Hallelujah! In a move long overdue, Verizon announced that it will be opening up its network to “Any App, Any Device” by the end of 2008. I can’t wait to see how it rolls out and whether we can publish podcasts to phones as easily as we can to the Nokia phones. Digital Podcast has provided ongoing support the Nokia’s podcasting application and I would love to see it on the Verizon network, so I can use it too.

Here’s the brief outline of the plan released via a press release from Verizon.

Verizon Wireless today announced that it will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company. Verizon Wireless plans to have this new choice available to customers throughout the country by the end of 2008.

In early 2008, the company will publish the technical standards the development community will need to design products to interface with the Verizon Wireless network. Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network. Devices will be tested and approved in a $20 million state-of-the-art testing lab which received an additional investment this year to gear up for the anticipated new demand. Any application the customer chooses will be allowed on these devices.

It seems that this move was driven by a “small but growing number of customers who want another choice”. Yea right, only a few of us would like an open network. Come on Verizon, cut the BS - Everyone who takes pictures, uses email or any other data service needs this and they need it yesterday. I think that means everyone who owns or uses a cell phone wants this.

Verizon Wireless will continue to provide a full-service offering, from retail stores where customers can shop, to 24/7 customer service and technical support, to an easy-to-use handset interface and optimized software applications.

While most Verizon Wireless customers prefer the convenience of full service, the company is listening through today’s announcement to a small but growing number of customers who want another choice without full service.

Both full-service and “bring-your-own” customers will have the advantage of using America’s most reliable network.

It will be interesting to see if they join with the scary guys from Google and join the Google-led Open Handset Alliance Probably wishful think on my part.

Even with my complaints, this should be a very good thing and I can’t wait to have an open phone that works on a network that works like Verizon’s.

Technorati Tags: verizon, open wireless, open handset, mobile

In the spirit of spreading rumors as far as possible there have been lots or reports(here, here and here for example) recently of the emergence of the Google Phone. How much of this is just circular linking of the same tiny bit of news remains to be seen.

But it is interesting that the buzz level is rising so fast.

From GigaOM, here are claims about “Five Facts About Google Phone”

1. Google Phone is based on a mobile variant of Linux, and is able to run Java virtual machines.
2. All applications that are supposed to run on the Google Phone are java apps. The OS has ability to run multimedia files, including video clips.
3. The user interface is similar to a UI typical of mobile phones…is said to be done in Java and is very responsive. And of course it has a search box.
4. There is a special browser which has pan-and-browse features that are common to modern browsers such as browsers for iPhone and Symbian phones.
5. Initially there was one prototype, but over past few months Google has the mobile OS running on 3-to-5 devices, most of them likely made by HTC, a mobile phone maker, and all have Qwerty apps.

So there is the gossip of the day. Make of it what you will.

The FCC approved rules Tuesday relating to a pivotal airwaves auction next year. Google had proposed that the spectrum be open access and offered to bid $4.6 Billion for the spectrum.

The FCC approved a much-debated “open access” provision. It will allow customers to use whatever phone and software they want on about one-third of the spectrum to be auctioned.

A more ambitious provision that would have required a licensee to sell access to its network on a wholesale basis was not included, making it unlikely that Google will bid.

The rules also will allow for the creation of a shared public safety network that commissioners hope will solve many of the communication problems that firefighters and other first responders have experienced during disasters like the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A total of 62 megahertz will be auctioned under the plan. 22 megahertz will be subjected to the “open access” rules. Another 10 megahertz will be dedicated to the national public safety network, which will be shared between a commercial operator and public safety agencies.

The vote clears the way for the auction, which by law must take place no later than Jan. 28, 2008. It is expected to raise as much as $15 billion.

In a move that seems like a good thing for consumers, and most certainly for companies like Google and many others that are on the outside of the closed US mobile environment, Google has told the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) that it will commit $4.6 billion to the upcoming spectrum auction if the FCC agrees to four open broadband rules.

The FCC is in the process of forming the rules for the auction of the 700 megahertz spectrum that is being freed up as television shifts to digital signals and Google has encouraged the FCC to require the adoption of four types of “open” platforms as part of the auction:

• Open applications: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire;
• Open devices: consumers should be able to utilize their handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer;
• Open services: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and
• Open networks: third parties (like Internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at any technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee’s wireless network.

The FCC is currently considering draft rules for the auction, and the reports are that they include some of the openness conditions that Google is proposing.

To encourage the FCC to include all the rules, Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt today sent a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, saying that, should the FCC adopt all four license conditions requested above, Google intends to commit at least $4.6 billion to bidding for spectrum in the upcoming 700 Mhz auction.

As much as I have trouble with Google getting more power, I think breaking the carrier’s closed wall wireless networks is a good thing. I want an open broadband platform.