Verizon to its smartphones: thou shalt have no other app store before mine

Verizon's getting very keen on entering the app store industry, but not without some rough decrees to its smartphone partners. According to GigaOm, VP Partner Management Ryan Hughes said in an interview Friday that its VZW-branded shop will house content from all the major platforms under one roof, with purchases being billed through the customer's Verizon account and not requiring a separate signup / credit card entry. Convenient for consumers, and devs are also being promised a more streamlined approval process and a "competitive" revenue-sharing program, but here's where things take a turn for the worse: according to Hughes, non-VZW app stores like BlackBerry App World or Windows Mobile Marketplace won't be bundled with the smartphones out of the box, meaning consumers will have to take the initiative to download those portals for themselves. An incredibly jerk move, and an extra burden on developers who'll be having to submit two approval applications if they want inclusion on Verizon's own store. Of course, that large subscriber base is the reason it can get away with it, but let's hope we hear some better justifications other than "because we can" when the full details are rolled out at the Verizon Developer Community Conference on July 28th.

[Information Central @ Jul 13th 2009 8:29PM]

This doesn't make sense.

First it says, "its shop will house content from all the major platforms under one roof".
Then it says, "non-VZW app stores like BlackBerry App World or Windows Mobile Marketplace won't be bundled with the smartphones out of the box".

Let's step up the writing quality a bit here.

[Rollins @ Jul 13th 2009 8:30PM]

Makes sense to me.

Verizon is going to make its own application store for all major platforms (read: WinMob and BlackBerry). It will come pre-installed.

Non-Verizon stores (BlackBerry App World/Windows Mobile Marketplace) will not come pre-installed on Verizon smartphones.

[Robert Steiner @ Jul 13th 2009 8:31PM]

What don't you understand about that? Seems quite clear to me...

[Jonathan @ Jul 13th 2009 8:32PM]

As I understand it, Verizon will have an app store for all phones. This app store will include any Blackberry or WinMo apps that devs submitt to it and can be billed to the Verizon bill.

If a user realizes Verizon's app store is the devil and want to get apps another way, they'll have to side-load or download the App World or whatever other non-Verizon app store they wish to use...but Verizon won't let it come loaded on the phone, to promote use of the Verizon store.

It's kinda confusing, I guess. All you need to know is that Verizon is up to something that consumers should ignore.

[mian @ Jul 13th 2009 9:03PM]

Time to step up the reading quality. Engadget has flubbed a lot lately, though I don't Ross was responsible for any of it, and there's nothing wrong with this post.

I've never really been tempted by VZW, and I'm glad about that today. There's nothing good about additional carrier control of smartphone apps. They do enough damage indirectly. Let's just hope this doesn't catch on with other carriers.

[Big Al @ Jul 13th 2009 9:05PM]

It's quite simple, really. Verizon wants people to use its network because of its service and apps, and not because of the phones they carry. If they didn't do this, more people would follow the phones (e.g. iPhone) and those people would have no problems to jump between AT&T, VzW, Sprint, etc... which is what most Engadget readers do anyway :-)

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 13th 2009 9:19PM]

classic god damn verizon. i swear, CDMA is always pulling one thing or another, whether crippling phones, locking out gps, or basically...stuff like this

[SimbaDogg @ Jul 13th 2009 9:20PM]

opps, forgot to throw in carriers there. cdma carriers

[Someperson @ Jul 13th 2009 9:35PM]

Well, that pretty much does it for the Calgary and the Android Market... I'm so glad I'm not on Verizon.

[Nikesh @ Jul 13th 2009 10:06PM]

Yep another fup uck by Verizon and another stupid post by an OP who didn't read carefully enough or isn't capable of understanding English.

[Justin Dennis @ Jul 14th 2009 1:44AM]

Dude, how about you read more carefully before you criticize? You Lose!

[RicoRich196 @ Jul 14th 2009 4:21AM]

Nah my brotha it's Verizon. If you look Sprint, Alltell, US Cellular (while it's still alltell) and other CDMA providers don't gimp their phones.

[nickacumberland @ Jul 14th 2009 10:59AM]

One would assume you would read the post a couple times to be sure before you take the time to blast Engadget. I, on the other hand, love Engadget - keep up the good work guys!

[Information Central @ Jul 14th 2009 3:33PM]

"its shop will house content from all the major platforms under one roof"

Which makes adding those platforms separately REDUNDANT. That's what doesn't make sense. Verizon's store already provides access to the content from the others, and there's no mention of an additional markup.

Think it through.

[Jonathan @ Jul 13th 2009 8:30PM]

Verizon's app store now charges monthly subscription fees (3.99 for ebay) or insanely high year rentals (that "cool golf app!")

No one should collaborate with Verizon for their app stores. No developers should submit to this store. This should not be supported by, or used by, anyone.

Unless, of course, someone would prefer to pay a subscription fee through Verizon rather than a purchase price through the genuine store. Seeing as how Verizon's been doing this for so long, I'm starting to believe people don't mind. It seems to be working for the "app friendly" enVs.

[Gregorian @ Jul 13th 2009 9:18PM]

The trouble is that if that is on a large chunk of your customers phones, then you don't have much choice. If you don't put your app there, it wont sell.

What this does is fnargle up Microsoft and RIMs attempts to make neat easy to use and understand competitors to the App Store. It makes purchasing apps on their platforms messier.

[Clyde Berry @ Jul 13th 2009 10:11PM]

The best part about VZW apps is that next to none of them are free. Why should I pay 2.99 for something that would be free on a non-Verizon phone?

[ThreeDee912 @ Jul 13th 2009 11:30PM]

They're even charging $6/month for an app that loads up Wikipedia articles.

The sad thing is people are actually buying it. Verizon bundles basic mobile WAP internet with mostly all of their plans. Do people not realize they can simply browse to the actual Wikipedia website on their phone?

On dumbphones, there's even a new $5/MB data charge, in addition to the piles of BREW DRM-filled crippleware.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BREW

[Gerard @ Jul 14th 2009 1:00AM]

As soon as Verizon switched to LTE I was planning on switching from ATT to them. But now that they pull this crap I'm staying with the death star even though I could just use an unlocked phone. It's just the principal of the thing!

[Pat @ Jul 13th 2009 8:33PM]

yes it does. they will have their own app store. if you want the one native to the device, you have to download it yourself

[AlDeezy @ Jul 13th 2009 8:34PM]

F#%k you to, Verizon. =(

[KarlW @ Jul 13th 2009 8:55PM]

Indeed. We're getting better and better phones when the separation between carrier and phone manufacturer is more distinct. In my perfect setup, the two have nothing to do with each other, just as my ISP doesn't have any influence over my desktop OS. Verizon don't understand their role in this model. I'd never want to be with such a carrier.

I am absolutely against all carrier branding and other crapware they put on their phones as if I'm loyal to them - I'm loyal to whoever has the cheapest price and best network for as long as I'm contractually obligated to be. Their brand means nothing to me, just as I don't care for the brands of my other utility providers.

[Hardcore @ Jul 13th 2009 9:11PM]

I'm so happy I dropped Verizon Wireless for Sprint years ago. Although their FIOS TV/Internet service kicks ass - it's night and day.
So to some up: HATE Verizon Wireless, LOVE Verizon FIOS.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jul 13th 2009 11:44PM]

I hate Verizon, but the headline made me think that they were going to ban other app stores, not merely fail to bundle them.

[Taylor. Yes, Taylor. @ Jul 14th 2009 1:55AM]

Just adding: F#ck Verizon.

Oh, yeah, I added the same thing. Because that's how people feel.

I've never been burned or hurt by Verizon, I'm not bitter, I just hate them. I had them for 9 years and by the end I came to realize how horrible they were. Its things *EXACTLY* like this that makes them completely suck.

*VERIZON ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT GET IT*

I just f*cking wish they knew.
-Taylor

[Frankenstein Black @ Jul 14th 2009 10:48AM]

And the LAMENESS continues. There will NEVER be an iPhone on Verizon! Ivan and Steve just wont see i to i, PERIOD!

[sgt_easton @ Jul 13th 2009 8:34PM]

Verizon being restrictive? Would have never guessed that was coming!

[2007.frank @ Jul 13th 2009 9:40PM]

Well, from what I read in the article it seems you would have to download the app store app. And there would be a Verizon app store on the iphone instead.

[Ordeith @ Jul 13th 2009 10:09PM]

Verizon keep Moto tools from working on their phones for NO GOOD REASON.

The company is as much, or more, big brother than Apple.

Stay clear.

[the4thheat @ Jul 13th 2009 10:12PM]

I for one am totally, utterly, shocked that the company that insisted on replacing the UIs on every single phone with their garbageware for years, the same company that actually charged people to use the built in bluetooth features on their phones would ever do such a thing. I'm pretty sure when they replaced the UIs they also jacked half the ring tones just in case you would ever think of not paying them for stuff that comes free with every other carrier.
How uhh unexpected, not.
I remember when my brother and I both had Motorola RAZRs except he had the much newer phone that was supposed to be much better hardware...except he had the Verizon version and I had a regular one. So even though I had the old crappy phone, I could actually use all my features and didn't have to deal with an interface that ran at what can only be described as hilariously slow.
I don't know why anybody puts up with this phone crippling idiocy. Seriously if I was a handset maker I would just plain refuse to deal with these numbnuts because they just about ruin every single phone they lay hands on and it probably harms the phone manufacturer's reputation because people think they're responsible when it's really Verizon taking every decent phone and just sh*tting on it.

[LondonConsultant @ Jul 14th 2009 6:19AM]

American capitalism can be more restrictive than a North Korean government. Thank God the EU steps in regularly to rein in the anti-competitive practices of US multi-nationals. Can you imagine the uproar if Vodafone or T-Mobile tried pulling a fast one like this across Europe...

[Epsilon-Not @ Jul 13th 2009 8:34PM]

So doesn't this basically closes the door for a Verizon iPhone, even in the mythical LTE future? I mean, you know Apple's not going to stand for anyone controlling their platform except for them.

[Eric @ Jul 13th 2009 9:13PM]

That's why Verizon didn't get the iPhone in the first place - they wouldn't let Apple control it the way AT&T would. The Verizon CEO all but admitted it back in 2007.

[catbertz @ Jul 13th 2009 9:24PM]

That's the first thing I thought of as well. I can't imagine Apple will play along with this plan.

[aj_robins @ Jul 14th 2009 12:25AM]

Yeah, I'm thinking this may kill the possibility of ever having the iPhone on Verizon.

[Pat @ Jul 13th 2009 8:35PM]

i freakin hate verizon for that reason. apple would never go to them for that exact reason. if anyting please go to sprint ;)

VZW IS THE WORST

[Anonymous @ Jul 14th 2009 12:51AM]

Haha.........today, I was talking with my friend, who has that one phone with the changing keyboard (landscape and portrait keyboard, physical). It was on Verizion network. My family's phones are on the AT&T network. I was saying about getting an iPhone on the Verizion network if it happens. Now that I read this, goodbye Verizion. You suck.

[zephxiii @ Jul 13th 2009 8:37PM]

LAME!!

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 13th 2009 9:29PM]

It wallows in lameness.

[... @ Jul 13th 2009 8:39PM]

In a way, I could argue Apple is being restrictive too with their app store...

However, it's no where near as bad as what VZW is proposing.

[Epsilon-Not @ Jul 13th 2009 8:41PM]

Eh, at&t seems to have a veto over what goes in the App Store, so really it almost seems like the Verizon App Store is more open- only VZW will be rejecting your apps, not some combination of VZ and MSFT/RIMM (and in a mythical magical world, AAPL)

Though VZW, being VZW, will probably be more expensive, so forget what I just said.

[Terry @ Jul 13th 2009 9:20PM]

In a way you could..in a way that would be wrong.

[murmermer @ Jul 13th 2009 11:03PM]

@ Epsilon

its one thing to say an app can't stream Live television its another to force the developer to submit everything in duplicate just to make a dime off of it?

[TitaniumMan @ Jul 13th 2009 8:41PM]

but..but I thought Verizon had an "open" network.....
I don't quite understand????


*****joins the dark side****
FAIL FAIL FAIL VERIZON!
GO AT&T AND IPHONE.
CRUUUUUUUUUSH THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gerrrg @ Jul 13th 2009 8:42PM]

No Android for VZW?

[Mike @ Jul 13th 2009 8:43PM]

Verizon : "We've got the best network EVA! You can hear me now!.... but we will cripple all your featured phones and we're going to try and force feed you your apps at exorbitant prices."

AT&T : "We've got the phones! And bars and stuff! But don't expect 3G to work reliably in huge metropolitan areas. And sorry about that dropped call."

Sprint : "We're not going out of business. Honest. Really. Don't ask about or subscriber numbers."

T-Mobile : "Yes we are still here too. We've got Catherine Zeta Jones, and she's still hot. 3G is a figment of your imagination."




Sigh...

[cmsb55 @ Jul 13th 2009 8:46PM]

Verizon's network*GSM+AT&T's phones=best carrier ever

[Wii60 @ Jul 13th 2009 9:29PM]

There were rumors abound that T-Mo could've bought Sprint a little while before the Pre was launched.

They really should've done that. Thier customer service + android + Sprint's High Speed data would've been a real winner.

[ddub @ Jul 14th 2009 1:23AM]

how does that work? sprint is cdma and tmobile is gsm. isn't that an issue?

[iceman_g @ Jul 13th 2009 8:44PM]

Guess this will kill hope for the iPhone on VZW LTE network by 2011. Cant imagine Apple playing that this game with VZW