Verizon, Knock It Off
First we learned that Verizon pulled a Google search widget and mapping switcharoo in favor of Microsoft’s Bing in a manner that users cannot reverse on the Samsung Fascinate, not easily at least. I shrugged that one off begrudgingly even though I saw it as jab at my darling Google.
But now Big Red is firing out invitations to Android developers, courting them aggressively, to start cranking out apps to submit to Verizon’s V CAST app store which they may turn into a full-blown standalone app store either to compete with the Android market or to replace it altogether, rather than it just being a separate tab on the Android market. They’re having themselves a big developers conference later this month, a real big shindig.
In addition to my own, reactions I’ve been reading to this move is categorically negative and along the lines of “If they lock out the Android market I’m going to T-Mobile.” I don’t get it. I thought Google and Verizon were friends. 🙁
Doug Simmons
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Doug Simmons
Biographical info.. hmm. I have a history of not being able to strike the balance between what is "safe" to put into these forms and what is, in my mind at least, funny. Can't do it.
I think this is a good thing. Not sure if youve seen all the info on it but it will run along side the Android Market so its not really that big of a deal. First off Verison will acept “free” apps without charging you a developer fee and everything with a price will get the 30/70 treatment. Also this helps the droid=iphone as far a the new ‘dummy’ users go. Meaning it should make it easier for mom and pop folk to find apps that work on their phones, you know instead of them seeing every app in the market and trying to install apps that are for ‘rooted’ phones and then in return thinking their phone is broke cause not all the apps work. Again i think its a good step because it helps the ones that need simplification while letting us power user forget it all together. I do believe the app approval time will be a 14 day wait though.
No, Verizon and Handset Manufacturers are friends.
If Verizon can have their own app store, and as such the handset manufacturers don’t have to pay Google for the Marketplace, then they can pass the savings off to Verizon.
Google just happens to develop the core OS they use.