Carrier News

Verizon dropped some big news on the industry today, when it announced plans to open up its cellular network to any and all wireless devices and applications – providing they meet some minimal technical standards. The company will make its technical standards available to developers early next year, and consumers can expect to see compatible devices by the end of 2008.

Most observers see the move as a logical counter to Google’s Android mobile operating system; however, Techcrunch also points out that the decision may help Verizon win some points in Washington with a critical FCC auction looming (which will require the winning bidder to provide open access to a segment of the wireless spectrum).

When viewed together, these three developments – the Verizon news, Android, and the spectrum auction – paint a picture of an open future, where cell phones work across networks and technical innovation is encouraged.

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If you’re a Verizon Wireless customer, make sure you pay attention to your incoming text messages over the next month or two – one of them is likely to provide a firmware update for your cell phone.

Verizon announced its new program – Firmware Over-the-Air – today, a wireless solution designed to make it easier for users to update and upgrade the software that helps your phone run smoothly. Firmware, if you’re unfamiliar with the term, in this context essentially describes the operating system your cell phone utilizes. Every once and a while, carriers release an update – similar to the Windows Updates often distributed by Microsoft – intended to optimize performance and call quality.

With this new delivery system, Verizon Wireless is sidestepping the laborious portion of the software-upgrade process; customers will now be able to download updates directly over the Verizon network, rather than trekking to their closest brick-and-mortar Verizon store.

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So, you’re secretly envious of your friends who have BlackBerries – not because you need the business functionality, but just because you think the “push� email feature is cool?

Enter Verizon Wireless’ new Mobile Email application, a service offered for $5 a month that delivers exactly that. If you love checking your email via cell phone, but are sick of launching a web browser to do so, Mobile Email is worth a look.

First of all, set-up is simple. Thanks to support for popular email clients like Yahoo!, AOL, and Hotmail, signing up really takes one step – entering your username and password. Mobile Email allows you to configure up to 10 email accounts (both POP3- and IMAP-based). When you receive a message, Verizon Wireless sends an alert right to your cell phone screen. In one touch, you’ll have access to a nice-looking facsimile of your inbox. The display is attractive, and easy to read.

Once you’re in the application, navigation is equally easy. There’s no annoying lag when sending, forwarding, or deleting emails from your inbox.

The Mobile Email service is a viable solution for those who love instant email gratification, but don’t really need the full data plan associated with BlackBerries.

Verizon Wireless announced a deal this morning to acquire Rural Cellular Corp., in a move designed to expand the national footprint of Verizon’s wireless coverage.

Rural Cellular is the 14th largest service provider in America in terms of subscribers; Verizon Wireless will pad its 62.1 million customer base with the modest 700,000 it acquires from RCC. More importantly, the deal helps Verizon solidify its network in rural areas across the country – including northern New England, parts of the South, and segments of the heartland stretching from Minnesota and Oklahoma to the Pacific Northwest.

This move is part of an ongoing trend we’re seeing from the nation’s major carriers; the acquisition of regional providers like RCC continues to help the big names augment their nation-wide coverage, and deliver enhanced services to customers in regions with spotty access to national cellular options.

The deal must be approved by shareholders and regulators, but is expected to close in early 2008.

Verizon Wireless customers set a new record in June by sending a combined total of more than 10 billion text messages. That’s more text messages in one month than any other carrier, and more than double Verizon’s SMS volume in September 2006 (when the company was the first to break the five billion messages a month mark).

Verizon’s cell phone customers also sent in excess of 200 million multimedia (photo, video) messages last month.

Verizon Wireless specifically credits cell phone models such as the LG enV, which were designed with messaging in mind.

Verizon Wireless today announced the upcoming launch of Obopay, which will let users send money to each other via their cell phones.

To use the service you need to open an Obopay account and transfer money from a credit card or bank account. You can then send that money to a phone number with text message command, via a mobile web browser, or if you’re a subscriber with a participating carrier such as Verizon Wireless, by downloading the Obopay application which puts an easy-to-use interface on your phone. Each purchase transaction costs ten cents. To claim money that someone has sent to you, you simply need to log into or create an account associated with your phone number. Receiving payments is free.

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Verizon Wireless introduced a new option within its “America’s Choice” family of calling plans designed to target the text-messaging segment of the market:

“The new plans are in response to customers’ increasing demand for greater text messaging options,� said Jim Naughton, director of consumer marketing for Verizon Wireless.

The text-centric plan offers unlimited text, picture, and multimedia messaging to anyone in the United States; monthly rates begin at $39.99 for 450 minutes (in addition to the unlimited messaging), and range upward from that entry level.

Text messaging in this country lags behind most markets in Europe, but continues to grow exponentially as more Americans adapt the technology as a fundamental method of communication. Verizon, together with the other U.S. carriers, has shown an ability to shape new service options for an evolving consumer base — the prospect of unlimited texting is certain to appeal to many users (yours truly, included).