Open Access is Open Ended

The cellco stressed it will continue to offer its exclusive stable of devices as well as on-deck content, but that it would provide an “additional option” for consumers to bring their own apps and handsets to the network. Consumers won’t be able to buy a phone on eBay and just hook it up, however. Early this year Verizon was set to publish technical standards developers can use to design products for the Verizon Wireless network. The carrier said any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network. And those devices will have to be tested and approved before being given the go-ahead, leaving the door open to reject endpoints as the carrier sees fit. Verizon did say the testing will take place in a $20 million facility it has ready for this purpose, and it plans to hold a conference with developers to get input on how best to facilitate the design process.

AT&T then stepped in to remind all that its GSM network supports any device or application, and always has. In fact, many analysts said the furor over Verizon’s announcement failed to recognize that Verizon is just doing what AT&T has been allowing for years.

Still, until the 700MHz spectrum auction ends and a new president wins the White House, it’s difficult to predict how wireless open-access business practices and regulations will look. For its part, research firm Technology Futures Inc. says to expect a new paradigm in pricing, equipment and services. “Mobile networks will not only open up to outside handsets, devices and applications, but media content, search, social networks, conferencing, shopping and a variety of services will all be standard parts of the mobile network experience,” the firm wrote on Dec. 20, 2007. However wireless open access manifests itself, it’s sure to result in one thing -– a brave new world of mobility.

– With reporting from Tara Seals

AT&T Inc.       www.att.com
FCC    www.fcc.gov
Free State Foundation  www.freestatefoundation.org
Google Inc. www.google.com   
Stifel Nicolaus  www.stifel.com
Technology Futures Inc.  www.tfi.com
Verizon Communications Inc. www.verizon.com