Alright, Verizon, you’re doing it wrong. Stop pushing apps onto my BlackBerry Storm. Within the last few months, YouTube, a Verizon-linked verizon of Slacker Radio, VZW Tones, and a V Cast Video app have been pushed to my phone. I thought that’s what App World is for; you know, apps. But now a terrible mobile version of Bing was pushed onto my Storm. Seriously, stop it.
I’m sure somewhere in the fine print of my contract allows Verizon to push whatever the hell they want to my phone. The contract probably says that they can listen to my phone calls and read my text messages. I don’t care about that stuff; let ‘em. I lead a boring life and couldn’t care less if anyone listens in on my calls. But I don’t want any more stupid apps pushed to my phone just because Verizon is probably getting a nice financial kickback.
That’s why BlackBerrys have an app store now. If I wanted Bing Mobile, I could find it in App World and download it myself. That’s what I did with Slacker Radio. What I don’t need is more bloatware on my already slow and buggy BlackBerry Storm. The damn app doesn’t even run well on the Storm. It’s slow, unresponsive and thinks I’m in NYC. (I’m a thousand miles away, actually)
The Storm, and other Verizon BlackBerrys, didn’t come loaded with all the Verizon-branded apps that the carrier is noterious for loading on its handsets. Instead VZW is randomly pushing apps on to phones, which isn’t much better. Once again, Verizon, you’re doing it wrong. Leave our phones alone.
That’s what you get for being with Verizon.
Go hassle Verizon for a tour. Problem solved.
I’m curious to see/hear what happens with the Droid. I’m thinking about it, but if Verizon pulls this crap, I’ll drop that phone faster than a hot rock. After all, it is still my phone, along with the storage; not theirs. So regardless of what their contract says, they are trespassing when they do this.
I think the fact that the Droid is a “google experience” phone precludes their doing that, but I could be wrong. I know they can’t block any apps, but I guess I’m not 100% sure that it rules out their pushing apps to you.
Matt, it should probably be clarified that they are not actually pushing the app though, but rather are forcing an icon which would take you to download the app onto your screen which you can then choose to simply hide and ignore.
I’ve been clicking move to setup, then hiding the icon. I haven’t restated in a few days. Wonder what all I will get this time.
I agree, take a note from apple.
Dun they learn? ANYthing push does not work. ( unless it’s ur friends).
Give a verizon recommeded list on twitter/blog instead.
Matt is one confused boy to think the Storm is remotely equivalent to iPhone and it’s appstore model.
Shut up and be happy anybody writes software for this ridiculous phone.
Google’s iphone search is so much better. Folks in Microsoft can’t even copy what Google did to make its UI right. This app sucks!
I completely agree. When I upgraded to then new OS 5.0 I lost 10 MB of app memory! It is ridiculous. These are not core applications they added without permission. I paid for the phone, and I should be able to decided exactly which apps have any relevance on my phone. These extras are dead space on my phone as I do not use them, if fact I have them hidden as to not clutter up the screen. If someone has any insight on how to remove them I would be most grateful as I want the memory and control of my own phone back. Verizon is going to lose this customer.
You might be able to block the Verizon downloads from (ironically) another application they forced on you. The My Verizon Application allows you to go in and control your features. Go to My Features and select the box that says “Block App Downloads” It says it blocks the Get it Now Applications…which I assume is the Verizon ones. Just did it today so we’ll see what happens.