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Verizon to Open Wireless Network to Any App or Device
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So in theory, this means I could get a Razr that works with iTunes instead of Verizon's crappy Vcast? That's been my biggest bone to pick with Verizon, how they completely lock down any phone that they sell so it can't use anything that isn't verizon's. I even put tried to put songs on our Razr using their Windows Media Player (and corresponding $30 kit) on a PC, and it still wouldn't work. And forget adding ringtones you don't buy from Verizon (unless you hack the phone).
I won't rejoice until I see what those standards are, but this sounds like a very good thing.
I won't rejoice until I see what those standards are, but this sounds like a very good thing.
mahashel
macrumors 6502
This move has the 700MHz auction written all over it..
Google was able to get the FCC to force any organization that wins the 700MHz spectrum to allow open access.
The current crop of devices that access cellular networks are subject to draconian limitations. (I have had 6 Verizon phones thus far, and the majority of their advanced feature sets are always disabled)
Soooo.. if Verizon wants to play in the 700MHz game (and they'd be STUPID not to, since it's a magic bullet for wireless coverage/bandwidth), they HAD to open up their network.
This was actually a fairly predictable move. If Verizon wants to expand its wireless business, it has to do this. 😀
FCC Ensures Open Access in 700MHz Auction
Google was able to get the FCC to force any organization that wins the 700MHz spectrum to allow open access.
The current crop of devices that access cellular networks are subject to draconian limitations. (I have had 6 Verizon phones thus far, and the majority of their advanced feature sets are always disabled)
Soooo.. if Verizon wants to play in the 700MHz game (and they'd be STUPID not to, since it's a magic bullet for wireless coverage/bandwidth), they HAD to open up their network.
This was actually a fairly predictable move. If Verizon wants to expand its wireless business, it has to do this. 😀
FCC Ensures Open Access in 700MHz Auction
This is Huge!
It is about time wireless carriers open up their networks. I am convinced ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint will do the same. US wireless carriers will still have to work on a uniform standard as opposed to the current CDMA/GSM split. Changing wireless carriers should only be a matter of swaping sim cards.
It is about time wireless carriers open up their networks. I am convinced ATT, T-Mobile, Sprint will do the same. US wireless carriers will still have to work on a uniform standard as opposed to the current CDMA/GSM split. Changing wireless carriers should only be a matter of swaping sim cards.
AtHomeBoy_2000
macrumors 6502a
Say what you want about Google's privacy issues and Apple's closed platform mentality, but I am REALLY excited to see they are making other get uncomfortable and do things that are PRO consumer rather than pro-profit.
shamino
macrumors 68040
The original CDMA was inferior to the original GSM. But that's ancient history. Modern CDMA phones support CDMA-2000 in either a 2.5G "1xRTT" variant or the 3G "EV-DO" variant, which are comparable to GSM's 2G and 3G technologies.
Japan's 3G network is CDMA based. But you're right that GSM is dominant in Europe.
For the moment. Apple would have to release a CDMA iPhone in order to work on Verizon's network. There's no hint of this coming soon, but anything is possible.
There are exclusive contracts and there are exclusive contracts.
Nobody in the press has seen the actual contract. Depending on the wording, exclusivity may be restricted to one model or one series of iPhone. Apple may well be able to release an "iPhone version C" product with a CDMA chipset, a slightly different feature set, and maybe different packaging for use on other networks.
Without seeing the actual contract, we have no way of knowing for sure, but I would be very surprised if Apple signed a contract preventing them from making any phone-like product for a different network.
bokdol
macrumors 6502a
north america and asia.
i believe japan korea and china are almost all cdma. i remember alot of my friends in the late 90s bring over japanese and korean phones to set up with verizon and sprint.
that means if apple wants to go to asia there is a high possibility that they will have to make a cdma phone. all us cdma users may only need to import that version of the phone.
either way i cant believe verizon is the one pushing this. especially the way they lock there phones with such proprietary software. this is sweet. maybe i wont change service now.
AtHomeBoy_2000
macrumors 6502a
I thought I remember reading a rumor that Verizon was going to start a transition to GSM ot something along those lines.
What exactly makes this a "macrumor"? This really has no affect on anything apple related. Why exactly is it on the front page?
AtHomeBoy_2000
macrumors 6502a
Possible Verizon iPhone?
If so, that royally sucks! My old phone broke Sunday and had to buy a new one. i didnt want to replace it until late '08.
mr_matalino
macrumors 6502a
japan and korea are cdma from what i know, but i believe china may be using gsm. if apple continues their eastern expansion, we may be holding a CDMA iPhone by the time verizon rolls out this "service" in 2008.
FakeWozniak
macrumors 6502
Verizon Long Term Viability
I am NOT sure Apple would like to sell to VZ at the moment. I would put money down that they will loose the kickback from AT&T every month as part of the *exclusive* agreement. I wonder when there finally is competition among vendors for the iPhone, if Apple will have the same revenue.
In the US, say they eventually hook VZ, but loose the juice from AT&T. They would say, double sales, but loose the kickback. I wonder what is the greater revenue source on the iPhone, the per-unit profit or the monthly kickbacks.
Now, these latest developments from VZ convince me just how scared VZ actually is. Just the near Global acceptance of GSM should be writing on the wall that CDMA (the Betamax of wireless technology) is limiting their business opportunities. Consider Apple's shift from proprietary to popular standards based a good example of what VZ ought to do. The timing of VZs announcement, relative to the Amazon device and the Google development environment, seems like a "me too" reply.
VZ seems pretty stagnant technologically to me. Most of their developement effort is in taking vendors phones and retarding the features to look like every other phone they offer. Remember when they disabled downloading photos from camera phones. You had to pay $0.40 per photo you emailed yourself. Their mentality is to gouge their customers until the competition starts taking them away, then backpedal or "me too" them.
Now, I am not in love with AT&T either. Would rather the Internet and wireless communication be free, in the same way the roads are. Everyone depends on communications like our roads. You don't pay a toll to walk out your door and get on the highway to get to work, do you? Why should you have to pay a toll to Comcast, AT&T, VZ, etc to get compulsory government services, or to get to work. I think John Lennon would have wrote "Imagine there's no cellular fees, no ISPs, it's easy if you try!" if he were around today.
I am NOT sure Apple would like to sell to VZ at the moment. I would put money down that they will loose the kickback from AT&T every month as part of the *exclusive* agreement. I wonder when there finally is competition among vendors for the iPhone, if Apple will have the same revenue.
In the US, say they eventually hook VZ, but loose the juice from AT&T. They would say, double sales, but loose the kickback. I wonder what is the greater revenue source on the iPhone, the per-unit profit or the monthly kickbacks.
Now, these latest developments from VZ convince me just how scared VZ actually is. Just the near Global acceptance of GSM should be writing on the wall that CDMA (the Betamax of wireless technology) is limiting their business opportunities. Consider Apple's shift from proprietary to popular standards based a good example of what VZ ought to do. The timing of VZs announcement, relative to the Amazon device and the Google development environment, seems like a "me too" reply.
VZ seems pretty stagnant technologically to me. Most of their developement effort is in taking vendors phones and retarding the features to look like every other phone they offer. Remember when they disabled downloading photos from camera phones. You had to pay $0.40 per photo you emailed yourself. Their mentality is to gouge their customers until the competition starts taking them away, then backpedal or "me too" them.
Now, I am not in love with AT&T either. Would rather the Internet and wireless communication be free, in the same way the roads are. Everyone depends on communications like our roads. You don't pay a toll to walk out your door and get on the highway to get to work, do you? Why should you have to pay a toll to Comcast, AT&T, VZ, etc to get compulsory government services, or to get to work. I think John Lennon would have wrote "Imagine there's no cellular fees, no ISPs, it's easy if you try!" if he were around today.
akac
macrumors 6502a
It has nothing to do with that at all. To load Android on your Q you are going to have to build your own kit to run on that Q. Moto can do it. Hackers can probably do it.
In fact, you can do this now. This announcement is for the hardware side only.
bokdol
macrumors 6502a
this will change the face of apple 5 year locked contract with at&t. well if at&t wants in to that 700Mhz spectrum. and if they want to bring the iphone over. they cant lock it. but this standard will probably not sturt for a few more years anyhow so it wont be such a big lose for at&t and they will have an already large user base.
well i guess wireless will become more like the internet companies any computer can run high speed internet. you just need to pick the provider you like or have offered in your area and you bring your own phone.
This is pretty lame
This is pretty lame considering most of the other cellphone carriers have allowed this since the beginning or since the move to GSM.
For one, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Tmobile have always allowed any application on any phone - there were no restrictions. However, currently, even if you have a java MIDP phone, you can't just download any java MIDP app and stick it on there, whereas with AT&T, Cingular, and Tmobile, you can do whatever you want.
And ever since those carriers moved to GSM, you can use any handset you want on their network. (Course now Cingular + AT&T are one)
So this is just Verizon becoming just a little less evil and restrictive than they used to me. Lame.
This is pretty lame considering most of the other cellphone carriers have allowed this since the beginning or since the move to GSM.
For one, AT&T Wireless, Cingular, and Tmobile have always allowed any application on any phone - there were no restrictions. However, currently, even if you have a java MIDP phone, you can't just download any java MIDP app and stick it on there, whereas with AT&T, Cingular, and Tmobile, you can do whatever you want.
And ever since those carriers moved to GSM, you can use any handset you want on their network. (Course now Cingular + AT&T are one)
So this is just Verizon becoming just a little less evil and restrictive than they used to me. Lame.
The only way it will affect the iPhone (for US users) is if Apple signs with a major CDMA provider overseas (Japan or South Korea most likely), and someone imports a CDMA iPhone from one of those countries and sends it to Verizon for activation. So it would be theoretically possible to have a CDMA iPhone on Verizon, should Apple ever release one somewhere in the world.
FakeWozniak
macrumors 6502
NO CDMA iPhone
I thought part of the contract agreement with AT&T (allegedly) was that they were not able to develop a CDMA version of the iPhone for a long time (5 years?). Anyone able to link to that rumor?
I thought part of the contract agreement with AT&T (allegedly) was that they were not able to develop a CDMA version of the iPhone for a long time (5 years?). Anyone able to link to that rumor?
I recall that as well, but I'm sure that's only in the US...no way Apple would tie their hands and not have a CDMA iPhone for Japan until 2012!
InLikeALion
macrumors 6502a
I was just on another thread yesterday and voiced how I wish I could put LG's original software on my vx8600. Verizon's media player is so terrible i could never really use it. Maybe this will encourage people to write their own media apps that work better?