Verizon Wireless To Open Network

A number of readers are letting us know about Verizon's plans, announced today, to open their nationwide wireless network to devices that they don't sell. A NYTimes blog posting puts VZW's announcement in industry context. From the press release: "In early 2008, the company will publish the technical standards the development community will need to design products to interface with the Verizon Wireless network. Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network. Devices will be tested and approved in a $20 million state-of-the-art testing lab which received an additional investment this year to gear up for the anticipated new demand. Any application the customer chooses will be allowed on these devices."

Comments

No

[Jonesy69]

No, the iPhone wont work. Lets just clear that up right now.

Re:No

[BecomingLumberg]

Because a GSM phone won't work on a CDMA network.

Re:No

[DECS]

Well Verizon Wireless is almost entirely CDMA2000+ EVDO, while the iPhone uses GSM + EDGE. Unless Verizon rolls out a huge WiFi network, the iPhone won't be able to use Verizon's network. On the other hand, it appears that the move was pushed by the popularity of the iPhone, and the threat of Google. With Verizon locked out of 27% of the US mobile phone market within just a few months of iPhone sales*, it wants/needs as much telephony tied to CDMA2000 as possible as a counterbalance. If Google can buy up and deploy open networks on the old analog TV spectrum within a few years, that would leave Verizon's ~$5 billion new CDMA2000/EVDO networks a vast, unsalable investment that can't be monetized in the subsidy lock model of the 90s.

*iPhone Grabs 27% of US Smartphone Market

Re:No

[Anonymous Coward]

That's 27% of the *smartphone* market, which is not even close to 27% of the mobile phone market. Same article later talks about Apple having 3% marektshare overall, which is not nerely as impressive.

Re:No

[davester666]

It might just be me, but Verizon could totally kick start this by NOT CRIPPLING THE PHONES THEY SELL. Stop removing features the manufacturers already developed, that end-users might actually want and use, just so they have to download a ringtone from Verizon.com...

This seems very much unlike Verizon

[yincrash]

I'm in shock. Verizon is fairly well known for locking down every phone they offer. What spurred the sudden change of heart? Google Android?

Re:This seems very much unlike Verizon

[jtara]

I wonder how much the Amazon Kindle has to do with this? (The Kindle uses EVDO through Sprint to download books, and Amazon picks up the tab for the airtime.)

It seems to me like this is more oriented toward that type of specialized device, rather than simply a "bring your own phone" option.

I think Verizon may have realized that there is potentially a huge new market to be tapped, which could go to WiFi or other carriers if they don't provide the ability to use these type of devices on their network.

Re:This seems very much unlike Verizon

[a_nonamiss]

IMHO, that's untrue. My company has used Verizon for years, and they are NOT becoming more friendly towards us. They have better PR people now, but they are just as much on the lookout for "revenue leak" as they've always been. Any company that treats their customer as opponents in some sort of battle for cash is not customer friendly. A good business deal should benefit both parties involved. That's not done by screwing your customers.

Re:This seems very much unlike Verizon

[2PAIRofACES]

A good business deal should benefit both parties involved. That's not done by screwing your customers. Unless of course you're business is prostitution.

Holy Crap!!! I just realized I figured out the mythical step 2.

Step 1. Screw your customers!
Step 2. Make sure you're a prostitute!
Step 3. Profit!

Re:This seems very much unlike Verizon

[Isao]

What spurred the sudden change of heart?

Sprint. They were the first to lose the class-action lawsuit.

Unprecedented doesn't begin to describe it

[jeffmeden]

What might Verizon have up their sleeve on this one? They have traditionally been a VERY closed, clandestine network that offers no support for third party anything, and a very aggressive attitude against any efforts to open up (bluetooth lockout is one example). To see them changing their attitude is great, but what is the catch?

Re:Unprecedented doesn't begin to describe it

[kackle]

Undoubtedly it was in response to Google's bidding to make an "open spectrum".

As a person who has explored making a device for use on Ver*izon's network (job related), I tell you that there is a substantial certification fee for such devices; 2 years ago anyway I was told it was roughly a couple of hundred thousand dollars for a design. I wonder whether they are changing that too...

Let me get this straight...

[Shoeler]

The most evil of evil cellular companies, the company that replaces perfectly unacceptable, already crippled stock phone operating systems with COMPLETELY UTTERLY crippled operating systems, the same one who if you buy their Motorola RAZR and try to use MOTOROLA's OWN MOBILE PHONE TOOLS, will not allow said use. The same one who requires a USB CHARGER PURCHASED FROM THEM, when any charger will suffice, is now opening their network???!!!

'Scuse me - that sizzling sound was hell freezing over.

Any device?

[a_nonamiss]

Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network That's a helluva loophole. It's possible that they just want to protect their network from rogue devices, but I think they could use that clause to deny a lot of devices. Also, the article mentions fees associated with testing. Are those fees geared towards the individual consumer or phone manufacturers? Hundreds or millions of dollars?

I'd like to be optimistic, but I've (unwillingly) been a Verizon customer for years, and I'd be surprised to see a leopard change its spots...

Re:Peachy....

[LunaticTippy]

I am not trying to defend Verizon, a company I actively hate, but I'd like to explain why this didn't work.

Most digital voice service uses lossy compression, like the mp3 format. If you lossily compress the analog modem noise you won't have a stable signal. You would find the same problem with pretty much any cellular service and most VOIP services. Even with lossless compression you would probably have problems and end up with a low data rate.

I think we can all agree

[rehtonAesoohC]

I think we can all agree that this is definitely not Verizon lifting her skirt for us.

This is more like Verizon bringing us to her front doorstep with promises of gratification, only to slap us and call us names for even implying something might happen.

The whore.

Bait and Switch

[mpapet]

The tiger can't change its stripes and I don't expect Verizon to either.

from the summary: "Devices will be tested and approved"

This is the classic strategy whereby they get bragging rights "It's wide open!!!" and yet mysteriously few, if anything will ever get on because of the details conspicuously absent from the announcement.

1. How much does testing cost?
2. How much does approval cost?
3. Once it's approved, how much is the daily/weekly/monthly tax the device/app builder pays to Verizon?

This is Extreme Marketing 101. All the hot oil you can dream up and no popcorn.

Interesting timing on that

[Solandri]

The 700 MHz spectrum auction is supposed to happen before Jan 28, 2008. Verizon's announcement says the technical specifications will be released in "early 2008". Sounds to me like it's to discourage any further mandates by the FCC on the bidding process, and to provide a disincentive for any other bit players thinking of lining up behind Google. "Oh, there's no need to mandate any more openness requirements, we're already going to do it. See, look at this announcement we made. What? Of course we're going to follow through on it. Trust us." It's pretty pathetic that I'm this cynical of Verizon's motives, but that cynicism comes from 3 years experience as a customer.