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AT&T Finally Allows Third Party Android Apps
So Handset Exclusivity Deals Benefit Consumers How, Exactly?

For some time AT&T has offered a select number of Android phones, though the company ruined many of them by removing functionality, crippling features, and adding bloatware. Once AT&T's exclusive iPhone partnership died, AT&T quickly began arguing that they'd seen the light, and that the company really, really loved the Android platform. This new found love (arriving not perhaps coincidentally as the company seeks T-Mobile deal approval) has simply blossomed with the news that AT&T has declared that they'll no longer block the sideloading of third-party applications on future phones. The move of course finally allows AT&T’s Android subscribers to access Amazon’s Appstore, and was inevitable in the age of open platforms and mobile devices. It should only take AT&T executives another decade or so to realize that forcing people to pay extra for functionality organically embedded in their devices (aka tethering fees) is also akin to swimming upstream during a flood.

Update: AT&T offered us this statement:
quote:
In March, we announced our intent to provide AT&T Android customers access to third party application stores. Future Android devices (including the recently launched Samsung Infuse 4G) will allow users to change their settings in order to access this content. Over the next few weeks, we will also roll-out this capability to existing devices in our base for which an upgrade is possible. Users will not need to take any action as their phone will receive the update automatically.
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Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert

Premium Member

Another attempt..

To convince everyone (except politicians - because they don't need to be convinced, just bought) that AT&T is a great company and we should support their purchase of T-Mobile.

sapo
Cruising Down Memory Lane
Premium Member
join:2002-09-16
Sacramento, CA

sapo

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

For me this only has the opposite effect, why the hell was this restriction set in the first place?

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: Another attempt..

Exactly ! I wish more people would see it that way and see how ATT likes to screw there customers from jump street.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to sapo

Premium Member

to sapo
Because that's how it is with the iPhone and the iTS?
93388818 (banned)
It's cool, I'm takin it back
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX

93388818 (banned) to sapo

Member

to sapo
I can only guess, but I doubt they would ever explain why.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol to Robert

Premium Member

to Robert
You can all thank amazon for this.
93388818 (banned)
It's cool, I'm takin it back
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX

93388818 (banned)

Member

Re: Another attempt..

what do you mean?
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to Alcohol

Premium Member

to Alcohol
For continued fragmentation of the Android environment for consumers?

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

said by openbox9:

For continued fragmentation of the Android environment for consumers?

Yeah, because more choices are always a bad thing.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Because Google's Market is limited? From what I understand, it doesn't take much more than a dev submitting an app to the Market and it's approved and available. What am I missing? Do you really believe that a majority of consumers want/need 4+ (and growing) app stores?

And are you suggesting that the Android environment isn't heading down a messy and overly complex road? Think normal dumb consumers, not geeks. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my Android fix numerous times each and every day, but I can't imagine putting something more than a skinny, locked down "dumb" Android device in my mother's hands.

sapo
Cruising Down Memory Lane
Premium Member
join:2002-09-16
Sacramento, CA

sapo

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Competition is always a good thing, you don't have to use the other ones but you can be assured that the one you stick with will constantly work at trying to be better than the others.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Ok, I guess. I still don't understand crediting Amazon for AT&T's sudden clairvoyance regarding side loading. Does anyone have any stats regarding usage amongst all of the Android app stores?

Boogeyman
Drive it like you stole it
Premium Member
join:2002-12-17
Wasilla, AK

Boogeyman

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Because when the Amazon Appstore came out, it made the news. Amazon being a well known brand, many people wanted to check out its app store. When you try to get it on an AT&T branded phone, you are informed by Amazon that its AT&T blocking it. So by Amazon coming out with something that AT&T enough users wanted, they felt the need to allow 3rd party apps. I also imagine Amazon threw a bit of money their way or will share a percentage of the sales with AT&T, but thats just a theory, I have no evidence.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Thanks. I guess I just don't understand the lure of Amazon's app store. Google Market has everything I need, and then a whole bunch more. What does the Amazon app store give me that I don't already have through the Google Market? Does one still need to maintain Amazon's app store app to keep apps downloaded from Amazon's app store? One more reason I don't understand the draw. To each their own I guess.
aprice21
join:2007-07-08
New York, NY

aprice21

Member

Re: Another attempt..

Well, Amazon gives away a different paid app every day... I've picked up tons of quality Android apps this way.

djdanska
Rudie32
Premium Member
join:2001-04-21
San Diego, CA

djdanska to openbox9

Premium Member

to openbox9
Amazon gives away a free paid app every day. That in itself is worth having the amazon app store on my androids. I've gotten some good apps free of charge that way. And when you use the same login on a different android phone, your allowed to download it to that one too.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol to openbox9

Premium Member

to openbox9
said by openbox9:

Ok, I guess. I still don't understand crediting Amazon for AT&T's sudden clairvoyance regarding side loading. Does anyone have any stats regarding usage amongst all of the Android app stores?

AT&T customers complained. Amazon has an amazing promotion. Free paid app every day. You'd be a fool not to take advantage of that.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Call me foolish, but I haven't seen any apps that I needed, even though they might've been free.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

They have full versions of games on there. Those are usually a nice grab.

Still not seeing your problem with this.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

No problem. Just seems unnecessary and potentially confusing. I guess I like a one stop shop.

I could give two poops about games.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Good thing nobody is forcing you to use it then.

Market with its 200,000+ apps is sufficient.

I only use amazon if i see a free paid app that i like.
Alcohol

Alcohol to openbox9

Premium Member

to openbox9
said by openbox9:

Because Google's Market is limited? From what I understand, it doesn't take much more than a dev submitting an app to the Market and it's approved and available. What am I missing? Do you really believe that a majority of consumers want/need 4+ (and growing) app stores?

And are you suggesting that the Android environment isn't heading down a messy and overly complex road? Think normal dumb consumers, not geeks. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy my Android fix numerous times each and every day, but I can't imagine putting something more than a skinny, locked down "dumb" Android device in my mother's hands.

What 4 stores are you talking about? There's the market, app store, and the rumored sony store for playstation games.

Android is an open platform. Google will not deny anybody the right to have apps for their open source operating system.

What are you complaining about? It doesn't come with the phone. It doesn't force you to use it.

Heading in a messy road? What does that even mean? 400,000 android devices activated every day and growing. Are you telling me they're all geeks?
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

Google, Amazon, Verizon (do the other carriers have something too), and I thought HTC, LG, or some other manufacturer had an app repository. Motorola was talking crazy-like about doing their own thing, so who knows there. Add in the rumored Sony store and the number grows.
said by Alcohol:

Android is an open platform. Google will not deny anybody the right to have apps for their open source operating system.

I never suggested otherwise.
said by Alcohol:

What are you complaining about? It doesn't come with the phone.

Not yet. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I'm simply attempting to understand the logic.
said by Alcohol:

Heading in a messy road?

I wrote "down" a messy road. What about the developers? Seems like an unnecessary evil for them now to support multiple repositories. Previously they just needed to manage multiple OS versions (which they still do). There's a reason Apple is successful. Marketing is one aspect, but simplicity is another.

djdanska
Rudie32
Premium Member
join:2001-04-21
San Diego, CA

djdanska

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

On the one verizon android phone i messed with, they had all the verizon apps under the android market. My dell streak is the same way. You open up the android market and there is a tab for t-mobile. It's just a shortcut to the app on the normal android market. All of verizon's apps, along with others are usually just in the android market. I can download market enabler and change it so i can use us cellular or any phone company and download their apps on my t-mobile phone. Not that hard if you have root, and is nice to pick up european only apps too.

Alcohol
Premium Member
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI

Alcohol

Premium Member

Re: Another attempt..

said by djdanska:

On the one verizon android phone i messed with, they had all the verizon apps under the android market. My dell streak is the same way. You open up the android market and there is a tab for t-mobile. It's just a shortcut to the app on the normal android market. All of verizon's apps, along with others are usually just in the android market. I can download market enabler and change it so i can use us cellular or any phone company and download their apps on my t-mobile phone. Not that hard if you have root, and is nice to pick up european only apps too.

It's not their apps. It's just apps they recommend.
en103
join:2011-05-02

en103

Member

They've allowed this because...

1. They're placing data caps on devices
2. iPhone revenue has already peaked, and Apple is also selling to other vendors
3. Skype was purchased by Microsoft - which, in the long term will mean that it will be an expensive app (vs. the nearly free status it currently is for calling landlines/mobiles).
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: They've allowed this because...

3. Huh?

I kind of get what you're suggesting with the first two, but I'm missing #3.
en103
join:2011-05-02

en103

Member

Re: They've allowed this because...

Skype for the longest time, was only allowed over WiFi on AT&T, and in an even different fashion on Verizon Wireless. This 'power trip' was to prevent erosion of the base dialing part of the wireless. With Microsoft purchasing Skype - M$ will either ram Skype down our throats (read extort wireless carriers ) and fill it with adware and kill wireless bottom line, or they'll start charging enough to have it as a useful app on wireless handsets (assuming they're not Microsoft based) - effectively killing its usefulness for the non Windows PDA consumer.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9

Premium Member

Re: They've allowed this because...

And that has what to do with AT&T allowing side loading of apps?

FWIW, I think MS threw $8.5B down the drain. Skype will never provide a positive ROI. It'll be kind of difficult for MS to ram Skype anywhere except its own OS (no biggie there). MS will have an extremely long, uphill battle if it attempts to monetize Skype when 170M users have enjoyed mostly free for so many years.

Xela18954
join:2000-10-06
Richboro, PA

Xela18954

Member

Re: Another thing.

Deleted
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

They need to allow to sell prepaid data plans for hspa+ and

LTE in future. As well Verizon should. Clearwire did it with Rover. It was an awesome deal, unlimited access for 1 day at $5, although no roaming on 3G.

No one is willing to use wireless broadband and spend more than $20 a month for a causal use when u have to pay for cable HSI at home for nearly $60 a month (that includes extra fee on basic tv or line charge fee ). Especially since now all smartphones come with forced internet plan ($15-$30 monthly extra)

Forget about ipad, tabletops and just focus on usb stick or hotspot. Suppose you have corporate discount 23%. you still have to spend minimum $40 a month extra, for use that is only 2-3 times a month when you are actually away from home thats not feasible.

Those plans are still like targeted at business use, but nowhere near home users away from home!
Arty50
Premium Member
join:2003-10-04

Arty50

Premium Member

Riiiiight

"It should only take AT&T executives another decade or so to realize that forcing people to pay extra for functionality organically embedded in their devices (aka tethering fees) is also akin to swimming upstream during a flood."

Yeah, this will happen if the T-Mobile merger goes through...sure. More like, they'll only realize it if we break them up again.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Riiiiight

The Wireless Side is actually NOT really ATT. It's separate. The only thing they share is a trading symbol and a pool of $$$. They're required by law to be kept that way. The same as VZ and VZW. They're NOT the same company. ATT is ATT Mobility, LLC and VZW is actually Cellco Partnership, LLP. So even if they split up ATT they can NOT legally touch ATT Mobility, LLC as it is a different company with its own assets. Gotta love that eh? The gov't would only be able to touch what at&t Inc.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: Riiiiight

correct but u can easily get only one bill for dsl and wireless and you get $5 or $10 dollars discount for this combined billing.
93388818 (banned)
It's cool, I'm takin it back
join:2000-03-14
Dallas, TX

93388818 (banned)

Member

Alternative ROMs solved this for me

I know I'm not alone, but running a custom ROM solves the problems of carrier bloatware and limitations.

Of course, there are those that don't believe they should *have* take that course to get the functionality they think they deserve.

My personal opinion on that is caveat emptor, "buyer beware".

My first Android phone on AT&T was a Google Android Nexus One. I purchased it outright from Google for $599. No restrictions on that phone.