New To Android, OS question please...

[wifiphone]

I've never used an Android phone before. My current smartphones are iPhone 4, BlackBerry 9700.

I want to buy an AT&T Samsung Galaxy S / Captivate, on release day.

I've read it's loaded / locked down with AT&T apps. I want to eliminate them if possible. Can I get rid of the AT&T apps and replace them with equivalent Android Apps?

If this cannot be done, then it's a deal breaker.

Thanks for your assistance.

Cheers...

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

You can (most likely) root and then get rid of them. You can always download other apps that do those functions and use them. Just because the AT&T apps are there doesn't mean they restrict you to using only those for those functions.

The problem with AT&T is that they only let you download apps from the Market. This doesn't matter to most people, but a lot of Beta apps aren't available from the Market (Swype is the most notable example). I have an Evo and it's loaded with Sprint apps. I can't take them off but I also don't have to use them. So I just ignore them and never use them and pretend they aren't there.

 

[Kyle Gibb]

If sideloading is a huge issue for you, you can always get an unlocked Nexus 1. But for 99% of people what is on the market should be more than enough. Google doesn't block stuff like Apple does.

 

[takeshi]

Can I get rid of the AT&T apps and replace them with equivalent Android Apps?

That's 2 separate questions. The first probably requires rooting. The second is a yes but you'd be stuck with Market apps. There's probably a workaround for the latter though.

 

[Kyle Gibb]

That's 2 separate questions. The first probably requires rooting. The second is a yes but you'd be stuck with Market apps. There's probably a workaround for the latter though.

The Galaxy S will be such a great selling phone that I am sure someone will solve these issues with a root or workaround soon after launch.