Verizon Minutes Used Firefox Extension Version 2.1
The new version is contributed from Phil, to replace InCalling with M2M.
You can download the new version here .
posted by Winston Huang @ 7/10/2009 04:03:00 PM
Friday, July 10, 2009
You can download the new version here .
67 Comments:
OMG Finally a new version!
I'll be giving this another try now that it may WORK!
Thank you Winston!
Awesome plugin! I linked to you on my blog:
http://mepem.com/pemtech/2009/07/11/verizon-watching-your-minutes/
Oops, here's the link with the A HREF:
http://mepem.com/pemtech/2009/07/11/verizon-watching-your-minutes/
How do I change my username? I recently got a new account number it keeps reverting to an invalid username rendering the check useless.
Try this:
In FF; tools, options, security, saved passwords... Delete all currently saved VZW username/passwords. Now log in to VZW home page and set up your new account with the new username & password. Have FF save these. Now add the new username & password to Minutes Used options. That should do it.
What exactly would one have to do to get this to work with the NoScript extension installed? Since I installed NoScript, VMU says "failed to login". Thanks.
0, have you confirmed that the Minutes Used extension currently works for you with NoScript 'disabled'?
Phil, it was working until the hour I installed NoScript and restarted. I've now added vzw.com and verizonwireless.com to the NoScript whitelist, and after a wait of an hour or so, the extension appears to be working fine again, for now, with NoScript still enabled.
Glad that it is now working for you. I actually did essentially the same thing, but I also added verizon.net (which apparently was not necessary).
Why can't the number of text messages be displayed in the status bar?
I can care less about my voice minutes...I never use most of them and I am on the lowest plan.
However, I only get 500 txts a month and use at least 450 of them each month. So this would be handy if this would display my txt message usage...and not broken down. I mean, I only want to know how many non-IN messages I have sent and received (totaled together), because those are the only messages that are billable out of my 500. I don't care about the other messages.
Currently, I have to log into the MY Verizon site, push 50 millions links until it takes me to the usage page with the colored bars. That's the info I am requesting.
Thanks.
Can someone help me with this extension? I used to love it, but I haven't been able to use it for about a year. I was hoping this version would fix it, but I still get the same error message: "Failed to login. Make sure your region setting is correct in the option menu." My region setting is correct. My username/password is correct. I'm not sure what's wrong.
Brien, by chance do you have NoScript installed? If so, try disabling it and see if Minutes used works after a restart. If it does, try adding vzw.com and verizonwireless.com to the NoScript whitelist.
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Nice. Updated, incorrectly entered my username and now 2.1 will not let me correct it. I've even tried uninstalling this addon and reinstalling but apparently the info is saved off somewhere and gets imported on reinstall. Useless right now. Ugh!
Is there a backdoor process to edit the username, etc?
Figured it out. Had to delete the passwords (linked to the usernames) in the FF password manager. Restarted FF asked for username/pwd and I'm back up and running.
For my mouseover, it just shows multiple lines of "undefined". It looks properly formatted, and even some lines are bold, but all say undefined.
It is awesome. Is there a way to have it automatically send a text message or email when minutes used hits the "warning threshold".
i love this extension, but currently doesn't not work "failed to login..." does this work w/ new firefox update?
Is there a mirror of this somewhere? Freewebs.com seems to be down for the count!
Looks like it's back up.
Winston, I have a version change on this extension to help out some things for secondary accounts. How do I email it to you (what's your address?)
Be nice if it could determine what was in network calling so my Peak minutes didn't look so inflated.
I'm the secondary account if it matters (see my above comment).
Make sure that your phone number is in the Verizon Phone Number field and then choose "Peak" for the Display in Status Bar option. It probably has Peak + Off Peak selected now.
No. It's set to just Peak. But I would think that this is all calls during peak hours. I don't see any clear option to single out calls made within the Verizon network.
For clarification: is the M2M calls made within the network? So if it says 618 Peak and 348 for M2M Peak. That those 348 minutes are part of the 618?
M2M means Verizon 'mobile to mobile' (these are calls to any other Verizon wireless number), and are not chargeable minutes. Also, if you have Show Family Plan Total Usage checked, the numbers you are seeing represent the total usage for the entire account (i.e. all numbers that are part of your family plan). BTW, 'Normal' Peak minutes are only ones that you do get charged for (against your allotted minutes, determined by which plan you are one). Normal Off Peak and all M2M are unlimited usage.
.. and no, in your example, the 348 M2M minutes are not part of the 618 Peak minutes. The 348 M2M minutes are free calls to other VZW numbers. The 618 Peak minutes are what you are charged for, and are calls during Peak hours to numbers other than other VZW numbers. Depending on what option you checked, the totals shown may be for only your individual number, or the total for all numbers on your family plan.
Thanks. That helps. I assume the Verizon Friends and Family fall under the M2M calls? I think this may be what is confusing me as my Normal Minutes Peak look high to me. These are the phone numbers you can store on your account online that you get to call for free that are non Verizon (or M2M).
I'm set only to see the minutes used for my phone number.
Okay. I've waited for some correspondence back so that I could give this file directly to Winston, but I haven't yet been able to find his email address, so I'm just going to post the file link here so that the community will benefit.
I made a change to the extension to allow for Secondary My Verizon Accounts. The issue is that every line on a family share plan can create their own My Verizon account, which has access to the minutes used information. However, only the account holder can have access to the billing information. Winston's script uses the account holder page by default to draw the minutes used. This means that only account holder My Verizon accounts can authenticate to it, because secondary My Verizon accounts do not have access to this information. Likewise, if we switched the page that draws the minutes used information to always use the secondary account page, the account holder would be unable to view the minutes used, because for whatever reason, an account holder My Verizon account does not have access to this page -- it says "Access Denied."
Therefore, I have added an option in the options section that allows you to specify whether your account for My Verizon is an account holder account or if it is a secondary My Verizon account. It will draw the minutes accurately regardless of which you choose -- all information is present.... but you must select the one that is current for your own My Verizon account.
Options screenshot: http://jaybaldwin.com/vzw_mu/VzwMinutesUsed.png
Modified Extension / XPI (in zip folder): http://jaybaldwin.com/vzw_mu/verizon_minutes_used-2.1a-fx.xpi.zip
Jay..maybe I'm not using my head. But I have a secondary account and I'm not aware there is any information that I cannot see with the current version of this extension. Except for M2M off Peak (which may not matter to most...so). I do have access and use the My Verizon Account with the primary login.
Also, does anyone know if the Verizon Friends and Family minutes fall under the M2M calls or not?
Well, I tried it. I am the account holder, and my My Verizon account user ID is, for example userID1. My friend added a line to my family plan. He created a new user ID with My Verizon, and he's userID2. In the extension, the page that is parsed to retrieve the account usage is an account holder privileged. Meaning, I have access to it when I use userID1, but my friend does not when he uses userID2. Therefore, my friend is unable to use the Verizon Minutes used extension without either having an "Account Holder" privileged My Verizon account, or using my user name and password within the extension. This does not help us. In checking into what HIS account has access to, I found a similar page with similar information, but it is not locked down to require "Account Holder" status. When he goes there just in the billing section of the site, everything is fine. WHen I try to go to THAT page, it tells me I do not have access because I am an account holder, and links me to the same information in the account holder section. Therefore, I modified the extension to use the appropriate page for your account's privileged level, according to the setting you specify in the options. This is the only situation that works for us both. I tried him and I both using the current configuration -- it only worked for me. I tried him and I both using the "unprivileged" section, and it only worked for him. With this setup, it works for us both.
How secure is this add-on? Other than VZW, who else has access to my username and password?
No one. I've looked at the code myself. The password is stored securely in Firefox's password manager, and is only used and extracted when relaying the information to VZW to retrieve your usage information.
Just for clarity when calling a phone number that you have listed in the Friends and Family they show up under the M2M calls.
hmm.. new version
z-computer-z.blogspot.com
Using FF 3.6b5 in Win7 Pro 64bit. This addon isn't working. Installs but that's it. Any chance of a fix or later version?
Updates needed:
1) login is not working (could be a link problem?)
2) at least one link needs updating in the .js file:
usageURLBase : "billpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/accountholder/services/myusageSubmit.action"
should now be
"wbillpay.verizonwireless.com/vzw/accountholder/services/myusage.action"
My bad! I had neglected to choose "west" region. Thanks for a great add-on!
the extension stopped working for me for a while back...when I try just running the JAR file on its own from the install directory, an error pops up in OS X's console...
1/5/10 11:24:17 PM [0x0-0x314314].com.apple.JarLauncher[72379] Invalid or corrupt jarfile /Users/[user]/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/f4mf5d5h.Chris Refresh/extensions/{666ccc60-6cdd-11da-8cd6-0800200c9a66}/chrome/verizon-minutes.jar
uninstalling the extension, wiping out the directory and reinstalling don't help, sadly...any ideas?
Not working on FF 3.6 on Windows 7. I upgraded from 2.0 to 2.1. Nothing shows in the status bar and when I click on the options button it locks the extensions window.
Tried going back to 2.0 and have the same problem. Wonder if it's FF 3.6 that's causing it?
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I think it needs to be updated to work with later versions of FF. I was trying a later version and had the same problem so I went back to 3.5. Still working at 3.5.7. I guess it's best to ignore the 3.6 update if you want this addon to work. Hope someone updates it soon or some may be forced to stop using it. I'm running Win7 and XP. I ran into this problem with a later version in Win7 but would assume the same issue with XP. I don't see anything that says how late of a version of FF you can use this extension with.
Working just fine for me in FF 3.6
Hi, Winston! This looks like a great add-on! I've just installed it and love it. Is there a way to have it display "data usage" as well? Thanks!
I'm having the same issue with FF 3.6 and Windows 7, it hangs when I click the Options button. (It worked fine with FF 3.5.8) Are there any plans for an update or to look into this bug?
Thanks, love the add-on!
Mike
I'm also having a problem with the options button hanging in FF3.6. I would really like to see this fixed.
Winston,
You there?
This doesn't seem to be working on my iBook G4 w/ FF 3.6.3, any help would be appreciated, thanks.
Check out OverMyMinutes.com. It might be a working solution...
May be its is just me, but stopped working last week. It has been working fine for years. Using FF 3.6.3
Minutes used wasn't working for me for about a month (Vista Ultimate x64 with FF 3.6.3). Tonight I just noticed it's working again. Not sure how that happened, but I won't argue with it.
with the new 3.6.4, same thing, this extension is dead... i feel lost now without it
Works fine for me. Windows 7 64-bit, Firefox 3.6.4.
Jay - just cant get mine to work in the same environment.
Anyone know a way to get this 100% uninstalled (no files and no settings in the prefs)? so that I could re-install it fresh?
I am going to try a new FB profile with nothing but this installed to see what happens
Anyone else having trouble with this extension at FF 3.6.6?
Since tomorrow will be a year since Winston's updating the extension, I have taken the open license to a new version and new name.
I posted a modified version here trying to give the source to Winston, as well as attempting to email him, but have not gotten a response.
The new extension I'm making from some of Winston's source is located here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/194064/
It's been updated for use with Firefox 3.0 - 4.0 beta 2.
Should Winston contact me about the source to this extension, I would be happy to add him as a developer on Mozilla's add-ons site. But I will be changing the extension greatly to include business accounts, and a more streamlined options window.
I will also be offering support via http://jaybaldwin.com/Contact.aspx
Please understand, I am in no way trying to take credit for this extension, or take it away from Winston. As I've stated, I have tried to donate the updates I've made to him, and will remain open to discussing collaboration with him on future development. I just believe in its functionality and desire it to be kept up to date and development of it to continue.
I will maintain links to this blog (as the original source) even as modifications are made until the code base that provides the core functionality has been replaced by my own logic, which is being reworked even now.
Jay,
Many thanks to you for picking up the mantle to keep this very useful extension going. I know that it has personally saved me plenty of money since my wife does not keep track of her usage!
Thanks for your time and efforts.
I don't know how similar the development is, but I'd also like to see this as a Chrome addon too.
Jay, that is great news!!!
Best of luck...
Thank you.
Jay,
this is Winston. thanks for picking up this extension. I have not been able to support it for a while due to various reason, and I am happy someone is taking over it.
Winston
need an update to make it work with 4.0
This version is no longer updated. Go here for an alternative.
http://jaybaldwin.com/Projects/VzUm.aspx
thanks for the link!!!
This version is no longer updated. Go here for an alternative.
http://jaybaldwin.com/Projects/VzUm.aspx
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