One Small Step for Verizon, One Giant Leap ...

...for open networks.

Verizon Wireless will open its network to outside mobile handsets, devices and applications by the end of 2008.

The company will publish technical standards for the development community by early next year, and any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the Verizon Wireless network, the company said.

Customers will be able to run any application they choose on approved devices.

3 cheers for Verizon.

Full story @ Network World.

Google Mobile - the winners and losers

Google’s big mobile splash: Handicapping the winners and losers by ZDNet's Larry Dignan --

Dignan provides his perspective on the impact of Google's move in the mobile space, giving us the winners, losers, and the companies left on the fence. This is a condensed version - check out Dignan's article for the full scoop:

Winners:

• Google: The search giant has managed to line up a big chunk of the wireless industry, cordoned off some mobile advertising inventory and may have found away to commoditize the wireless operating system.
  

• Sprint: The wireless carrier is struggling and needs a plan. By aligning with Google–by most counts Sprint will be on the partner roster–Sprint may give itself a much needed spark. This effect may be magnified if Verizon Wireless isn’t on board with Google. AT&T isn’t expected to get cozy with Google yet.

• Developers: Google’s mobile software stack is giving developers some open field to play with.

• Open source: Google’s Android is expected to integrate parts of Linux. This is a mobile victory for the open source movement in what remains a proprietary wireless world. The leading mobile software players are all proprietary.

• Handset makers: Google’s mobile software stack sounds like it’ll come cheap–like free. This fact enables handset makers to push the envelope on the hardware side of the equation.
  

Yet to be determined:

• Apple: A few folks have taken Google’s leap to surmise that Apple will be hurt somehow. There may be some potential impact, but there’s a cure for this line of thinking. Repeat after me: Apple sells hardware.
  

• Microsoft: Windows Mobile is entrenched, has a big footprint in the corporate world and is a key partner to wireless carriers and developers.
  

• Consumers: Mobile phone users will apparently get better software out of this Google move. But if the trade off is more ads on your phone it may be a wash for some.

Losers:

• Palm: Man it gets tiring kicking Palm, but it’s clear this former high flier has major problems. Wasn’t Palm trying to cook up its own Linux based operating system? Yup. It’s late to the party and looks like Google will get any momentum that may come its way. The Palm OS is rapidly becoming a footnote to the history of the wireless market.

• Wireless carriers’ current business model: Wireless carriers have a model that is extremely controlling. In the grand scheme of things, Google is nibbling away at the standard wireless business model.

Facebook's Moskovitz: Open up the wireless garden

As reported in SeattleTimes.com:

Standing where the mature, wireless CEO typically stands, young Dustin Moskovitz (Facebook co-founder) took the stage yesterday and offered his two cents to the CTIA attendees:

"...to remain successful wireless carriers must give developers greater access to their networks."

Great advice, and good luck with that.

All sarcasm intended.

Hey, look how long it took for something as simple as number portability to happen (no, I don't really believe it was all that simple). But now we're asking for the carriers to embrace a spirit of openness with regard to their networks?! C'mon, Steve Largent's ancestors are going to turn over in their graves if you keep talking that way!

Sarcasm aside, I applaud you, Sir Moskovitz - with you all the way, dude.

And I'm encouraged by the talk about Apple recognizing the importance of openness, and their plans to open up the iPhone in February to outside developers. And, that Google continues to be an outspoken advocate of open access (obviously, to their long-term benefit).

Hey, I'm on the carrier side of the biz, but I just can't see how openness would negatively impact the industry long-term, especially as it pertains to job growth for all things wireless.

As you'd expect, I'm an advocate for anything that is good for job growth ... specifically, wireless job growth.

So, while I don't expect that we carriers are going to open the proverbial network kimono overnight (given our history of maintaining the so-called walled gardens that restrict users from buying or using applications previously unapproved or those the carrier isn't selling), I am encouraged.

Here's to baby-steps toward openness.