Nov 27, 2007

Verizon Wireless (VZW) has announced that it will go against its own grain by opening its nationwide cellular network to any device that meets its minimum technical standards and passes muster in its lab. To answer the many questions such news brings, VZW execs -- including CEO Lowell McAdam and CTO Dick Lynch -- just wrapped up a conference call in which they fielded questions from the media.

Here are some of the highlights:

Starting in the second half of 2008, VZW will allow devices that meet the technical criteria and testing to be activated for use on its entire nationwide CDMA network. While they hailed this new "bring-your-own-customers" model as revolutionary, the VZW execs stressed that they believe that most of their customers will continue to want what they described as their "full-service model."

When asked by a reporter if this move is being made in response to Google's Android or pressure from Congress, McAdam downplayed the influence of either. In fact, he said that what goes on in Capitol Hill or what happens with the rule-setting of the upcoming 700 MHz auction "really doesn't play into this."

What McAdam and CMO John Stratton did mention repeatedly is their desire to give customers what they want and their intent to tap into the huge development opportunity that exists in opening their network to more devices. McAdam made it clear that VZW is not "giving up anything" but rather "adding to [its] momentum" by positioning itself for what he described as the next phase of wireless growth without filters by the industry.

He referred to the news as proof that competition in the market is alive and well and that the market responds to customers. In terms of costs, CTO Lynch said that VZW will charge developers a "surprisingly reasonable" fee for professional services.

And, no, this announcement doesn't mean that Verizon customers can buy an iPhone and use it on their network because VZW doesn't support GSM (that issue had to be addressed at least twice during the conference call).

Tags: Cell Phone, open access, Verizon, Wireless