The Google Phone Won't Open Up the Wireless Industry

[Commentary] Higginbotham hoped Google's Nexus One would be a hardware-based crowbar. It isn't, and Google so far seems to be working with the carriers even as it offers its own web store for Android devices.

If Google wants to bring about affordable and open wireless to everyone, as well as encourage more competition in the wireless industry, here are a few steps it should take to bring that about.

1) Build a phone that can roam: A software-defined radio (SDR) could be the key for a universal handset. Google could contribute dollars or talent to making SDRs faster, cheaper and more power-efficient so they work inside mobile phones.

2) Get carriers to ditch SIM cards. If Google can convince a carrier to let a SIM-free device (perhaps biometric access to a network would be secure enough for carriers) onto its network, then we could see the beginning of a world where it's easy for a device to use the best, lowest-cost network available and pricing for mobile broadband comes way down.

If Google can help build devices that can roam anywhere, across a variety of networks, including Wi-Fi, and can push carriers to find another way to authenticate people on their networks without sacrificing security, then they could release a device that could be just as disruptive as the iPhone.