Catching up on my reading yesterday I read that Verizon Wireless announced that it will open its cellular network.
“Executing a neat reverse-field, Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless has declared that it will throw open its cellular network to third-party devices, applications, and software. What does this really mean for the heretofore locked-down wireless service market in North America?”
Wow… open networks, any device, any application… Sounds familiar? (yes, sounds like Google).
Is this the Google-effect at work? I think it is. Anyone knows that “opened” is better than “closed”, and network carriers with their traditional thinking have a hard time transitioning, unless someone else, typically another big player takes the initiative and “shows the way”, in this case Google with its Open Handset Alliance, and Apple with how it handled the network operator agreements with respect to the iPhone (oh, and introduction of handsets totally based on touch-surfaces).
So a very interesting move (or announcement) by Verizon this is, who has been one of the worst network operators in the U.S. from the application development and deployment perspective. The fact Verizon is thinking “open” is a great start.
Of course, being Verizon a CDMA-based network, the meaning of “any device, any application” is kind of a moot point, so what this announcement really means? Does it means that Verizon will go beyond BREW? Does this means that Verizon will be adopting Google’s Android? I bet is is the latter, and thus this new (marketing) push to call themselves open?
And the next question is… who else will follow?
Last but not least, being truly open is about being able to go beyond walled-gardens, and about being able to use all the services on the network, and all the services on the device (from local applications, to mobile web, to SMS/MMS), and about being able to use any handset I want when I want as I want (i.e. as can be done in GSM-based networks).
ceo