By the end of 2008, Verizon Wireless will open their network to any device which meets a “minimum technical standard.” What that standard is, exactly, VZW isn’t saying yet – that will come in “early 2008.” So any device (including applications) tested and certified in VZW’s new $20 Million test lab is fair game for use on their wireless network. In other words, Verizon becomes the data pipe, and nothing more for these new “bring-your-own” customers. It’s too early to say if this is a watershed moment or not. Verizon certainly thinks so with Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless president and chief executive officer, calling it, “a transformation point in the 20-year history of mass market wireless devices.” As usual, the devil (certification fees, turnaround times for testing, those magical minimum technical standards, etc.) might be in the details.
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/NYTU03927112007-1.htm