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Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

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Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#21

Post by zepto »

Vermeulen wrote: post #16
_m8fo wrote: post #14

Is this really that different from Verizon phones having Google services enabled by default (if that's even true -- I don't use Verizon). Why is Verizon spying on you any worse, or better than Google or Facebook? No one should spy on you. Period.

By using Google's free services you agree to giving them data - that's not how customers want to use an ISP. Google is a company that relies on trust. If I can't trust them with my data their business will seriously suffer. Verizon in no way cares about users trusting them, it's not in their business model. It needs to be a choice what companies I trust with my data

This is false. A lack of trust will not hurt google one bit since there is no meaningful competition for their search engine and the vast majority of their revenue comes from search ads.

Edit: This may be an unpopular conclusion but it based on facts.

https://www.cnet.com/news/people-trust-nsa-more-than-google-...

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#22

Post by _m8fo »

Vermeulen wrote: post #16
_m8fo wrote: post #14

Is this really that different from Verizon phones having Google services enabled by default (if that's even true -- I don't use Verizon). Why is Verizon spying on you any worse, or better than Google or Facebook? No one should spy on you. Period.

By using Google's free services you agree to giving them data - that's not how customers want to use an ISP. Google is a company that relies on trust. If I can't trust them with my data their business will seriously suffer. Verizon in no way cares about users trusting them, it's not in their business model. It needs to be a choice what companies I trust with my data

It's very unlikely that Verizon's business will suffer, given their membership in the internet oligopoly [1]. Also, in regards to your other point -- what's stopping Verizon from just changing their business model? The fact Google offers free services is irrelevant.

Verizon could do this and "offer" faster internet, claiming this tracking is what enables everyone to have faster internet for "free." There's a cost to everything -- including giving away your information. If there was no cost, then Google and company wouldn't want it. The fact that they're able to make money from it implies there's value, and if you're giving away value, it must be costing you. It's just not dollars.

I still think you shouldn't let anyone spy on you, free or not. What Verizon is doing is just the same as them raising the price of their service, except worse, because once they have your data the returns on it will only compound.

[1] http://www.verizon.com/about/news/dispelling-the-myth-of-a-t...

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#23

Post by ourmandave »

jaredandrews wrote: post #13

Verizon is the only cell company that has coverage in my home town in central Massachusetts. Thus I have used them all my life. I recently had my first "positive" customer service with experience with Verizon switching to their unlimited plan. My bill dropped significantly. ($120 base -> $80 but really $200 -> $80 because I always go over on data) I just noticed that I have a "phone upgrade" waiting as well. I am an…

Verizon is very big in my town, but I pay $35/month for less-than-wonderful Virgin Mobile. Can't get a signal in the office but it's not worth +$85/month more to me.

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#24

Post by cryptarch »

moltenbobcat wrote: post #15
jaredandrews wrote: post #13

Verizon is the only cell company that has coverage in my home town in central Massachusetts. Thus I have used them all my life. I recently had my first "positive" customer service with experience with Verizon switching to their unlimited plan. My bill dropped significantly. ($120 base -> $80 but really $200 -> $80 because I always go over on data) I just noticed that I have a "phone upgrade" waiting as well. I am an…

Surely they are going to be loading it using Carrier Configuration tied to the sim card... As soon as you put a verizon sim card into your unlocked non verizon phone it installed a bunch of helper apps. https://source.android.com/devices/tech/config/carrier.html

Anyone know of a way to disable that? Just "don't upgrade to Android 6.0", or burning a custom ROM with some parts hacked out?

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#25

Post by JustSomeNobody »

jaywunder wrote: post #18
_m8fo wrote: post #14

Is this really that different from Verizon phones having Google services enabled by default (if that's even true -- I don't use Verizon). Why is Verizon spying on you any worse, or better than Google or Facebook? No one should spy on you. Period.

The reason why I'm okay with Google, but not Verizon spying on me is because I pay Verizon but I don't pay Google. Verizon shouldn't have to sell my data for more money because they already charge money for their service. If their service is too expensive then Verizon can charge more money. However Google gives me services for free so I expect they'll sell my data to other companies.

Exactly. Your data is a currency. I cannot stress this enough. I(!) should be allowed to spend that currency however I choose. If I am already paying you for a service, you shouldn't get to have my data, too!

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#26

Post by jaredandrews »

moltenbobcat wrote: post #15
jaredandrews wrote: post #13

Verizon is the only cell company that has coverage in my home town in central Massachusetts. Thus I have used them all my life. I recently had my first "positive" customer service with experience with Verizon switching to their unlimited plan. My bill dropped significantly. ($120 base -> $80 but really $200 -> $80 because I always go over on data) I just noticed that I have a "phone upgrade" waiting as well. I am an…

Surely they are going to be loading it using Carrier Configuration tied to the sim card... As soon as you put a verizon sim card into your unlocked non verizon phone it installed a bunch of helper apps. https://source.android.com/devices/tech/config/carrier.html

Very interesting, thanks for pointing out. As far as I can tell nothing was installed by Verizon on my most recent phone. I was using it as a dev device before using at as my primary phone, so I was pretty aware of what was installed on it. This was over a year ago and I think I started with a 5.X version of Android. Will have to see what happens next time I switch phones... welp.

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#27

Post by 0xfeba »

moltenbobcat wrote: post #15
jaredandrews wrote: post #13

Verizon is the only cell company that has coverage in my home town in central Massachusetts. Thus I have used them all my life. I recently had my first "positive" customer service with experience with Verizon switching to their unlimited plan. My bill dropped significantly. ($120 base -> $80 but really $200 -> $80 because I always go over on data) I just noticed that I have a "phone upgrade" waiting as well. I am an…

Surely they are going to be loading it using Carrier Configuration tied to the sim card... As soon as you put a verizon sim card into your unlocked non verizon phone it installed a bunch of helper apps. https://source.android.com/devices/tech/config/carrier.html

Ah, so that's how those Verizon apps got on my Pixel!

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#29

Post by bognition »

jaredandrews wrote: post #13

Verizon is the only cell company that has coverage in my home town in central Massachusetts. Thus I have used them all my life. I recently had my first "positive" customer service with experience with Verizon switching to their unlimited plan. My bill dropped significantly. ($120 base -> $80 but really $200 -> $80 because I always go over on data) I just noticed that I have a "phone upgrade" waiting as well. I am an…

> It sucks knowing that thru my monthly bill that I am subsidizing a "phone upgrade" program that I am never going to take advantage of

One of the reasons that your phone bill likely dropped is that Verizon no longer couples the cost of your phone with your contract.

Re: Verizon announces plans to install a download-tracking app on its Android phones

#30

Post by gcb0 »

JustSomeNobody wrote: post #6

Aren't their protections in place for advertising and children? Parents buy phones for their children, so will parents be able to turn this off for them? Verizon has NO business tracking children.

they will fix it just like everyone else. see Facebook. just add a "must be 18" to the eula nobody ever read. and then blame the parents if you did track kids.
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