T-Mobile’s newest marketing tool is ruffling a few feathers in the Magenta Android community as the newest My Account update brings along a hidden surprise. Well, it’s not so hidden as the “problem” is in plain view in the form of advertisements tucked away on the Android notification bar. Two T-Mobile support forums are already littered with angry customers demanding T-Mobile offer an opt-out service for this “feature.” I do find this a little invasive and while I respect T-Mobile wanting to advertise their features and services, this isn’t the way to do it. Inside the My Account app I get, we’ve gotten used to free versions of apps containing advertisements. Throwing those advertisements on the Android notification screen seems a little excessive.
A quick poll on the TmoNews Facebook and Twitter pages reflected a large number of angry responses showing that the posters in T-Mobile’s own support forums are hardly alone. T-Mobile, what gives? There should be an opt-out option for this, it’s not right to put ads in my notification bar.
While T-Mobile has long sent out free SMS texts on billing and account activity and even the occasional free offer, does the Android notification screen represent the next format of advertisements on the Android platform. I sure hope not.