Verizon openning it network to more phones?

[MadSkillz]

Dare I say iPhone and google Phone effect

November 28, 2007
Verizon Plans Wider Options for Cellphone Users

By LAURA M. HOLSON
In a major shift for the mobile phone industry, Verizon Wireless said yesterday that it planned to give customers far more choice in what phones they could use on its network and how they use them.

While there are technical limitations involved, the company’s move could lead to an American wireless market that is more like those in Europe and Asia, where a carrier’s customers can use any compatible phone to easily reach a wide array of online services — and take their phones with them when they switch companies. The move, which surprised industry watchers because Verizon Wireless is known to be highly protective of its traditional business, is part of a larger shift in the communications world.

With the introduction of the iPhone from Apple, one of the first mainstream multimedia devices, and Google’s plan to make the software that runs cellphones, the industry is being pushed toward a more open approach.

Carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which is a joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone, have spent billions on cell towers and other infrastructure, and traditionally they have tightly controlled what happens on their networks.

They decide what phones subscribers can use and then steer them toward ring tones, television shows and other products they can buy.

The details of Verizon Wireless’s alternative approach have yet to be worked out. The company did not disclose how much the service would cost or what rules would apply.

Lowell McAdam, chief executive of Verizon Wireless, said the company would hold a meeting with mobile phone makers and programmers in the first quarter of next year to talk about the service, with the goal of introducing it next summer.

“The trend we see here is an explosion of innovation,” Mr. McAdam said. “People want to take so much of what’s on the Internet and put it on the phone.”

Other companies are likely to feel pressed to follow Verizon’s lead, analysts and executives said. “If they don’t change their own business model, someone else will do it for them," said Roger Entner, a senior vice president at IAG Research. “This way they have control.”

Consumers are already able to add software and make purchases online with many cellphones, but often the carriers do not make this easy, preferring instead to highlight their own offerings on phone screens.

The carriers have also been at odds with Silicon Valley companies like Google that want people to be able to use phones in much the same way that they can use any PC for access to the Internet.

Verizon Wireless, too, is not abandoning its traditional service. Instead it will offer a separate service plan allowing consumers to buy a phone — one compatible with its network — and call a toll-free number to have it activated. A Verizon lab will test whether the phones can connect to the network, allowing the company to maintain control over what devices are permitted.

Still, programmers will be able to develop software to run on the phones without authorization from the company. “We will not be the gateway to go through,” Mr. McAdam said.

The company’s move won praise from Google, Microsoft and the Federal Communications Commission, among others, but consumer groups offered a cautionary note.

“There are a lot of unanswered questions,” said Gene Kimmelman, vice president for federal affairs at Consumers Union, an advocacy group in Washington. “We have significant concerns about prices being sky high.”

Another potential hurdle is the Verizon network’s use of CDMA technology, which is less common than the GSM technology of AT&T, T-Mobile and many overseas carriers. As a result, users of Apple’s iPhone and many GSM-compatible phones will not be able to use Verizon’s service.

Still, added Mr. Kimmelman, “it’s a step in the right direction.”

That step has not come without a bit of prodding. Federal regulators are moving to encourage the creation of a more open national wireless network when they auction off spectrum licenses in January. The auction rules require bidders to partly build a network that is largely free from carrier constraints.

Among those expected to bid are Google, which many in the industry say will be a formidable competitor to the likes of AT&T and Verizon. Google has put together a consortium of companies to use its software and help it turn mobile phones into hand-held computers. Mr. Kimmelman said the Verizon Wireless announcement was fueling speculation that it would be a bidder in that auction, too.

But analysts have noted that Verizon Wireless has been sending mixed signals. It filed a petition in September with the federal courts requesting a review of the auction rules on openness, calling them “arbitrary” and “capricious.” Mr. McAdam said his company filed the petition not to halt competition, but because it believed “it was not necessary for the F.C.C. to get involved.”

He added that Google was not the enemy of the traditional telecommunications companies that the news media made it out to be.

“It’s very common and popular in the press to view Google and Verizon at each other’s throats," Mr. McAdam said. “We have far more in common with Google in meeting demands of consumers than in conflict.”

No matter the motivation, many expect the result to be good for consumers. “This is only going to drive innovation for consumers, which is a good thing," said Cyriac Roeding, who is in charge of mobile content efforts at CBS.

If Verizon’s effort is successful, then content creators, software developers and device makers, who have chafed under the control of the wireless companies, will need to show what they can do. At a telecommunications conference in San Francisco, those groups were outwardly hostile toward the carriers, complaining that they were too controlling.

Now, Mr. Entner said, “the ball is in the court of the device manufacturers and software developers.”

“They have to put up or shut up.

Its about time these dam carriers realize their job is just to keep us connect. Let me buy what ever the fuck I want and put what ever software I want.

 

[Adam Knows]

don't get ahead of yourself.......



all that means is they will accept phones from sprint due to the recent lawsuit which requires them to unlock their phones, as well as verizon will reformat the prl software which restricts their phones to their network. Alltel cricket revol, for at least 2-3 years will still not be able to use their phones on verizon.

other changes:

1. no longer limited to verizon's "get it now" for ringtones and stuff. they had that on lockdown for years making all the money.

2. bluetooth features being expanded. no more voice only bluetooth on high end handsets

 

[jiggylo09]

 

[MadSkillz]

don't get ahead of yourself.......



all that means is they will accept phones from sprint due to the recent lawsuit which requires them to unlock their phones, as well as verizon will reformat the prl software which restricts their phones to their network. Alltel cricket revol, for at least 2-3 years will still not be able to use their phones on verizon.

other changes:

1. no longer limited to verizon's "get it now" for ringtones and stuff. they had that on lockdown for years making all the money.

2. bluetooth features being expanded. no more voice only bluetooth on high end handsets

I didn't buy one fucking ring tone from Verizon. They were to limiting in many areas especially when it came to bluetooth. They got sued when the V710 came out with hobbled Blue tooth.

All I can say is it can only get better because of these changes.

 

[thismybgolname]

Sprint is doing this too and I believe that it's due to an FCC ruling that was passed.

You can use any CDMA phone on verizon, sprint and any gsm phone on AT&T and Tmobile.

You won't be seeing an iphone or Sprint or Verizon since they're running on CDMA networks.

 

[Adam Knows]

Sprint is doing this too and I believe that it's due to an FCC ruling that was passed.

Spring Nextel Agrees to Unlock Phones
By DAVID TWIDDY – 12 hours ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wireless subscribers of Sprint Nextel Corp. may no longer have to buy a new phone if they jump to a new carrier.

As part of a proposed class-action settlement, the Reston, Va.-based provider, with operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., has agreed to provide departing Sprint PCS customers with the code necessary to unlock their phones' software.

That would allow the phones to operate on any network using code division multiple access technology, or CDMA. Competitors using that technology include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp., although the Sprint handset would still have to meet those networks' technical standards to work.

The codes won't work for Sprint's Nextel-branded phones, which use iDEN technology, and don't allow switching to AT&T or T-Mobile, which use global system for mobile communication, or GSM, technology.

Sprint made the offer as part of the proposed settlement of a California class-action lawsuit, filed last year, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices.

The plaintiffs claimed the software "lock" forced customers wanting to switch carriers to have to buy a new phone, throwing up a barrier to competition. A similar lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Fla., and is covered by the proposed settlement.

On Oct. 2, an Alameda County Superior Court judge gave the settlement his preliminary approval. A final approval hearing hasn't yet been scheduled, said Sprint Nextel spokesman Matt Sullivan.

"We believe this settlement is fair and reasonable," Sullivan said, adding that the company denies wrongdoing and settled the suit "so we can continue to focus on our business."

Sprint doesn't expect to pay any financial damages as part of the settlement, other than possible legal fees, Sullivan said.

Sprint said it will share the unlocking code with all current and former subscribers once their phones are deactivated and their bills are paid. The company also will add information about the locking software and how to obtain the unlocking codes in the list of terms and conditions of service given to new customers, and instruct its customer service representatives on how to connect a non-Sprint phone to the Sprint network.

The settlement covers customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.

T-Mobile is facing a similar class-action lawsuit in California. Users of the iPhone, which is locked to the AT&T network, filed two separate lawsuits last week against the carrier and Apple Inc., claiming its use restrictions and a software upgrade that disables unlocked iPhones constituted unfair business practices.

 

[water]

Spring Nextel Agrees to Unlock Phones
By DAVID TWIDDY – 12 hours ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Wireless subscribers of Sprint Nextel Corp. may no longer have to buy a new phone if they jump to a new carrier.

As part of a proposed class-action settlement, the Reston, Va.-based provider, with operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., has agreed to provide departing Sprint PCS customers with the code necessary to unlock their phones' software.

That would allow the phones to operate on any network using code division multiple access technology, or CDMA. Competitors using that technology include Verizon Wireless and Alltel Corp., although the Sprint handset would still have to meet those networks' technical standards to work.

The codes won't work for Sprint's Nextel-branded phones, which use iDEN technology, and don't allow switching to AT&T or T-Mobile, which use global system for mobile communication, or GSM, technology.

Sprint made the offer as part of the proposed settlement of a California class-action lawsuit, filed last year, accusing the company of anticompetitive practices.

The plaintiffs claimed the software "lock" forced customers wanting to switch carriers to have to buy a new phone, throwing up a barrier to competition. A similar lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Fla., and is covered by the proposed settlement.

On Oct. 2, an Alameda County Superior Court judge gave the settlement his preliminary approval. A final approval hearing hasn't yet been scheduled, said Sprint Nextel spokesman Matt Sullivan.

"We believe this settlement is fair and reasonable," Sullivan said, adding that the company denies wrongdoing and settled the suit "so we can continue to focus on our business."

Sprint doesn't expect to pay any financial damages as part of the settlement, other than possible legal fees, Sullivan said.

Sprint said it will share the unlocking code with all current and former subscribers once their phones are deactivated and their bills are paid. The company also will add information about the locking software and how to obtain the unlocking codes in the list of terms and conditions of service given to new customers, and instruct its customer service representatives on how to connect a non-Sprint phone to the Sprint network.

The settlement covers customers who bought a Sprint phone between Aug. 28, 1999, and July 16, 2007.

T-Mobile is facing a similar class-action lawsuit in California. Users of the iPhone, which is locked to the AT&T network, filed two separate lawsuits last week against the carrier and Apple Inc., claiming its use restrictions and a software upgrade that disables unlocked iPhones constituted unfair business practices.

Those lawsuits changed the game.............


Now its a battle with the content providers vs the carriers for revenue

More job security for me.........

 

[[>'']> -vs- <[''<]]

Good Read Fam. I Actually Caught This In The Wall Street Journal This Morning. Now All The Other Carriers Will Have To Follow Suit ( The Gsm Ones ) And Then We Will Be Free. I Get Pissed That They Dumb Down So Many Phones For The Public That I Have To Go On The Hunt For A Half Decent Phone. Right Now I Am Looking At That New 8gb Nokia N95. Thats Right, 8gb Of Internal Memory. And It Has Gps And Wifi And The Best Operating System Ever (symbian).

 

[thismybgolname]

I would love to get my hands on some DoCoMo handsets to put on Sprints network.

 

[bigirl]

Forget all that. Just get an unlocked gsm phone and you can change chips like you change underwear. I have one phone and many chips for various countries. I love it.

 

[thismybgolname]

Forget all that. Just get an unlocked gsm phone and you can change chips like you change underwear. I have one phone and many chips for various countries. I love it.

Best networks in the states are Verizon and Sprint which don't use a gsm network.

 

[bigirl]

Best networks in the states are Verizon and Sprint which don't use a gsm network.

i had sprint it fucking sucked. worst ever. at&t is good. i like being able to have just one phone and change my chips. thats a pretty huge benefit IMO.

 

[thismybgolname]

i had sprint it fucking sucked. worst ever. at&t is good. i like being able to have just one phone and change my chips. thats a pretty huge benefit IMO.

I hate to hear that but I've never had an issue with any Sprint phone plus I use my phone as a modem more than I make phone calls so I never have to rely on wifi when I'm away from home.

ATT and edge don't compare to evdo plus I hardly ever have dropped calls.

 

[cli-terminator]

i had sprint it fucking sucked. worst ever. at&t is good. i like being able to have just one phone and change my chips. thats a pretty huge benefit IMO.

Sprint used to be bad but that was due to them working primarily on the 1600Mhz frequency that didn't penetrate walls very well. Now they're running on both the 1600Mhz and 850Mhz frequencies giving them much better reception. I used to hate on Sprint all the time but I have them for my service now since Nextel went downhill and haven't been disapointed yet.