Verizon Wireless to Open Its Network to "Any" Device

In what could well be a game-changing move, Verizon Wireless just announced that it will open up its network to non-Verizon phones and applications—provided they meet "the minimum technical standard"—starting next year.

What does that mean for you? In short, Verizon's news could mean many more options in terms of the handsets you can use on its network. Up until now, the carrier (as well as its competitors) has carefully screened the phones in its lineup, keeping a close eye on the potential bottom line and shying away from the hottest handsets available in, say, Europe or Asia. Same goes with mobile applications; as it stands now, Verizon offers only a handful of hand-picked (and often pretty stale) mobile apps to run on its data networks. Hopefully, Verizon's announcement will lead to more—and better—programs to install on your phone.

Naturally, there are caveats. In a press release, the carrier said that it will publish technical standards that must be met before any non-Verizon handset or mobile app is allowed on the network; a $20 million certification lab is being prepped for testing purposes. In a conference call with reporters, Verizon execs promised to work with anyone looking to approve a device to run on the network, but we'll have to wait and see exactly how strict the "minimum technical standard" will be. Also, keep in mind that Verizon runs a CDMA network, which is incompatible with SIM-carrying GSM phones like the iPhone. (Sprint is also a CDMA carrier; AT&T and T-Mobile run GSM networks.) As fellow blogger Chris Null points out, there's a dearth of cool, unlocked CDMA phones available for sale in the U.S., but that may well change in the wake of Verizon's announcement.

Of course, many questions remain unanswered, but as far as the broad strokes go, it's exciting—and unexpected—news. The big U.S. carriers—and Verizon Wireless in particular—have jealously guarded their networks from outside devices and applications, leaving phone manufacturers and application developers basically at the beck and call of the big wireless operators (leading to the oft-repeated phrase, "the carrier is king"), so it's something of a shock to hear Verizon announce that it's throwing open its doors (well, more or less).

So, why the change? I'd guess that several factors are at work. On the one hand, you've got pressure from search behemoth Google, which just announced its open Android software platform and will soon be bidding for its own swath of wireless spectrum. On the other hand, there's the iPhone, which will be open for third-party software development come February—and which has also been the target of hackers and ordinary folks alike, who've been furiously trying to unlock it for use on any wireless network.

Note: I've updated this post to include more background information, plus info from a conference call that followed the initial announcement.

Related:
Verizon Wireless opens to other phones [Yahoo! News]