Is Android a Google prison? / Is Android for Gmail user only?

[samz]

Hello, Trying an Android phone (HTC Tattoo) in a shop, I couldn't test the diary, because I got the error: "No Gmail account connected, would you create one?" ( THEN THE SELLER TOLD ME: - You cannot call if you have no Gmail account !! - You cannot use many features of an Android phone if you have no Gmail account !! Android looks to be a Google prison, if this above is right. QUESTIONS 1. What are the Android built in features you cannot use without connecting to a Gmail account? 2. For those features, are there third party softwares working without a Gmail account? And what web site do you recommend to find those software? 3. Is this right: Sync/Connect to Gmail account => transfer data => pay the operator. (=> means "involves") In other words: should I really create a (empty/un-used) Gmail account to enjoy an Android phone? Thanks and regards.

 

[DaSchmarotzer]

Hello, Trying an Android phone (HTC Tattoo) in a shop, I couldn't test the diary, because I got the error: "No Gmail account connected, would you create one?" ( THEN THE SELLER TOLD ME: - You cannot call if you have no Gmail account !! - You cannot use many features of an Android phone if you have no Gmail account !! Android looks to be a Google prison, if this above is right. QUESTIONS 1. What are the Android built in features you cannot use without connecting to a Gmail account? 2. For those features, are there third party softwares working without a Gmail account? And what web site do you recommend to find those software? 3. Is this right: Sync/Connect to Gmail account => transfer data => pay the operator. (=> means "involves") In other words: should I really create a (empty/un-used) Gmail account to enjoy an Android phone? Thanks and regards.

That's what I did, I also set up my hotmail account to transfer every message to my new gmail account (but you CAN set up an hotmail adress on the phone).

It's just used to backup your contacts and stuff like that on their server, but you can also turn that off (even though you'll have to enter a gmail account anyway).

It's no prison in my opinion.

 

[hood420]

You need a gmail account to access the Market (where you get apps from,) you can also choose to back up your contacts with Google. I'm not to sure what else its required for, why do you not want a gmail account?

 

[DarkTLRrider]

The Android system is designed around and integrated with other Google services like Gtalk (which is a free text service) Gmail which syncs all your contact information, YouTube, Picasa (free photo editer with free web account similar to Photobucket). You do have to create an account as said to log into any of these services as they use your gmail sign in to access all the google products. You don't have to use Gmail, YouTube or any of the other google services. You can set up in addition to gmail a yahoo account and use the Photobucket app in the market and choose other providers for everything like Opera browser insted of the mobile version of Chrome installed on the phone. But really what is your thing with not getting a google account? Most people use a combination of things and decide over time that the Google stuff works well better in many ways. I don't have to sign into youtube cause once signed in on the phone it does it automatically. I don't need to sign in to Picasa to upload a photo or to view an album it just does it. Choice is up to you but you do have to create an account.

 

[bluenova]

Let's just clear something up here. The sales person is saying you need a Gmail account. This is wrong, you need a Google account to use certain Google features such as the Google Market. This optionally includes a Gmail account (as well as many other Google services) but you are in no way obliged to use it. The HTC Mail account that comes with the Tattoo will work with any POP, IMAP or Exchange account.