Verizon's open hardware compatibility list is insanely boring
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jan 6th 2009 1:20PM
posted Jan 6th 2009 1:20PM
Gearlog has raised a very interesting (if not predictable) point: since Verizon's "Any Apps, Any Device" initiative went live to bring unlocked hardware onto the network: there isn't much there that Joe Consumer could possibly care about. The official list of devices that has passed Big Red's compatibility testing reveals nothing of end user interest, concentrating on enterprise devices like routers, and -- of course -- electronic tethers for criminals. You know, the kinds of devices that aren't going to put Verizon's direct, branded offerings at any risk of cannibalization. The bottom line is that we're still waiting for the real open network here, but we're not really holding our breath.
Kinda funny and twisted of Verizon.
Not surprised at all,
I called it way back when AT&T replied to VZW's claim of an open network
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/12/06/atandt-claims-completely-open-network-too-the-most-open-eve/
Yeah, both AT&T and T-Mobile already have open networks, T-Mobile always has, AT&T's components did when they switched to GSM. It was always somewhat tragic that Verizon, Sprint, and the smaller carriers never, at least, adopted R-UIMs (SIM cards for IS-95/2000), and a "If you can insert an R-UIM into a device compliant with the standard, you can use it" approach.
Still, the issues should be resolved once Verizon pushes out LTE. The moment you don't have to ask the carrier permission to add your device is the moment you can describe that carrier's network as open.
Thoroughly enjoying my hacked Sprint Touch Pro on VZW.
Thank you, internets. Thank you.
People keep talking about how great things are going to be when Verizon switches to LTE. Verizon is not going to switch their entire network to LTE overnight, so for a looooong time, you'll still need a dual-mode CDMA/LTE handset. It isn't like you can take any LTE device and use it on Verizon. If the GAIT story is repeated, you'll need both the LTE SIM card and the ESN to be on the carrier's CDMA activation database to have full access to "the network".
Is this the fault of Verizon or simply are none of the hardware manufacturers interested in jumping in.
Really, if you think about it, why would any company that would put out any sort of device that people would want on the network go through the trouble of making an open device instead of just going through normal branding channels? I can't imagine the demand for un-subsidized phones is very high.
I agree 100%
Not in the United States surely, but in other continents, there is a healthy unlocked phones business.
"Make your teens feel like convicts with the Behavioral Intervention offender tracking wireless anklet! Only on Verizon Wireless"
if someone wants to make something interesting they can go ahead and make it, its up to them
it's funny Cricket and MetroPCS can accept VZW and Sprint phones and re-program to their own, as well as ATT/T-Mobile uses international GSM/UMTS standard (band is another story)
this brings VZW to shame
Verizon doesn't want to do it. They want you to buy a device from them. It also keeps you locked into their services. They lock the GPS so you have to use VZ Navigator, for example. If you bring a phone from Sprint and activate it, you can use whatever GPS service you wish. Ever wonder why Verizon has the largest profit margins even though their prices are on par with AT&Ts? Because they give their customers a take it or leave it option for features. Ringtones, GPS, other software. You can download it for free and put it on a AT&T phone. Not with Verizon.
I tried to take a Verizon phone to Cricket and the would do it, but they said it would take a whole day to reprogram it. Of course, if I did reprogram it to Cricket, I don't think I would ever be able to use that phone on Verizon again.
I decided not to try Cricket and just switch to AT&T instead. Swapping SIM cards is the simplicity of AT&T. I bought a SIM card in store, bought a phone off eBay and viola. AT&T's coverage isn't that bad either. I get full bars at both my home and work, when I would often get dropped calls at home with Verizon, and I get better reception at my parent's home in the boonies than my Verizon enslaved parents do.
Will 3rd party apps be available on existing handsets such as the voyager or the dare?