely available.  I'm also hoping there will be another iteration of the Palm app, btw, because there are a few features I'm hoping you'll add.

And sorry, not a motocrosser, so not your YZ-250.  But I'm watching Le Tour right now...so there's that.  Go, Levi!

--YZ

[Team FitSync]

Hey YZ-
Thanks for the kind words.  We try to be helpful and give the whole story even though it might be a bit long winded.  Nice sleuthing on your part to find a workaround for the address book/contacts issue.  That's an issue that lots of mobile users run into.

Good to hear that you've got a Palm for the gym.  I do pretty much the same thing - although I have FitSync on my phone, most of the time in the gym I use an old iPAQ 4150 which works great.  Not fancy but runs our latest Win Mobile version (which has a lot more features than our Palm version such as videos and libraries), has a nice big screen, and fits in an HP holster that clips to my shorts.  I also have a Palm Zire 71 that I use occasionally and it works fine.  We have some Verizon users who like the XV6700 which is a pretty decent Win Mobile PDA phone and you can run FitSync on it.

Regarding the Palm, we may have some upgrades coming out later in the year but most of our upgrades have been on the Win Mobile platform.  I'm a loyal Palm guy from way back (yup, I was one of those nerds who bought the Newton and then the Palm Pilot as soon as they came out) but unfortunately the Palm operating system hasn't changed much over the years so we're a bit limited in the features we can run on it.   

I've been watching the Tour as well on the Versus channel every evening to catch up on the day's results.  These hill stages are killers but the speeds these guys maintain is incredible.  I remember a few years back Lance averaged 34 mph in the 12 mile time trial - that's no Peloton and no team draft, incredible and very inspirational so hopefully more folks will be motivated to get out on their bikes.  This year I'm pulling for Levi who had a great stage today finishing only about 40 seconds back.

I ride pretty much year round and the Tour always motivates me to put in an extra day or two of riding a week.  I've been tracking all my rides in FitSync for about 6 years - I take the key numbers from my cyclocomputer like cadence, distance, average HR, etc.  and always get a nice boost when I beat my best time.  I don't know if you're a rider yourself but we seem to be getting more cyclists tracking their rides because they want to keep their gym/strength training workouts together with their rides. 

In closing, feel free to tell us about feature upgrades you'd like to see.  We rely on our users to tell us what they like and don't like so don't be bashful - tell us the good and the bad! 

John

PS - I think Levi has a shot at the yellow by the middle of next week.

[nadeam nahas]

If i hook my blackberry storm to my computer with this app work?

[Team FitSync]

FitSync works on some Blackberrys that are JME compatible but not all.  We haven't tested the Storm so we're not sure if it will work or not.  Maybe try the FitSync Java version. 

John