My work disabled the camera in my phone

I am a new member.
I posted in the Getting Started/New Memember Help area about my issue.
Then I found this area. Not sure where it should go exactly.
Please Read, Boss Locks Company Phones.

Why do you think its fair, that a co. could issue out phones to everyone, then make it impossible to upgrade or even use the camera ?

I am not a cell phone enthusiast, nor expert.

Whos phone is it anyway ?
I mean, I never thought to lock my wife out from hers.

If the provider has the names of the people who've been issued these phones, then shouldnt those people be able to upgrade ?
Why should the provider have to recognize and honor a company's policy that restricts the use of the phones ?

I feel very ignorant, because I cant think of any implications of having full use of the phone. I thought we were all liable for any phones usage. I even signed forms stating that I am aware of the co's privacy policy. That they can know to what end I am using the phone. Its not a secure line. But then either is yours !
I mean, if the FBI needed to tap it they could.
So, now my wife and I both have a cell phone.
The difference is we can upgrade hers.

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› See More: My work disabled the camera in my phone

Unfortunately, if the company you work for is paying the bill, they can do whatever they want with those phones. After all, they own it!

They pay the bill for my health bennefits too, but I have to pick which coverage and such.
Shouldnt this cell phone thing be the same way ? Dont we have civilian rights ?
Doesnt the provider deserve a chance to make even more money from its new "coorperate" subscribers, or are you saying there is a way to "pay off" these phone co.s ? Infact I bet it was a hell of a discount for that many phones. Just like health bennefits, go figure.

Originally Posted by paulcman

Unfortunately, they own it!

This phone crosses the barrier of tool and perk.
It used to be called a perk. Now with a better phone and no capabilities, its being called a tool. As a sales rep, is it possible for you to bill each person individually for any upgrades they want added to this plan, on this phone ?

And Why Not.

As a sales rep, is it possible you could have sold them simpler phones ?

Ya now, co.s used to save by not buying a work truck with AC.
Its now Standard equiptment, and it costs to have it removed.
I guess its thier AC, right ! They can do what they want with it too.

Originally Posted by MABY33

I guess its thier AC, right ! They can do what they want with it too.

Yes, and it's their vehicle, which they can do whatever they want with as well. If someone borrowed your vehicle and you said "do not do brake stands", is that not your right because you own the vehicle ? Even though the "company" owns something, someone still owns the company.

You cant compare my vehicle with a work truck, besides, brake stands are illegal and if I was doing one in a work truck, I'd have to pay the ticket.

What does "Even though the "company" owns something, someone still owns the company.
supposed to mean exactly ?

It would seem you two are good at quick answers to little questions.
This one might require some thought. I would unsubscribe if I were you.
Theres nothing you can say on this that would make me see it your way.
Providers that give plans to cooperates are selling out thier own potential customers.
And helping support ignorant co policies.

Next time your closing a deal with a big corp, and they say they want to lock out services for thier employees but not thier managers, try saying NO DEAL !
See what happens when you tell them that they are all customers.

Originally Posted by MABY33

You cant compare my vehicle with a work truck, besides, brake stands are illegal and if I was doing one in a work truck, I'd have to pay the ticket.

What does "Even though the "company" owns something, someone still owns the company.
supposed to mean exactly ?

No ticket if it's on private property like your driveway. And yes, I can compare the two, they're both vehicles, both have owners, and both deserve respect. You're telling me that because the vehicle is company owned that it deserves no respect ?

And it means that a company is not a faceless entity. It's not like no one owns the vehicle and no one cares. Someone (usually multiple people) own the company, I'm sure they care about their vehicles and capital property, just the same like you care about your own vehicle.

Originally Posted by MABY33

It would seem you two are good at quick answers to little questions.
This one might require some thought. I would unsubscribe if I were you.
Theres nothing you can say on this that would make me see it your way.
Providers that give plans to cooperates are selling out thier own potential customers.
And helping support ignorant co policies.

Next time your closing a deal with a big corp, and they say they want to lock out services for thier employees but not thier managers, try saying NO DEAL !
See what happens when you tell them that they are all customers.

If you don't like the corporate policy on your cell phone, why don't you quit the company ? If you work for a company and they choose to dictate your ability to use a cell phone while on the job, then fair enough, are they not the ones signing your pay cheques ?

BTW, there's no need to tell us that we should unsubscribe. And if there's nothing we can say that would make your change your mind, why did you start this thread ?

Certainly not to have my mind changed by the first two posters. I want to better understand my situation.
Listen, you make me sound like a dissadant, or unhappy at my job..
I dont think I am the point here but that as an individual with a company cell phone, I feel I have been shunted to have to settle for a basic cell phone plan, or buy another phone, which would defete the purpose. What would I do, stick thiers in the glove box. Besides, my spouse has the same provider on her phone.

As far as the vehicals go, they are different in one important way.
Service. My vehical doesnt provide a service to anyone but me. Its not for public use.
A company provides a service, I do not.
I cant let you suggest that I do not respect my work truck either.
Maybe that could be my point as well, that if I can treat my work truck like it was my own, why cant I treat my cell phone the same way ?

The answer is, as I found out today, that the provider doesnt have my name associated with the number I have.
So you see, I am not here to frustrate you, but to see what other people feel about the importance of carrying a cell phone around with them,day to day, be it a company issue or private. (Just like the truck )

Lets create a hypthetical shall we ? Without getting too carried away with it.
It boils down to the co liabilities. That said, maybe co.s should not be allowed to buy cell phones like this, instead, put the phone in my name, the employee. That way, what ever happens with the phone, be it misuse or what have you, its on me and not them.
I cant imagine the billing of it yet, but it would go something like, the co paying for what, a 1 year contract or is it 3 to 5, I dont know... but if say I was to leave the co. I would owe the co. the pro-rated difference. Its that way with health insurance plans. How about a reimbusement plan ! Companies typically do that for schooling right !

Anyway, I dont want to give you a headache on this so all I am saying is you dont have to keep posting if you dont want to, I will understand. I know how dense I can be, you dont have to tell me. And please stop suggesting that I am unhappy with my job, and abuse co. equiptment. And at this point that includes the phone. Thanks.

But if you could design a plan or system that is more a win win for everybody (which would include the cos) by all means, this would be a good place to disscuss it, right ? So far all youve done is help confirm my already ignorant belief that there must be a better way. I am certainly not here to argue. And youve already stated your case. I wanted to thank you for that too BTW.

No worries, I am simply curious why you're so adimit about your company cellular handset. I'm not saying you hate your company, but that's certainly the way it sounded. Also I didn't imply any abuse to company property, I just used it as an example.

Here is my question, so they locked out all the "cool" features in the phone ? Why is this such an issue to you ? Maybe I'm not getting it, but I just don't understand why this is such a, what seems to be, personal problem ?

In your original post, you asked who's phone it actually is. If the company provided it to you, then it's their phone. Are you disagreeing with them locking it, even if it's theirs ?

Originally Posted by MABY33

Providers that give plans to cooperates are selling out thier own potential customers.
And helping support ignorant co policies.

Next time your closing a deal with a big corp, and they say they want to lock out services for thier employees but not thier managers, try saying NO DEAL !
See what happens when you tell them that they are all customers.

Well, I thought that might help to repeat it for you.
especially the part about them being customers...
I doubt that would go over well, and you might even loose your job.
But it does make my point, that we are being singled out
and dissallowed to use all of those cool features as you put it, like email, txt messaging, internet, and the one that lets you walkie talkie.
As for the camera, yes well, I dont really care, I just feel it was where
they had crossed the line with thier authority, saying that certain individuals ruined it for the rest when it actuality, they dont wnt you taking pics or recording of any kind while on the clock. (yet I find managers taking our pics all the time at various functions)
No I dont hate my co, but the co philosophy could use a good tweakin.
Since I am living pretty much in a bubble, I thought I would see what the rest of the world does with thier cell phones by posting.

As it turns out, I may be buying my own GPS with the money I saved not having to buy a cell phone. Fortunately, I dont have to have my own cell phone plan for it to work. right !

Listen, I also just think haveing a cell phone, on some level, is more important then you are giving it credit. No one should be handed a cell phone from any company.

Scenario... Police... I dont know if the gun you are issued has any company restrictions. And do they still use radios ? So an officer could have his own phone and still be in touch with dispatch right !
Arent I failing my civic duty by having a phone that can take pics but wont ?

Maby33, I am not sure why you have such an issue with the phone provided to you by your company. As your employer, they have the right to decide what tools are necessary to complete your job responsibilities. At some point, they decided that you don't need a camera, but the best phone for the money happened to include a camera. So, the company apparently worked out a deal with the service provider to disable that functionality. While I think that is utterly ridiculous, I also see it as corporate prerogative.

You stated that the company also pays for your medical benefits, but that you still choose what plan to enroll in. If you look a little deeper, you will see that the company has spent a lot of time developing and negotiating the details of the various plans that you can choose from. That is the same thing they did with the cell phone provider.

Originally Posted by maby33

Listen, you make me sound like a dissadant, or unhappy at my job.

Neither _Abom_ nor myself even insinuated that you were unhappy at work. You have done that all by yourself. You say that your company has crossed the line, overstepped their authority. That sounds unhappy to me... am I right?

You also state that the service provider is selling out their own potential customers. I would argue that they are protecting the interests of their existing customers by honoring the terms of their contract with your employer.

As for this statement:

Originally Posted by maby33

"Scenario... Police... I dont know if the gun you are issued has any company restrictions. And do they still use radios ? So an officer could have his own phone and still be in touch with dispatch right !
Arent I failing my civic duty by having a phone that can take pics but wont ?"

I just have to wonder if you really have any clue how things work in the real world. First of all, comparing a Police Officer's sidearm to a cell phone is not only outrageous, it is insulting to every Law Enforcement Officer who risks his/her life everyday, serving and protecting citizens like yourself. Second, very few Police Officers are issued cell phones by their departments, so if they do carry a cell phone, it is a personal unit that they pay for themselves. Finally, what civic duty are you talking about? The only duty you could possibly have is to dial 911 when you see something happening.

In the final analysis, what the hell difference does it make? Your company has provided you with a cell phone to use. Free of charge, from the sounds of it. Presumably, they expect you to use it only for work purposes, not personal (unless it is an emergency, and I am sure that they will not hold that against you). So, what is the big deal? Why do you insist on looking a gift horse in the mouth?

That's it, I'm done!

Originally Posted by paulcman

Maby33, I am not sure why you have such an issue with the phone provided to you by your company. As your employer, they have the right to decide what tools are necessary to complete your job responsibilities. At some point, they decided that you don't need a camera, but the best phone for the money happened to include a camera. So, the company apparently worked out a deal with the service provider to disable that functionality. While I think that is utterly ridiculous, I also see it as corporate prerogative.

You stated that the company also pays for your medical benefits, but that you still choose what plan to enroll in. If you look a little deeper, you will see that the company has spent a lot of time developing and negotiating the details of the various plans that you can choose from. That is the same thing they did with the cell phone provider.


Neither _Abom_ nor myself even insinuated that you were unhappy at work. You have done that all by yourself. You say that your company has crossed the line, overstepped their authority. That sounds unhappy to me... am I right?

You also state that the service provider is selling out their own potential customers. I would argue that they are protecting the interests of their existing customers by honoring the terms of their contract with your employer.

As for this statement:



I just have to wonder if you really have any clue how things work in the real world. First of all, comparing a Police Officer's sidearm to a cell phone is not only outrageous, it is insulting to every Law Enforcement Officer who risks his/her life everyday, serving and protecting citizens like yourself. Second, very few Police Officers are issued cell phones by their departments, so if they do carry a cell phone, it is a personal unit that they pay for themselves. Finally, what civic duty are you talking about? The only duty you could possibly have is to dial 911 when you see something happening.

In the final analysis, what the hell difference does it make? Your company has provided you with a cell phone to use. Free of charge, from the sounds of it. Presumably, they expect you to use it only for work purposes, not personal (unless it is an emergency, and I am sure that they will not hold that against you). So, what is the big deal? Why do you insist on looking a gift horse in the mouth?

That's it, I'm done!

let me chime in here..it seems that maby33 and i might just possibly work for the same company..i originally posted here that i would like to bypass the lock on the camera without messing up the phone service with no replies..what i would rather know is how can i do this with my usb cable to my computer?is there any software out there that can do this? and by the way if verizon wireless dealers argue with customers like they do on the forum all i can say is thank god i dont have verizon wireless or home phone service(home service royally sucks)..peace

I hear you, they protect me. But isnt a policeman's gun issued to them as a tool ? BTW, I wasnt insulting to every police officer and I am not sure I can address every question you just fired at me. I am not trying to insult anyone by this thread or my posts.
No, I dont know how things work in the real world, maybe thats why I made this post. To learn.
It sure feels like to me I am being put on the defensive.
I have to multitask typing this and watching my 3 kids. I do my best to make intelligent comments.
Your on my side, I can tell. Your just not giving yourself enough to this.

Abom, No I am not disagreeing with them locking it or anything else they choose to do. Its a national decision made by this co. and not a local one the way our managers first made us precieve it. This might be why I came off a bit harsh, those little devils, lol
I am suggesting to you folks that MAYBE there is another way or that there is a BETTER way for co.s to issue phones out to employees.
If you cant think this way, thats fine. Let it go. Its bigger then all of us I am sure. You've made your cases known. And I respect and appreciate the time you've spent.

Paul, you said "While I think that is utterly ridiculous, I also see it as corporate prerogative." I cant agree more.
I get from you that you dont think I respect my co. or that I hate my job. Forgive me if I am wrong. I am trying to make it clear that this is not the case at all, but that I want to team up with all of you and find out what the deal is with this phone thing. Did somebody screw up, is there a better way ?

I dont want to complicate this issue any more by bringing in hypos and such.

If you want I can start over.

I feel it would be in the cos best interest for a co. to just buy me a phone, in my name, with my number ?"
Explain why a company needs to own so many phones.
If I am wrong then I want to understand why.
Maybe there is a perfectly good reason I cant have full use of a phone, mine or otherwise. They say we cant take pictures while on shift, yet managers take em all the time. It doesnt seem to be a problem for them.
My beef is not the camera issue anyway, but its the walkie talkie thingy I think I am missing out on. Unless, it doesnt recieve calls while doing it. In that case, who cares about that too. Your right, its not my loss after all is it.

If I am better off having a phone this way and not my own number paid for by my co. so I might upgrade the plan if I want to, thats fine. I'm done,
for now.

Originally Posted by harleyrider

let me chime in here..it seems that maby33 and i might just possibly work for the same company..i originally posted here that i would like to bypass the lock on the camera without messing up the phone service with no replies..what i would rather know is how can i do this with my usb cable to my computer?is there any software out there that can do this? and by the way if verizon wireless dealers argue with customers like they do on the forum all i can say is thank god i dont have verizon wireless or home phone service(home service royally sucks)..peace

I feel your pain harleyman. We may never get to have our own cell phone.
It doesnt seem like Verizon and Bell Mobility gets it. Perhaps noone can help us.
"A perfect prison is still a prison"

Mabey someone else will post soon.
Kudos.