Android phones have access to hundreds of thousands of apps, but not all are worth buying or downloading. Verizon Wireless is stepping in to call out the ones that are good and bad.
In a blog post, Verizon said that it had what it called a team of experts evaluate apps in the Android app store. It primarily assessed the apps for how they will affect a mobile device. Verizon lists its favorite apps as well as some “high-risk†Android apps that can cause problems like rapid battery draining, exposed privacy or unexpected high data usage.
The list of Android apps that fall under the high-risk category includes some of the most popular mobile apps, like Doodle Jump, Draw Something and Fruit Ninja. The reviewers knock Doodle Jump, because when the app is running, it keeps the device from going into sleep mode, and, if left untouched, it drains the battery three times faster than normal. They make simila complaints about the other games.
“Not really a ‘high risk’ in my book,†said Igor Pusenjak, a creator of Doodle Jump, in an e-mail, regarding Verizon’s assessment of his app.
Conversely, Verizon gives Angry Birds high marks for security, battery consumption and data usage.
Sounds like a noble effort on Verizon’s part, but why is the carrier reviewing apps in the first place After all, Verizon would benefit from apps using excess data, because that would result in higher cellphone bills for customers.
David Samberg, a Verizon spokesman, said that it behooved the company to inform customers on how apps affect their smartphones because an app that behaves badly can detract from the entire customer experience. And dissatisfied customers might complain to the carrier, not the app maker.
“If you have a problem and your data usage is through the roof, the app developer isn’t going to get that phone call,†he said. “Verizon is going to get that phone call.â! €
“We don’t want there to be any surprises,†he added. “We want people to be educated on what they’re e downloading and how it’s going to affect their device.â€
