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Samsung promises more bloatware, but now you can delete it

Samsung and Microsoft announced the companies are expanding their partnership to include extra Microsoft features on the Android maker's devices, but now users can do something new with their devices, delete stuff.

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Samsung
Promotional shot of the Galaxy S6 Edge, which was unveiled at the 2015 Mobile World Congress.
  • By Tess Danielson Staff Writer

Smart phones and tablets have long been criticized for “bloatware,” unwanted apps that come already installed on a device. Samsung announced Monday that it will add more pre-installed apps to its tablets, but with a twist.

Samsung and Microsoft, fresh off the battlefield from a patent skirmish, have made peace and are partnering to bring more Office apps to Android devices.

In a joint press release on Monday, Samsung agreed to bundle Microsoft’s Office apps, Skype, and OneDrive on select Android tablets sometime in the first half of 2015.

Companies that sign up for Samsung’s “business-to-business sales channels" will gain access to Office 365, Microsoft's Web-based suite of programs. Office 365 Business, Business Premium, and Enterprise will operate using Samsung’s KNOX Business Pack, a security feature that makes it safer to switch from professional to personal accounts. 

The service expansions come after the initial announcement of the partnership at the Mobile World Conference, where Samsung revealed that OneNote, OneDrive and Skype would come pre-installed on the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. There is no word on if the smart phones will get the Microsoft Office experience, but owners will have access to 100 GB of additional free cloud storage for two years on OneDrive.

Both tech giants stand to gain a lot from this collaboration. Microsoft has had trouble gaining traction in the mobile market, but its multiple partnerships with Android devicemakers should give it more exposure. And Samsung should benefit from its expanded offerings to businesses.

But as Microsoft looks to expand, Samsung is ready to streamline. 

The South Korean company will now allow users to delete almost all of the pre-installed apps on their hand-held devices, including Google’s apps.

Screenshots uploaded to the XDA Developers forum last week showed that a user can disable or delete almost any app, including Samsung's S Health and S Voice and several Google apps such as YouTube, Gmail, Google+, and even the Google Play Store. However, Galaxy S6 owners will still have to live with the “vanilla” apps such as mail, S planner, and few others.

Samsung says on its blog that the company is committed to “removing cumbersome bloatware,” which can slow down its smart devices. It will also reduce the number of pop-up alerts and notifications.

The Samsung Galaxy 6S and 6S Edge will hit stores on April 10.

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