Verizon has just launched the Samsung Fascinate online today and the device will be available in stores tomorrow. As some of you might have noticed, any image of the device’s homescreen that shows the search bar is showing Microsoft’s Bing search widget.
TheDroidGuy contacted a Verizon spokesperson and asked about the Google Search feature and the spokesperson replied:
“We also have a great relationship with Microsoft and Bing is the default search engine on our feature phones. Customers may change the search engine on their phones if they like.”
Through some investigating by TheDroidGuy, we are learning that users cannot side load the Google Search app, nor can you locate the application in the market. After speaking with his Verizon contacts, we are learning that Verizon is planning on removing Google Search as the native search application on future Android devices and replacing it with Microsoft’s Bing.
Via: The Droid Guy
Has Verizon just crossed Google?
About the Author
Nick Ver Voort to drop Verizon for future Android devices!
WTF?? WHY? Eff M$
WTF?? WHY? Eff M$
Tachyon seconds Nick Ver Voort drop!
Tachyon seconds Nick Ver Voort drop!
Tachyon seconds Nick Ver Voort drop!
Looks like I just lost ALL interest in owning a Verizon Android device.
Say it ain’t so! Our hacker friends will find a way around bing. Google rules! Droid X
hahaha they just shot themselves in the foot!
let’s hope there’s an easy way to switch it to a real search engine
Not a big deal. The fascinate is a galaxy s device. We have root. google apps (including the search widget) are easy to get from a variety of sources, including roms from the vibrant and captivate. This is literally a 60 second fix.
Root your phones, people.
[...] default! Instead they will have Microsoft Bing as the default search. From Android Spin Link:Verizon to drop Google Search for future Android devices AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Everythi… Verizon has just launched the Samsung Fascinate online today and the device will be available in [...]
WTF? This doesn’t make sense, Verizon.
Its sad that Verizon had been doing so well with Android phones and not messing with them too much.
Making Bing default is not a big deal. Trying to put up walls to prevent people from using google is not cool at all.
I don’t think this will be an issue around for very long. 3.0 is already rumoured at being non-customizable by carriers/manufactures, and even if that’s not the case, Google could probably hardwire search by google default in future OS’s.
That or give people a choice. I’m not too worried.
Unacceptable!
[...] seems that some people were a little more than upset over the latest rumor that Verizon was dropping Google Search from future Android handsets. You can breathe a little easier now that knowing that Verizon has [...]