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Verizon shutters its in-house app store, bloatware haters rejoice

Published Nov 5th, 2012 3:39PM EST
Verizon Apps Closing

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Verizon (VZ) customers can expect a lot less bloatware on their phones next year. The wireless carrier on Monday announced plans to shutter its self-branded app store, which it launched in March of 2010 to offer apps directly to its Android and BlackBerry customers, in early 2013 . The carrier says it will start removing its app store from BlackBerry and Android devices beginning in January 2013 and that it planned to have all the store apps removed from phones bu the end of March. Verizon wrote on its website that customers should not notice any major changes because a majority of the apps are available on alternative storefronts such as the Play Store, Amazon Appstore and BlackBerry App World.

Brad Reed
Brad Reed Staff Writer

Brad Reed has written about technology for over eight years at BGR.com and Network World. Prior to that, he wrote freelance stories for political publications such as AlterNet and the American Prospect. He has a Master's Degree in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University.