Fascinate Fiasco: Is Verizon Blocking Google Search?Fascinate Fiasco: Is Verizon Blocking Google Search?

One of the Android platform's greatest benefits is how easily it can be customized. One of the Android platform's greatest weaknesses is how easily it can be customized. Case in point, the Verizon Wireless variant of the Samsung Galaxy S Android phones: The Fascinate.

Verizon Wireless has ditched the default Google Search application/widget that comes on most Android devices. Instead, Microsoft's Bing search is the default search tool on the device. In fact, it's the only search tool on the device (including within the Android browser itself).

Verizon has a business relationship with Microsoft and uses Bing on some of its other smartphone platforms, including BlackBerries. That Bing is present (and the default) on the Fascinate is not a surprise. Android is all about options, though, so it should be easy to choose something else instead, right? Wrong.

The standard Google Search application is not on the Fascinate at all, not even hiding in the app drawer somewhere. Beyond that, if Fascinate users choose to go to the Android Market to download the Google Search application, it doesn't appear. It's not available. It's nowhere to be found.

I reached out to Verizon Wireless for an answer, and was only provided with a curt, carefully-worded response. Verizon Wireless spokesperson Albert Aydin said, "We do not block Google Search." Really? Then where is the Google Search application?

Technically speaking, Aydin is correct. Fascinate users can choose to navigate their Android browser to Google.com and perform Google searches directly from Google's Web page. Fascinate users cannot, however, use the native search tool that is available on most other Android devices.

Knowing that, I say consider your search habits carefully before choosing the Fascinate as your next phone. The Google Search application is available on the remaining three Samsung Galaxy S devices offered by AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

Verizon customers who don't like Bing and prefer Google can pick the Motorola Droid X, Droid 2, or HTC Droid Incredible. If you're indifferent to the search engine and don't mind the restrictions on this device, by all means go for the Fascinate.