Google is Dead
Like half of Canada (we should be ashamed as a country with our pathetic voter turnout considering recent events in other parts of the world) I was glued to the election coverage over the last couple of days. Well now it is all over and I am back to my regular diet of Android news, Android news and more Android news. What did I spy with my little eye this AM while reading a little Josh, Nilay and Paul ? They had a story on Googles efforts to work with carriers to eliminate any apps that circumvent tethering. Basically Google is working with Verizon to ensure that anyone who purchases a Verizon phone has to pay an additional fee to tether the phone – on effect paying for data twice.
As horrible as this practice is (dictating how users can use their devices even though they have been paid for) it isn’t nearly as scary as Google bending to the pressure of carriers. Further to that, as a Canadian, how long until we see this sort of thing up here? You know our wonderful carriers are trying to think how they too could do this. The first time, IMHO, that Google started working hand in hand with the carriers was when they stopped selling the Nexus One. Selling direct to consumers, and then allowing consumers to choose their carrier – that is the model that has the consumer at heart. That got quashed. Now Google, supposedly the company that does no evil and focuses on the user, turns out to be every bit as manipulative and evil as all the other big companies in this space.
Am I surprised? Honestly yes – there is the fanboy in me getting crushed. This isn’t the Google I defend. My only saving grace at this point will be that I only buy phones that run Cyanogen and therefore get more freedom than most. Even in that case there are well documented cases of carriers monitoring tethering and charging people for it. Cyanogen (or any custom Rom) is no guarranttee that you will avoid the brutal new business practices being inflicted on our neighbours to the south.
Google – what happened to you?