Why did Verizon remove Google & Replace it with Bing?!

[dsignori]

I sent this email to Verizon regarding Bing:



I have been a Verizon Wireless customer for almost 15 years. During that time I have remained a loyal customer because of Verizon's superior network and strong customer service. For years I was disappointed with Verizon's selection of phones and smart phones until about a year ago when Verizon launched their Android line of phones. Since that time I have been extremely happy with the technology Verizon offers. However, recent developments with your company have infuriated me as a customer of Verizon to no end. I have learned that a phone I was anticipating, the Samsung Fascinate, is preloaded with Bing search instead of Google. This would be a mute point except your company decided to make Bing the only search option on the phone. The default search cannot be changed, and the Google search bar is not loaded onto the phone, and cannot be used. Considering that the Android phone is a Google product, it is reprehensible that this important Google feature is missing from the phone. As a customer I pay almost three thousand dollars a year for your services. How on Earth have I not paid for the right to experience Android phones the way they are meant to be used and experienced. I sincerely hope that this practice will not spread to other Android handsets. If Verizon allows this terrible anti customer practice to spread to other Android smart phones, I will immediately discontinue services with your company, and express my frustrations with everyone I know including multiple forums. I am not alone in my anger and frustration. Countless post on the internet are expressing the same frustration. As a Verizon customer, I deserve superior products that meet my needs. Your competitors offer these products, and so should you!

Angry and Frustrated Customer




Here is Verizon's response:


Thank you for your feedback. I am very happy to hear you have been pleased with the new Android phones, however, I am very sorry to hear of your disappointment with the preloaded BING search engine which is pre-installed in the new Samsung Fascinate Android phone. My name is Veronica and I am happy to assist you with your concerns regarding the BING application being the default search engine for this new exciting Android phone.

I have great news for you! Although the Samsung Fascinate is preloaded with BING search instead of Google, you may indeed change your search engine to Google on the Samsung Fascinate.

On the Samsung Fascinate after signing into Market, search for the Google application (i.e. Google Maps or Google Voice Search), and install the desired application. Your browser homepage may also be changed by selecting More > Settings > Set Home Page. You may also place a shortcut to the Google Search and/or Maps application on the desktop for quick access and use.

Dax, Verizon Wireless is always looking for ways to better meet the needs of our customers and your comments and feedback provides us with the perfect opportunity to hear exactly what you think, and often leads to improvements and changes you will see in the future. Thank you for taking your valuable time to express your thoughts and concerns.

I hope the information I have provided above regarding making Google Search your search engine on the Samsung Fascinate is helpful to you. We appreciate your business and loyalty over the years thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless for your wireless needs! You are truly a valued customer, and I hope we are able to restore your confidence in Verizon Wireless so that we can prove we are worthy of your continued business. Should you have additional questions or feel your concerns are not resolved, please reply to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Veronica
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service

Quite interesting. Google Voice search downloadable is good...

 

[Cory Streater]

Here is Verizon's response:


Thank you for your feedback. I am very happy to hear you have been pleased with the new Android phones, however, I am very sorry to hear of your disappointment with the preloaded BING search engine which is pre-installed in the new Samsung Fascinate Android phone. My name is Veronica and I am happy to assist you with your concerns regarding the BING application being the default search engine for this new exciting Android phone.

I have great news for you! Although the Samsung Fascinate is preloaded with BING search instead of Google, you may indeed change your search engine to Google on the Samsung Fascinate.

On the Samsung Fascinate after signing into Market, search for the Google application (i.e. Google Maps or Google Voice Search), and install the desired application. Your browser homepage may also be changed by selecting More > Settings > Set Home Page. You may also place a shortcut to the Google Search and/or Maps application on the desktop for quick access and use.

I'll believe this when I see it with my own 2 eyes. None of the reviewers have been able to find the Google Search app in the Market.

 

[dsignori]

I'll believe this when I see it with my own 2 eyes. None of the reviewers have been able to find the Google Search app in the Market.

Very true. I have heard also though, that the Google Search widget appears in the Market only for 2.2 devices. Can anyone with 2.1 confirm they see it in the market?

 

[Ivisi]

Very true. I have heard also though, that the Google Search widget appears in the Market only for 2.2 devices. Can anyone with 2.1 confirm they see it in the market?

Isn't there a difference between the Google Voice Search *application* and the Google Search *widget*? Aren't they two different things that just happen to tie into each other?

I personally don't care that Bing comes preloaded onto the phone, or that it is not removable by default, as I am buying the phone with the intention of rooting and flashing it to something that suits me. The hardware is what I want. However, I think it is important to distinguish between these apps, their availability on the market, and their 'installability' onto the OEM installation.

Can we remove TouchWiz from running and replace it with the stock Android UI without rooting the phone? Yes. Can we replace Bing maps and VZ Navigator with Google Maps and Navigation without rooting the phone? Yes. Can we install Google Voice search without rooting the phone? Yes. Can we add the Google search widget to one of the home screens without rooting? Unknown. Can we change the default search engine (the one that comes up, for example, when you press the Search button) from Bing to Google without rooting? Unknown.

Those last two questions are the ones that need to be answered for those that are concerned about Bing and its inclusion on the phone.

 

[jokerls240]

Not sure if this has been covered, but Bing is part of a $500M+ deal between M$ and Big Red. Basically, M$ is paying VZW the money over 5 years to push Bing onto most new phones. It has been the only default search engine on VZW's BlackBerries for almost 2 years, so it's no surprise (to me) that Bing is being pushed onto Android phones now. I was actually afraid that it would be included in the Incredible's Froyo update, but I think HTC has just as strong of a hand as M$.

Anywho, good news that we can circumvent Verizon's capitalism. Now I can't wait for tomorrow when my Fascinate gets here!

 

[watchout4d]

Not sure if this has been covered, but Bing is part of a $500M+ deal between M$ and Big Red. Basically, M$ is paying VZW the money over 5 years to push Bing onto most new phones. It has been the only default search engine on VZW's BlackBerries for almost 2 years, so it's no surprise (to me) that Bing is being pushed onto Android phones now. I was actually afraid that it would be included in the Incredible's Froyo update, but I think HTC has just as strong of a hand as M$.

Anywho, good news that we can circumvent Verizon's capitalism. Now I can't wait for tomorrow when my Fascinate gets here!

Considering this practice with Bing has been going on for a couple years now, it seems unlikely Verizon intends to put this on most of their Android phones. It seems "so far" their exclusive android phones have been exempt.

 

[will i am]

I have a question if we could use adw launcher on 2.1 would it have the same google search bar on it as android 2.2 does?

 

[Cory Streater]

I have a question if we could use adw launcher on 2.1 would it have the same google search bar on it as android 2.2 does?

ADW Launcher does not include the Google Search bar. That's a separate download/install.

 

[watchout4d]

Part 2 of My Verizon Contact

I followed up on Verizon's reply regarding the Bing issue asking some of the questions presented here. Here is the follow up--all parts:

(New parts to conversation below this message)




Thank you for your feedback. I am very happy to hear you have been pleased with the new Android phones, however, I am very sorry to hear of your disappointment with the preloaded BING search engine which is pre-installed in the new Samsung Fascinate Android phone. My name is Veronica and I am happy to assist you with your concerns regarding the BING application being the default search engine for this new exciting Android phone.

I have great news for you! Although the Samsung Fascinate is preloaded with BING search instead of Google, you may indeed change your search engine to Google on the Samsung Fascinate.

On the Samsung Fascinate after signing into Market, search for the Google application (i.e. Google Maps or Google Voice Search), and install the desired application. Your browser homepage may also be changed by selecting More > Settings > Set Home Page. You may also place a shortcut to the Google Search and/or Maps application on the desktop for quick access and use.

Dax, Verizon Wireless is always looking for ways to better meet the needs of our customers and your comments and feedback provides us with the perfect opportunity to hear exactly what you think, and often leads to improvements and changes you will see in the future. Thank you for taking your valuable time to express your thoughts and concerns.

I hope the information I have provided above regarding making Google Search your search engine on the Samsung Fascinate is helpful to you. We appreciate your business and loyalty over the years thank you for choosing Verizon Wireless for your wireless needs! You are truly a valued customer, and I hope we are able to restore your confidence in Verizon Wireless so that we can prove we are worthy of your continued business. Should you have additional questions or feel your concerns are not resolved, please reply to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Veronica
Verizon Wireless
Customer Service


My Response:

My understanding from countless post on the internet is that Google Search is not available in the Android Market on the Samsung Fascinate. Also, reviewers have led me to believe that even if you use Google Search for example in the browser, the phone defaults to Bing results. Please clarify these issues for me.
Thank You


Verizon's Response:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. My name is Kori and I am glad I have the opportunity to assist you today.

I appreciate your frustration over the contradictory information you have found. However, please remember that the phone has not yet been released, so the information you are finding on the Internet should be taken with a grain of salt.

Although BING will be the default search engine on the Fascinate, the information provided in our previous email is accurate with regards to the availability of other Google applications such as Maps and Voice Search in the Android Market and the customizability of your BING search experience is correct.

Please reply to this email if you need further assistance or have any other questions. We are open from 6 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week to assist you.

 

[jokerls240]

It's hard to take video evidence with a grain of salt. Verizon customer service is going to say what they've been scripted to say, as you've seen in their responses.

The collective of soon-to-be Fascinate owners should test this in their own hands to see who is really telling the truth. Then those willing to root, root and get rid of the bloatware.

Since my work filters YouTube and social networking sites, I'll have to whip out the Incred and see these video reviews for myself... as soon as I find time with this AT&T network issue we're having. I'm getting calls left and right from BES users not receiving mail. It's a random issue, though. Most are working and a few aren't, so it isn't the server. Anywho... back to the topic...

 

[wtherrell]

Holy Crap!!!! I just checked my upgrade status and such on verizon. Turns out I can get this for $99--AND A SECOND ONE FREE!!!! 2 yr contract on both phones. WOW at $50 each, how can I pass this up? Just hope I don't break my neck falling down the stairs on the way to the Verizon store!!
I will have faith in the Root!!

 

[youngko]

Holy Crap!!!! I just checked my upgrade status and such on verizon. Turns out I can get this for $99--AND A SECOND ONE FREE!!!! 2 yr contract on both phones. WOW at $50 each, how can I pass this up? Just hope I don't break my neck falling down the stairs on the way to the Verizon store!!
I will have faith in the Root!!

why did you feel the need to post this in different threads? we all knew it was BOGO and you had a NE2 credit.

 

[mickey jones]

Can you eliminate Bing by simply installing Launcher Pro? Check this video:

YouTube - Want Google Search on your Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate on Verizon?

 

[badmf222]

Can you eliminate Bing by simply installing Launcher Pro? Check this video:

YouTube - Want Google Search on your Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate on Verizon?

Man....if it is that easy....

I guess if this is legit, TouchWiz is the culprit. Considering many people aren't a real fan of it anyway and plan on installing a different launcher, this would actually work out pretty well.

 

[Sabban]

and here i am thinking about trying out launcher pro, that's just one more reason to

 

[Cory Streater]

Unfortunately it's not that easy. Phil tested it out, and yes you can add the Search Widget, but it still launches Bing for the results. He probably should have taken that video 1-step further.

 

[Phil Nickinson]

I just tried it. While it gives you the Google search widget, results are still pulled from Bing, and NOT Google.

 

[wtherrell]

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry

why did you feel the need to post this in different threads? we all knew it was BOGO and you had a NE2 credit.

My Bad! I just found out about it and was drooling all over myself. I will try to get my self control back shortly.

 

[jokerls240]

Man....if it is that easy....

I guess if this is legit, TouchWiz is the culprit. Considering many people aren't a real fan of it anyway and plan on installing a different launcher, this would actually work out pretty well.

TouchWiz isn't the culprit. It's just a skin. I'm sure if you disable TouchWiz, searches will still get redirected. (see next for more)

Unfortunately it's not that easy. Phil tested it out, and yes you can add the Search Widget, but it still launches Bing for the results. He probably should have taken that video 1-step further.

It sounds like the browser configuration may be culprit here. Much like BlackBerry Service Books (config data for different services/icons that redirect to download apps), somewhere in a config file on the Fascinate is redirecting any and all searches to Bing.

I should refresh myself in Linux and dig around the system dump for this setting.

OT: Does Android Central have its own group of developers/modders? I usually get my stuff from xd... whatever it is.

 

[Cory Streater]

TouchWiz isn't the culprit. It's just a skin. I'm sure if you disable TouchWiz, searches will still get redirected. (see next for more)



It sounds like the browser configuration may be culprit here. Much like BlackBerry Service Books (config data for different services/icons that redirect to download apps), somewhere in a config file on the Fascinate is redirecting any and all searches to Bing.

I should refresh myself in Linux and dig around the system dump for this setting.

OT: Does Android Central have its own group of developers/modders? I usually get my stuff from xd... whatever it is.

Yeah Jerry & Keith - both of which are moderators. We also have some modders hanging out in the EVO forums but I have seen any hanging out in the Galaxy S forums yet.