Ah… So not a Samsung thing, but a carrier thing. I should have guessed, carriers are disgusting. Nowadays it’s rare where I live, but not so long ago they even got in the middle of Android updates and replaced the bootlogo with their own branding, I even know of some devices stuck on old Android versions because while the official release is available the carrier never bothered shipping the update.
I also dislike how SIM cards run independent from the main CPU and can spawn their little Java applets whenever they want, my carrier used to randomly display ads as full prompts that got in front of any other app with highest priority using the “SIM toolkit” feature of Android, which you can’t disable. Only stopped after I gave them a call claiming if I see another one of those I’d report them to the consumer rights watchdog from my region.
Holy shit. The only time I’d be ok with my carrier doing that would be if I didn’t have to pay them a single fucking dime. You don’t get to double dip, carriers. You’re already over charging for data use.
I’d argue that it is a Samsung thing. They let carriers do this. Just like they host ads in the notification shade and first party apps in some markets.
To Samsung. One of the largest companies in the world. Samsung chooses to allow this because they get money for it from the carriers.
Let’s also not forget Samsung are the ones who give you the privilege of getting built-in ads on your expensive new TV. Ads and bloatware absolutely are part of Samsung’s business model.
I’m pretty sure it’s a Samsung thing.
I’m located in Sweden and they’ve done this on my unlocked (not locked to a specific operator) Samsung phones ( S5, S8, S20 and S20FE 5G).
I ordered mine directly from the manufacturer and it doesn’t install stuff. However, I also declined to agree to any of the Samsung ecosystem helper apps like the Store or Bixby.
yes specifically a us or canadian carrier thing
Ah… So not a Samsung thing, but a carrier thing. I should have guessed, carriers are disgusting. Nowadays it’s rare where I live, but not so long ago they even got in the middle of Android updates and replaced the bootlogo with their own branding, I even know of some devices stuck on old Android versions because while the official release is available the carrier never bothered shipping the update.
I also dislike how SIM cards run independent from the main CPU and can spawn their little Java applets whenever they want, my carrier used to randomly display ads as full prompts that got in front of any other app with highest priority using the “SIM toolkit” feature of Android, which you can’t disable. Only stopped after I gave them a call claiming if I see another one of those I’d report them to the consumer rights watchdog from my region.
Holy shit. The only time I’d be ok with my carrier doing that would be if I didn’t have to pay them a single fucking dime. You don’t get to double dip, carriers. You’re already over charging for data use.
I’d argue that it is a Samsung thing. They let carriers do this. Just like they host ads in the notification shade and first party apps in some markets.
To Samsung. One of the largest companies in the world. Samsung chooses to allow this because they get money for it from the carriers.
Exactly. Apple doesn’t allow it.
Let’s also not forget Samsung are the ones who give you the privilege of getting built-in ads on your expensive new TV. Ads and bloatware absolutely are part of Samsung’s business model.
I’m pretty sure it’s a Samsung thing. I’m located in Sweden and they’ve done this on my unlocked (not locked to a specific operator) Samsung phones ( S5, S8, S20 and S20FE 5G).
I also have a S20 FE and can attest to the bloatware they install with each software update.
Unlocked phones still have carrier bloat if you got them from a carrier
Not a thing in Sweden.
I ordered mine directly from the manufacturer and it doesn’t install stuff. However, I also declined to agree to any of the Samsung ecosystem helper apps like the Store or Bixby.
Australian here. Never happened… yet
My wife’s phone does this as well (Japan)
Ooh, it had to be them