Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Timon0x31
Newbie

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Search and forcing customers to us BING?

 

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Maps and Navigation so at to force users to use their pay for VZ Navigator?

 

If this it true then Verizon has once again gone back to being evil.

 

Android was to be an open platform not to be crippled by greedy carriers. Did you not learn that after the Motorola V710? Did you not learn that after the success you've had with the Droid? When will you ever learn to stop screwing your customers?

 

If this is true then this may be the last year I stay with Verizon after 18 years of service even if you do get the iPhone because who know if you'll try to cripple it as well.

 

I'm sure no one will read this as I'm sure that Verizon will delete it for violating something in your TOS and violating my free speech in the process.

 

So Verizon, want to clear this up and prove me wrong? I hope you can because I really thought you were moving away from your evil ways of the past and I was beginning to like you again.

 

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
crimedoggies
Specialist - Level 1

Timon0x31 wrote:

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Search and forcing customers to us BING?

 BING is the default search engine for the Fascinate, but you can bookmark Google search, you just can't put it on your home screen.

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Maps and Navigation so at to force users to use their pay for VZ Navigator?

 Nope, Google Maps is still available in the marketplace and can be used on the Fascinate.

If this it true then Verizon has once again gone back to being evil.

 Not totally :smileyvery-happy:

Android was to be an open platform not to be crippled by greedy carriers. Did you not learn that after the Motorola V710? Did you not learn that after the success you've had with the Droid? When will you ever learn to stop screwing your customers?

 It still is, the search engine does not prevent you from creating your own apps or personalizing your device.

If this is true then this may be the last year I stay with Verizon after 18 years of service even if you do get the iPhone because who know if you'll try to cripple it as well.

 

I'm sure no one will read this as I'm sure that Verizon will delete it for violating something in your TOS and violating my free speech in the process.

 Not likely, they seem to actually give more flexibility to the folks that complain.

So Verizon, want to clear this up and prove me wrong? I hope you can because I really thought you were moving away from your evil ways of the past and I was beginning to like you again.

 Seems you jumped the gun on this one.


 

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
crimedoggies
Specialist - Level 1

Timon0x31 wrote:

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Search and forcing customers to us BING?

 

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Maps and Navigation so at to force users to use their pay for VZ Navigator?

 

If this it true then Verizon has once again gone back to being evil.

 

Android was to be an open platform not to be crippled by greedy carriers. Did you not learn that after the Motorola V710? Did you not learn that after the success you've had with the Droid? When will you ever learn to stop screwing your customers?

 

If this is true then this may be the last year I stay with Verizon after 18 years of service even if you do get the iPhone because who know if you'll try to cripple it as well.

 Actually, they wouldn't need to.  Apple does all the crippling that device needs!!

I'm sure no one will read this as I'm sure that Verizon will delete it for violating something in your TOS and violating my free speech in the process.

 

So Verizon, want to clear this up and prove me wrong? I hope you can because I really thought you were moving away from your evil ways of the past and I was beginning to like you again.

 


 

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Timon0x31
Newbie

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Search and forcing customers to us BING?

 BING is the default search engine for the Fascinate, but you can bookmark Google search, you just can't put it on your home screen.

 

So what, the whole point is that they should NOT dictate what I want to use for my default search provider and I should not have to bring up the web browser to use Google Search. It's my phone now not theirs.

 

Worse yet, I'm now reading that Verizon plans to do this on all of the Android phones, even ones that people have had for months, via an update just like they did on the BB Storm. Hell if they do this to my Droid it's going to be law suite time because there is nothing in my contract that says they can remove my default search provider and put one that they want. It would be nice to find a judge that would tell Verizon to stop and restore all the phones back.

 

Android was to be an open platform not to be crippled by greedy carriers.

 It still is, the search engine does not prevent you from creating your own apps or personalizing your device.

 

As soon as a carrier starts removing "STANDARD" Android features from the phone and putting on ones which have nothing to do with the operation of the wireless network and that you can't remove or override they have started crippling the phone.

 

My last phone was a Motorola V710 which Verizon lost a law suite over. If they go down this route again I expect they will loose another one. The only reason I did not move off of Verizon was the coverage. I didn't buy a new phone because of the way they acted until they came out with the Droid and I found that it was pure uncrippled Android. They go down this road and that reason goes out the window.

 

FYI, the only reason I posted this here is because the Fascinate is the first Verizon Android to see this happen to.

 

I don't like congress to make a bunch of new laws but it high time for them to dictate to carriers that they CAN NOT TOUCH ANY FEATURE ON A PHONE THAT"S NOT USED TO CONTROL THE NETWORK. That means you can play with the baseband but not the smartphone features.

 

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Medic960
Newbie

I was going to buy the fascinate. I will never buy an Android phone that will only let me use Bing as the default search engine. It is garbage. And my contract is up in December. Keep it up and I'll go to AT&T for the I-Phone. Hope all others do the same.

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Tidbits
Legend

Big deal...  Sorry, but there are worse things not being able to pick a default search tool.  Not everyone wants to use Google search, and now this gives them an option other than Google for once.

 

You can always download Google search from the market and NOT use the one preinstalled...  Just like everyone else :smileyhappy:

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
ibanez737
Contributor - Level 1

Timon0x31 wrote:

Is Verizon really blocking the use of Google Search and forcing customers to us BING?

 BING is the default search engine for the Fascinate, but you can bookmark Google search, you just can't put it on your home screen.

 

So what, the whole point is that they should NOT dictate what I want to use for my default search provider and I should not have to bring up the web browser to use Google Search. It's my phone now not theirs.

 

Worse yet, I'm now reading that Verizon plans to do this on all of the Android phones, even ones that people have had for months, via an update just like they did on the BB Storm. Hell if they do this to my Droid it's going to be law suite time because there is nothing in my contract that says they can remove my default search provider and put one that they want. It would be nice to find a judge that would tell Verizon to stop and restore all the phones back.

 

Android was to be an open platform not to be crippled by greedy carriers.

 It still is, the search engine does not prevent you from creating your own apps or personalizing your device.

 

As soon as a carrier starts removing "STANDARD" Android features from the phone and putting on ones which have nothing to do with the operation of the wireless network and that you can't remove or override they have started crippling the phone.

 

My last phone was a Motorola V710 which Verizon lost a law suite over. If they go down this route again I expect they will loose another one. The only reason I did not move off of Verizon was the coverage. I didn't buy a new phone because of the way they acted until they came out with the Droid and I found that it was pure uncrippled Android. They go down this road and that reason goes out the window.

 

FYI, the only reason I posted this here is because the Fascinate is the first Verizon Android to see this happen to.

 

I don't like congress to make a bunch of new laws but it high time for them to dictate to carriers that they CAN NOT TOUCH ANY FEATURE ON A PHONE THAT"S NOT USED TO CONTROL THE NETWORK. That means you can play with the baseband but not the smartphone features.

 


While I don't agree with the Bing stuff and it's probably leaning me away from the Fascinate, good luck with the law suit.  Here's the verbage straight from your contract:

 

My Wireless Device

Your wireless device must comply with Federal Communications Commission regulations, be certified for use on our network, and be compatible with your Service. Please be aware that we may change your wireless device's software, applications or programming remotely, without notice. This could affect your stored data, or how you've programmed or use your wireless device. You don't own the software in any SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card that you may use with your Service. The SIM card software is licensed to you for use with the Service only, and we may change it remotely and without notice. If you bought a wireless device for Postpay Service from Verizon Wireless that doesn't use a SIM card, and you want to reprogram it for use with another wireless network, the default programming code is set to "000000" or "123456." But please note that your wireless device may not work with another wireless network, or the other wireless carrier may not accept your wireless device on its network. If you activate a wireless device for Prepaid Service, it can be used for Prepaid Service only during the first six months after activation and cannot be reprogrammed for use with any other carrier's wireless service even if it's no longer used to receive our Service.

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Tidbits
Legend

Verbage doesn't matter.  You can use the Google search tool even if the default belongs to Bing.  So right there the Lawsuit will fail because you have choices and it doesn't force you to use it.

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
hallcp1019
Contributor - Level 2

does anyone have this phone can anyone actually say if verizon is disabling anything altogether ? i dont mind having to get things from the market like the google maps but i do want to know what i wont be able to do on this phone that i could say on the droid x

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Re: Is it true that Verizon as gone evil again and is blocking...
Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader
I hope the ability to install third party applications is still in this phone. If one ever needs factory reset their phone, this option can be used to restore the applications that were on the phone.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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