News - Vodafone launches own-brand Android channel

[HEXUS]

The first European mobile operator to offer a special part of the Android Market for its customers.

Read more.

[Agent]

I really wish they wouldn't.

How long before we get "but I can't find that app in my apps store".

One of the reasons I left Voda was due to them pushing crapware to my phone, which then needed a root and reflash to remove their customisations (they were pushed months after I was into the contract) and restore the phone back to it's normal speed. And they did this without any warning as to what they were doing.

It got worse though. The signal, no matter where I was and what phone I had was always substandard compared to O2. Their internet speeds were rubbish, and then they decided to put a 500MB cap on the data, after signing into an 'unlimited' contract (granted, I never broke it, but it's not the point)

And let's not even get into the Voda Tax issue

The annoying part is this though: "This initiative is part of the ongoing attempt by all mobile phone operators to try to ensure they're more than just ‘dumb pipes'". While spot on, this is what I want my network operator to be. I want calls, texts and internet. They can keep their customisations.

Never again. Stay away from these clowns.

Now on GiffGaff and very happy!

[cheesemp]

I see your point agent but i'd rather have custom channels rather than bloatware apps installed. I'm guessing this is all done through the standard market so it should be resource free.

I do wonder what will happen when you have two competing channels in your market though - for example Sony Ericcson have their own as well - Do you get both or just one?

[Agent]

I see your point agent but i'd rather have custom channels rather than bloatware apps installed.

I think it's kinda sad though that we feel we have to choose the better of two crap, forced things we don't want.

[crossy]

I see your point agent but i'd rather have custom channels rather than bloatware apps installed. I'm guessing this is all done through the standard market so it should be resource free.

As far as I'm concerned "market channels" != "bloatware". I don't have a problem with "channels" - these are just 'convenient' collections of optional apps offered by a vendor. Where I would start to object is if some major apps got sidelined into these channels. Better still - with useful apps that a carrier generates isn't there the possibility that the app appears twice - one (for free/low-cost) in the carriers channel and again in the main listing (at a higher price). At least that way the carriers customers get preferential access, but it's still generally available. (Thinking particularly of any F1-related content that Voda does).
Talking of bloatware let's be honest - Voda aren't the only folks guilty of this crime, the manufacturer's themselves aren't adverse to loading your phone up with a ton of crap that needs some effort to remove (in my case SE were the guilty party).

I do wonder what will happen when you have two competing channels in your market though - for example Sony Ericcson have their own as well - Do you get both or just one?

AFAIK you get both - after all these are just parts of the GMP, a bit like those airline specific lounges you get in airports.

Likewise I don't have a problem with multiple app sources - I'd especially like to see the Amazon UK app store get going!

[Zadock]

Oh god... just noticed this has now arrived on my handset. It replaced the "my apps" tab, I now have to press the menu button to access my list of installed apps. I don't like that for a start! Also there doesn't appear to be much on this vodafone channel that isn't already on the market except for some F1 stuff and some rough guide books, probably to encourage customers to travel and rack up enormous data roaming bills.

Anyway to purge my, up until now crap free and pure android, nexus s handset of this rubbish?

[Funkstar]

Does the marketplace configure itself based on the device and the network you are ok? If so, then I suspect even a vanilla Nexus S bought SIM free would get the Vodafone channel. You would have to move to another network to remove that.