Any Substance to Verizon Wireless Open Network Claims?

[Lee]

I've been digging around tonight to try and find substance behind all
the press coverage of Verizon statements about "Any Device, Any App".
I've personally concluded that going by everything I can garner, there
is not any worthy substance (it could change, who knows). In summary:
one can go thru some certification process, details of which are
unspecified and Verizon may grant permission for that CDMA device to
be used on their network, ditto with an application. The end user of
such a device must then pay an unspecified subscription rate to
Verizon. My mind can not get round to where the innovation is that
made it so worthy of such prolific press coverage. On the GSM networks
you have always been able to bring your own device and install what
you want; the only difference I can see is that the route Verizon
offer is sanctioned. The only other difference I can see is that these
certified devices can be sold outside of the Verizon retail chains.
But if I was a budding CDMA device entrepreneur, I'd probably want
Verizon to offer it thru their retail outlets.

The latest press release is this one:
http://news.vzw.com/news/2008/02/pr2008-02-25d.html

Annoyingly (if not potentially symbolically) their open development
link does not actually open, at least not for me during the past hour
and a half that I tried it: http://www.verizonwireless.com/opendevelopment

I also emailed Anthony A. Lewis (vice president of the Open
Development at Verizon) to offer him to join Google and Skype (and
others) speaking at the wireless innovation panel at eComm (http://
ecommmedia.com/schedule/#fri). To date I've not heard anything back
(although it was just four days ago). I will point him at this post
and see if he wants me to add anything or if he would care to respond.
Would anybody care to tell me that the press coverage was warranted
and there is some noteworthy substance behind the "Any Device, Any
App" claims?

[Lee]

Reply sent to me direct and my response (please reply onsite/onlist)-

Yes to date only devices with approved serial numbers will work on
their network. So if you have two devices, both the same, same
software but one has the Verizon logo (and therefore correct serial),
only the branded device will work. But at least AFAIS, unless I am
missing something, these changes are only beginning to help them out
the dark ages, not step ahead in any fashion. So where is the news?

Regards

Lee

On 26/02/2008, (replaced) wrote:
> I don't get what they're offering Lee. Was it the case that previously VZW
> customers had to use only devices bought from them and locked to their
> network, sticking to a closed (approved) app portfolio? So, for example, you
> could not download an unapproved Java app (MIDlet) and run it on their
> devices?
>
> Cheers,
> (replaced)

[zorro]

On Feb 26, 10:37 pm, Lee <drybur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I've been digging around tonight to try and find substance behind all
> the press coverage of Verizon statements about "Any Device, Any App".
> I've personally concluded that going by everything I can garner, there
> is not any worthy substance (it could change, who knows). In summary:
> one can go thru some certification process, details of which are
> unspecified and Verizon may grant permission for that CDMA device to
> be used on their network, ditto with an application. The end user of
> such a device must then pay an unspecified subscription rate to
> Verizon. My mind can not get round to where the innovation is that
> made it so worthy of such prolific press coverage. On the GSM networks
> you have always been able to bring your own device and install what
> you want; the only difference I can see is that the route Verizon
> offer is sanctioned. The only other difference I can see is that these
> certified devices can be sold outside of the Verizon retail chains.
> But if I was a budding CDMA device entrepreneur, I'd probably want
> Verizon to offer it thru their retail outlets.
>
> The latest press release is this one:http://news.vzw.com/news/2008/02/pr2008-02-25d.html
>
> Annoyingly (if not potentially symbolically) their open development
> link does not actually open, at least not for me during the past hour
> and a half that I tried it:http://www.verizonwireless.com/opendevelopment
>

It opened for me, not that there was much substance:

Open Development Initiative

On November 27, 2007, Verizon Wireless announced that it will
introduce an 'any device, any applications' option for customers in
2008. Specifically, this 'network-only' offering will provide
customers the option to use, on Verizon Wireless' nationwide network,
wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the
company.

Members of the Development Community may check this site for updates
and details as they become available. Verizon Wireless plans to have
this new choice available to customers throughout the country by the
end of 2008.

For additional information, please view the following news
announcements:

*
February 25, 2008
Verizon Wireless To Issue Device Specs At Open Development
Device Conference
*

January 22, 2008
Verizon Wireless To Host Open Development Conference March
19-20, 2008 In New York City
*

November 27, 2007
Verizon Wireless To Introduce 'Any Apps, Any Device' Option For
Customers In 2008

Please complete our Open Development Conference form if you are
interested in developing devices or applications for our Open Access
service and would like information regarding our Open Development
Conference in March.

All the best


Dominic

[zorro]

> February 25, 2008
> Verizon Wireless To Issue Device Specs At Open Development
> Device Conference

<snip>

Verizon Wireless To Issue Device Specs At Open Development Device
Conference

Media Contact Info

Jeffrey Nelson
Jeffrey...@VerizonWireless.com
908-559-7519

Debra Lewis
Debra...@VerizonWireless.com
908-559-7512

02/25/2008

BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Verizon Wireless today said its upcoming Open
Development Device Conference will feature the release and publication
of Version 1.0 of the technical specifications for new wireless
devices that will work on its "Any Device, Any App" network-only
service option.

The conference, scheduled for March 19 in New York City, will focus on
how traditional device and consumer electronics companies and
entrepreneurs new to the wireless ecosystem can bring new wireless
devices to the marketplace under Verizon Wireless' Open Development
initiative. The conference will establish shared goals of streamlining
the certification and delivery of exciting new devices while
preserving the company's optimal network performance.

Anthony A. Lewis, vice president of the Open Development initiative at
Verizon Wireless, said the conference agenda will focus on wireless
devices, and that the initial specs will provide an important,
tangible building block for device development. "Version 1.0 will
provide the roadmap for wireless device visionaries and tinkerers, as
well as existing device makers, to create consumer products not
offered directly by the company, which can run on the nation's most
reliable network," Lewis said.

Lewis also noted that input from developers and technologists during
the conference might refine the initial device specifications, but
device developers are expected to be able to use Version 1.0 as the
foundation for device certification immediately after they are
presented. In the coming weeks, Verizon Wireless plans to dive deeper
with application developers to help match applications with device
designers.

While the conference agenda on March 19 will focus on the goals and
standards of the initiative, March 20 will be designed for one-on-one
visits between attendees, developers and the Verizon Wireless Open
Development team.

For consumers, the network-only option, which is expected to be
available later this year, will provide the option to use these
wireless devices and new applications not offered directly by Verizon
Wireless. Verizon Wireless' Open Development initiative is driven by
the company's desire to encourage innovation, give customers new
wireless choices, and quickly address opportunities to expand the
wireless market.

For those not attending the conference in person, the entire
proceeding will be webcast. Look for more details in the coming days
at www.verizonwireless.com/opendevelopment.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice
and data network, serving 65.7 million customers. The largest U.S.
wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on
revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J.,
with 69,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD).
Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To
preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-
resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the
Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
####

[Bob Frankston]

I asked for clarification and what is significant is that Verizon will no
longer vet the devices to make sure they are crippled. The ones in the store
might be but companies like HTC are free to do full featured phones as they
do for the GSM world. Or OpenMoko??

More interesting is GSM/EVDO convergence that's supposed to happen.

... unless IP trumps 4G first.