Good afternoon Mr. McAdam,
I have been a long time Verizon Wireless customer, in fact for over 18 years. In that time, its amazing how much technology has changed - from "Mobile 'Bag Phones'" to today's amazing portable 1ghz+ mini computers - for example the Droid X I just recently purchased about 2 weeks ago. After waiting for it to come back in to stock and ship, I was thrilled to unwrap the product and boot up my first ever 'smart phone'. Being a hobbiest java programmer, I couldn't wait to dig in to the Android Operating System and enjoying a nice open source phone with the prospect of possibly developing some of my own applications, etc. I cannot begin to express how deeply disappointed, and in fact alarmed, I am to find out this product is loaded with 'Bloatware'.
I purchased this phone, albeit it at a 'discount' based on signing a 2 year service contract, and part of those terms include a penalty clause paying back up to $350 of the subsidized cost of the phone in the event I were to not fulfill my obligation of the 2 years. Understanding this, I still feel that the phone was purchased, not given to me, and that while it cost me $200 out of pocket (in fact $300, with a $100 rebate to hopefully follow), that in fact the subsidized cost is offset throughout the monthly fees I'll be paying over the next two years. I point all of this out in long-winded fashion to bring me to the point I am trying to make - I feel it is totally unacceptable for Verizon to take position that its in any way fair business practice to install bloatware on this device I purchased, and leave NO way to uninstall any of this bloat that I have no intention of ever using. (ie. city ID, etc.)
In fact, I further contend that aside from the day to day inconvenience of longer boot times, lost processor speed to run these unwanted applications in the background causing longer load/run times for desired applications, etc. that it goes further in that it ultimately causes unnecessary and in fact unauthorized wear and tear on items such as the battery (increased number of charge/discharge cycles from additional battery usage for 'bloatware), memory components (including the flash memory which certainly has a published life cycle of maximum number of anticipated read/write cycles being used unnecessarily by the 'bloatware'), and consequently related charging equipment & plug/receptacles, and so on and so forth.
Perhaps it would be prudent to review the contract documents that form the basis of the relationship Verizon has with its consumers - have we, as consumers, agreed to allow this unnecessary bloatware, with no option to uninstall it, as part of the contract we've signed? Have we agreed as consumers to the additional wear and tear these unwanted and uninstallable applications cause to the devices we've purchased? Is it prudent marketing to not allow your customers to elect to not utilize such applications? I understand the concept of introducing consumers to applications and perhaps even further subsidized some of the costs Verizon incurs in offering these devices by partnering with the various companies who've developed these applications, however, surely some vehicle for opting-out or being able to completely remove these applications after a forced trial period is the minimum Verzion needs to implement in order to treat their customers fairly, no?
I implore you to review your position on this matter. I am certainly not the first person to be struck by this issue, and certainly I am not the first to bring it to your attention. I am taking the time to personally write you to ensure you are aware that there are many of us out here who feel we are not being treated fairly and are expecting Verizon to act expeditiously to rectify this issue and ensure that we have the freedom to chose which applications are of value to us as subscribers to Verizon's wireless services, and allow us to utilize our purchased equipment in the manner in which we see fit without unnecessary wear and tear from bloatware not of our choosing.
Thank you very much for your time and review of this matter.
Regards,
Jeff Moore
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