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June 17, 2004
Verizon Wireless Get It Now Review
As mobile phones get more and more sophisticated, content providers are rushing to put out relevant and innovative ways for people to use their cellular devices. Verizon has decided to get a jump on the competition by providing their subscribers with Get It Now. This is a collection of features users pay extra for, but don't have to search out since it is accessible simply by using the Get It Now feature on enabled phones with Verizon service. Check out our review.
RATING: 8 OUT OF 10
ON THE GO ENTERTAINMENT
In an attempt to provide more than just phone service to their customers, Verizon now offers an intuitive interface within most of their phones allowing users to get more out of their phones. Verizon's Get It Now service provides options for text messaging, games, ringtones, web browsing, and picture/video messaging. All of these services are accessible from the main menu of any Get It Now enabled phone.
There are a multitude of content providers offering games, ringtones, and other information services at your disposal. Let's take a look at each part of Get It Now.
MESSAGING
With getTXT, getE-mail, and getIM, you have a full set of tools in hand to communicate with almost anyone from any location.
getTXT is a fancy term used by Verizon when referring to Text Messaging. With getTXT, you can send a text message to any 10 digit wireless phone number that can receive it, even on different networks. Using blah! Chat, you can get connected to people with similar interests through text messaging from your phone. You can also join a community (say, NFL Chat Room), and contribute from your mobile phone.
getE-mail sounded exciting at first, but I soon realized it was limited. With this service, you are able to read and send e-mail from an AOL, Yahoo!, or Hotmail account. If you don't use any of those, then this service won't do anything for you. If you do, it is nice convenience to be able to check your e-mail on the go right from your mobile phone. You also have access to your address book housed in your e-mail account.
Using getIM, you can use your cell phone as an instant messaging device. getIM allows you to connect to your AOL, Yahoo!, or MSN buddy lists to chat with your friends on the go. Careful though, you will be charged for each message.
FUN AND GAMES
Using getGAMES, getGOING, and getTONES, you have access to applications to kill time while on the go. This is also where you can personalize your cell phone with one of thousands of ringtones available.
Verizon has hundreds of games available for download on their getGAMES service. Many of these games allow you to "try before you buy", but usually only for a couple of minutes. After that, you will choose either a monthly subscription to the game, or unlimited usage. The price for a monthly subscription is usually more than half the cost of the unlimited purchase, so that seems to be the way to go. Downloading demo's can take a minute or two, depending on your connection. If you try a game and decide you don't want it, be sure to uninstall it from the phone, as it will take up space if left.
getGOING can actually be a very useful tool. It acts as your point of reference when on the go. Need to find the nearest Thai restaurant? Lost and need directions or a phone number? Your answers are in getGOING. It will even give you the weather, and your horoscope.
Everyone likes to personalize things to better fit their personalities. In the cell phone world, we see custom case designs as one of the main areas of customization. The other is ringtones. getTONES allows you to connect about thirty different ringtone providers. From there you can purchase ringtones ranging from Top 40 hits, to a cat meowing. Once downloaded, a tone goes into your list of rings. Unfortunately, some tones are purchased on a "per use" basis. This means that once the ring is used a certain number of times, you need to purchase it again.
Info
getALERTS is simple a service that sends you text messages relating to specific interests. You can sign up for sports scores, stock quotes, horoscopes, and more. Think of it as Verizon sending you text messages.
Now things are starting to get a bit blurry. getBROWSING gives you access to many of the same services that I spoke about above, except you have to go search them out, sort of like surfing on the Internet. My question is, why would I want to surf for sport scores when I can just have them sent to me with getALERTS? Answer...this is meant for those unexpected, spur of the moment things. If I am on vacation and forgot about the game, I can use getBROWSING to find the score.
FLIX AND PIX
With getFLIX, you have access to live video feeds right from your cell phone. You can hook up with traffic feeds, weather cams, and even connect to a Logitech webcam! I must admit, getFLIX is pretty cool.
First things first - getPIX is only available on camera phones, as far as taking and sending your pictures. However, if you have a Get It Now enabled phone, you may be able to receive pictures from those that can send them. This is just a simple picture messaging service that lets you snap photos on your phone and upload them to the Internet, or send them to the phones of your friends.
PRICING
Ok, so we have gone over the entire Get It Now service. As you can see, there are a lot of different choices here - but some of them seem redundant. I think Verizon has realized this, and that is why they have packaged a few of them together. Here is the rundown:
For the price of $4.99 USD, you have access to getE-MAIL, getBROWSING, and getIM. This is the Mobile Web package.
getALERTS and getTXT are included in the Text Messaging rates, which you can see on their website. Basically, you can pay per use or buy blocks of text messages per month. Same with getPIX.
The rest of the services are pay per use.
FINAL VERDICT
Get It Now is a great set of tools that will help pass the time when on the go. It can also come in handy when you are in a jam, offering you directions to your destination. Verizon has put together a nice package of feature here.
The downside is that it isn't immediately apparent which services you should get. Do you really need both text messaging and instant messaging? Also, it is great that you can communicate with others using text on your phone - but typing can be very cumbersome on a cell phone keypad.
Luckily, you can give Get It Now a try with any of it's a la carte services without a long term monetary commitment. Try getGAMES or getTONES to get a feel for the service.
Personally, I am enjoying the fact that my phone plays the latest 50 Cent hit every time I get a call.
Visit the Verizon Wireless Get It Now Site
Posted by Andru at June 17, 2004 09:53 AM
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Comments
Nice review. I have VZW, and I like the service. My phone isn't Get It Now enabled, but I do use txt messaging frequently. You can send them to email addresses if you don't want to use that email option. You just enter an email address instead of the phone number. Have you seen http://www.vtext.com/ ?
Posted by: Daniel at June 18, 2004 10:28 AM
Get it Now and Brew just seem retarded to me. They need to open up Wap and allows Verizon users access to the 1000's of 3rd part j2me apps and games along with 1000's of sites with free ringtones, graphics & op logos.
In the GSM world there are tonnes more apps and all of them are frem.
Get it Now seems like a granny service for those who aren't technological proficient or just ignorant.
its frustrating that my gf has to pay $$$ for everything I get free. Even wit gagin which is a paid in the ass cuase theres no Bluetooth.
Posted by: Tre at June 21, 2004 10:18 AM
but j2me games are ass compared to brew!
Posted by: mrfun at June 23, 2004 04:26 AM
Every day I get quite a few mails from angry Verizon users who ask why they can't freely upload things on their phones with our service. The only answer I can give them is Anti-Get it Now Petition http://www.petitiononline.com/getitnow/
Quote:
This is a petition for Verizon Wireless to stop and disband the "Get It Now" Service, in addition, stop limiting our cellular phones functionality to elevate and promote the "Get It Now" Service. By signing this form you are agreeing that the “Get It Now” Service should be stopped and our cellular phones functionality should be reprogrammed with the manufactures original features. (i.e. downloading ringtones and backgrounds from the web, J2ME, book marking on web, full SMS functionality, uploading directly to your phone, et
Posted by: George at July 6, 2004 01:54 PM
Hey, I was surfin' for local sites and found my way here. Great looking site.
Posted by: newspaper adds at July 9, 2004 05:34 PM