NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] T-Mobile Goes Berserk - Kicks Competing Voicemail Off Android Market
T-Mobile Goes Berserk - Kicks Competing Voicemail Off Android Market
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000918.html
When Google's first Android phone -- the G1 -- was introduced several
years ago, I jumped over to T-Mobile to gain access to the device. I
had twice before been "sucked back" to AT&T as a result of wireless
mergers, and leaving them again was a no-brainer.
Since then, I've been generally satisfied with T-Mobile USA. Their
coverage is generally OK at least where I need it, their HSPA+ data
network is good, and their support for Wi-Fi Calling (UMA) is
excellent -- even completely free in many cases.
Where T-Mobile has really sucked was in the voicemail department. You
may recall my posting from three years ago, "Official T-Mobile
Policy: Tough Luck If You Lose Messages" and the explanatory
materials linked from that posting ( http://j.mp/vVFwgZ [Lauren's Blog] ).
So early on, I was looking for voicemail alternatives, and settled on
the excellent free YouMail service, not only for its basic call
handling functionality, but also for its Web and really superb Android
visual voicemail app ( http://j.mp/vsjK8U [YouMail] ).
While I now also make extensive use of Google Voice's great services,
for various situations I've preferred YouMail, and it still is at the
core of my telecom setup.
So I was stunned today to hear that T-Mobile had apparently "arranged"
for YouMail's Android app to be dropped from the Google Android
Market, claiming some sort of network disruption by YouMail's over two
million users.
Yet according to YouMail's detailed blog posting (which I urge you to
read in its entirety), T-Mobile never even bothered to contact YouMail
about any supposed issues ( http://j.mp/vhyCMT [YouMail] ).
I have to agree with YouMail: "This is crazy."
Millions of people depend on YouMail every day. Their Android app
(I've also run many of their betas) has been uniformly excellent. For
T-Mobile to pull a stunt like this, reportedly without even discussing
the matter with YouMail first, stinks all the way to Alpha Centauri.
T-Mobile needs to explain -- right now, publicly, no excuses -- what
the hell they're doing in this regard. Otherwise, my patience with
watching them still dirty dancing with AT&T (whose wireless embrace I
will not willingly suffer again) shall come to an abrupt end, contract
or no contract. Maybe T-Mobile is just trying to drive away their
remaining USA customers at that! If so, they've picked a dandy
technique.
And while we're at it, I'd like to better understand how T-Mobile was
able to get Google to pull the YouMail app without having even
demonstrated that they had tried to reach out to YouMail in the first
place. This app isn't a game used by a few people, but a crucial
communications tool employed by millions.
In the meantime, the app is still available from the Amazon Android
store (which I consider inferior to the Google Android Market for
various reasons, including Amazon's insistence that you unnecessarily
provide them with credit card data), and the app can also be
downloaded as a direct APK from YouMail.
More info as it becomes available.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren
Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org
Founder:
- Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org
- Global Coalition for Transparent Internet Performance: http://www.gctip.org
- PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com
Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
Google+: http://vortex.com/g+lauren
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com