When open means exploited

Android's open platform makes it brilliant, but it's also starting to cause real problems. Personally, I'm tired of waiting for T-Mobile to update my HTC Desire to Froyo. It feels like lazy and cynical carriers have simply decided to exploit the open nature of Android for their own evil ends. Tech guru Michael Garten feels the same and has written a compelling article on the issue for Engadget.

"More and more devices I look at are coming installed with applications I don't want, often popping up messages to try and upsell me on services I have no interest in. Even worse, unlike PCs where offensive applications can be removed or the OS reinstalled cleanly, there's often nothing that can be done to get rid of unwanted mobile software without arduous work. It's not limited to Android devices, but it seems that increasingly Android more than other platforms is shipping with the worst mobile bloatware. It's a bad trend that's going to lead to consumer backlash and it's destroying the credibility of Google's Android vision."

The problem is that the carriers are going to end up killing the golden goose. And then we'll all be crying.

Read Entelligence: Will carriers destroy the Android vision?