I saw this news story today about Verizon updating BlackBerries so that their browser default search engine is Microsoft Bing (adjustable).

Of course - indignation in forums and blogs. Tons of anger. "Microsoft is evil". "How dare they". "They don't beleive in fair competition".

I know, this can be pretty annoying when your phone silently gets updated with some new settings (iPhone does that by the way). And I'd hate it if I was forced to use one search engine over another. I would even probably change my cell provider. But if I may just remind you that Verizon is a private company. The software installed on the phone is probably licensed and the license is proprietary. This sucks, but they have all the right to do what they do. No violation here.

Ok, now I'm gonna lose all our customers here, but let me just say that if I'm a private company - I can do anyhing I want with my software, as long as it fits the law and the license. For instance, if we want Firefox to be the only browser that works with our Hosted CRM software - we can do this. Actually, sometimes we wish we could do this... You can't imagine how painful it is to support both Firefox and Internet Explorer 8. And Internet Explorer 7. Not to mention Internet Explorer 6 (would someone please shoot it in the head already). And as a customer you would have all the right to say "this CRM software sucks. Never buy it. Jitbit are as##oles."

Ok, so Verizon is in an alliance with Microsoft. And? Google is in an alliance with Mozilla Foundation. Look at the Firefox's default homepage after you first installed it.

British Airways are in an alliance with American Airlines. And the British Airways website allows me to book tickets for American Airlines flights. But not, say, for Air Canada flights. So? Is this a "violation of fair competition"? Does it infringe my rights as customer? Should I sue them?