Vodafone suggests future Android phones could have less Google

Android and Google may seem inseparable to some, but Vodafone is apparently suggesting that some of its future Android-based phones could possibly pack a little less Google and a little more Vodafone. While the carrier unsurprisingly isn't offering much in the way of specifics just yet, it did tell TechRadar that future Android phones could ditch some of the familiar Google services in favor of a more "basic package" that would let Vodafone (or other carriers following the same route) offer their own client software instead -- a winning idea if there ever was one. And it seems that there will indeed be more Android phones in the offing from Vodafone sooner rather than later, with Vodafone's Rachel William's telling TechRadar that the carrier is "looking at other Android devices," and that "by joining the Open Handset Alliance it shows our commitment."

[Via Talk Android]

[Voiding Warranties @ Apr 29th 2009 3:03PM]

I think that there isn't ENOUGH Google in it.

[Josh @ Apr 29th 2009 3:07PM]

i got a fever, and the only prescription is more google

[RoroCo @ Apr 29th 2009 3:08PM]

Can someone tell Vodafone that people like Android because of the Google ties... and not despite it.

[tracester @ Apr 29th 2009 10:11PM]

i second (or sixth) that

[Jorvay @ Apr 29th 2009 4:22PM]

Yeah, just want we want: replace a consistent, constant, common, and reliable Google tool with a half-baked, locked-out, proprietary piece of crap. Has Vodafone been taking it's business cues from Rogers?

[Jamma @ Apr 29th 2009 3:04PM]

from my experiences of past vodafone software, this is not good for android

[KarlW @ Apr 29th 2009 3:50PM]

From past experience of any carrier software, this is not good news for consumers or android.

Leave the software to the people who specialise in it. After the iPhone, carriers started to leave the devices to the people who made them. Now they're trying to get back in, which is stupid because:
- Carrier-made software is mostly rubbish
- I imagine it costs them more to make this software that nobody wants in the first place
- They're under the delusion that I'm with them for reasons other than price and coverage. They think I'm loyal to their brand and respect and adore anything with their logo on it. I'd switch to Al Qaeda's cell service if the price and coverage was good enough. Loyalty has nothing to do with it.
- I get annoyed by the carrier logo on the handset. I do not want more branding on my phone.

Carriers need to realise their place. They are a utility provider. I don't want a browser from my ISP or a cooker from my gas company.

[Ravnos @ Apr 29th 2009 10:48PM]

@KarlW: "They're under the delusion that I'm with them for reasons other than price and coverage. They think I'm loyal to their brand and respect and adore anything with their logo on it."

They're under no such delusions. They are, however, under the impression that if they lock the firmwares of their branded phones they can sell you back all the features they took out for a great profit, and that people will not be smart enough to look past the price-with-contract to see it. They're also under the impression that while it IS possible to install unbranded firmwares on a phone and unlock them for use with other carriers, most people either don't know how to do so or can't be arsed. They're basically right on all counts, so if you don't like it, start buying unlocked phones without carrier branding and quit supporting their terrible practices.

[Sanskrit @ Apr 29th 2009 3:05PM]

"future Android phones could ditch some of the familiar Google services in favor of a more "basic package" that would let Vodafone (or other carriers following the same route) offer their own client software instead"

Read: expect your Android phones to be Verizonized.

[TheSuburbanWhiteBoy @ Apr 29th 2009 3:06PM]

I think there need to be more THIRD! party apps

[Col. Readily Apparent Upon Cursory Inspection @ Apr 29th 2009 7:56PM]

I see what you tried to do there. You were just one minute too late.

[Eastman @ Apr 29th 2009 3:06PM]

oh hell ...
people cuss about google all ya want but a Vodawallet garden is muuuch worse ..
am so happy not having to bother with their cripple fones no more ..

[superhobo @ Apr 29th 2009 3:06PM]

That's like saying future linux distros will have less canonical...or torvalds...or something.

It's not unusual for open source software.

[E C S Sucks @ Apr 29th 2009 3:08PM]

Very bad for the future of android. I've used vodafone on all my phones and they pack alot of vodafone in to their phones and it isn't welcome. In fact I hate it. As for techradar its a brilliant site.

[Chip @ Apr 29th 2009 3:15PM]

Ditching perfectly functional Google apps for crappy, crippled Vodaphone apps? that should go over swimmingly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[Rod @ Apr 29th 2009 3:16PM]

I hope Vodafone gets their ass kicked on this one.

Leave the software alone and stick to what you're good at...being a good mobile dumb-pipe provider. The moment Telco's start getting delusions of grandeur over their levels of influence, they f@ck up perfectly good phones with really shitty software and firmware.

LEAVE IT BE!

[Epsilon-Not @ Apr 29th 2009 3:17PM]

Hey Vodafone, since you're such big fans of Android, why not try to push your partial subsidiary over here in the US into selling some Android phones?

[MrBoB @ Apr 29th 2009 3:17PM]

How is it that the carriers don't understand that we hate their crap software. Their big plan is the de-integrate the functionality which makes android so powerful? Are the phone companies run entirely by trolls?

[G @ Apr 29th 2009 3:19PM]

Great idea Vodafone, you never thought twice about crippling your devices, why should you think about it now?

[fffunfarm06 @ Apr 29th 2009 3:20PM]

i have a question and its gonna make me sound dumb.
android is an OS by google? or is it a chip or type of phone?
and is android cool?

its just something ive never seem explained since the G1

[fffunfarm06 @ Apr 29th 2009 3:21PM]

seem=seen

[Rod @ Apr 29th 2009 3:23PM]

Android is to Google what XP / Vista & W7 is to Microsoft.

Yes it's cool. And free. And fast. Hmm. come to think of it, it's nothing like windows...

[BlurMagic @ Apr 29th 2009 3:30PM]

Since this seems like a sincere question, I'll answer it for you.

Android is and OS produced by Google. Currently the only phone on the market available to purchase with the Android OS is the G1. If you understand open source, then yes, Android is very cool. It is in essence, limitless. Basically Google created a partnership of a bunch of different companies called the Open Handset Alliance. It's a bunch of big name brands that all agreed to work on the Android OS and market phones running the operating system. Android is not a chip, and Android is not a phone. It's basically Google's version of Windows Mobile (Except completely and awesomely better). The point of Android in my opinion, is for Google to eventually completely dominate the cell phone market with their OS (because it can be applied in so many different form factors) which in turn creates more ad space, which is Googles thing. More ad space equals more money for Google.

[fffunfarm06 @ Apr 29th 2009 6:14PM]

wow blurmagic. thanks for the great explaination. so the G1 is really that good i wouldnt have thought.
so is it something that apple should be afraid of with androids UI? very neat though.

i dont really like my instinct. it doesnt do anything cool like apps.

[BlurMagic @ Apr 29th 2009 7:49PM]

I theory,

Yes Apple should be a little bit worried. Apple is trying to dominate the cellphone market with one phone. Where as the purpose of Android is to put a standard operating system onto every hand held. So it would be Google's army of phones vs. 1 Apple iPhone on 1 network... Which right now doesn't seem that bad because Android is currently as exclusive as the iPhone. One phone, One network. However, when Android becomes available in different form factors, I have a hard time thinking that it won't begin to take a large portion of the mobile market. But, as it is right now, the mobile market is up for grabs anyways. In the last couple years we have seen the emergence of companies like LG and HTC and companies such as Motorola have drastically been outsold and were swirling with rumors of bankruptcy. So. Take it for what you want. This is all my personal opinion anyways.

[Marco Juan @ Apr 29th 2009 3:21PM]

I CAN'T WAIT!

Now it'll be so much easier to buy $4.00 ringtones!

Hopefully I'll be able to spend 2 bucks on a awesome wallpaper too!

[HereAndNow @ Apr 29th 2009 3:22PM]

As long as the Google apps can be installed from the Android Market, it should not be a problem. It would probably make Android more "neutral", in the event that it really takes off.

My only concern would be if the Vodafone apps could not be removed & replaced with Google, Yahoo, etc. apps that I might prefer over Vodafone's apps.

[chefgon_ign @ Apr 29th 2009 6:03PM]

As far as I know, there's no way to get Google's apps unless they come pre-installed on the phone. If you download and compile your own Android build, the Google services aren't there and I don't think you can get them online. In fact, I don't think you even get the Market from the stock Android installation.

[Alex @ Apr 29th 2009 8:07PM]

I'm sure if carriers started ripping them out of the installed ROM, Google would throw the standard apps up on their market place for download. More eyes on their ads!

[shootingblue @ Apr 29th 2009 3:42PM]

If this happens then google will certainly add their apps to the market place, such as gmail, gtalk, etc etc. I would hope that if carriers start adding their crap ware, there would be able to be a way to uninstall it. If not I'm sure one can always flash a clean version of Android to their phone.

[TJ @ Apr 29th 2009 3:47PM]

Less Google, but MORE cowbell.....I need more cowbell.

[ForbesMyester @ May 2nd 2009 6:26PM]

I'm not against having a stripped down OS, it may help in some ways, some company maybe like BlackBerry forinstance could take Android (Instead of their own OS, which seems OK but not-so-good-as), put in on their phones with a more enterprise geared mail/calendar/other apps, therefore adding real value to their customers.

Yes those carriers who make rubbish software map put their naff stuff on them, but hmm, does Android have package management like Linux distro's to make getting it off!

[FuzzyCat @ Apr 29th 2009 6:10PM]

Screw vodafone and their shitty data allowances.

[Ravnos @ Apr 29th 2009 10:52PM]

Shitty data allowances? Come to Canada and use Rogers for a while. You'll be begging to go back to Vodafone.

[FuzzyCat @ Apr 30th 2009 3:50AM]

You get less than 15mb/day ? If so I'm never going to Canada!

[JohnnyGTO @ Apr 29th 2009 8:40PM]

Ooooh I get it turn a perfectly good smartphone into a Wince clone!

[Jordan @ Apr 29th 2009 11:00PM]

If Vodafone wants their shit on it, then they can make apps available from the market for their phones. No need to bog down their roms with crapware, users will just flash roms without those apps anyways if they don't want them.

[glenskey @ Apr 30th 2009 12:09AM]

boo! vodafone.