VZW Marshmallow Update - FM Warning

[Zinsky]

Anyone with Verzon as a carrier that uses FM radio might want to avoid the update. Verizon has removed the functionality, so Apps like Next Radio will no longer function. It was my favorite app to use during work, but I discovered this morning it no longer works.

 

[B. Diddy]

Thanks for the info! Have you emailed the NextRadio devs? support@nextradioapp.com. Maybe they need to update it to be compatible with the VZW update. Or maybe Verizon is clamping down on the FM Radio, to further "encourage" you to use their streaming music services?:-\

 

[andreirad]

I ran in the same problem this morning . Hopefully is the app and not Verizon. Any other app like next radio? Any recommendations?

Visit my BBM Channel - C000E96F6

 

[Zinsky]

I did some more research on this last night. Next Radio's stance is that they can't do anything at the moment. Apparently, VZW has been turning off FM on all of their phones. Next Radio is currently doing a campaign against that, so you could join up on their website against it. Call your local Verizon Rep, etc.

Sadly Andreirad, there are no other options that are as appealing. Any radio app we could still utilize would be run over data. If you are like me and have a very limited cap, that is not really an option.

 

[B. Diddy]

That's unfortunate. I wonder what Verizon's rationale is? Hopefully it has to do with some kind of hardware or reception issue, rather than the desire to make more money and prevent users from utilizing a free service.

 

[Zinsky]

I did plenty of research with no definite answers. I do know that they are partnered with certain radio apps, slacker radio being the one that comes to mind. ( It was downloaded on my phone as a default app ) It makes sense that they would want to optimize the revenue and usage of anyone they are in business with.

I also know that the HTC A9 will officially not be coming to VZW. I can wear my tinfoil hat for a moment and say moves like this, shoehorning in bloatware, etc. might be a cause of that decision.

If you are curious about the response Next Radio gave:

"We've seen this same complaint from other M8 users on Verizon.

In addition to the FM chip being physically enabled, NextRadio needs a software library included in the operating system in order to control the FM chip. The HTC One M8 had NextRadio support added by HTC at the time of manufacture, making it one of the few phones that support NextRadio regardless of carrier. Unfortunately, when Verizon pushed the update to Marshmallow, the software library is no longer present. There is no way to add it back. I'm sorry for the bad news!

Our goal is to get every phone carrier and manufacturer to unlock the FM chip in all phones in the US. Check out the following website to find out how you can contact Verizon and encourage them to unlock FM. Thanks for your interest in NextRadio!"

 

[Mooserman15]

Easy. Don't get Verizon. Get T-mobile. Better phones, better network, faster data, lower rates. With Verizon, I had 2 lines, 10 minutes, 0 free messages, no free data (and $1.99 per MEGABYTE), and I was paying $300 per month. With T-mobile, I have 3 lines, unlimited talk, text, and data, first gig at 4g lte speed, unlimited long distance on one line, and no roaming charges. All for $150 per month.

 

[DJ Grand Theft Audio]

This is ridiculous. Some people bought htc Instead of apple or Samsung because it has an fm tuner built in. What gives Verizon the right to mess with people's phones and make a certain feature of the phone redundant. Especially when the function worked before. I'm glad I'm not with them because I'd be going crazy.

 

[hallux]

There's something to be said for buying phones that have no carrier involvement in the update process. Sadly, most of those end up lacking a feature such as FM radio right from the get-go.

 

[B. Diddy]

I do know that they are partnered with certain radio apps, slacker radio being the one that comes to mind.

Thanks for that info! The problem with this is that Slacker and other radio apps are simply streaming radio feeds over the web, which requires a good data signal (and uses up mobile data as well). For those who have a data limit, or want to listen to FM radio in an area with poor data signal, using the physical FM radio may be more desirable.

 

[HeyRadar]

Even the official HTC FM Radio app doesn't work (had side loaded it). Not that I've used it that often, I did like the fact it was there. It's not like there is a lot of users doing this, since Vzw strips the stock HTC FM app. I typically play songs from local cache, so they aren't gaining anything from me data wise.

Where can we sign a petition? Sounds like a class action lawsuit to me.