New Google app could help providers block phone functions if you miss installment payments

07 November 2020
The practice seems a bit strange for Google, but we could make some sense out of it.

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  • I
  • Idiotic commenter
  • tet
  • 07 Nov 2020

This is a very dangerous precedent. This app is an abomination and google should not be doing such cheap stuff. This is beyond disgusting.
Even though the lending partners requested this type of an add should never have been published.
What if they implement this pathetic app in other countries too? in future of course. very scary.

    • G
    • Google
    • ij6
    • 07 Nov 2020

    Think of it. Knowing your phone number can help organizations to block your device with the help of Google. This is really dangerous. Too much control.

      • A
      • Arbiter
      • 2T9
      • 07 Nov 2020

      This is bad. Its not only that we use our phones for basic tasks, what about our personal files. Our passwords. Otps. Authenticators. This is way too much. That's why I stopped using google services

        • D
        • AnonD-807890
        • 6sE
        • 07 Nov 2020

        AnonD-909757, 07 Nov 2020Lol, what ? Hell no ! Regardless if this is an unlocked p... moreLol, there's no need to imagine the Tesla scenario because it's already happening. Buy a used Tesla and watch the options that the car came with disappear when Tesla finds out.

        Plus BMW is doing the subscription thing for features the car already came installed with, like seat heaters.

          This wasn't meant to be listed on the Play Store as it was built for a specific Kenyan carrier. They said they'll take it down soon.

            Yep that's "google" always thinking about the💲first !!!

              My country's big 3 carriers already does it on some of their phones that purchased with postpaid package at discount. But all them uses proprietary MDM solution from the manufacturers, so it's interesting to see that Google is going to provide a more standardized solution.

                that is dumb. it will only hurt people who are willing to pay and not those who have no intention to pay.

                  • O
                  • OG117
                  • EKW
                  • 07 Nov 2020

                  This is so wrong . so you buy a phone with contact or finance knowing they already installed a hidden app to limit functions or maybe monitor the phone in case you miss payments . even if you don't miss payments who wants this app to be installed on their phones

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • 99%
                    • 07 Nov 2020

                    I don’t think either of you read the article, it’s for devices that you finance.

                      • D
                      • AnonD-909757
                      • pZQ
                      • 07 Nov 2020

                      Lol, what ?
                      Hell no !
                      Regardless if this is an unlocked phone bought from a general commerce or a carrier's bought phone, this is a big no no.
                      That they can already block calls, sms, mms and data is more than enough.
                      But other organisms totally unrelated to the phone, are you being serious here ?
                      Literally isn't it the same reason why Ransomwares are illegal in the first place ?

                      Our phones should ENTIRELY belong to us, and those aren't only for making calls, they are computers that can do a lot of things.
                      Imagine if Tesla disabled the car entirely at distance because the user refused to use Tesla chargers !

                      This is exactly for this kind of shit that I hate Google and that I would love if good alternatives to Android (with Android apps compatibility or a good enough store, and I am not talking about a sub variant of Android, but a totally different system that doesn't use Google code) existed, why I am happy about Harmony OS and hope it will inspire more to do their own OS.
                      I've never trusted or liked Google, for those exact things, and they never gave me a single reason to change my mind, hell even something as simple, basic and that should be innocent as their captcha service (recaptcha) is a privacy nightmare.
                      Google track you everywhere and clearly know which websites you are browsing through, and they don't even use those for the users, otherwise the captcha service wouldn't require you to do it everytime you get in a new website.
                      Google is one of the worse company in term of user's respect, never forget that !

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • 7kY
                        • 07 Nov 2020

                        Hahhaha I am laughing at the people who choose to link everything to their phone.
                        Good luck!!! Not only are they in our phones, now they'll stop us from using our phones too.

                          • r
                          • r33fd
                          • ScY
                          • 07 Nov 2020

                          This should be illigal.
                          The potential for abuse is far too great.

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