Verizon App Auto-download on Google Store Pixel - Google Pixel XL Questions & Answers

So I bought my Pixel XL from the Google Store unlocked, and I'm using Verizon still. After completing the setup wizard with my Verizon sim in the phone, I noticed that there Verizon apps were automatically downloading from the play store. Wondering if anyone else had this happen and if it is only on Verizon that apps download automatically based on sim card.

Ganondroid said:
So I bought my Pixel XL from the Google Store unlocked, and I'm using Verizon still. After completing the setup wizard with my Verizon sim in the phone, I noticed that there Verizon apps were automatically downloading from the play store. Wondering if anyone else had this happen and if it is only on Verizon that apps download automatically based on sim card.
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Click to collapse
Same here, there are a few other threads already started that talk about this in more depth, just search like i did using 'verizon sim'

I set my Play Store purchased Pixel over WiFi without putting in my VZW sim card. After I had done all that I was able to over WiFi, I shut down the device, inserted my VZW sim and rebooted. It updated to the then latest build. I never saw any VZW apps in my app drawer, but there are the ones necessary for it to work on their network.

This is normal when installing with a Verizon SIM.
The app's are completely uninstallable.... 100% .
I am aware of only 3 app's that Verizon forces to the phone... Message + / My Verizon / Go360

Related

Will Google Sound Search, etc come back when I'm in the US with a US sim?

I'm from the US, my Google account is US based, and I ordered the phone in the US. I'm currently living in China and had my friend bring me it last week from his trip to the US. I first set up the phone while I was in China with my China Mobile sim, thinking it wouldn't make a difference because all my accounts and billing are in the US. I then realized I was missing some widgets/apps and read that some features, like Google Sound Search, Wallet, and Magazines are 'frozen' in certain regions, and thus they don't show up.
My questions are, will this change when I'm back in the US and I swap in my ATT sim card? Do I need to factory reset it when I'm back in the US and re-do everything with a US location and sim, or will the stuff just come back automatically when it recognizes my location and sim? If I do factory reset and do the initial set-up with a US IP/location and my ATT sim, will this permanently make them available when I go back to China and stick the China Mobile sim in again?
Thanks!
wedouglas said:
I'm from the US, my Google account is US based, and I ordered the phone in the US. I'm currently living in China and had my friend bring me it last week from his trip to the US. I first set up the phone while I was in China with my China Mobile sim, thinking it wouldn't make a difference because all my accounts and billing are in the US. I then realized I was missing some widgets/apps and read that some features, like Google Sound Search, Wallet, and Magazines are 'frozen' in certain regions, and thus they don't show up.
My questions are, will this change when I'm back in the US and I swap in my ATT sim card? Do I need to factory reset it when I'm back in the US and re-do everything with a US location and sim, or will the stuff just come back automatically when it recognizes my location and sim? If I do factory reset and do the initial set-up with a US IP/location and my ATT sim, will this permanently make them available when I go back to China and stick the China Mobile sim in again?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you are back in the states, you can just download the missing apps from the play store.
hongzhou94 said:
When you are back in the states, you can just download the missing apps from the play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, when I changed the SIM numeric to T-mobile US, I had to defrost the 'Sound Search for Google' using Titanium Backup.

RBC Mobile in Canada now supports NFC payments with your Samsung Galaxy S3

As of today RBC Mobile in Canada now supports NFC payments with your Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rbc.mobile.android&hl=en
What's New
Mobile payment capabilities available for Bell Mobility NFC-enabled Samsung Galaxy S III‡ or Samsung Galaxy S4‡ smartphones. If you’re on Android OS 4.3+ or want additional information, go to http://goo.gl/lGzGgR
The RBC Wallet powered by RBC Secure CloudTM lets you add, manage and store your Client Card and Visa credit cards and be able to make payments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Setting up your RBC Wallet
-What do I need to start using the RBC Wallet?
Check out "Getting Started" under How to Use for details on setting up your RBC Wallet.
-What cards can I add to my RBC Wallet?
Currently you are able to add your eligible RBC Visa‡ credit cards and your Client Card (Interac‡ Debit) to your RBC Wallet. You will be able to add additional cards to the RBC Wallet in the future.
-Will I need a new SIM to use the RBC Wallet?
Yes, you will need to change your SIM card to a Bell NFC SIM card. Visit bell.ca/NFC for more information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do I need to have a data connection in order to make a transaction?
Yes, a data connection is required to download the app, set-up your card information and use the application.
The RBC Wallet does not appear to be working for me. What do I do?
If you are experiencing technical problems with the RBC Wallet please call 1-800-769-2555. They will provide assistance to identify the potential problem.
I have installed the RBC Mobile app but I can't see my card in the RBC Wallet, what should I do?
If you do not see your card in the RBC Wallet it may not be eligible. You must have a personal RBC debit or credit card to use the RBC Wallet. To discuss, please call 1-800-769-2512.
Check out "Getting Started" under How to Use for the list of eligible credit cards.
I plan to cancel my smartphone service and I have the RBC Wallet on my smartphone, what should I do?
Before cancelling a smartphone service it is best to remove all credit cards from your RBC Wallet, disable your debit card, and uninstall the RBC Mobile app. If you have already cancelled your service you can remove cards by using a WiFi network.
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Click to collapse
OK here is what they DONT TELL YOU!!
I called bell to ask if i have an NFC SIM. NO.
NO CANADIAN BELL USER HAS BEEN GIVEN AN NFC SIM WITH THEIR PHONE. YOU MUST GO TO BELL STORE TO GET A FREE SIM UPGRADE.
ALSO. the guy at bell said they have a notice from RBC telling users to go to:
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/mobile/wallet/nfc-update/
and fill out the form, and an RBC agent will contact you and arrange a push update to your NFC SIM to enable RBC wallet to work.
I am running a SGS4 from bell running a 4.4.2 google edition rom (by danvdh), with build.prop edited back to my original model number from bell.
I just got back from the bell store and have my NFC sim installed. I have the new RBC app installed.
The new card option on first page of RBC app (seen in screenshots from RBC site) is not visible on my device.
I have filled out the form and am waiting for a call back, i imagine this push update will enable the missing button in RBC app.
will update with more information as it comes available.
ONE WEIRD THING...
since i installed my NFC SIM, my phone is telling me i have a voicemail that does not exist. wont go away.
TRusselo said:
As of today RBC Mobile in Canada now supports NFC payments with your Samsung Galaxy S3 and S4,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rbc.mobile.android&hl=en
OK here is what they DONT TELL YOU!!
I called bell to ask if i have an NFC SIM. NO.
NO CANADIAN BELL USER HAS BEEN GIVEN AN NFC SIM WITH THEIR PHONE. YOU MUST GO TO BELL STORE TO GET A FREE SIM UPGRADE.
ALSO. the guy at bell said they have a notice from RBC telling users to go to:
http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/mobile/wallet/nfc-update/
and fill out the form, and an RBC agent will contact you and arrange a push update to your NFC SIM to enable RBC wallet to work.
I am running a SGS4 from bell running a 4.4.2 google edition rom (by danvdh), with build.prop edited back to my original model number from bell.
I just got back from the bell store and have my NFC sim installed. I have the new RBC app installed.
The new card option on first page of RBC app (seen in screenshots from RBC site) is not visible on my device.
I have filled out the form and am waiting for a call back, i imagine this push update will enable the missing button in RBC app.
will update with more information as it comes available.
ONE WEIRD THING...
since i installed my NFC SIM, my phone is telling me i have a voicemail that does not exist. wont go away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great. I have RBC and would love this feature but I have a Nexus 5 and am on Telus. I tried the market changer and also the app to change the model of the phone but it didn't work. I would love someone to hack this thing. Why do they restrict it to a specific device and a specific network?
whyvas said:
Great. I have RBC and would love this feature but I have a Nexus 5 and am on Telus. I tried the market changer and also the app to change the model of the phone but it didn't work. I would love someone to hack this thing. Why do they restrict it to a specific device and a specific network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
security, and controlled release. and the network has to support NFC sim cards and supply them for free.
also even with network change and device ID change, you have to fill out the form and have RBC push an update to your NFC Sim sercure element.
TRusselo said:
will update with more information as it comes available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any updates on this? I have the NFC sim, RBC emailed me and said everything has been activated but the wallet menu doesn't appear in the app. I'm on a rooted GS4 with a custom 4.4 rom installed with bell. The only problem I can think of is my rom. After a month, can you update us on how things are going with this app?
really? just 2 posts up? working on rooted modded STOCK rom, could not get running on custom.
i know this is an old thread, seems like rbc took away the requirement to push an update to the sim, can the build prop be modded for a work around? thnaks
Just hearing of this, shame I'm on Telus and about to close my RBC account.

Is my Moto Z used?

My nephew just got a "new" Moto Z Play from the Verizon store for Christmas. However when he turned it on there were a bunch of contacts already loaded in the phone and since apps installed that don't seem like the usual Verizon bloat. Is there any way to determine if this phone is used?
Thanks
jcicora said:
My nephew just got a "new" Moto Z Play from the Verizon store for Christmas. However when he turned it on there were a bunch of contacts already loaded in the phone and since apps installed that don't seem like the usual Verizon bloat. Is there any way to determine if this phone is used?
Thanks
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Click to collapse
Back in the day (I'm talking early digital cell networks here) many devices had lifetime uptime clocks in them. That's what we used to use to determine this. Not sure if that even exists in Android though...
Is this his first Android phone? During the set up progress you can sign into your gmail and itll will restore any apps or contacts you have synced with your google account.
If the phone did not greet you with a set up progress and just went straight into the phone home screen then yes the phone has been used and has not been factory restored..
Id suggest dont do anything on it and bring it back if so.
Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk

Bought Unlocked Pixel 3 From Google, & T-Mobile Crammed an App Onto the Phone Anyway!

Bought Unlocked Pixel 3 From Google, & T-Mobile Crammed an App Onto the Phone Anyway!
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
packetfire said:
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed the same thing on my pixel 3 xl and I'm on Google Fi and I can't uninstall that app to unlock my phone, I can only disable the app
lavin40 said:
I noticed the same thing on my pixel 3 xl and I'm on Google Fi and I can't uninstall that app to unlock my phone, I can only disable the app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's worse is that the app itself claims that you CAN remove the app, after it has (correctly) determined that the phone is not locked.
Is your app also a "T-Mobile" app with a pink icon, or is it a variant that is branded for the Google FI service?
packetfire said:
What's worse is that the app itself claims that you CAN remove the app, after it has (correctly) determined that the phone is not locked.
Is your app also a "T-Mobile" app with a pink icon, or is it a variant that is branded for the Google FI service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app is pink I believe I got a Verizon pixel 3 xl cause the OEM unlock option is greyed out so I can't even root the phone
During the initial setup, there is a "sneaky" screen that asks if you want to finish (or something, I forgot). But if you expand that screen, there are several apps that Google intends to install, and you can opt out right there. Duo is definitely one of the apps, and several T-Mobile apps (I'm on TMO) as well as some others. I opted out and don't have any TMO apps.
Just like the above comment, it's in your 'additional-apps' section of the initial setup. If you uncheck? It doesn't install.
jbarcus81 said:
Just like the above comment, it's in your 'additional-apps' section of the initial setup. If you uncheck? It doesn't install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. This. If the app(s) are installed it's because you let the setup install them. They (Google/T-Mobile) didn't install them on the phone without your consent. You just missed where you have the option to not install them.
ktmom said:
During the initial setup, there is a "sneaky" screen that asks if you want to finish (or something, I forgot). But if you expand that screen, there are several apps that Google intends to install, and you can opt out right there. Duo is definitely one of the apps, and several T-Mobile apps (I'm on TMO) as well as some others. I opted out and don't have any TMO apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that must be how it was done - anyway, the app is gone now, all by itself, so it appears to be yes, an undetectable silent install of an undelete-able "system app", but it seems that once you are verified as "unlocked", it self-deletes.
But I got nothing but the "unlocker", no Duo installed for me. (I like Google Authenticator - 2FA without anything else to carry, and SIM-swap-proof).
So this was the paternalistic Google trying to be helpful, but creeping people out yet again with their presumptuousness.
packetfire said:
Well, that must be how it was done - anyway, the app is gone now, all by itself, so it appears to be yes, an undetectable silent install of an undelete-able "system app", but it seems that once you are verified as "unlocked", it self-deletes.
But I got nothing but the "unlocker", no Duo installed for me. (I like Google Authenticator - 2FA without anything else to carry, and SIM-swap-proof).
So this was the paternalistic Google trying to be helpful, but creeping people out yet again with their presumptuousness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmobile.pr.mytmobile
Tmobile silently installed this app on my unlocked pixel 3xl from best buy just yesterday after I set up my playstore account!
As a User app though.
packetfire said:
How to make a customer very angry, and concerned about security...
Bought a brand-new Pixel 3 from Google, inserted my T-Mobile SIM card, (Goodbye Sony Xperia Series! Good Riddance!) and went about my business with my new Android 10 phone.
But a few days after, just today, I see a screen pop up that was pink - I asked me if I wanted to check and see if my phone was "eligible" for unlocking.
One surmises that T-Mobile noticed the new device ID associated with the same old SIM card, and downloaded the app WITHOUT PERMISSION AND WITHOUT ANY NOTICE THAT THEY WERE DOING SO. They also did not even bother to check the ID against their own inventory to determine if they had sold the phone or not, if they did, they would have seen that it was a Pixel, which they don't offer.
At no time did I visit a T-Mobile sit or download any T-Mobile related apps. They just took it upon themselves to silently install software without even asking.
So here's the punchline - what ELSE might they have installed, and how can I be sure about this?
What else might they install in the future? On whose behalf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to show that it was indeed installed to the device...
dirtyreturn said:
Just to show that it was indeed installed to the device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stated in this thread, you accepted the install of the T-Mobile app during the setup process.
ktmom said:
As stated in this thread, you accepted the install of the T-Mobile app during the setup process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's just exclusive to the pixel 3? Stock Rom?
Just wondering since it's a first that this happened for me. Being on the same carrier with previous phones this did not happen.
dirtyreturn said:
That's just exclusive to the pixel 3? Stock Rom?
Just wondering since it's a first that this happened for me. Being on the same carrier with previous phones this did not happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I had to disable TMO apps during setup on my PH-1. I'm sure that Google has agreements with the carriers who offer the device. Even (esp?) when the device comes straight from Google.
And yes, stock ROM.

Question Stopping Verizon from installing apps on your phone without consent?

I recently switched cell phone providers from T-Mobile to Verizon. The next day, I noticed a ton of crappy apps, mostly dumb games, were installed on my phone, a Samsung Galaxy S22, which I originally bought directly from T-Mobile.
As I already have a lot of problems with bloatware, I uninstalled these apps, and want to ensure that Verizon doesn't install anything else without permission. The idea of a big creepy corporation installing unknown things on my cell phone is unnerving.
My phone's not jailbroken. However, a lot of guides suggest uninstalling the app called "Verizon App Manager", but I didn't even have an app called "Verizon App Manager", just "Verizon Services". Then I uninstalled all the app's updates, and viola, its name reverted to "Verizon App Manager". However, the app can't be uninstalled.
I removed all of its permissions, but as Verizon was able to install this app without permission, I doubt how long that will work.
Is there anything else I can do, or do I just have to live with Verizon reprogramming my phone all the time? Even if I rooted my phone, what could I do?
I've noticed this too. Data wipe on my Pixel 5 somehow includes a bunch of Verizon apps when I restore apps from Play Store. I have a feeling this has more to do with Google than with Verizon...

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