Vodafone HTC Desire OTA update - tricked into installed bloatware

jimdriver2

I'm posting this with the hope that someone here can recommend an approach people can take to try and get Vodafone to respond to this.

Basically as many will know people were waiting for the Android Froyo update, knowing it could be any day now with the networks. Late this morning Vodafone put out a software update which people of course assumed was Froyo.

It wasn't.

In fact it was a relatively small update to 2.1 to basically install a load of unremoval Vodafone branding. Fortunately I managed to avoid doing it, but from what I can gather it includes the following:

- A Vodafone splash screen on boot-up
- Web homepage changed to Vodafone 360
- Loads of web bookmarks added, including a couple to dating websites
- Vodafone 360 apps, all of which cannot be deleted.

As you'd imagine this has caused a lot of annoyance on their support forums. The complaints include:

- the trickery used to put this out there, with no word anywhere of what it was.
- the fact that the bookmarks include dating websites, highly inappropriate for children if they own the phone
- Apps that can't be removed taking up space on the phone and essentially making it less useful
- Multiple sms's being sent and logged

So far Vodafone has done nothing positive beyond pointing people to their new Smart Phone software update policy, which essentially says "we own you". Additionally they've been censoring their forum, removing posts and threads.

The position Vodafone HTC Desire users are now in mean they only have the following options:

- Update their phone and get stuck with buggy bloatware
- Don't update and therefore never be able to get 2.2 or beyond
- Debrand their phone with a slightly risky procedure and lose their warranty
- Root their phone with a slightly risky procedure and lose their warranty


I'm posting this here as I couldn't see anything relating to it, and thought people here may want to know.

But also i'm hoping there might be some guidance offered (maybe even from the MSE site admin?) about how Vodafone customers can complain about this and see something happen. We all know a ranting on web forums will only go so far, and in fact barely anywhere.

thanks in advance.

scooby359

Yep, I'll agree fully with this.

HTC have just release the update to Android 2.2 which brings new functions and improved speed to the HTC Desire. Vodafone have simply hijacked people's eagerness to get the update by sticking out their own update filling our phones with crap adverts and pay-for services.

Not happy at all.

Does anyone know a clear complaints system other than phoning some monkey in a call centre who'll just fob us off? It's ridiculous that they can just pile a load of rubbish onto our phones without asking first.

waynehayes

I suppose when Vodafone do roll out 2.2, it will include the bloatware anyway.

nickmack

jimdriver2 wrote: »

Basically as many will know people were waiting for the Android Froyo update, knowing it could be any day now with the networks. Late this morning Vodafone put out a software update which people of course assumed was Froyo.

You beat me to posting a topic on this. Luckily, I canceled the update before installing, but if this is a pre-requisite for 2.2, I will be very annoyed.

Many of us were told that the Desire was unbranded with Vodafone and to then release this self-promotional rubbish when everyone is waiting for Froyo is incredibly bad timing.

It also appears from a post on the Vodafone forum that the customer facing staff didn't know anything about this. Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.

nickmack

waynehayes wrote: »

I suppose when Vodafone do roll out 2.2, it will include the bloatware anyway.

I really hope not. This was one of my fears over why Vodafone appears to be taking their time over releasing Froyo, they're branding the hell out of it and need to test all their changes.

If this is the case, and after the 500Mb FUP fiasco, I'll give it to Vodafone, they really know how to annoy their Desire customers.

bubblesmoney

If their branding involves unbranded phones during updates, then wouldn'tthis be mis selling if the customer was initially sold an unbranded phone. Three network has confirmed that the updates are pushed by HTC and not by them. So Vodafone must have got HTC to do their dirty work or it might be possible for networks to push data to your phone too as updates.

If the updates push advertising to your phone without your consent then this probably will be under the purview of the ASA but best to check with them. Also if your phone is registered under "telephone preference service" then you should not be getting unsolicited advertising or marketing on your phone and might be worth a try complaining to TPS after registering your numbers with them.

This is absurd practise, I would be annoyed if I bought a car and after giving it for a service if it came with advertisements installed on the screen in the car. How is the phone that one buys any different.

Bloody glad I didn't go with Vodafone when I renewed my contract with three a few months ago. The desire data debacle and now this will make me wary enough never to buy a Vodafone contract again. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour by this once reputed company.

Loads of times when I was with vodafone earlier I would pay £100+ a month on just one of my contracts on just calls without data use. I would be mighty !!!!ed if they did that to my phone. Just like some one scratching graffiti on your car or spray painting crap on your house.

jimdriver2

Vodafone pushed out this update.

Basically if a phone is unbranded then you get updates from HTC, regardless of which network you're on. If your phone is branded (which until now was very in a completely unnoticeable way on the Desire with Vodafone) then the Network send out your updates.

As far as them breaking any conditions it seems unlikely. Just a little while back they completely revised their stance on smartphone firmware, and their admins on their forum are cut and pasting it ad-nauseum in reply to every thread made on their Desire forum.

The only possible angle where there's a strong cause for conditions broken is the inclusion of bookmarks to dating sites. Vodafone have got in trouble with this before, when they had their Vodafone live website offer more adult services later at night. This could be a way to complain and have their stuff removed.

bubblesmoney

jimdriver2 wrote: »

Vodafone pushed out this update.

Basically if a phone is unbranded then you get updates from HTC, regardless of which network you're on. If your phone is branded (which until now was very in a completely unnoticeable way on the Desire with Vodafone) then the Network send out your updates.

As far as them breaking any conditions it seems unlikely. Just a little while back they completely revised their stance on smartphone firmware, and their admins on their forum are cut and pasting it ad-nauseum in reply to every thread made on their Desire forum.

The only possible angle where there's a strong cause for conditions broken is the inclusion of bookmarks to dating sites. Vodafone have got in trouble with this before, when they had their Vodafone live website offer more adult services later at night. This could be a way to complain and have their stuff removed.

If the phones are being used by children and Vodafone is putting improper content on them then they will be on a sticky wicket legally.

Writing terms in a contract and it being legal are two different things.

nickmack

jimdriver2 wrote: »

Just a little while back they completely revised their stance on smartphone firmware, and their admins on their forum are cut and pasting it ad-nauseum in reply to every thread made on their Desire forum.

Even worse, there are reports this release seems to have a bug that duplicates existing SMS messages.

Andy_Davies

Like many HTC Desire owners I'm looking forward to Froyo coming along and was surprised to an update was available tonight...

Unfortunately the update put a stack of Vodafone 360 apps and bookmarks on the phone and displays every outgoing text message twice.

The moderators on the Vodafone eForum are being their usual "chocolate fireguard" selves

So all I can suggest is that if your phone offers you a firmware update at the moment don't take it

Andy

Allan87

I was quite shocked to find new bookmarks in my browser for flirtomatic and match.com, good job I don't have a suspicious OH but how many others are going to get caught out and have to say "It wasn't me, it was Vodafone" lol