Verizon turns to Android to compete with Apple's iPhone
Verizon has teamed with Google to bring two Android-powered phones and the Google Voice service to its network, in an effort to fight off the iPhone and its exclusive agreement with AT&T.
Together, the two companies plan to create, market and distribute both products and services featuring Android-powered phones on the Verizon Wireless network. The two companies plan to co-develop handsets that will come with "innovative applications" created by both, as well as third-party developers already seen on the Android Marketplace.
And in what is likely a direct challenge to Apple and the iPhone, the Google Voice service will be allowed on all Android-powered Verizon handsets. The first two handsets are expected to be released in a matter of weeks.
"You either have an open device, or not," Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, said in a conference call Tuesday. "And this will be open. We expect to bring that... application to market when we bring the first device out."
Apple has refused to accept the first-party Google Voice application onto the iPhone App Store, stating that the software too closely mimics its own default phone software. Both Google and Apple disagree on whether the application was formally rejected from the App Store.
Verizon's new "open" stance is quite a change for the company, which has traditionally kept tight controls over devices on its network. Earlier this year, the nation's largest wireless carrier said it would create its own application store and, at the time, said it would be the only option available for handsets.
"The nation?s best wireless broadband network is a perfect complement to the innovation of Android-powered services and devices," McAdam said this week. "Together, we?ll work to deliver a compelling new experience to our customers."
Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google, left, and Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, held a joint conference in New York City Wednesday. Photo courtesy Verizon.
For Google, the deal with further expand the Android platform which, for a majority of its first year on the market, was only available on one device and on one carrier in the U.S.
"The Android platform allows Verizon Wireless customers to experience faster and easier access to the web from any location," said Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google. "Through this partnership, we hope to deliver greater innovation in the mobile space to consumers across the U.S."
Together, the two companies plan to create, market and distribute both products and services featuring Android-powered phones on the Verizon Wireless network. The two companies plan to co-develop handsets that will come with "innovative applications" created by both, as well as third-party developers already seen on the Android Marketplace.
And in what is likely a direct challenge to Apple and the iPhone, the Google Voice service will be allowed on all Android-powered Verizon handsets. The first two handsets are expected to be released in a matter of weeks.
"You either have an open device, or not," Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, said in a conference call Tuesday. "And this will be open. We expect to bring that... application to market when we bring the first device out."
Apple has refused to accept the first-party Google Voice application onto the iPhone App Store, stating that the software too closely mimics its own default phone software. Both Google and Apple disagree on whether the application was formally rejected from the App Store.
Verizon's new "open" stance is quite a change for the company, which has traditionally kept tight controls over devices on its network. Earlier this year, the nation's largest wireless carrier said it would create its own application store and, at the time, said it would be the only option available for handsets.
"The nation?s best wireless broadband network is a perfect complement to the innovation of Android-powered services and devices," McAdam said this week. "Together, we?ll work to deliver a compelling new experience to our customers."
Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google, left, and Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, held a joint conference in New York City Wednesday. Photo courtesy Verizon.
For Google, the deal with further expand the Android platform which, for a majority of its first year on the market, was only available on one device and on one carrier in the U.S.
"The Android platform allows Verizon Wireless customers to experience faster and easier access to the web from any location," said Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google. "Through this partnership, we hope to deliver greater innovation in the mobile space to consumers across the U.S."
Comments
"You either have an open device, or not," Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, said in a conference call Tuesday.
A priceless comment from Verizon.
Anyhow, being on Verizon I'm glad to see the Android OS coming here (though I'd like the option of the webOS too) but I am betting that Android will come with a steep Verizon fee. Open, yes, but you are going to have to pay for it!
Verizon, Google... but nothing about Apple! Ugh.
Anyhow, being on Verizon I'm glad to see the Android OS coming here (though I'd like the option of the webOS too) but I am betting that Android will come with a steep Verizon fee. Open, yes, but you are going to have to pay for it!
Higher than my AT&T iPhone bill? My god you would need a loan then.
Anyway old news ,I posted this yesterday afternoon.
A priceless comment from Verizon.
Another annoying comment from annoynymouse with no content.
Verizon, Google... but nothing about Apple! Ugh.
Anyhow, being on Verizon I'm glad to see the Android OS coming here (though I'd like the option of the webOS too) but I am betting that Android will come with a steep Verizon fee. Open, yes, but you are going to have to pay for it!
Is the Pre coming to Verizon this year or next? So Verizon actually has a bucketful of iPhone competitors now.
I highly doubt now that iPhone is ever going to Verizon since the news of the past 2 days.
"Is there a Map for that" and now this.
Oh well - looks like I'm stuck with AT&T 'cause I'm sure not as hell going to T-Mobile.
Google will try to address this by publishing a very tight list of phone specs, but they can only go so far with this standardization. What hand set maker wants to sell a phone that is hardly distinguishable from its competitors? So each handset maker will add on their own customized tweaks then it's even worse than Windows. Android would no longer be an OS but a class of OSes. Sorta like Linux as seen by non-geeks. (So there's Ubuntu, and SUSE, and Redhat and what have you and they're all Linux but they're also all different from each other.)
OK. So, the iPhone is not "open" in that sense. But, do I care if non-approved Apps are all crummy? What about security issues in an "open" device?
Let's have some discussion going about this.
Is it a device that you can put whatever App you want?
OK. So, the iPhone is not "open" in that sense. But, do I care if non-approved Apps are all crummy? What about security issues in an "open" device?
Let's have some discussion going about this.
Is any Apple device truly "open"?
But I don't see any upside for Verizon in allowing the Pre, Windows Mobile, RIM and Android onto its network with their own app stores but still refusing Apple. Nothing will sell them nearly as many lucrative data plans as the iPhone.
Is the Pre coming to Verizon this year or next? So Verizon actually has a bucketful of iPhone competitors now.
I highly doubt now that iPhone is ever going to Verizon since the news of the past 2 days.
"Is there a Map for that" and now this.
Oh well - looks like I'm stuck with AT&T 'cause I'm sure not as hell going to T-Mobile.
If anything, Apple will go with T-Mobile. Verizon has insulted Apple too many times.
I say a good network and a whole bunch of money to develop android (which has made a few enemies in the Apple world) could create a device that can rival the iPhone in hardware, software and reception.
Of course there could be a downside of the phone becoming an ad-generating machine that also happens to be a smartphone.
Notice that Verizon will have their heavy hands all over Android's App store/catalog if you read the story. This is stupid and moronic of Google to allow that to happen.
Do you think Apple will allow Verizon to touch their app store with their stupid non-consumer oriented apps or allow Verizon to have final say on apps? No, they won't.
We all know Apple controls, ultimately, what is and is not on the Apple app store despite rumors about AT&T. Apple will want no less in any deal they do with Verizon if the AT&T exclusion deal ends next year.
Now, I don't see the exclusion deal ending any time soon.
Crap!
Is it a device that you can put whatever App you want?
OK. So, the iPhone is not "open" in that sense. But, do I care if non-approved Apps are all crummy? What about security issues in an "open" device?
Let's have some discussion going about this.
Verizon definition of "Open Device" probably means a device with Wifi... finally
If anything, Apple will go with T-Mobile. Verizon has insulted Apple too many times.
Apple is going with multiple carriers in more and more territories. Why no Verizon? Apple knows about marketing and wouldn't let a minor insult get in the way of making millions, would they? Consider Apples 'I'm a Mac / PC' campaign which has been running for years and the fact that they still 'rely' on MS Office and Exchange for their own offerings. If Apple feels that they can sell millions more iPhones through Verizon, and Verizon feels that by carrying the iPhone it will increase revenue significantly, it is unlikely that the fact that it also carries the pre, and Android, and whatever else makes any difference. Lots of carriers carry the same phones, all of which do pretty much exactly the same thing.
If they are smart, they will continue to look interested so as to make the pending AT&T-Apple extension more 'hurtful' to AT&T (higher subsidies).
On the other hand I am rooting for anything that may drive ATT out of its cozy deal with Apple.
Another annoying comment from annoynymouse with no content.
It's simple. Verizon doesn't give a rat's ass about open. The open comment makes it easier for their engineers to lock down the functionality of the phone and continue their glorious history of crippling phones over their networks.
-ego
And so far, Android is off to a slow and rather unimpressive start. We're still waiting for the big G-phone revolution.
So in revenge and to make her jealous you go out with her friend instead.
It always ends in tears.