Comments on: Optus Primed For Backlash, Blocking Paid Apps

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:45:56 +0000

I was stoked when the HTC Dream came out here I went right out and got one on a 2 year contract with Optus. Having called them about this and gotten the answer ‘Yes we are blocking this on our Network but I don’t know why’ I have lost all confidence in them, I’ve been with Optus for 5 years but I am now seriously considering taking the financial hit of terminating the contract, I am only 3 months in and I will not put up with this for 2 whole years.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:16:01 +0000

Ridiculous. How does a decent phone take so long to come out and when it finally does it’s on a shit network that deliberately disables key function? Way-to-go jerks. Yet another reason to NEVER buy into a phone contract seeing as how it’s a financially and legally binding agreement for you to pay to take shit from assholes. If it was a good, worthwhile service you wouldn’t need a contract would you??

By: Ectomorph

Ectomorph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:06:20 +0000

I’m a new Virgin (aka Optus) customer using Samsung Galaxy – No paid apps either. Sucks.

By: callum

callum — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:18:16 +0000

I found a more in depth article about this:
http://apcmag.com/optus-deliberately-blocking-android-paid-apps.htm

Unfortunately, it looks like this will also affect virgin, which means i’ll either have to find a crappier plan, or i’ll have to wipe the optus android software and install a custom firmware and use market enabler. My inner geek says to go with the latter

By: Vlad

Vlad — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:40 +0000

Rob, please add a P.O.S. page of Rogers to your article.

By: Vlad

Vlad — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:50:40 +0000

G, Market Enabler works on my Rogers G1.
I hate my GSM provider. Unfortunately, they are the one and only true GSM provider in Canada. So I kinda have to cope with these morons, or move. Or at the end, I’ll probably just buy some US provider service, and will pay for roaming in Canada.
Nico, do not hope that custom Donut will get you far – all non-Rogers builds of 1.6 will effectively kill your 3G connectivity.

By: Nico

Nico — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:17:44 +0000

No paid apps in Canada yet either. And we have yet to see Donut 1.6 or Sense UI on our Magics. I’m gonna have to Root and get a custom ROM with 1.6 and Sense. And get Market Enabler. I love Android, but want my phone to work the way its supposed to. What’s the point of open source and everything if you can’t get paid apps and updates without hacking the phone?

By: callum

callum — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:05:49 +0000

I’m planning on getting the HTC Hero on virgin, because virgin uses the same network as optus, will it also get blocked from the paid app store?

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:19:48 +0000

What I can’t understand is why Google still aren’t supporting Australian PUBLISHERS in the Android Market!

By: G

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:42:19 +0000

Will the market enabler work in Canada?

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:48:06 +0000

@john the lesser:

Speak for yourself. I used to be on AT&T years ago and had nothing but issues then. Switched to Verizon and it’s been nothing but ease since. Everyone I know who’s on another network (T-Mo, Sprint, Cricket, etc.) has nothing but complaints.

Regardless, it’s rather pathetic that any company feels the need to try to hold Android hostage like that. Hopefully, a mass exodus of subscribers should convince them otherwise.

By: hmm

hmm — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:47:16 +0000

@Dianne, that may be true, but considering how Optus has been discreetly jacking up prices of all its services (SMS, mobiles, internet, etc) they might be demanding more then 30%. They probably want to force people to buy rubbish from optus zoo in the future, but if they can force Google to provide them with epic profits, then they have no need to force people to use zoo.

My solution is simple though, when I get my android phone, I will be using someone else (probably virgin). Screw Optus…

By: JLW in Toronto

JLW in Toronto — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:40:21 +0000

Well, what about Canada?
Rogers has refused to allow the paid android market, and refused to allow HTC to upgrade their phones!
If anyone is interested in protesting, send an email to Rogers customer service. Let them know…

By: Dianne

Dianne — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:46:18 +0000

“Rumor has it that Optus is doing this to demand a cut of the purchased applications from Google.” As Google has said numerous times, the 30% for paid application does NOT go to Google, but the carrier.

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/10/android-market-fees.html

By: john the lesser

john the lesser — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:11:52 +0000

sooo… optus is australian for verizon? yes i know they didnt pull this particular little stunt, but they are still about the worst US carrier when it comes to giving the customer what they want. highest price, lowest value for the dollar.