Mar
31
Android Market Growing Pains!
Google is removing applications from the Android Market that violate T-Mobile’s terms and conditions. I understand why Google removed the applications and I also understand why T-Mobile asked them to do so – my question is ‘how is this going to work when we have lots of carriers on Android?’
Next year when there are five or six carriers offering Android phones how will Google deal with the various carrier’s differing policies. Some carriers allow teathering while others offer special ‘teathering’ plans. Will Google remove applications that violate some carriers terms and conditions and not others? Or will Google allow applications in the market that are allowed by at least one carrier’s terms and conditions?
Of course the problem isn’t just for the future. You can buy unlocked G1s today and use them on any network. I can put a SIM from a carrier that allows me to teather into my G1, but now I can’t get Seth’s Wifi Tether. Is this fair and open? Is there going to be a way for carriers to remove apps from the market directly – i.e. removing them from the Android Market ONLY on handsets on their network?
Lots of questions. . .
Don’t forget that you are not locked in to only getting apps from the Android Market. There is nothing stopping the dev putting the app on a website somewhere and there is nothing stopping you from getting it if he does. Not the optimal solution, but at least Google is open to alternatives.
Comment by Mike — March 31, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Looks like SlideMe is going to be doing more business.
http://slideme.org/application/tether-blu
http://slideme.org/application/tether-wifi
Comment by androidandme — March 31, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
Yeah, the main reason I got a G1 instead of unlocking an iPhone was so that I could enjoy a completely OPEN market. Now that I know that’s not true, I’m honestly thinking about selling my G1 on CraigsList and buying an unlocked iPhone…
Comment by Ankush — April 1, 2009 @ 5:20 am