The value carriers bring to Android

Commenting on Andy Rubin’s comment that “the carriers have a lot of value to bring” to Android, John Gruber asks:

“What software on Android phones have the carriers added that’s any good at all?”

I can think of one example: Verizon dropping Google search for Bing. But I suspect that this wasn’t the kind of value that Rubin was looking for.

This entry was posted in Google, Mobile and tagged Android, Andy Rubin, Bing, Google, John Gruber, Microsoft. Bookmark the permalink.

http://twitter.com/ManxStef Stefan Pause

The closest analogy to the ‘value’ carriers bring that I can think of is those godawful stickers you get on laptops. The manufacturer gets a kickback from each component maker, the customer gets a marginally cheaper machine in exchange for having their laptop absolutely plastered with stickers that they’ll likely never remove, that make their laptop look like shit.
RichardL

- Swype

It’s bundled by carriers or OEMs rather than sold through the Market. This arrangement may allow Swype to actually make money. I think that is what Rubin is talking about.

(I’d have posted to gruber, but he’s not interested in feedback. Just his echo.)