Verizon Dropping Google Search for Bing on All Future Android Phones?

by Antonio Wells Sep 9, 2010 1:02 PM – 10 Comments

First off… #FAIL! According to The Droid Guy in reviewing Verizon’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S phone, the Samsung Fascinate, Google Search is removed from the phone for Microsoft’s Bing search. Worst, it cannot be downloaded as an additional widget from the Android Market or even side loaded. Even worse, other services are swapped like Google Maps for Bing Maps and Google Maps Navigation for VZ Navigator. It is also rumored Google search will be replaced by Bing for all future Verizon Android phones. Lets go even more worse, the fluid user experience between the apps have been lost. For example, if you search an address on Bing it does not open in VZ Navigator for directions as you do when you search on Google and open an address to either Google Maps directions or Google Maps Navigation for turn-by-turn directions.

There maybe be some light in this tunnel as the Google Search widget has been recently bundled with Voice Actions (a feature of Android 2.2 Froyo) and the Fascinate ships with Android 2.1 Eclair. So it would be interesting to see if non-rooted phones can download and use the app natively with the promised Froyo update later this year. Of course there is rooting the phone, but as of yet, a Fascinate specific version has to be hacked.

I’m personally disgusted about this for two main reasons. First, it’s fine to make Bing default, but to not allow consumers the option to swap or install better alternatives is soooo Apple. Second, the Samsung Galaxy line seems to have the best features split across the major U.S. wireless carriers. A kick ass Galaxy S phone would have the front facing camera and capable 4G speed from Epic, solid structure and LED flash from Fascinate; mixed with it’s other impressive hardware and software specs. What’s your opinion on this issue, comment below!

Tags: Bing Search, Fail, Google Maps, Google Maps Navigation, Google Search, Microsoft, Verizon, VZ Navigator

Categorised in: Android Phones, News

10 Comments

By Originalme8 on September 9, 2010 at 3:07 pm:

FAIL! I love Verizon’s network but if this is true….well lets just say I’m glad I’m not in contract! MOTO….time to make a switch!

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By whatever on September 9, 2010 at 3:09 pm:

how about a #FAIL for publishing this turd?

http://thedroidguy.com/20100909/follow-up-bing-to-be-the-default-search-engine-on-some-verizon-android-handsets/

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By Jesus on September 9, 2010 at 4:51 pm:

Obviously Verizon is looking to loose customers with this decsion. You just can’t tell a customer that they can’t customize there device and not expect repercussions.

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- By Matt J. on September 12, 2010 at 8:00 am:
  
  Actually, yes you can. The carriers have been getting away with this kind of arrogance for years.
  
  I have to admit that I am not sure -why- the customers tolerate it. My guess is that it is because for so many years, it was too easy for carriers to get customers to select a phone based more on looks and first (false) impressions than on features.
  
  Has this changed yet? I am not sure. Perhaps it has changed and the carrier’s habits have just not caught up. But I wouldn’t count on that. More likely, customers like you who are willing to switch carriers over an offense like this are still in the minority.
  
  I do hope that changes, so that the market will punish carriers for such arrogance, but I don’t think it has happened yet.
  
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By BenR on September 9, 2010 at 5:14 pm:

This has been debunked on several other sites. Instead of “future” phones .., it should be ” feature ” phones or low end phones. VZW even put out a statement about it saying they weren’t doing this. And one pointed out that the Fascinate isn’t getting the Droid treatment from VZW … it’s not called the Droid Fascinate but just the Samsung Fascinate. It’s a mid-grade phone that falls under their contract with Microsoft.

Yes, it does suck when Android phones are locked up with Bing on them … but it is what it is now … isn’t it.

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By Jason Norment on September 9, 2010 at 5:50 pm:

@BenR: Have you found an official release statement from Verizon about the rumor? I’ve yet to find one. Granted when you do a Google Searc for “Verizon to remove Google” I found 98 articles LOL.

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By HughJ on September 9, 2010 at 9:31 pm:

I just got the Galaxy S from Verizon…. and had been trying to figure how to get Google on the home screen to replace Bing…. when Android Tapp came in… I called Verizon tech support only to find out that it’s true… you CAN’T get Google search on this phone! ARGH!

This phone is going STRAIGHT BACK to Verizon!

Was the moronic exec at Verizon who made this decision the same one who was stupid enough to turn down Steve Jobs & the iPhone????

I don’t understand why Verizon doesn’t seem to understand SUBSCRIBER CHOICE!

Why choose Bing? Because Microsoft did such a good job for Verizon on those Winblows phones??? Or how about the wonderful Kin! LOL!

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- By Chris on September 10, 2010 at 2:20 am:
  
  i just played with it too.. my sister got it and i downloaded Google maps to get navigation and places.. i threw the VZW NAV in the trash bin for her never to touch again! (i should uninstall it..) I also went on the web and put Google as the home page. As for the search touch button and the bing widget.. i guess its gonna be there till 2.2 when Google will give you their Google widget. I also downloaded goggles on her phone too.. the phone came with many apps (including blockbuster) but most apps were Verizon and the Touch Wiz or Samsung’s apps.. i had to manually download every Google app.. thats not right.. but I’m relieved i was able to change it.. Guess i wont cry after all.
  
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By Chris on September 9, 2010 at 11:59 pm:

i will honestly cry if all future Verizon phones will come with bing and Google would not work with maps. if its true i’m going straight to sprint to get the Evo 4g. Verizon’s supposed to be the best.. why are they making this idiot move to make us suffer with bing!? i hate bing! Google has and always will be my #1 search engine!

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By kara on November 4, 2010 at 10:06 pm:

My husband and I both have the fascinate and he has google search on his!!! Not to sure how he got it but I HATE bing and think im going to have him put google on mine!

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