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Sprint Pushes FPS NOVA With Firmware — and Users Can't Remove It

Posted by timothy on from the but-you-love-it dept.

theodp writes "If you could change the way wireless companies did things, what would you do?' asked Sprint CEO Dan Hesse. How about stopping the use of Sprint's firmware updates to download apps that aren't wanted and can't be removed, Dan? Sprint confirmed to CNET's Elinor Mills that those strange apps she was shocked to find on her Android phone — sci-fi shooter N.O.V.A. and Blockbuster — with a long list of permissions that couldn't be uninstalled had been sneakily downloaded onto her phone during a firmware update. 'Sprint does offer a variety of partner applications that are optimized for use on our wireless phones,' a Sprint representative explained in an e-mail. 'From time to time, we will provide new apps to our customers in conjunction with a software maintenance release. Also, Sprint, in conjunction with Google, is taking steps to develop a technical solution that would allow customers to remove any unwanted applications that have been preloaded or pushed in an over-the-air software update.'" Asking first would be a nice non-technical solution.

3 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. This is a problem. by itchythebear · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I am a sprint customer, N.O.V.A. is hardly the biggest problem. My main complaint was the stupid sprint sports apps that like to run in the background. I don't like NASCAR, football, or any other of the sports they included apps for that are uninstallable and automatically run in the background. Funny enough, it seemed like the only sport they didn't have an app for was the NHL (something i would have used). The only reason I rooted my phone was do delete all of those apps, and wouldn't you know... I get twice the battery life.

    --
    If what I just said sounded like a troll, it was probably just a failed attempt at humor.
  2. Natural outcome by hackertourist · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is what you get when the gadgets are given away or subsidized. Abuse will ensue to make sure the provider recovers their costs.
    On PCs, at least the shovelware is generally removable, and you have the option to buy a nonsubsidized gadget that doesn't have crap installed. In the US phone market, usually the gadget and service are provided by the same party and the abuse includes locking down the OS.

  3. who's phone is it? by guygo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This kind of junk will continue until the carriers realize the phone belongs to the customer, not them.