Verizon's open plan surprises and delights (and messy rabbit)

Can you hear IT Blogwatch now? In which Verizon opens up its wireless spectrum to all comers. Not to mention how to kill a chocolate bunny...

Matt Hamblen had this to say:

Verizon Wireless, which has been the staunchest opponent to open standards ... will allow its customers by the end of 2008 to use wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company. Currently, customers must use phones and applications and other software that only Verizon Wireless provides. [more]

Robert L. Mitchell adds:

Any CDMA-compliant phone will work with the Verizon Wireless network without modification. [more]

Nate Anderson:

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," appears to be Verizon Wireless' new motto ... Google, can you hear us now? ... in 2008, not in 2011 (when the new 700MHz spectrum owner could conceivably start bringing a new network online). [more]

Saul Hansell runs with it:

The timing most certainly relates to the coming 700-megahertz spectrum auction ... rules that would force carriers using the spectrum to open their networks to any device. Verizon’s move today is a way to head off that sort of mandate and open up on its own terms. [more]

But Om Malik looks worried:

It doesn’t seem very open to me, because it’s all about devices based on CDMA technologies, which really props up Qualcomm’s CDMA monopoly. More devices put more dollars (and I mean serious dollars) into Qualcomm’s (QCOM) pocket. The rest of the world is going down the post-GSM path and opting for other open standards. [more]

And Paul Kedrosky sounds skeptical:

Will they really let you hook up your own GPS device, wireless data thingie, etc., with no additional fees assuming you have an account? I find that hard to believe. [more]

But Tim Lee has a colorful metaphor:

This is great news ... the mobile device market has long been hampered by the "tar pit of misery, pain, and destruction" that is the wireless carriers' process ... Verizon Wireless was one of the worst offenders ... insisting the vendors cripple features like Bluetooth or WiFi that might undermine its own business strategies. [more]

Bob Warfield smoothly explains:

An open ecosystem can drive growth and opportunity far beyond what a walled garden can ... The recent web world would like to think they invented the idea, but the truth is that it’s been going on a long time where those later to the party are dropping the Open Bomb to trump earlier arrivals. [more]

But the "headline of the day" award goes to Bryan Gardiner:

Pigs Fly, Hell Freezes Over and Verizon Opens Up Its Network -- No, Really. [more]

And finally...

• Artistic death of chocolate bunnies [hat tip: Angela Gunn]
  

Buffer overflow:

• Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols: The best IT vendor of all? Red Hat
• Stevie Smith: Assessing potential employees via social network sites could be illegal
• Eric Sink: From C# to Java: Part 3
• Long Zheng: More Microsoft Longhorn PC concepts
• Paul Krill: Test tool readied for agile development
• Giulio Prisco: In Defense of Superlativity
• StorageMojo: Grid is dead
• Joel Hruska: New plastic optical fiber could solve the "last mile" conundrum
• Free Software Magazine: In defense of software patents

Other Computerworld bloggers:

• Angela Gunn: A malware attack to write home about
• Don Tennant: The story behind the creepy, mouse-clicking hand
• Mike Elgan: Mantra: Always use online backup
• Eric Ogren: Thanksgiving gobblers
• Mark Hall: Integration of design tools boosts systems design, deployment
• Michael R. Farnum: 60 Minutes segment on the TJX ID theft issue
• Robert L. Mitchell: Why one Wendy's stopped clowning around with DSL
• Shark Tank: Think of it as two weeks' notice
• Douglas Schweitzer: Ready to proceed to checkout?
• Shark Bait: Microsoft Piracy Madness

Richi Jennings is an independent analyst/adviser/consultant, specializing in blogging, email, and spam. A 20 year, cross-functional IT veteran, he is also an analyst at Ferris Research. You too can pretend to be Richi's friend on Facebook, or just use boring old email: blogwatch@richi.co.uk.

Previously in IT Blogwatch:

• Monday's online shopping: HUGE (and Brit beer spot)
• WinXP SP3: seems snappier (and error'd)
• Another data breach; this time it's HUGE (and TRS-80+BT)