Child Item

Site Totals

61366 Questions Answered 267 Categories

How Bing found its way to Fascinate and what to expect in the future

Per The Wall Street Journal article, Microsoft Struggles to Gain in Mobile Search market. The full article is at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704621204575488063070212340.html?mod=ITP_marketplace_3#ixzz0zUqW68Mt

One third of its way into a five-year deal to make its Internet search and advertising services the default option on Verizon Wireless cellphones, Microsoft is still struggling to make headway in a market that continues to be dominated by Google. The arrangement with Verizon was aimed at vaulting Microsoft into a competitive position on the mobile Internet. But the deal gave Verizon the right to use Google’s search engine on phones powered by Google’s Android software. So far, on seven of its eight Android phones, Verizon has opted to use Google search under deals where it gets a cut of the ad revenue. But Microsoft is pushing to get more out of its Verizon agreement.

Microsoft says seven new Android phones scheduled to come out on Verizon this fall will feature its search engine, Bing.

The first of those devices, Samsung’s Fascinate, hit stores last week and uses Microsoft software for its default search engine and mapping service.

Microsoft said the Verizon deal has helped the volume of mobile searches on Bing more than triple over the past year.

So here you have it...Bing will still be a default search of Fascinate even after 2.2 update (as many already knew that) and unfortunately more of the same crap will come from VZW in the future. It's all about money for VZW and MS and nobody give a {word filter avoidance}
about what consumer needs and/or wants. The best way to stop VZW and MS allience, is to stop purchasing those phones that carry MS software just like all of as did with Kin (those phones didn't survive even 6 months with VZW).

Comments

Ann154

Hmm... I vote for having both loaded on the phones that we have a choice.

I actually use Bing and bing maps at work. Google maps doesn't always load completely (ugh! Corporate firewalls) so I got out the habit of using Google exclusively. Sometimes I use both. I often have to look up odd addresses. It is surprising how many addresses map on one map and not the other. They are not consistent either. Sometimes Google gets it right, other days it's Bing and then there are days when I resort to mapquest and that website gets it right and the other two are very wrong.

My point is, no search engine is perfect.

CR6

Too many people are making far too big an issue out of Bing being on the Fascinate. If you don't want Bing as your default search engine, either bookmark Google and search from there or root your phone and get rid of it altogether. Two very simple solutions. :robotindifferent:

PJNC284

Agreed. The Bing thing is a minor issue but people will always be looking for something to complain about. I don't use the search widget nor have I used the search button for voice search so I barely even know it's there. The more annoying issue is the slower than normal gps lock that requires an extended period of time to lock. Should be fairly minor to anyone except for those who are the want it now type.

papa_leo

What I can't understand why people are defending poor judgment on the provider part and trying to find work around.

Being related to software industry for 20 years and seeing different client large and small, I know precisely that no customer would sign off on the work around if a workable solution to a problem isn't underway.

What people are offering by installing shortcut to Google on the desktop is quick and dirty way of allowing provider continue to do what they did until now.

Last time I checked, it was the United Stated of America with all the freedom that is the most famous for. How come people have freedom to do most of the things but we can't uninstall simple application from the phone.

If you have a chance, check in person or view online review of any smartphone from Europe, Asia, or Australia...you will not find that madness that US consumers have to deal with. I understand that provider subsidizes prices for phones of 1 or 2 year agreement but then they are insuring themselves with $350 ETF. And what if I am deciding to purchase the phone without contract, I am still unable to uninstall all that crap that VZW had enforced on me.

Those applications that VZW and MS forced on consumer in the Fascinate are bloatware that do nothing but consume memory, wasting battery life, and like a ghost waiting to be activated to start making money.

Removal of those applications do not present any security treats to either cellphone company or our country for that matter. Those application are rather simple money-making tricks that VZW did to present their shareholders and partners with a fatter return on their investments. I wouldn't care for someone getting richer (it is America after all) if that would be done in the clear and honest way and not the way it was.

PJNC284

papa_leo wrote:

Those applications that VZW and MS forced on consumer in the Fascinate are bloatware that do nothing but consume memory, wasting battery life, and like a ghost waiting to be activated to start making money.

I guarantee that removing those apps will have no noticable impact on device performance. It's just personal preference. What verizon SHOULD start doing is get rid of subsidized pricing and make everyone pay full retail since so many people want to whine and always want something for nothing.

papa_leo

Presence of bloatware on the phone does in fact impact affect phone's performances as constantly running Amazon Kindle, Blockbuster, CityID, and tons of other VZW brand applications consume at least 50 MB of RAM at any given point. This phone is not like a current PC or laptop that may have a 4 GB of RAM where 50 MB is unnoticeable.

And I do agree that phones should not be subsidized at all giving consumer freedom of moving from one provider to another as ones pleases.

Joechilll

I was told today by a rep in the VerizonWIreless store today that the new update (which is coming )will allow you to use google as your default search and maps..He told me he got a email straight from verizon..We shall see if this is true

papa_leo

Promises, promises.... :smileyhappy:

I will believe it when I see Google as a default search. At this moment, all articles on the web, even the ones that are quoting VZW spokesperson, indicate that Bing will live as default not just on Fascinate but on more devices to come.

So only time will tell who is right.

cwrigley

If I want BING search I'll buy a microsoft phone.

AZSALUKI

with 2.2 you are supposed to be able to instal the various google apps and widgets. it WILL NOT be the default search though. by this, i mean that the actual search button on your phone will still use bing, but that you could place the google widget on your home screen. if that were the case then everyone would have their options and i don't see any real problems. you'll just touch the widget instead of the search button. no biggie in my opinion.

frostyjay

Bing isn't bad. I just prefer using Google for voice, search, navigation, etc. and I'm happy it's been made the default on my HTC Droid Incredible.

If Verizon REALLY cares about its costumers, it would give us a choice between the two, or perhaps continue offering different high end phones with both. Maybe they could even throw in a Yahoo phone as well.

tdperry

PJNC284 wrote:

I guarantee that removing those apps will have no noticable impact on device performance. It's just personal preference. What verizon SHOULD start doing is get rid of subsidized pricing and make everyone pay full retail since so many people want to whine and always want something for nothing.

I already pay full price for all the phones I get.... so why should I have to put up with the cr*pware that is on there, or at least why can't I uninstall it. I've purchased (usually on the day of release) the following phones: HTC Incredible, Droid X, and now the Samsung Fascinate, so that's over $1800 in the last 3 or 4 months that they've gotten. I think they have MORE than made a profit, espicially since only 1 phone is in use at a time.

Chris3D3

CR6 said: Too many people are making far too big an issue out of Bing being on the Fascinate. If you don't want Bing as your default search engine, either bookmark Google and search from there or root your phone and get rid of it altogether. Two very simple solutions

Thoes are not acceptable solutions.

Placing a bookmark to the full google web site on the desktop is a cumbersome work-around to the functionality provided by the Google search widget that Verizon BLOCKS.

Rooting the phone instantly voids the warranty. A customer should not have to loose the warranty on an expensive purchase just to efficiently use Google, arguably the world's leading search engine, on a Google based phone.

The real simple, responsible and honest solution would be for Verizon to not actively BLOCK the ability to use the Google search widget and configure the browser to use the Google search engine. Pre-configure it with Bing, but allow the customer to change it if they want.

And it should be noted, these abilities were in the stock Android OS before Verizon had them REMOVED. We're not asking for functionality to be added to the phone, we're just asking that functionality not be removed.

The removal of said functionality provides absolutely zero benefit to the customer, and in fact costs them time, money and security. So no, people are not making far too big of a deal out of this. The way in which Verizon's actions in this issue negatively effects the consumer should be a concern for everyone.

Child Item