  SkellBasherYes Sorto, I'll take my Prozac
join:2000-10-22
Niagara Falls, NY | Android's openness both a blessing and curse The fact that Android is open is a great benefit that helped it's development and adoption early on. Now, the big boys are realizing that because it's open, they can go under the hood and lock it down just like they've always done.
The OHA is pretty much useless now. Vendors are no longer contributing code back to the Android codebase. They're simply taking the current release and modifying it to fit what the carrier wants. Their major benefit is that they don't have to have a team of programmers to build their own OS from scratch; they just have to have a few Android devs to tweak what's already there. | |
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 | Reviews:
 ·Charter
| Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse but if you feel like killing your warrenty, which most ppl that I know could care less about(cause you can reflash it to the stock android) you can break the OS locks, and get rid of this crap that companies release, and make it your own. its very easy. | |
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| | SkellBasherYes Sorto, I'll take my Prozac
join:2000-10-22
Niagara Falls, NY | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by Chubbysumo:but if you feel like killing your warrenty, which most ppl that I know could care less about(cause you can reflash it to the stock android) you can break the OS locks, and get rid of this crap that companies release, and make it your own. its very easy. Except that certain phones will brick if you attempt to root or load a modified OS. | |
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| | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse Which ones? | |
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| | | | | only if you don't follow the instructions that are put out.. | |
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| | |  AlcoholPremium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3
·Comcast
| said by SkellBasher:said by Chubbysumo:but if you feel like killing your warrenty, which most ppl that I know could care less about(cause you can reflash it to the stock android) you can break the OS locks, and get rid of this crap that companies release, and make it your own. its very easy. Except that certain phones will brick if you attempt to root or load a modified OS. This is false. The efuse has been cracked.
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
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| | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse More refuted than cracked I believe. | |
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| | | |  gballMaster YodaPremium
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN | efuse has not been cracked..custom userland is not custom ROM land. They are no further along then they are with the Milestone. | |
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| | | | | AlcoholPremium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by gball:efuse has not been cracked..custom userland is not custom ROM land. They are no further along then they are with the Milestone. huh?
Droid X has already been rooted and there is a custom rom available for froyo update.
»forum.xda-developers.com/forumdi···hp?f=691
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
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| | | | | | | AlcoholPremium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse Yeah, but the guy suggested there are no custom ROMs available, which is false.
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
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| | | | | | gballMaster YodaPremium
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN
1 edit | I suppose you could link me to something you don't understand but efuse has not been cracked sorry.
I don't have the time to research it for you just trying to stop people from telling people efuse has been cracked when it certainly has not been. | |
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| | | | | | | AlcoholPremium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by gball:I suppose you could link me to something you don't understand but efuse has not been cracked sorry. I don't have the time to research it for you just trying to stop people from telling people efuse has been cracked when it certainly has not been. You don't know what efuse is i'm guessing.
Efuse is supposed to prevent you from booting with anything other than the stock rom.
You can download a custom (which means non stock) rom and successfully boot.
I hope i made myself clear now, if you still don't understand it maybe you should take the time to research it yourself or buy a phone you can probably understand (iphone).
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
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| | | | | | | | gballMaster YodaPremium
join:2000-11-28
South Bend, IN
3 edits | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse Okay smartass..
yeah efuse has been cracked...go ahead and load that custom kernel there pal!!
Keep spreading the info!! | |
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| | | | | | | | | AlcoholPremium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Comcast
| Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by gball:Okay smartass.. yeah efuse has been cracked...go ahead and load that custom kernel there pal!! Keep spreading the info!! And when did i say you can load a custom kernel? I said custom rom. Maybe you should re-read my post.
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I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock. | |
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| | Reviews:
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| said by Chubbysumo:but if you feel like killing your warrenty, which most ppl that I know could care less about The fear of voiding your warranty is overblown. I've flashed the last five phones I've owned (both smart and dumb phones) and I've never had Motorola or Verizon give me fits about my warranty. They understand that the warranty is on the hardware.
Besides which, I used to know someone that worked for a Motorola service center. He described it as an assembly line operation and said that as long as the LDI (liquid damage indicators) weren't tripped they never bothered digging into the phone to determine whether it was user error or a hardware problem.
Flash your phone to your hearts content and stop worrying about the warranty. | |
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| openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | If Google really cared about contributing code back to the source, then it should've licensed Android differently IMO. Deep down I doubt that Google really cares. It accomplished its goal; brand recognition and hooks into a widely distributed OS. | |
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| |  ThrowDemsOutIf you can't convince 'em, confuse 'emPremium
join:2002-03-03
Mullica Hill, NJ
kudos:4 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by openbox9: Deep down I doubt that Google really cares. It will quickly start caring if Verizon & AT&T start selling smartphones that make it hard to use the Google search & other apps. That cuts down on what Goggle really cares about - ad revenue. | |
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| | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse I understand that, but my point is that if Google really cared, it wouldn't have left the license open to allow for these types of actions to occur. Google preaches open, so they get the bad medicine with that as well as the good. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse true! and the best part, its the OS is opensource they don't really "license" it. its free to the public to use. | |
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| | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse Android is licensed both under the GPL as well as the Apache Software License. So it's free, as in beer, and free, as in speech, in accordance with these licenses. | |
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| | | | | | | | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse which makes it free and the licenses is pretty much useless as far as enforcing anything on VZ. | |
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| | | | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse What exactly would you like to use the GPL and ASL for with VZ? | |
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| | | | | | |  AVDRespice, Adspice, ProspicePremium
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ | Its free open for the vendor, not the end user.
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standard disclaimers apply. | |
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| | | | | | | | demirPremium
join:2010-07-15
usa
1 edit | It is open to the end user. Anyone can take android code, develop against it, slap it on a cell phone all at no cost to them.
They also could sell their repackaged code to a carrier and make tons of money without having to pay google a cent. | |
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| | | | | | | | | AVDRespice, Adspice, ProspicePremium
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse problem is getting the open cellphone in the first place.
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standard disclaimers apply. | |
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| | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Google isn't narcissistic in behavior. It isn't all about recognition. It's about ad revenue. They really do care about what's happening to their software as removal of google absolutely kills their ad revenue.
It's really hard to say exactly what google is caring about because I don't think everyone knows the most important thing.. the over all numbers.
The amount of mobile search may be small compared to other revenue google is getting. The other thing is that down the road, google may be playing a game just like anyone else. It's possible that THIS release of android is free and open, and while it is, everyone is getting hooked on, and addicted on, "android"... its possible that future releases may most likely have a price attached to it, OR that they may have a not-so-free and unrestricted license with it. At that point, what are the carriers going to do? Dump the android? ... for what?
Maybe this is a little playing the carriers at their own games they play with the consumers... hook your customer in on something way too good, and when they "need" it, then the game changes.. Google also loves to try to play games to point out the hypocrisy of the major carriers and other corporations. (Still waiting on this fiber pipe project they're supposed to be getting into, which as we know, is designed to point out what ISPs are holding us back from, right?)
hard to say... but, the fact is, yes, google cares. They're not just out there doing something for the good of man-kind. | |
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| | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by fiberguy:hard to say... but, the fact is, yes, google cares. They're not just out there doing something for the good of man-kind. I've never stated as such. In fact, I'm one of the rare folks who calls Google out for being a wolf in sheep's clothing. Google is a for-profit corporation after all. | |
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| | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse They are.. I agree with that.
I still believe that google is very good at what they are doing... they're doing what every other corporation is doing as has done.. they're just doing it in a whole new way that most people haven't really figured out yet.
The norm has always been "business as usual"... the google way is to constantly change, keep people guessing and deny everything along the way. Once they've gotten what they wanted, they've long moved into a new direction and google's methods are only discovered long after they've not only done it, but moved on to other things. (Hope that made sense. lol)
They're just non-conventional.. they operate under the radar making moves that people aren't looking for because the majority of people that are watching are looking for predictable patterns based on current corporation america 101. | |
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| | demirPremium
join:2010-07-15
usa
2 edits | How exactly should have google licensed Android differently?
They used the Apache license which is as open as it gets in the software world :
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apache_License
Free to use; for commercial or otherwise.
That means carriers can *freely* modify it however they see fit, then go and redistribute it for a profit. | |
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| | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse My comment was in response to developers contributed software back to the source. If Google want code contribution, then the ASL isn't the way to get it. I understand the reason for choosing the ASL. Without it, uptake of Android would most likely have been quite a bit less. | |
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| | | | demirPremium
join:2010-07-15
usa | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse quote:
Without it, uptake of Android would most likely have been quite a bit less
Which is exactly my point. Nobody is going to use a limited license that doesn't allow you to make money or forces you to pay someone else, period.
Open is open and that is good. | |
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| | | | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse said by demir:Nobody is going to use a limited license that doesn't allow you to make money or forces you to pay someone else, period. Tell that to all of the product developers/manufactures utilizing Linux and supporting the GPL. You can utilize software limited by a license and still make money. Flash back 10ish years when MS wasn't worried about open source-based products. | |
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| | | | | | demirPremium
join:2010-07-15
usa
1 edit | Re: Android's openness both a blessing and curse ... but the GPL *does* allow you to make money, just in a very limited way. See my point?
The GPL is actually one of the more restrictive licenses, when compared to the LGPL v3, ASL and others. | |
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| | . Sucks, but I have already vowed to only upgrade my original Droid when another phone is hacked to do whatever I feel like.  | |
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| | Thanks for the post Will be getting a droid phone soon and will be sure not to get a Samsung.
Also, VZ navigator sucks compared to the free alternatives. | |
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|  Fir_Na_TineGiggity GiggityPremium
join:2001-01-03
Clementon, NJ | Re: Thanks for the post said by hoyleysox:Will be getting a droid phone soon and will be sure not to get a Samsung. Also, VZ navigator sucks compared to the free alternatives. Yeah I waiting to see what the Fascinate was going to be like since I can't decide what phone to get, seems like it will either be Moto Droid or HTC Incredible now.
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"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
-Jimi Hendrix | |
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| |  BF69Premium
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN | Re: Thanks for the post said by Fir_Na_Tine:said by hoyleysox:Will be getting a droid phone soon and will be sure not to get a Samsung. Also, VZ navigator sucks compared to the free alternatives. Yeah I waiting to see what the Fascinate was going to be like since I can't decide what phone to get, seems like it will either be Moto Droid or HTC Incredible now. Yep same here. Samsung didn't think this out too clearly did they? | |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | But... said by Karl Bode :
these kinds of decisions fly in the face of endless proclamations that they're dedicated to open platforms and consumer choice But Android is an open platform and consumers do have a choice. I'm not sure what the gripe is. If you don't like the Fascinate, then buy one of numerous other available Android devices without such restrictions. | |
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See 26 replies to this post |
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 rit56
join:2000-12-01
New York, NY | Net Neutrality What better argument for Net Neutrality than this? You over pay for service and than your provider tells you what you can and can't use.. | |
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| openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Net Neutrality How is this a net neutrality issue? The service isn't restricting anything...it's the device. | |
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| | | | Re: Net Neutrality because that's what people do, claim everything is a Net Neutral issue. Plus its a way to get more gov't regulation and restrictions, so customers can bitch even more. | |
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cacoPremium
join:2005-03-10
Whittier, AK | Bing mobile not bad I understand the argument about Bing being default but Bing mobile is actually pretty good. The made it default a while back on Storm2. The Bing map part of it is very useful and after last Google maps update I find myself using Bing more and more. I guess you have to pick your poison with smartphones going forward.
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Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason. | |
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slckusrPremium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1 | Antitrust implications. It would seem to me forcing the use of one specific search engine is against these rules. I could be mistaken but isnt this why PC web browsers are given multiple choices for your search needs? | |
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| openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Antitrust implications. You can still search »m.google.com  | |
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| | slckusrPremium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | Re: Antitrust implications. tricky but i guess it would fly.
**edit:: Pc based web browsers never prevented you from navigating to an alternate search engine either, the difficulty came in when the default search engine was set for you. i.e. the little search box in the corner. | |
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| | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Antitrust implications. Not really tricky. It works very well. In fact, over the two months I've owned my DX, I haven't used the Google search widget once. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I don't see this as a big deal at all. | |
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| | | | slckusrPremium
join:2003-03-17
Maumee, OH
kudos:1 Reviews:
·AT&T U-Verse
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Antitrust implications. Its about choice. I dont use my google widget either, however I CAN if I want too, With the way the article reads the fascinate doesn't give you that choice, it gives you a Bing search widget and no way to change it. Even going so far as to block a different companies search widget.
That in my opinion is anti competitive the other team isn't even being given a chance. | |
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| | | | I was just going to say the same thing. | |
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| | passed verizon my family and I were thinking of going with Verizon recently (I have been with sprint for years, my new bride and her kids were on ATT), when all of our contracts were up, we merged to Sprint due to the fact that Verizon does this constantly. I buy a phone and I want to use the phone the way that it was designed. Especially now that phones are really mini tablets (EVO). Verizon will never have my business due to this practice. | |
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|  io chicoPremium
join:2003-12-30
Magalia, CA | Re: passed verizon And unlimited data with Sprint. Nice! | |
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| |  Mike_
join:2003-06-24
Fort Lauderdale, FL | Re: passed verizon + unlimited minutes to any cell anytime. | |
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| | Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Verizon's data packages for smart phones are still unlimited. I've used 10+ gigs before and never heard a peep out of them.
I also tether with my Droid-X without paying the additional fee (root ftw) and they've yet to give me grief for that either. Mind you, I'm extremely careful about what I do when tethering. Mostly use it for lightweight web browsing and VPN into work. If you start streaming video and running bittorrents on it I'd wager that they'd be less than pleased with you..... | |
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| | | io chicoPremium
join:2003-12-30
Magalia, CA Reviews:
 ·DigitalPath
| Re: passed verizon That's good that you have unlimited data with Verizon. I had heard that Verizon's 'unlimited' wasn't. I switched from AT&T's miserable 2GB plan to Sprint's unlimited. So far, 3 weeks in and I have used 3.2GB. I have no worries about what I use. On at&t, I used to check every day to make sure I wasn't using too much. | |
|
 Steve BPremium
join:2004-08-02
Seattle, WA | Not Surprised..... What Verizon is doing does piss me off but, at the same time I'm not surprised. I came from the iPhone to Android (HTC Incredible). I see Android crashing if the carriers keep this up with their Android lineups. Top that off with how slow some of the carriers are with releasing S/W updates. It gets to a point to where one wouldn't want an Android device anymore. | |
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| openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Not Surprised..... You can always keep your fingers crossed for WinMo 7
Personally, I don't see this is crashing Android so long as Android development continues and carriers don't tweak the OS too much to break apps developed for generic Android. The fragmentation may lead to "Android on Verizon" and "Android on AT&T" types of discussions opposed to generic Android discussions which isn't the end of the Android World. | |
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| | Steve BPremium
join:2004-08-02
Seattle, WA | Re: Not Surprised..... Good point and that is what I'm really afraid of. How many developers are going to want to bother with multiple versions of the same app? The Android fragmentation needs to stop. Hopefully, I believe it was Gingerbread will make HTC, Moto, Sammy stop with their damned UIs or at the very least give the customers options to turn it off. On my Incredible, I can't do that. It appears that HTC/VZ removed stuff because there doesn't appear that there is anything the Incredible can fall back on when I try and disable Sense. | |
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| | | | WinMo7? You'll be waiting a long time, since that project was killed a couple of years back when Windows Phone was conceived. | |
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| | | openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: Not Surprised.....  Sorry, WinPho 7. Hope the re-branding works for MS. | |
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| | CE manufacturers should be angry. I would think that the CE manufacturers of these phones should be rather upset with AT&T and Verizon. The idea is to move hardware. If people are avoiding the locked down phones for other ones running an unlocked version of Android then the VZ/AT&T policies are having a direct impact on sales. | |
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| openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Alexandria, VA
kudos:1 | Re: CE manufacturers should be angry. You believe Verizon and AT&T do this without assistance from the manufacturers? I doubt that very much. | |
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| | | Huh? The manufacturers are the ones that put the software on the phones.
Do you really think that they aren't doing what Verizon tells them to do if they want Verizon to sell the manufacturer's phones? | |
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| | Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Re: CE manufacturers should be angry. said by skuv :
Huh? The manufacturers are the ones that put the software on the phones.
Do you really think that they aren't doing what Verizon tells them to do if they want Verizon to sell the manufacturer's phones?
BINGO! | |
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| | Verizon doesn't like google I go to the appworld on my verizon blackberry and search for "google maps mobile" and do not see the expected result... | |
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See 11 replies to this post |
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 Lark3poPremium
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL
·Knology
| If "open" is so important to you... Buy a freaking unlocked phone!
If you get your phone from VZ or ATT or any of the other carrier then you have no reason to bitch about what they do to the phone. Pony up the cash and get an unlocked / unsubsidized phone! This is exactly why I bought a N1 and damn glad I did.  | |
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|  CjaicemanPremium,MVM
join:2004-10-12
Parker, CO
kudos:2 | Re: If "open" is so important to you... I also got a N1 for AT&T 3G. Best phone by far I've ever owned. | |
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| QLR
join:2009-06-23
Tallahassee, FL | This usually means switching providers to AT&T or T-Mobile. For some folks, that's a no-no if the networks are subpar. Spending hundreds of dollars and still stuck on a locked system is a nonstarter as well. | |
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|  thenderScreen tycoonPremium
join:2009-01-01
Brooklyn, NY
kudos:1
·Optimum Online
2 edits | Buying an unlocked phone in this climate is not a wise choice.
Let's say I get a nexus one unlocked, for t-mobile.
There are four major carriers. Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
On T-Mobile, I have it all.
On AT&T, loading a large list of 100-1000 emails so I can search for the one with the info I need is slow on EDGE. No dice on youtube either, because of different bands for 3G.
On Sprint, no service!
On Verizon, no service!
Getting an unlocked smartphone in a marketplace where every provider uses a totally different spectrum/technology isn't the best idea. You get an optimum experience on 25% of carriers. You get regular voice/text/edge on 50% of all carriers.
And you've spent near $600 on your phone!
This is a one-phone-one-provider marketplace in the states.
I could buy an unsubsidized Droid X for over $600. What if I want to use it on Sprint? on T-Mobile? on AT&T?
I'm going to be stuck with the carrier I choose. I might as well make them pay for it.
--
If you're going to repair your own Macbook, benefit from my experiences. | |
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| | Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: If "open" is so important to you... said by thender:I'm going to be stuck with the carrier I choose. I might as well make them pay for it. You are still paying for it with two years of your freedom of action. If their network goes south (AT&T has previously made changes that degraded the experience for some users) you are stuck with them unless you move somewhere that they have no service or pay the ETF. | |
|
Emiya
join:2006-03-30
Southington, OH | Palm Pre Plu GPS gimped too They crippled the Palm Pre Plus GPS but thankfully not the mobile hotspot. There are a few homebrew patches for the GPS but I personally haven't had any luck with it. | |
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| | is this a big deal NO! Ok I have the fascinate, you are correct the default search engine is bing and that is not what. so I deleted the widget off the home screen and added the google search widget. Google search is not disabled nor is google navigation DONE like many things you should not complain unless you are sure you are correct. I also rooted the device and am deciding what froyo custom rom to go with, because unlike the droid x or droid 2 this baby does not have a locked boot loader | |
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| | Google If Verizon pulled Google Search and Google Maps Navigation, I assume Google would pull the Market from the phones.
Google has tools up its sleeve as well. | |
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| Reviews:
·WOW Internet and..
·Time Warner Cable
| Re: Google Google may do that but then google is over stepping their line. That is the issue you have with OpenSource. The person or company that is deploying it can redesign it to the way they want and make it fuction that way. VZW did just that. If Google doesn't like it tell Google to start building their own phones again and working with the carriers to carry them.
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www.twopugsbrand.com Kosher, Vegan, and Organic Certified Dog and Cat treats/foods and other products! www.etsy.com/shop/snakx4u/ Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan Human Baked Goods | |
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| | | said by adkinsjm:If Verizon pulled Google Search and Google Maps Navigation, I assume Google would pull the Market from the phones. Google has tools up its sleeve as well. Google has more than tools, they have the resources to outright buy vzw at will if they so wished to
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Capturing the images of Colorado
»jdebordphoto.com | |
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| | Reviews:
·WOW Internet and..
·Time Warner Cable
| Re: Google LMAO!!!! the best thing i've read on here today!!! Who's share are they going to buy? VodoFone? LOL Maybe! After all they tried to sell their share back with ATT/Cingular deal. Google won't buy shit as far as that. and they may have a good stock price but they don't have the $$$$ to buy VZW.
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www.twopugsbrand.com Kosher, Vegan, and Organic Certified Dog and Cat treats/foods and other products! www.etsy.com/shop/snakx4u/ Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan Human Baked Goods | |
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| | | | | Re: Google said by hottboiinnc:LMAO!!!! the best thing i've read on here today!!! Who's share are they going to buy? VodoFone? LOL Maybe! After all they tried to sell their share back with ATT/Cingular deal. Google won't buy shit as far as that. and they may have a good stock price but they don't have the $$$$ to buy VZW. Google? It would be chump change to them. When you stop and think how huge they are, it is like comparing Jupiter to the Moon.
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Capturing the images of Colorado
»jdebordphoto.com | |
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| | | | Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Google said by HotRodFoto:Google? It would be chump change to them. When you stop and think how huge they are, it is like comparing Jupiter to the Moon. You are seriously overstating Google's influence and pockets.
It's a moot point in any case. VZ owes 55% of VZW and isn't going to sell. Vodafone owns the other 45% and could theoretically sell their stake -- but so far they've declined to do so (VZ would love to buy them out but they won't sell) and even if they did what would it gain Google? They still wouldn't have any say over VZW's operations. | |
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| | I prefer bing For searching, I like Bing better than google. To me this saves a step of changing my default provider. I still like the Google Maps app better than the Bing app, but not much. | |
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| | This is the opposite of what Apple wants Which tells you why Verizon didn't want the iPhone to begin with. Back in the day, Verizon would lock down dumbphones.
Apple knew what kind of carrier crapware would float onto the iPhone if they opened it to carrier customization.
Maybe Google will put it's foot down and stop it. Because it really takes away from the Android experience. | |
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bn1221
join:2009-04-29
Cortland, NY | big deal They do this already on the Blackberry devices. They must get a whole penny per device to prostitute themselves to M$ even though almost anyone with sense uses Google search.
I'd use Bing, but it never gives me what I want - only what a market monkey wants me to buy. I'm not a lemming.... | |
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| | | Re: big deal so instead you sell your search data to who ever wants it and pays the highest dollar from Google and now the NSA? Yep! that's smart! | |
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| | Find right carrier and pick your own phone If you are on ATT or T-Mobile, then just buy an unlocked GSM or 3GSM phone if you are unhappy with what the carriers offer. They are for sale new and used everywhere on the internet. I just bought a new N900 from Nokia USA on clearance for $200 (after rebate) and I use it on T-Mobile USA as a compliment to my dependable T-Mobile branded, unlocked 2G flip phone (switch the SIM card). The flip phone has carrier software/firmware that I appreciate and use everyday, namely UMA.
Even with Sprint or Verizon, you can get unlocked cell phones, although the options are fewer than with GSM.
If the idea is to save money, then get your phones on clearance or used and just pick the most desirable, least expensive plan. T-Mobile USA is the only company who seems to get this concept with their Plus Plans. Don't play the "I've got to have the latest phone" game!
If the idea is to have the software you desire on the phone, then pick one that can be flashed to what you want and bypass the carrier's choice. | |
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|  kg4icg
join:2003-11-16
Herndon, VA
1 edit | Re: Find right carrier and pick your own phone You do know that TMobile and AT&T high speed networks are on different frequencies and that unless its got the frequencies of both 1700 and 1900 mhz that all your gonna get is edge from either 1.
Oh and by the way, unless you know someone in Verizon or Sprints tech support. There is no way your gonna get a CDMA phone on there network if the ESN isn't in there system. | |
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| | | | Re: Find right carrier and pick your own phone Of course I know about the different 3G frequencies. That's why I bought the N900, because it supports the carrier that I chose, namely, T-Mobile USA. Oh, and last weekend I got 6-7 Mbps down and .5-.7 up on T-mobile 3.5G in St. Louis. Try that on any other USA carrier. I won't disclose how much I pay for such high speeds, but lets just say that other T-Mobile USA users with the N900 know the answer.
There are unlocked new Sprint phones for sale that are compatible with the Sprint network. Of course, you are still getting the Sprint software, but you are just choosing to purchase it yourself at the price you choose. Obviously, one reason Verizon and Sprint are charging more per month for their plans is because they are subsidizing the cost (at full retail price) of the phone and locking you into a contract. If enough customers with these companies ask for or request lower monthly pricing when they provide their own phone, then the policies will change.
Americans pay way more per minute for cellular/PCS/3G services than those in less developed countries. At least T-Mobile gives customers an OPTION for lower total costs! | |
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| | | Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Find right carrier and pick your own phone said by Getunlocked :
Americans pay way more per minute for cellular/PCS/3G services than those in less developed countries. Got a citation for that claim?
It's all in picking the right plan. I wind up paying about 3 cents per minute when you take the cost of my post paid family plan and divide it by the number of minutes we use.
Something else to consider: In many countries you pay a premium for calling wireless customers. In the US (and Canada?) it's the same amount of money to call a wireless or a wireline number. | |
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| | | | | | Re: Find right carrier and pick your own phone Use India as an example of low mobile rates. Many prepaid plans there are 1p/sec for talk, that translates into 60p/min or 0.6 Rs./min or $.0129/minute converted into US dollars. Granted, the advertisements for these rates/tariffs state for the first year only, but I assume that customers in India switch often (SIM) to stay at these low rates. SMS rates in India are not quite as competitive for very heavy users, but 50p/text or $.0108/text is not bad for most users. Here are some links:
»www.zonshare.com/magazine/2009/1···parison/
»www.rcom.co.in/Rcom/personal/pre···sec.html
We currently pay around $.02-.025/minute (depending on usage) for our T-Mobile USA family plan. I'd sure like to have our cell phone bill cut by 35%!
Most Americans pay higher rates than you or I, and the lowest advertised national USA prepaid rates are $.05-$.10/min. | |
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BIGGEST - Bully Broadband Dictatorship!
When you are the biggest you can bully your customers. Several years ago Verizon was involved in a class action suit because they crippled the ??-701 handset. Features that were available to customers of other wireless carriers that used the same handset were not available to Verizon customers. One of the reasons that customers sued was that Verizon blocked transferring photographs directly from the handset to a computer via a USB Cable. Customers were forced to transfer photographs through the Verizon Network for a fee.