Verizon opens up -- reluctantly

VERIZON OPENS UP -- RELUCTANTLY
[SOURCE: Fortune, AUTHOR: Scott Moritz]
In a world of exasperatingly imperfect cell phone calls, Verizon Wireless has nonetheless managed to paint itself as the "reliable" network. By controlling the phones and the applications that run on the network, Verizon has put a lock on some of the variables that can influence quality. But that increasingly controversial so-called walled garden approach to its network has run into a challenge. Last year, at Google's insistence, regulators stipulated that the winner of the latest air wave auction must allow open network access and an open application policy. In theory, the move would open the gate to a new generation of devices that can capitalize on the faster wireless networks that will be built on the newly licensed 700 megahertz radio spectrum. Verizon immediately filed a lawsuit to challenge the move, but withdrew it soon after. The company is now in the somewhat unusual position of having to comply with the rule that would loosen its grip on the network and yet keep the door open to new revenue opportunities. Verizon took a big step Wednesday to help determine what outside devices will be allowed inside its network. The No.2 wireless service provider hosted its Open Development Device Conference in New York Wednesday where it shared its Version 1.0 specs - a list of technical requirements for new devices that are targeted for its network.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/19/technology/moritz_verizon.fortune/index....

* Open Questions for Verizon's Open Access
Many of the attendees at the Open Development Device Conference said the event marked a good first step toward defining an open-access model. But they noted that many questions remain. Among the biggest concerns: Verizon did not divulge any details of the pricing plans customers would be offered to use such devices. Nor did it publish any specifications to help software developers create applications for the network. In fact, the company distributed materials to attendees online, stressing that the company "will not approve, test, or service third-party applications that customers load onto their Open Development Devices." And despite numerous claims by Verizon executives that testing and certification for new devices could take as little as four weeks, many attendees are skeptical the process will be that easy.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2008/tc20080319_832420...

* Verizon Wireless opens its network
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9898119-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2...
* Verizon Wireless Unveils Open-Network Policy
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120594200879448767.html?mod=todays_us_ma...
* Verizon Works to Let Other Devices on Network
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/19/AR200803...