Verizon Removes Search Choices For BlackBerrys 510
shrugger writes "I picked up my BlackBerry this morning to do a search and noticed Bing as my default search engine. I thought this was very strange, since I didn't pick this setting. I went to change it back to Google and, to my chagrin, Bing was my only option! Apparently Verizon has pushed an update that removes all search providers except Bing. Thanks a lot Verizon!" The Reg notes: "The move is part of the five-year search and advertising deal Verizon signed with Microsoft in January for a rumored $500m."
Re:Wait for 2010 (Score:5, Informative)
Verizon doesn't use SIMs. In fact, I'm pretty sure the SIM slot in my Verizon phone is disabled.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Thank god for T-Mobile.
Re:F*ck you Verizon (Score:3, Informative)
I have to deal with Verizon as an ISP here for a few of my clients. I can't recall all the times a Verizon screwup has caused problems for me.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:3, Informative)
Lily Tomlin, you mean. :-)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
There [google.com] you go. It's a Moto Droid with quadband GSM instead of CDMA innards. Put any T-Mobile SIM in there and you're good to go. If you're getting a contract anyways, you may want to get one of their $1 phones and eBay it to get some of those $600 back.
Let me know how you like it!
So much for consumer choice! (Score:5, Informative)
Unfortunately, here's yet another reason to MOVE MY PHONES AWAY FROM VERIZON. Recently, we found out that Verizon was charging for data (1mb of data transfer) when I accidentally hit the "Get it now" key that is hard-coded, pre-programmed, into my phone - without any labeling and without any option to repurpose the keystroke.
This seems to come on top of everything else as yet another reason to choose another vendor - Google, hopefully! - and not Verizon.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:3, Informative)
But two problems:
1. Will definitely have to get a phone on contract and ebay it - if I am on their network for long time, I would rather I use their subsidy. And I am not good at ebaying stuff.
2. (More importantly) Unfortunately, the phone wont be able to use T-Mobile 3G network. Here is more detail on it - http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/Non-T-Mobile-Devices/Motorla-Milestone-GSM-ver-of-Verizon-Droid-A855/td-p/272760 [t-mobile.com]
Re:If you need to do this... (Score:3, Informative)
google does the exact same thing and has for a while
to push android they have a revenue sharing agreement with other companies. check out abovethecrowd.com.
Re:If you need to do this... (Score:1, Informative)
This has been standard Microsoft behavior. Whether it says good things about your product, it's exactly the sort of bundling that concerned the DOJ.
Too bad the DOJ was eviscerated by the Bush twins, and Obama doesn't show any signs of replacing the excised organs.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:4, Informative)
Try a n900 then, it works on all t-mobile freqs. Its missing one of the att 3G bands though.
My Experience (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Agreed. If you are affected you should probably contact the FCC or the FTC and complain about this.
Re:Oblig. Simpsons (Score:1, Informative)
> Honestly, I feel sorry for us all. It's important to have at least one major provider that is open and not locked in
Sounds like the N900 (open Linux platform). The provider can't reach into your device and remove features. YOU have the root password, and THEY don't, just like things should be.
Plus you can do things like use VOIP apps, no matter what the vendor might wish.
Why so many people buy into the walled gardens has always been a mystery to me.
Re:F*ck you Verizon (Score:2, Informative)
Re:If you need to do this... (Score:4, Informative)
[...] the main lesson I take from this is the Blackberry is a poor choice if you want control of your own device.
If you look at most of Verizon's other phones, they all use the same user interface (look and feel, menus, etc). They also used to disable some bluetooth functionality (you couldn't transfer files, but you could use a headset), and they used to disable GPS functions for applications other than their "VZ Navigator" app.
It sounds to me like Verizon is a poor choice if you want control of your own device.
Then again, lots of carriers lock out some functionality. For example, AT&T hasn't given me the manual network selection option on any of my phones for years. It only appears when I'm outside the U.S.
Re:Wait for 2010 (Score:0, Informative)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
http://roaminghack.blogspot.com/ [blogspot.com]
http://www.ucan.org/telecommunications/wireless/how_to_cancel_your_cell_phone_contract [ucan.org]
I am in the process of getting off of Bell Canada and none too soon. I moved within Calgary, and the area I am in has poor coverage, so the phone drops calls continuously. After calling Bell to complain about the coverage, even though the coverage map says my area of the city is good, they said that I couldn't quit them since I didn't get their permissions to move (huh???), and its my fault the phone works periodically.
Anywho, I asked to get a supervisor and he got me off the rest of the contract and heading over to a new provider (http://www.windmobile.ca/) in the new year, and their rates are fantastic.... just hope they don't treat the customers like crap.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:To whomever modded me "troll" : (Score:1, Informative)
In no way, shape or form was my search choice removed.
You sir are NOT experiencing the same issue as everyone else thus your input is irrelevant and unnecessary. If you would do a bit of research, you would see that the Bind Icon showing up uninvited, and the removal of the search options are two separate issues.
The problem that you are NOT experiencing is that when you open the default browser, and click Goto (or from the default homepage) and attempt to search then ONLY search provider in the dropdown list is now Bing.
Just wait, VZ has already said that they have plans to push this to every BB Model, you time is coming too.
Its funny that you look like an even bigger idiot after your 2nd post than your first post.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Droid (Score:5, Informative)
Actually, the iPhone lets you change your search provider in the configuration settings.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:4, Informative)
A Verizon Wireless rep speaks off the record (Score:0, Informative)
I really have to start reading Slashdot at work, because I'm already 250 comments late getting on. So I don't really expect to successfully counteract the layers of mindless speculation and chest-thumping rage already piled up here. As someone who actually works for Verizon Wireless customer service and has read the company details about the change, I have to speak up, cause there's barely a smidgen of fact in this entire story. Here's some bullet points:
1. Yes, Verizon Wireless has switched the search bar to run Bing. No, you don't have to use it. The company has just gotten the equivalent of a very expensive TV commercial for Microsoft. You don't need to watch commercials either. Just ignore Bing, like you already do.
2. No, Google isn't blocked -- just go to the browser and bookmark Google.com. As noted somewhere in here, you can even download a Google app.
3. This is only for a handful of BlackBerrys. The Droid, being a Google phone and all, isn't affected.
4. This does NOT count as a material change to your Customer Agreement, because it isn't costing you anything. Don't bother trying to argue your way out of the ETF.
4a. And please don't harass the customer service reps about this, as some helpful person suggested earlier. We'll consider a whole bunch of reasons to waive your charges, but not some bullshit reason like this.
Yes, I know we all hate cell carriers. God knows they deserve it. But to see a bunch of people piling on against some piddling little change without bothering to actually ask someone who knows anything really shakes my faith in torch-carrying mobs.
(Posted anonymously for legal reasons -- my opinions don't reflect the opinions of Verizon Wireless, blah, blah, blah.)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:4, Informative)
In actuality, if you've got a PDA phone (i.e. a WinMo, BlackBerry, Palm, or Android...) you're required to get the PDA plan. That's a combined phone and data plan- that's typically unlimited.
As such, suppositions about the data part being a "bonus" are bogus.
I should know, I spend quite a bit of money on that specific plan- and if I had a BlackBerry, I'd be PO'ed at this point.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Shitty, but still.
Re:No, not exactly (Score:2, Informative)
I can confirm this is true. They pushed a Bing icon to my Storm that propmted me to download the Bing Mobile app, but Google is still my default search in the BlackBerry browser.
Re:No, not exactly (Score:1, Informative)
Yes, the same thing happened to me. That there's now a Bing icon on my Storm's home screen is no big deal really. What is a big deal is that the phone _automatically_ downloaded the Bing update without prompting.
Naturally, it chose to do this on a rare day when I really needed the phone for my job. The stupid thing blew almost its entire battery downloading the damn update and left me out in the cold. Idiots.
Anyway, I've got a Droid now.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:5, Informative)
Doesn't matter. Contracts can't override the law, regardless of how hard they try to make you think they can. They can say they have the right to change service at any time and that you can't terminate, but that is simply not true.
If the service materially changes, you can terminate the agreement, regardless of how many times they tell you that you can't.
Re:Not for OS 5 (Score:3, Informative)
That's pretty troubling, I wouldn't think the device should accept a service book from anywhere but it's authorized BES server. That means that *any* BB can probably be silently "upgraded" with a SB that compromises encryption (as an example) by the ISP.
It's already been done elsewhere by ss8.
http://www.veracode.com/blog/2009/07/blackberry-spyware-dissected/ [veracode.com]
It is believed this is the same method the US government intercepts a blackberry with a warrant as well.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:3, Informative)
This has nothing to do with the Droid. And you can bet if they try this sort of shit I'll walk, with my subsidized minicomputer in tow.
Re:Do you hear me now?? (Score:3, Informative)