Verizon to force Bing on everyone soon?

atomicwedgie

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
587
Reaction score
1
Location
Long Island NY
Verizon snuffs Google for Microsoft search ? The Register

Verizon snuffs Google for Microsoft search

Forces Bing on browser box
Verizon has unilaterally updated user Storm 2 BlackBerries and other smartphones so that their browser search boxes can only be used with Microsoft Bing.
The move is part of the five-year search and advertising deal Verizon signed with Microsoft in January for a rumored $500m.

Verizon pushed the search change over its network two days ago, the company has confirmed with The Reg. "We're a proud supporter of Microsoft's Bing search engine," a company spokesman tells us. "On a couple of select smartphones (Storm 2 the most prominent), we've changed the [Verizon Wireless]-supplied web menu to make Bing the default search engine."

Previously, the search box - baked into the top of Verizon's browser, above the url address bar - could be set to search Google, Wikipedia, and other sites.

Naturally, such sites can still be queried via the browser proper. But countless users are up-in-arms over the switch. A discussion thread dedicated to the change at CrackBerry, a popular BlackBerry user site, is now 36 pages long.

"This frustrates the heck out of me. On the phone with VZW right now. The rep is telling me that she can choose search options from her non-Storm phone, so she's off to get a Storm to find out what the deal is. Will post results. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr," writes one user.

A sea of similar comments has also appeared on Verizon's web forums. "Yesterday, all of the search providers that used to be available through the browser disappeared and bing is the only option. I hate bing. I no longer am able to search using Google, Dictionary.com, or Wikipedia from the 'Go to...' page on my browser. This is a very poor decision...to take choice away from their users," the first post says.

"SOMEONE is pushing this change to Blackberry users without notification and without giving the option to refuse this change. If this has happened to you, please call Verizon and inform them. I really want my choices for search back. Not only because I hate bing, but because taking choices away from customers is just a really **bleep** thing to do."
Verizon and Microsoft have an existing relationship. In January, the two signed a five-year search and ad deal rumored to be worth $500m. When we asked Microsoft to comment on the Verizon search-box switch, it referred us to a January blog post.

"Verizon Wireless subscribers in the U.S. will be able to use Live Search on their mobile devices to find information on local business and shopping information, access maps and directions, find ringtones and other mobile products and services," the company said at the time. "This partnership will give Verizon Wireless customers great search results and provide targeted, relevant mobile advertising to enhance the overall mobile computing experience."

When we asked Google for comment, a spokeswoman said: "We're passionate believers in competition that's good for users. We're committed to working with industry leaders to provide the best user experience possible and develop innovative products and services."

It should be said, however, that according to press reports, Google was in talks with Verizon over a similar search deal before the Microsoft pact was finalized. Google and Verizon have since agreed to a deal that involves the two companies jointly developing Android phones for the carrier's network.
Meanwhile, press reports indicate that Google intends to sell its own Android phone in the New Year. Google has confirmed the existence of a Google-built Android phone, and this device is built for GSM networks - i.e. not Verizon's. ®
 

JayMonster

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2009
Messages
775
Reaction score
1
The key statement in there was "Verizon Wireless provided Search Box" There is no such item on the Android phone.

This deal was cut with Bing back in January. My Q9m's default home page also changed (quite some time ago) to Bing. That doesn't mean you can't search with another engine, just that is the default... again for the VZW provided search box. Since Android has no such "customization" (or some would say crippling), it would not be affected.
 

640k

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
2,114
Reaction score
0
Well, seeing as this is a DROID forum and that the functionality of the DROID lineup pretty much depends on Google, I don't care what Vzw deals out with MS. If I still had a WinMo phone, I wouldn't really care either as I could browse to any search engine and get the results that I need.

It's not any different than Dell shipping out PCs with their proprietary management tools in order to receive driver and system updates.
 

carbine

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
185
Reaction score
0
Location
Akron, Ohio
Lol I'm glad my phone has a Google logo on the back. My poor Blackberry is now not only slower, but tainted as well. Glad I put it in my box of unused electronics before this happened. :x
 

mth04

Premium Member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
3,840
Reaction score
0
The thing is. The deal with Bing is for the BB browser. VZW has no control of Googles OS. It sucks for BB though
 

LordKastle

Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
792
Reaction score
0
I think it is a great idea. Gotta' level the playing field a bit right?
 
OP
atomicwedgie

atomicwedgie

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
587
Reaction score
1
Location
Long Island NY
I only posted this to incite discussion because it's news.

Obviously a Google branded phone being forced to use Bing wouldn't make much sense.
 

mth04

Premium Member
Premium Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2009
Messages
3,840
Reaction score
0
I only posted this to incite discussion because it's news.

Obviously a Google branded phone being forced to use Bing wouldn't make much sense.

It's ok nice post really
 

justicw

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
140
Reaction score
0
Is this realy a big deal?? Its the same thing on the droid (default to google) I meen heck its all about money right??
 

640k

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
2,114
Reaction score
0
I only posted this to incite discussion because it's news.

Obviously a Google branded phone being forced to use Bing wouldn't make much sense.
in fairness, you titled the thread "verizon to force bing on everyone soon."

not going to happen with droid, not it's a moot point.
 
OP
atomicwedgie

atomicwedgie

Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
587
Reaction score
1
Location
Long Island NY
in fairness, you titled the thread "verizon to force bing on everyone soon."

not going to happen with droid, not it's a moot point.

I was going to title it; "Verizon forces Bing on Blackberry phones and perhaps other smart phones except Google branded Droids or other search engine branded phones but who knows with VZW and their wacky ways, soon?" but I thought that was a little wordy.
 

JhankG

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2009
Messages
3,073
Reaction score
0
Location
Summerfield, NC
So Verizon gets to choose their customer's search engine for them now? No Verizon, you don't. That's that bull****.
 

640k

Silver Member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
2,114
Reaction score
0
in fairness, you titled the thread "verizon to force bing on everyone soon."

not going to happen with droid, not it's a moot point.

I was going to title it; "Verizon forces Bing on Blackberry phones and perhaps other smart phones except Google branded Droids or other search engine branded phones but who knows with VZW and their wacky ways, soon?" but I thought that was a little wordy.
lol - how about, vzw in bed with MS, DROIDs provide video.
 

LordKastle

Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2009
Messages
792
Reaction score
0
It's really no different compared what Google does to Android... yes I know they created Android but its not called Google OS, it is called Android OS.

No different than Safari browser on macs having the Google icon on the upper right corner by default.
 
Top