Bad Big Red, Bad!

[Bateluer]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/0...bad-decisions-vcast-app-market-is-the-latest/

Now they’ve decided that, in addition to Google Maps, Google Search, and Google Voice Search not being necessary, the Android MARKET is insufficient. Introducing the Vcast App Store!

Completely unnecessary junk and an unneeded burden on developers. I'm going to guess that this will also come preinstalled and be unremovable on all VZW phones.

Debating, might move to T Mobile with a G2 after cyanogen finishes CM for it. Have to see what my ETF is at that point.

 

[MrX8503]

I'm glad Verizon is releasing Vcast apps. Google Maps, Google Search, Google Voice, heck Google Apps in general just suck.

/s

Looks like Verizon just can't let it go and just be a carrier. They are slowly going back to their old ways, the greedy bastards they are.

I'll be pointing all of my friends to Tmobile/Sprint. Seems like the best route is to go with the underdog carriers.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I've been switching people to Sprint as well. Underdog is right - Sprint and T-Mobile are definitely the cheapest carriers available and they're less likely to do anti-consumer bullshit like that because they actually have to work to keep their customers.

Just moved my sister-in-law from Verizon onto Sprint, and my wife will be leaving as well in about a week.

 

[Phobic9]

I'm curious about Sprint but their building penetration sounds pretty lackluster which is pretty important for where I live. I've tried everyone but Sprint. Verizon has the best by far, then AT&T. T-Mobile is all but dead indoors where I work.

 

[Pliablemoose]

And the alternate title should read, Google doesn't care, because it helps sell Android OS'd phones, and locks Verizon into the OS even more as they'll generate a revenue stream from a separate app store.

I get the feeling we haven't seen anything yet...

 

[Bateluer]

I've been switching people to Sprint as well. Underdog is right - Sprint and T-Mobile are definitely the cheapest carriers available and they're less likely to do anti-consumer bullshit like that because they actually have to work to keep their customers.

Just moved my sister-in-law from Verizon onto Sprint, and my wife will be leaving as well in about a week.

Ran through a few check outs on the Sprint site with the Evo and Epic, even with the 10 dollar Premium Data fee, its still cheaper than my current VZW plan. And there's no WiMax in Phoenix.

I am liking the G2 though. As much as I would love it though, I still have 10 months or so on my VZW contract. No more contracts after this. Ran the numbers, and a 200 dollar phone ends up costing over 900 dollars. Bah!

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

I'm curious about Sprint but their building penetration sounds pretty lackluster which is pretty important for where I live. I've tried everyone but Sprint. Verizon has the best by far, then AT&T. T-Mobile is all but dead indoors where I work.

I can attest to this. I recently switched over to Sprint from AT&T for the Evo and my reception indoors is pretty horrible. I actually have to stand close to the window in my apartment to get a usable voice signal.

Is Verizon not the same way? I was under the impression it was a CDMA thing. (my first CDMA phone)

 

[Phobic9]

I can attest to this. I recently switched over to Sprint from AT&T for the Evo and my reception indoors is pretty horrible. I actually have to stand close to the window in my apartment to get a usable voice signal.

Is Verizon not the same way? I was under the impression it was a CDMA thing. (my first CDMA phone)

Well I work in a very old (really old) military building where most of the walls are probably really thick metal. Never mind the fact that I'm on the first floor which is below ground and I have no windows nearby. In some spots on my desk, I can get 1 bar of 3G which is good enough to get emails, texts and download apps (slowly). If I move the phone while in a call, I'll get dropped. There's a girl here that has Sprint and she can get some calls but she only has a feature phone so no idea on how a smartphone would work. I'm all for saving money though Sprint's phone selection is subpar IMO.

At any rate, looks like VZW is just trying to milk some more money out of people. I guess the "Verizon" tab they have on the Google Marketplace isn't enough.

 

[Spoooon]

At any rate, looks like VZW is just trying to milk some more money out of people. I guess the "Verizon" tab they have on the Google Marketplace isn't enough.

The Verizon tab I could live with, I suppose it wasn't intrusive enough for their taste.

 

[AstroManLuca]

The Verizon tab I could live with, I suppose it wasn't intrusive enough for their taste.

FWIW a Sprint tab appeared for me a month or two ago. Used to be apps, games, and downloads. Now it's apps, games, and Sprint, and to get to my downloaded apps I have to use the menu. Oh well, kind of annoying but not that bad.

Couldn't find out what the Sprint tab was even for. It gives me a pretty random list of apps.

 

[zerocool84]

I'm curious about Sprint but their building penetration sounds pretty lackluster which is pretty important for where I live. I've tried everyone but Sprint. Verizon has the best by far, then AT&T. T-Mobile is all but dead indoors where I work.

4G penetration sucks right now cus of the lack of towers and how their frequency operates but their regular 3G should be near Verizon. I've had T-Mobile and AT&T and Sprint is millions of times better than both everywhere I've traveled in the USA.

 

[jersiq]

I can attest to this. I recently switched over to Sprint from AT&T for the Evo and my reception indoors is pretty horrible. I actually have to stand close to the window in my apartment to get a usable voice signal.

Is Verizon not the same way? I was under the impression it was a CDMA thing. (my first CDMA phone)

Not a CDMA thing, but a band thing.

Traditional 850 cellular range has a better in building penetration than the PCS since it is lower on the spectrum.

However, it could just be a location issue also. Just because AT&T was on a tower close by doesn't mean that Sprint would be. Although companies to tend to co-locate, it's not a given they are all on the same tower.

 

[Doboji]

Verizon has the best network coverage hands down... which keeps me on Verizon for now. As soon as they succeed in actually locking me down, then I'll consider switching. I just got the brand new Samsung Fascinate... which is a prime example of Verizon putting a bunch of crap on the phone... but it's a piece of cake to just tear all that crap off.

So now I have a badass phone, on a badass network... at the end of the day it's the real power users who give a damn... and I just don't see Verizon successfully locking the power users out of doing whatever we want with our devices.

 

[MrX8503]

I dunno, maybe its just my area, but I never had a problem with Sprint coverage or penetration. Where ever my Verizon friends got service so did I.

 

[Bateluer]

Verizon has the best network coverage hands down... which keeps me on Verizon for now. As soon as they succeed in actually locking me down, then I'll consider switching. I just got the brand new Samsung Fascinate... which is a prime example of Verizon putting a bunch of crap on the phone... but it's a piece of cake to just tear all that crap off.

So now I have a badass phone, on a badass network... at the end of the day it's the real power users who give a damn... and I just don't see Verizon successfully locking the power users out of doing whatever we want with our devices.

I saw on Koush's twitter that Clockwork Recovery is out now for the Galaxy S phones. Good start to some solid builds in the pipeline, I think.

 

[Headcase_Fargone]

Not a CDMA thing, but a band thing.

Traditional 850 cellular range has a better in building penetration than the PCS since it is lower on the spectrum.

However, it could just be a location issue also. Just because AT&T was on a tower close by doesn't mean that Sprint would be. Although companies to tend to co-locate, it's not a given they are all on the same tower.

There's actually a Sprint tower (according to their map and their tech support stooges) maybe 100 yards away. I live in a big city (Houston) so there's coverage everywhere basically. Sprint's signal just doesn't do well in my apartment complex. I can watch my signal go down from -70ish to -110 when I round the corner around one of the buildings. And it's a small unit.