When Verizon Wireless announced its plans to open its wireless network to third-party apps and unlocked handsets, last week, there was little question amongst members of the press that Google's recently announced Open Handset Alliance had played something of a role in pushing the nation's second largest wireless carrier--long known for being the most restrictive--toward this newfound openness.
During a Q&A session at the end of the press conference, one reporter asked Verizon CEO, Lowell McAdam whether the company's new open intiative, set to be launched toward the beginning of next year, also signaled that the company was more seriously considering joining the 34 companies that had signed up for Android--a move Verizon had previously been very weary of making.
"I don't think it suggests that we will or won't [join]," answered McAdam, guardedly. "We've talked with Google and we continue to analyze it." It was hardly a concrete statement of intent, but it was at least partially in keeping with the openness that the company was bragging about.
It's been just a week since Verizon held the aforementioned press conference, and now they're ready to issue a more definitive answer. McAdams readdressed the issue in a recent Business Week article, stating, unambiguously, "We're planning on using Android. Android is an enabler of what we do."
The CEO went on to lavish a bit of praise in the alliance's directions. "Clearly the Android system gives a lot of developers the opportunity to develop applications for a wide range of handsets," says McAdam. Not only did the company decide to support Android, but McAdam says the new platform was a key influence in adopting open access. Android really facilitated this move."
Asked to comment on the subject, a Verizon spokesperson told me, familiarly, "We continue to follow and monitor the Open Handset Alliance, but as yet, we have not officially signed on. That said, we may do [it] down the road, but nothing yet."
Still, Verizon's unabashed newfound lavishing of praise comes on the tail of Google's announcement that it will bid on the 700 MHz spectrum. A few months ago, it should be noted, Verizon was lobbying the FCC to restrict the openness that Google was pushing for, eventually backing off from the fight.
While Verizon's intent to bid on the spectrum remains ambiguous at present, were they to enter the race, surely this publicly stated embrace of Google's open ideals would reflect well on the company that was previously filing suit in favor of a lockdown.
Bidding on the spectrum begins January 16 of next year. All potential bidders have to submit upfront payments by December 28th. The FCC will subsequently be making a list of bidders public, after that date.
In the meantime, Verizon will surely have a few more opportunities with which to demonstrate their openness.
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