[...] week we asked our readers “Will Verizon cripple Android?” and now the results are in. I have never been a customer of Verizon, but we have all read [...]

They crippled my BB but I am hoping that the android will not be crippled at all judging from quotes below.

“This is a Google experience device,” Jha says.
“This is wide open, this device,” Stratton says.
Google Maps navigation (beta app) with voice guidance and Latitude. Toggle back and forth between multiple apps. Voice search (like the Google iPhone app), but it’ll also search contacts and other content on your phone. Widgets in addition to apps — “We think there’s going to be a real explosion here” in cellphone widgets, Stratton says.

Information from a Wall Street Journal Blog.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/10/28/live-blogging-verizons-droid-unveiling/

I’ve been waiting for the iphone and have been worried that if they do get it they might cripple it. But a sure sign is going to be if they cripple the shloles, then i’m leaving, I’m tired of verizon nickle and diming you to death on what other carriers have for free

I really want to buy this phone. But if they cripple GPS and god forbid tethering whats the point of having an Android(sholes, tao, droid) phone. One of the coolest things about the Google centeric device is the ability to help you find things based on your GPS position. I’m so close to dropping Verizon as a carrier if they continue to make these devices go from gems to rocks. The recent mergers of carriers is giving me hope that Verizon’s bragging rights of having wider coverage will start to fade.

Verizon really needs to rethink their gauging tactics.

[...] week we asked our readers “Will Verizon cripple Android?” and now the results are in. I have never been a customer of Verizon, but we have all read [...]

I have made the decision in the past to avoid Verizon because I could get the same phone on networks where it was NOT crippled. If I know the hardware can do GPS and you tell me that it can only be enabled by your software, then I will tell you to go jump in a lake — I’ll take my money to Sprint or TMO, where I can run any GPS app I like without paying extra money.

I’m waiting to see the Sholes when it comes out, and may change to Verizon — but if they expect me to pay extra for built-in functionality like GPS (as they always have in the past), then I definitely will NOT become their customer.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it — CARRIERS SHOULD NOT MODIFY THE PHONE SOFTWARE. That includes crippling it, whether intentionally or unintentionally (by wasting time developing their own changes to the interface).

I am unfortunately a Verizon customer and have been waiting FOREVER for Verizon to get a good phone. They have been known to cripple all of their phones in the past so I wouldn’t be too surprised if they cripple their Android phones. If they do cripple their Android phones, that will be the last straw and I will leave Verizon for Sprint, so that I can get a HTC Hero. My contract expired over a year ago, and I’ve been waiting for Verizon to get a decent smartphone that isn’t crippled.

Fact folks it will not be locked/crippled by VZW or Moto. Being it is a Google Experience device it can not be locked up as you may be thinking like older VZW devices have been in the past. Also seeing as it is a Google Exp they can not block content on it either so any app,game, or download is a go on it, unlike Apple standing over every app they put up for sale.
Also VZW really doesn’t lock/crippled there smartphones to begin with like being mentioned above. On there regular cell phones YES I will agree they do but not near as much as a few years backs. Even at that where there is a will there is a way. I have an actual Telus v9m fully active and working on VZW now so I have Java in place of there Brew garbage, bye bye vcast & GIN, hello free stuff. I’ve also had Allte,USCC, Bell Mobility..etc fully unlocked devices on there network with no trouble also. Currently I’m using a WinMob smartphone on there network that was never even sold that is fully unlocked and has standalone GPS, and Wifi built in even. However I’m more then willing to spend the time to do it versus most people who are lazy and just want it given to them. Anywhoo I’ve been a VZW customer for 10+yrs and the only thing that was ever locked on a smartphone was GPS and even at that it is unlocked on most of there newer devices.

On another note the Sholes will not have Moto Blur as that is Moto’s Android UI they use/made, and being this is a google experience device it CAN NOT and WILL NOT have Blur. Speaking for myself tho they can keep Blur as it is way to cluttered IMO unless you are a social networking fanatic, which I am not what so ever.

Bottom line is this device is Awesome. The build quality is top notch like most Moto stuff. It runs fast, and the screen is perfect in size and resolution. Comes will all kinds of apps and stuff on it even at that. And for everyones info it will not be to much longer before we see it on store shelves. They sent out over 10,000 units last week for VZW & Moto employees to start using and word is it is a smashing hit so far from what they have seen.

agreed, i dunno what the rules are because i thought i read that “google experience” means it’s a “with google” phone and it can’t have extra things like microsoft exchange support, and i think that would mean in can’t have mororola’s extra programs either, but maybe the rules have changed or something

I really hope that the device comes with MOTOBLUR. And i really dont seen why it couldn’t coexist with ‘Google Experience’.

But either way it wont be a deciding factor. If it doesn’t come with the Blur i will still be just as happy to have a android device. That is unless the cripple does happen.

No matter what, ever sense i have been turned on to Android and have begun reading reviews and watching all the videos i am really excited to be able to get Android onto Verizon. But if i have to switch carriers to actually have a true ‘Google Experience’ device i most definitely will. But the Sholes is just so very very well built it seems. I cant wait to get myself one.