Did Verizon lie about Media Manager?

[Wisehands]

About a month ago I was told by a Verizon agent that Media Manager would still work and I could continue to use it after it was "retired" on Nov. 1 (as long as I had a working copy of the software on my computer) and that it would be replaced by another app by the end of the year. 

Today I've discovered that the Media Manager link has disappeared from the STB menu, which for practical purposes means I can not use it now.  A confusing message from Verizon also announced that customers should switch to the "new" FiOS Mobile app available Nov. 29 (so what are we supposed to do to stream music, etc. for the next 28 days?) while at the same time inviting customers to try it out now.  This message also mentions that the new FiOS Mobile app will have "many" of the features Media Manager used to have, but is vague about just what those will be.  However, if the new mobile app is like the old mobile app, you will need a smart phone to use it, so if you were using Media Manager but don't have a smart phone, are you out of luck? 

[armond_in_nj1]

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@Wisehands wrote:

 ... so what are we supposed to do to stream music, etc. for the next 28 days ...

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Not sure about others, but I suppose I will just wait.

[Tyson729]

I don't understand why they would "retire"something that worked...when they claim their goal is to give the customer the best service possible...with that said....how would this mobile app work....you would have to download all videos,etc...on your phone...and then send it to your STB...does'nt sound practical

[tns2]

Actually never worked for most of my Videos.  Fortunately I had other means to get my material to the TVS.  My newer TV's can all do it directly, and the others through Blu-ray players and Playstations.

[mr2686]

Verizon just told me on Thursday that there's no plan at this time to replace the media manager type of service.  The mobile app is not the same thing.  I told them that it's probably a deal breaker and I may be going elsewhere for service.  We'll see.

[beetlejuice2]

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@mr2686 wrote:

Verizon just told me on Thursday that there's no plan at this time to replace the media manager type of service.  The mobile app is not the same thing.  I told them that it's probably a deal breaker and I may be going elsewhere for service.  We'll see.

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There will be something once the media server is finally released from what I've read, but not the current stuff. Of course I'm sure upgrading to the media server isnt going to be cheap knowing Verizon.

[tns2]

It is not clear what the Verizon's new VMS1100 will support.  It may include support to work with DLNA servers on your PC.

[tns2]

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@beetlejuice wrote:

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@mr2686 wrote:

Verizon just told me on Thursday that there's no plan at this time to replace the media manager type of service.  The mobile app is not the same thing.  I told them that it's probably a deal breaker and I may be going elsewhere for service.  We'll see.

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There will be something once the media server is finally released from what I've read, but not the current stuff. Of course I'm sure upgrading to the media server isnt going to be cheap knowing Verizon.

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I am thinking free for new installations, but $$$$ for existing users.  And monthly $$$ hopefully not higher than existing charges.

[Wisehands]

I don't understand what's going on with Verizon and FiOS when it comes to how customers are treated.  I remember when FiOS started up, the Verizon exec in charge of FiOS purposely set up FiOS customer service so it was a separate entity from Verizon's customer service.  He realized that for FiOS to succeed, poor customer service couldn't be tolerated.  As an example, the main reason I switched to FiOS from Comcast was Comcast's truly horrible customer service and putting up with too many inept service techs.  My earlier experiences with FiOS customer service were so much better.  But now, FiOS customer service seems increasingly tone deaf to its customers.  Case in point, customers that were using Media Manager have been screwed by Verizon when it "retired" Media Manager, not even allowing those customers it was working for to be able to access it, and not replacing it with any alternative.  Then, when customers complain, Verizon has nothing to say (and I know Verizon reps monitor this forum).

Maybe that's why the cable TV business had its worst year ever.  According to Wall Street media analysts Craig Moffett and Michael Nathanson, providers of TV, broadband, and phone communications lost 687,000 subscribers during Q3.  Screwing customers is a bad business model.

[mycrowsquish]

Basically, this sucks. Can't say how many times I had used media manager on the TV to view photos and videos from my trips. Nice to see on the large screen. While I know newer TV's can do this, am I to run out and buy one because Verizon is so shortsighted?

The notification of this happening, was rather non-existant as far as I know. I don't spend my time looking in menus on the TV for messages and I got no email nlr notification from the PC app this was happening. My PC app happily says I have the latest version.

Stupid of Verizon as the feature in the STB to do this has absolutely nothing to do with any mobile app.