Android News
AT&T’s Android landing page offers up explanation for no “non-Market” applications
June 29, 2010 | by Chris Smith
Android News, AT&T
AT&T has been known as the “anti-Android” carrier in the US by many Android fanboys and fangirls, mostly because of their tinkering with the stock Android operating system. When the first Android device landed on AT&T, the Motorola Backflip, we found out that AT&T and Moto had made the decision to replace all Google search with Yahoo search. Also, no Android phones have the ability to install “non-Market” applications. At least with the last one AT&T has a response on their Android FAQ page:
AT&T selected Android Market as the exclusive source for applications because it forces developers to be accountable for the apps they submit. If the Android community has issues with an app, the app can be flagged and removed. This minimizes the risk of malicious apps harming customers and provides more protection to the customer’s private data stored on the phone.
I was surprised when I read this. Not because I think it’s BS, but actually because it makes sense. Android users that are not really that geeky don’t care about installing applications from outside of the Market. The only Android users that do are the ones like me and you who want to be able to do whatever we want with our devices. In that case, the more savvy, AT&T Android users out there will either find a way to root the device, buy a Nexus One, or skip over to the biggest Android supporter, Verizon.
The beauty of Android is that it is open. Therefore, AT&T has the right to do what they will with the Android devices they sell and consumers have the right to go elsewhere if they don’t like it. Commentors, what are your thoughts?
Via [AndroidGuys]
While I agree with the idea, they have to some how get companies like Gameloft to go to the market exclusively. I can only get god game for my Evo from their site.
I hate ATT for so many reasons, glad I live in an area where verizon works well and can do whatever i want with my droid. I think that supporting cramped devices is exactly opposite the open source movement. What if you want to develop your own software for your phone? Yes you have to root it and such, which is just a tremendous pain if you want to do something simple. But ATT users are used to crimped behavior, look at the iphone, there is no more controlled device on a user experience on earth. I mean, what about an alternate email handler? Nope, What about plugins for the browser (nope) same old crud. Why anyone uses ATT is completely beyond me.
Exactly, the target for these is people like me: the frustrated iPhone user who has reached upgrade level but is still stuck with AT&T. I'm used to it. I'm not a developer but I am geeky enough to tweak the settings. If I go AT&T Android, I will surf the net until I find out how to root the thing.
@Jonny Q: "What if you want to develop your own software for your phone?" A: Use the Android Development Bridge in the SDK Q: "What about an alternate email handler?" A: Like Gmail, the HTC Sense email client, MOTOBLUR, or any email client available on Market… those are all options Q: "What about plugins for the browser?" A: It's Webkit so plug in anything that plugs into Webkit… don't like Webkit? download another browser from the Market that you do like.
I think its dumb, stock android has non-market app installs disabled by default (at least on Verizon) and you can enable it if you so choose, so if a user is a non geeky type they more than likely wouldn't be messing around with that setting in the first place, but if a user does want to install a non-market app that should be their choice. This is the equivalent of Dell Computers blocking installation of all programs not downloaded from a Windows market and telling customers it's for their own good. My recent post My Take on MySpace
What happens when Froyo comes and Flash arrives? The flood of new apps that comes then will be downright biblical. I'll feel sorry for anyone on an ATT device that has to wait till said apps show up in the market because they can't load third party applications.
My one worry about getting an Android device on AT&T. That they will not allow the Flash upfgrade because of their relationship with Jobs until Jobs offers up the Verizon iPhone. I'm not holding my breath. Again, as an iPhone user – not a huge issue. I don't like being told what to do by Big Jobs but I'm used to it. Jobs, AT&T, what's the difference? I assume the Aris has Google voice. For me that is HUGE.
it's hard to ignore the irony that at&t feels quite confident in their own bloatware that's not on market. even more so given at&t's stellar long-term track record of fouling up everything from customer privacy to their apps freezing devices. verizon, at&t, … they are all blood sucking bulliies fueled by a hugely misplaced sense of entitlement. root it and stick it to the man.
Wardell said it best. It is dumb. Those that need to be “protected” won’t enable side loading in the settings anyway. It is an excuse, ripped from the Apple excuses Playbook. “For your own good” almost never is… and that hold true here.
Me and my husband switched from AT&T because we didn't want locked down phones. The backflip, unless it changed very recently, can't be rooted because no one has figured out the password. We both feel that locking down android defeats the entire purpose of android to begin with. I think AT&T thinks they are on top of the world because of the success with iphone and they can do whatever they want. I never really disliked AT&T but their actions as of the last few months makes me glad I won't be around for the ride of wherever they are going. Besides, I didn't want to get another iphone just to have to jailbreak it.
I'm stuck with AT&T until 2011 because of a family plan issue (someone lost their phone and the contract was extended). My iPhone is about to turn 2 and while the iPhone 4 looks like a very nice device I am SICK of Steve Jobs telling me what to do. The last straw being that iOS4 is crap on my 3G. The only thing it did was change the way my email looks and slow down my phone all so I will upgrade to the iPhone 4. I've been looking at the Aris but was worried about what "locked market" meant. I was worried it meant that it only allowed apps DESIGNED by Google. The concept made me nervous. However, as an iPhone user, the locked market means nothing to me. I'm used to the locked market. I don't like Yahoo search but I don't like the Safari browser either.
So, I hear that Motorola canceled the update planned for the Backflip in Q3. Evidently the rumor is that since there are more expensive phones for sale, AT&T wants it delayed so they can serll more expensive phones meanwhile those of us who bought our phones already are stuck in the slow lane being ignored by Motorola because of AT&T marketing wanting to make more money & forgetting those of us who supported the earlier devices. Am I to be stuck in a phone for 2 years that won't get an upgrade because of money grubbing bastages not keeping their promises? It came with 1.5 which was outdated in July and they have not even upgraded it to at least 1.6 so many apps out there IN THE MARKETPLACE cannot be used. You cannot install non-market apps so that creates a big issue. I even backed up my apps and cannot install any of them even though they came from the market! This phone has great potential but the limits by those arses at AT&T make me hate this phone daily because they lied to me about the upgrade. We supported the ANDROID platform and AT&T and now we get the short end of the stick. My neighbors with the ARIA already have 2.2 and I am stuck in the slow lane behind an AT&T truck in low gear climbing a long hill and there is no room to pass. Thanks AT&T for ruining my faith in your company by getting me to buy a phone with promises to upgrade it then leaving me out in the cold. Thanks for throwing me under the bus.
Well put.
Well Put! And while I'm sure it's the same now that ATT is carrying Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2) , I noticed that they are the only ones that were NOT requiring a 2 year 3G contract on it, but rather a pay as you go – very unlike ATT. Or maybe, very like them – they do what they want. I like how you put it, Android is open, and ATT has the right to, or not, and we have the right to, or not.