Great news for Vodafone customers

[partridge]

Woo Hoo

Vodafone are releasing 2.2 in the next couple of weeks and it will remove the 360 apps!!!

They will be made available as a separate update that will be optional

Fantastic news! here's the statement:

We’ve listened to feedback from customers on a number of points around the recent 360 Android 2.1 update and made some changes to the roll out plan.

The Android 2.2 update for Vodafone HTC Desire users will be based on the HTC open market version of the software and we will customise it to ensure our network settings are installed.

For customers who have downloaded the recent 360 update for Android 2.1, we can confirm that the Android 2.2 update will remove the 360 applications and will leave the homepage and bookmarks on your current settings.

Customers who want to access the 360 services will be able to do so once the Android 2.2 compatible version is available and, in the meantime, can now download apps like 360 People from the Android Marketplace.

We plan to make the 360 apps available in a separate update for the HTC Desire at a later date, giving customers the choice to download it.

We will let you know when the date for delivery of the Android 2.2 update is finalised, but, subject to testing, we expect this to be in 7-10 days time.

 

[wellibob]

too little, too late. Good news i guess for those who wish to wait though.

 

[jay_kay]

Haha that is so unlike Vodafone to go back on something they have done.

Must have been the hundreds/thousands of nasty messages we all sent them

Still glad that I have debranded as never have to wait for them to release anything anymore.

Next up I'm gonna root this baby

 

[zardoz99]

I think they just mis-read the demographic for these phones and their users. They assumed that the average Android user was just a "Jimmy Smith from down the road" and not the somewhat sophisticated bunch they turned out to be.

The moral of this story is ask the USER BASE what they want, and not the marketing consultants.

I have not been with Vodafone for some years now and have migrated to T-Mobile. I recently asked them if they were likely to heavily-brand 2.2 when it comes out as VF did with the 2.1 update. The answers was that they were going to apply a very light touch. (this is paraphrased for clarity).

 

[wellibob]

I think they just mis-read the demographic for these phones and their users. They assumed that the average Android user was just a "Jimmy Smith from down the road" and not the somewhat sophisticated bunch they turned out to be

Spot on !

 

[ncjharris]

Its being reported on the business pages too,

Vodafone listens to desires of HTC users - V3.co.uk - formerly vnunet.com

I must say I am pleasantly surprised. Having been a consumer of various products over the years, it is refreshing to see a company actually act on the wishes of users and the activism of its customers.
I am especially impressed that its Vodafone, having been at the receiving end of terrible customer service on more than one occasion.

After all, its not as if they needed too - most (if not all users) will be contracted to them for anything from 18 to 24 months - and we would be stuck with whatever vodafone threw at us.

Well done those who stuck their heads above the parapet and shouted!!

 

[Mushhushshu]

Well at least they got the message.. eventually.

Anyone know if any of the 360 crapps had a remaining minutes/texts counter? Thats an app id actually use and I know there's plenty in the market but I'd quite like one that was directly linked to my account.

 

[partridge]

I have two friends who have only just got their Desire's and they both came pre-loaded with the VF360 udpate, it'll be interesting to see if the update to 2.2. removes their 360 apps too.

This is a great result though, my excitement about 2.2 was dealt a severe blow with all this 360 app nonsense, but now I'll get a clean 2.2 - perfect!

 

[Nickc001]

Awesome

 

[Raggy]

Great news, but I have de-branded now so happier anyway

 

[LECTER]

Consumers 1 Vodafone 0

WOOT!

 

[glenmcfar]

I'm pleasantly surprised too, but I think we should look at the bigger picture. I bought a phone from Vodafone on a contract, knowing full well that they always come branded. I was a bit disappointed when they pulled the "COME AND GET YOUR (not foyo) UPDATE, but all i did was not use the VF apps and reset my bookmarks. Hey presto, no problem...

But that's beside the point because they've backtracked and will sort the Froyo Update. It WILL be interesting, however, to see if they keep the Vodafone splash screen...

 

[marsey99]

lol

sods law this happens the day after i rooted and flashed mine xD

good to see they did listen, if you have seen their boards its not a big shocker tho as a good 90% of all the posts was people saying how much it sucked that the 2.1.1 came out days sfter the offical release of 2.2 and how long we would have to wait for 2.2.

 

[denialnw10]

Again, too little too late. I was one of the ones making my voice heard about this and then after hearing of, and seeing whole threads disappear on the forum, I was disgusted by the way that Vodafone were acting.

Yes, they are a large corporation and, yes, they could have branded the phones from the beginning, but they didn't and the way that they went about dealing with their customer's dissatisfaction was with some of the most blatant arrogance I've seen since Steve Job stopped BS'ing about how people should hold their iphone 4's to avoid having issues rather than admitting they f***ed up!

I de-branding like a lot of other VF users and I am happy I did! I'm not too concerned about my loss of warranty, just happy in the knowledge that my future updates will not yield any more unpleasant surprises.

 

[nx1977]

I have not been with Vodafone for some years now and have migrated to T-Mobile. I recently asked them if they were likely to heavily-brand 2.2 when it comes out as VF did with the 2.1 update. The answers was that they were going to apply a very light touch. (this is paraphrased for clarity).

Until now Tmobile have always been light handed with branding.

I hope they continue this, but now they're merging with Orange, I hope the software guys are still independent or Orange!

 

[bonerp]

I say well done Vodafone. Its about time some of the these phone carriers listened to what the customers want. Good job.

Now can you release TV Catchup and let vodafone Live work on sim free phone.....??

 

[skoodbeef]

Power to the People

 

[petehtc]

brilliant news! just hope I can have my desire back.

 

[TonyHTC]

Happy to see some good customer service. I can't believe they listened!! Well done to everyone who messaged the CEO!! And to Partridge for posting the email link!

 

[xlucian]

now lets get free high-end phones on 6 months contract with 5 quid/month

 

[LECTER]

now lets get free high-end phones on 6 months contract with 5 quid/month

lol!!

 

[Deleted User]

BBC WEBSITE BBC News - Vodafone backs down in Android row

 

[john_bird_O]

"Vodafone has bowed to customer fury and agreed to strip marketing guff and compulsory applications from its HTC Desire phones when it next upgrades the handsets' Android operating system.
In the next ten days Vodafone UK will make an update available to Desire users which will upgrade their handsets to the next version of the Android OS, called Froyo.

​

Users of the HTC Desire handset eagerly downloaded the last update expecting to get Froyo, but instead found their handsets sporting a bundle of 360 branding, bookmarks and applications that couldn't be uninstalled.

While more technically astute users managed to install vanilla versions of Froyo, which lacked the Vodafone extras, the rest set up Facebook protests and Twittered their frustrations until the operator sounded the retreat.
"We’ve listened to feedback from customers on a number of points around the recent 360 Android 2.1 update and made some changes to the roll out plan," the operator said in a forum post.
"For customers who have downloaded the recent 360 update for Android 2.1, we can confirm that the Android 2.2 update will remove the 360 applications and will leave the homepage and bookmarks on your current settings."


(The Register, 12th August, 2010)

 

[Vertigo1]

There's already a thread for this: http://androidforums.com/htc-desire/146649-great-news-vodafone-customers.html

 

[Yorkshirepud]

Now if only Orange would do the same when they bring it out, I could save myself a lot of flashing hassle.