Vodafone forums have been swamped with complaints from HTC Desire users who saw their handsets updated with Vodafone 360 apps.
Most of the mobile network's users expected the update to be 'Froyo' - version 2.2 of the Google Android operating system. Instead Vodafone customers were surprised to see new apps on their handset, along with a Vodafone start-up screen and shortcuts to websites placed on their home screen.
"I'm most annoyed about the added bookmarks, if we wanted them as our bookmarks then we would already have them, I now have 2 reorganise everything, i don't want flirtomatic and myspace on my bookmarks," said one user on the forum.
"Vodafone have just annoyed me by filling my main menu with a load of extra icons and giving me a pointless new start-up screen," read another post in the forum.
Other users reported problems with SMS, with many messages being duplicated in the folders on the phone, while others reported their users dictionary was deleted.
A spokesperson for Vodafone told PC Advisor, the mobile network had no plans to mislead its customers over the update and it currently can not give a date for when version 2.2 of Android will be made available on the handsets although its working with Google to ensure this is "as soon as possible".
The spokesperson also said that originally Vodafone planned to have its 360 apps embedded on the handset when launched, just like they were on the HTC Legend. However, Vodafone the software to do this has only recently been made available.
Vodafone said the update ensured "the experience on the Desire was in-line with other handsets available from the network".
The network also said it has suspended the rollout of the update, while it investigates the SMS problems.
Comments
Kirsty_Vodafone said: Hi ThereGreat newsWeve got an update on this situation and useful information here - wwwforumvodafonecouktopicAll the bestKirstyWeb Relations Team Vodafone UK
Billy said: facebook set up search for Vodafone-360-Spamware-On-The-HTC-DesireJoin the anti vodabloat facebook for the Desire 215 registerd so far and counting
CharlieA said: Checked out the Vodafone forums and I am glad I missed this update A host of unwanted apps which degrade or even break functions and which also eat data allowance with no removal optionall pretty cynically deployed at the time when customers were expecting the 22 updateAnd Vodafone response to its customersdismissive at bestTerrible way to treat people and ruin the rep of one of the best smartphones on the market
Technology Blog said: We have been emailing vodafones media team about this issue and we got some interesting responsesCheck out what they had to say at techupdateblogwordpresscom
Palmadores said: Plus Sim Only makes a better division of labour - each party can concentrate on their core strenghths and the consumer can choose the best of each- The carrier Vodafone is responsible for your signal strength and bandwidth etc- The phone maker HTC designs and optimises your phone hardware- The software guys Android continuously optimise your OS and appsYou can switch your carrier phone or OS at any time creating proper free-market competitionSmall issue at the moment is that HTC is writing software HTC Sense which is rather good and most people prefer it to naked Android
Palmadores said: Plus Sim Only makes a better division of labour - each party can concentrate on their core strenghths and the consumer can choose the best of each- The carrier Vodafone is responsible for your signal strength and bandwidth etc- The phone maker HTC designs and optimises your phone hardware- The software guys Android continuously optimise your OS and appsYou can switch your carrier phone or OS at any time creating proper free-market competitionSmall issue at the moment is that HTC is writing software HTC Sense which is rather good and most people prefer it to naked Android
Palmadores said: As with James below its best to go to a Sim Only monthly contract Over 18 months it works out just as cheap to buy the phone in cash upfront and pay a much reduced monthly cost 1750 Plus you have to value the freedom you get to upgrade when you like and no annoying crp on your phone Thats worth Maybe Vodafone should launch a No Annoying Crp contract for only 10 more per month Im sure some people would buy it
James said: Its a typical Vodafone trick I have a vodafone contract but always buy a sim free phone or de-brand it before I update it This way I get the update as it is intended for the phone not what Vodafone want me to spend my money on
Shan said: my blood is still boiling with the update If I had options i would have cancelled the contract We should have been given options to uninstall the vodafone crp Lots of junk has filled my apps list which I dont wantVodafone has to answer for all these They should release another update with an option to uninstall the vodafone 360 optionsAlso - the last update was a bit of trick I think While most desire users anxiously waited for the Froyo update vodafone pushed this crp out with a view that everyone will install it thinking it as 22 update The Update notes did not say anything like the 360 update