The Verizon Wireless Open Access Love In Verizon: We Love Open Access. Why are you looking at us like that? Tuesday Dec 04 2007 14:31 EDT On the heels of last week's open access announcement, Verizon now says they're throwing their weight behind Google's Android OS and SDK, an open development platform aimed at generating content for mobile platforms with 3G wireless broadband in mind. Note that Verizon isn't joining the Open Handset Alliance, they're simply saying you'll probably be able to use Android-based phones on the Verizon network -- eventually. Verizon Wireless is certainly saying all the right things to make industry analysts happy, even if the pricing of their open-access model remains a mystery and nothing has actually been accomplished yet. Business Week pens a love letter to Verizon Wireless, which suggests that Verizon truly has had an open-access epiphany: quote: Though skeptics see ulterior motives and question just how easy Verizon will make it for rival products to get on its network, the surprise embrace of an open-access model and of the Android software culminates a dramatic yearlong evolution in the company's thinking. The effort, championed by McAdam, involved meetings with the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and late-night bull sessions with the top two executives at Verizon Communications.
Skeptics see "ulterior motives" because Verizon Wireless has one of the worst track records in the industry when it comes to open platforms and services. In addition, Verizon is eager to ensure that no additional open-access regulations are imposed on upcoming 700Mhz spectrum, so some people think they're simply putting on a stage play in order to avoid new regulation (thus the meetings with Martin). Even assuming this isn't a regulatory play, the quality of Verizon's open-access initiative depends entirely on pricing. Is this simply a way to warm customers to billing by the byte? Is this about charging us for the right to actually choose our own software and services? Charging us extra for the right to wander off the crippled-phone Verizon reservation? We're applauding this? The history of the baby tells us that skepticism is warranted. Verizon needs to prove their dedication to open access before getting the cookie. Were we the only ones to learn that in grade school? |
KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK |
KrK
Premium Member
2007-Dec-4 2:43 pm
You need to pay attention to DEEDS not just WORDS...Words are fine... but their DEEDS are really what shows their true intent. Anybody can say anything at anytime that sounds great--- and then never follow up on it. | |
| pules join:2001-01-10 Los Angeles, CA |
pules
Member
2007-Dec-4 2:59 pm
Wow - awesome articlegreat post....pretty much summed up how I feel.
Thank you | |
| en102Canadian, eh? join:2001-01-26 Valencia, CA |
en102
Member
2007-Dec-4 3:06 pm
Unlocked CDMA devices... ?Wireless open access is nice, but don't think its going to be 'all that'.
1. Where are you going to find unlocked CDMA 1x/EVDO devices ? 2. What 'cost' is going to be associated with 'ceritification' for VWZ's network (I don't suspect they'll certify a portable bittorrent device).
What kind of wireless interface will Google be using ? GSM, CDMA, WiMAX, WiFi, or something else ? | |
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Re: Unlocked CDMA devices... ?said by en102:Wireless open access is nice, but don't think its going to be 'all that'. 1. Where are you going to find unlocked CDMA 1x/EVDO devices ? 2. What 'cost' is going to be associated with 'ceritification' for VWZ's network (I don't suspect they'll certify a portable bittorrent device). What kind of wireless interface will Google be using ? GSM, CDMA, WiMAX, WiFi, or something else ? Actually, you can buy unlocked CDMA Motorola handsets *today* directly from Motorola (» store.motorola.com). Their prices are the same as their unlocked GSM equivalents (much more expensive than the same handset with a plan). What's the *real* reason for the cost differences between GSM and CDMA versions of the *same handset*? And don't give me that *GSM is more prevalent so it's cheaper* guff, as right now the price differences for the same handset, whether GSM or CDMA, are less than five percent (in fact, in most cases, there's no price difference at all). | |
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rawWar Eagle Premium Member join:2001-01-17 Madison, AL 1 edit |
raw
Premium Member
2007-Dec-4 3:21 pm
Typo alertLast paragraph, first sentence: "the baby tells tells" should read "the baby bells tells" | |
| garmst join:2000-09-17 New York, NY
1 recommendation |
garmst
Member
2007-Dec-4 3:29 pm
A good moveI am always surprised by how some can always ONLY see bad, suspicion, and evil in the face of apparently good news.
In the same manner the the iPhone has gathered a circle of raving manic followers who spend wireless bucks, VZ sees the Google platform as the second group of raving maniac groupies that will eagerly give VZ their wireless bucks to have a Google thingie.
VZ, like all (most) businesses, including me, are doing what they do to make money and a PROFIT! VZ is not here to give anything away without a buck coming back in return. They see "open" as equaling "money". That is progress.
Now, I look forward to my carrier SPRINT to "open" up a little bit. | |
| | FFH5 Premium Member join:2002-03-03 Tavistock NJ |
FFH5
Premium Member
2007-Dec-4 3:38 pm
Re: A good movesaid by garmst:I am always surprised by how some can always ONLY see bad, suspicion, and evil in the face of apparently good news. » The Verizon Wireless Open Access Love In [11] commentsVerizon needs to prove their dedication to open access before getting the cookie. Were we the only ones to learn that in grade school? Sounds like SOMEONE used to get his cookies stolen in grade school and it soured his views on life. | |
| | | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little Guy Premium Member join:2000-01-17 Tulsa, OK Netgear WNDR3700v2 Zoom 5341J
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KrK
Premium Member
2007-Dec-4 8:03 pm
Re: A good movesaid by FFH5:Sounds like SOMEONE used to get his cookies stolen in grade school and it soured his views on life. Soured? Hardly. Realistic? You betcha. I find that you have to guard your cookies vigilantly, or the Corporations will take them all away from you, and leave you naught but an empty jar... | |
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I think it was Ballmer......that said that the Open Handset Alliance is just words on paper, but it'll mean a lot to a lot of people if Verizon ponies up and joins it. | |
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The Root Of The SkepticismFrom the various postings so far, the root of the skepticism is entirely due to VZW's insistence on CDMA (as opposed to the more-common-outside-North America GSM). Except for *niche* handsets like the iPhone, there is little difference in terms of handset availability between GSM and CDMA realistically (both the RAZR and RAZR2 are available in both GSM and CDMA, for example). And *despite* the claims of AT&T (and before that, Cingular) to the contrary, I have not had an issue with dropped calls on VZW's network. (What's more, I have much greater coverage (and without needing to roam, either) on VZW's network.) | |
| CosmicDebriStill looking for intelligent life join:2001-09-01 Lake City, FL |
sub headingI just had to comment on how much I enjoyed the sub heading to the article: Verizon: We Love Open Access. Why are you looking at us like that? it brought a smile AND a chuckle...... hehe... | |
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