Verizon rumoured to be replacing Google with Bing on all Android devices

http://www.minyanville.com/businessm.../2010/id/30006


Quote:




That means no seamless integration with Gmail.
No Google Latitude.
No multitouch in the map app, either.
And in place of the free and fantastic turn-by-turn Google Navigator app, Verizon installed its VZ Navigator service - a feature which costs $10 a month to use.

It would be one thing for Verizon to set the default search and map app to Bing with the option to switch back to Google.
But it’s utterly inexcusable for Verizon to destroy the possibility of a switch without the user having to root the device and, under Verizon’s company policies, void their warranty.
And on top of that, repeatedly charge you for a sub-par service instead of keeping the gold standard of navigation apps for free.

And as bad as that is, there’s now a rumor that Verizon will be doing this again.
On every single one of its Android devices.

After speaking with a Verizon representative about the Bing debacle on the Fascinate - who also lied about the existence of a search alternative - The Droid Guy contacted two Verizon tipsters who told him that the carrier ;is dropping the Google Search from all future Android Devices and offering Bing in it’s [sic] place.;




Google revenue from Android comes directly from search and subsequent ad impressions (plus in-app ads) and of course a slice of app revenue.

If carriers start switching search engines, even app stores, in an attempt to create their own revenue stream this hits Google directly in the pocket, it eliminates the entire reason that Google created Android.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Microsoft were paying Verizon a fee to switch to Bing, just as Google pay Apple to keep Google as the default search engine on iPhone (estimated between $5 and $10 per iPhone).

What will happen if this approach becomes more widespread? Amazon may be looking to launch their own device, with it's own app store...
maybe it will use Bing too?

Another view here of Verizons bone headed attitude:


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Regardless of motivations, the restriction if broadly applied would have Verizon reneging on its pledge to support the openness of Android and reflects a wider trend of the OS being artificially restricted by carriers.
Most US providers are disabling Android 2.2′s tethering support in favor of their own, and AT&T has banned non-Market Android apps under the pretext of security.
The moves paradoxically leave Apple’s iPhone more open in some areas, as its users can choose Google, Bing or Yahoo for search and don’t have first-party apps deliberately hidden or broken.




Are Google losing control? Is this a one-off with Verizon, or the beginning of a new trend among carriers?

It's obvious why Jobs maintains such an iron grip when carriers such as Verizon are dicking around to this extent.