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Consumers angered by HTC Desire updates

People with HTC Desire mobile phones on Vodafone contracts are protesting the operator's forcing of new applications on the devices.

Many users have lodged official complaints with Vodafone, after loading an update on the Android-operated handset that they cannot remove and which some people say is leading them to utterly inappropriate websites.

The customers had been waiting for the new Android 2.2 update and are deeply unsatisfied with the development, which also includes a music shop which, again, cannot be removed.

Vodafone spokesman has responded to the criticism, through one of the company's official online forums. He said it was all part of the company's optimisation progress.

"We customise phone software to optimise customers' experience of the device on the Vodafone network and to enable access to our services," he said.

"At a basic level, this can involve ensuring services like MMS, voicemail and data connections are set correctly. In other instances, our customisation is more extensive such as the preloading of services (People, My Web, 360 Shop, etc), but this varies from device to device."

The 2.2 system – known as ‘Froyo’ – has been rolled out to users of Google’s Nexus One handset but the update schedule for other devices is in the hands of individual manufacturers and networks.