Cellphone carriers are very much like OEMs – there’s so much pressure to cut costs that they both go to great lengths to squeeze every penny possible out of customers. That means bundling crapware in the form of links and apps. But Android is synonymous with choice and freedom, and customers don’t take kindly to being pushed around.

In the UK, Vodafone tried to foist a crapware bundle on HTC Desire owners. What customers initially thought was a “Froyo” Android 2.2 upgrade turned out to be a bundle of crap containing “Vodafone 360 apps and a new Vodafone-branded start-up screen, and added various web shortcuts to the home screen.” Not only did the bundle contain web links to dating site (which some users found offensive), but others claimed that the update, which cannot be uninstalled, was buggy and made the handset unstable.

But pressure from users ad the media has caused Vodafone to Read the rest of this entry »