Mediaholic

While I am a big believer in open mobile networks as a concept that will eventually replace the existing closed ones, I am also realistic enough to know that the path to this future is going to be full of pain and obstacles. So, when Verizon announced that they would open their network to any device and application, I was certain that there was nothing more than marketing buzz here. I then came across this article by TIM O’REILLY, titled Static on the Dream Phone, and I knew I was not the only one feeling that way.

To be fair to Verizaon, I need to explain why I think there is no substance to this announcement. According to Verizon, “devices will be tested and approved in a $20 million state-of-the-art testing lab.” Now let me ask you how long do you think it will take and how much it will cost to get your application or device tested? Surely more than one such test will be needed, and in fact with the rapid releases we see these days for software and device firmware, any single application or device will require dozens of tests every year, assuming Verizon was able to do them fast enough (which I doubt). Therefore it follows that the gatekeeper approach Verizon is currently playing will continue just the same, the only thing that will be more open maybe is the gatekeeping process and of-course your checkbook.