Google Android Platform - The Android Log

Rob Pegoraro of the Washington Post writes:

The company hasn’t said anything specific about the pricing of this bring-your-own-device service and doesn’t plan to until early next year. But McAdam did say that it would offer “very different” pricing for low-bandwidth devices like utility meters.

During the teleconference, Verizon Wireless executives also said that any phone running Google’s Android software would be welcome under this system, as long as it runs on the CDMA standard Verizon and Sprint use. For the same reason, any Sprint phone that passed Verizon’s compatibility testing would also pass muster — but the iPhone, which only works on GSM systems such as AT&T, could not.

Read the rest of the Washington Posts Article, Verizon Wireless To Open Itself Up.

Technorati Tags: Verizon, Sprint, Android, iPhone, Open-Networks

Key points from the Wall Street Journal’s article, Google Has Even Bigger Plans for Mobile Phones

• Can Google run its own wireless network? Sure, why not? Yes, wireless networks are complicated but Google would have a key advantage–it wouldn’t have legacy applications and equipment to worry about. If you’re AT&T and Verizon Wireless you can’t just rip out old stuff and replace it with a new network. That’s why wireless networks in emerging markets are advanced–they have a greenfield.
• Who is Google going to annoy? The partnership thing shouldn’t be overlooked. Google would get flexibility by bidding by itself, but the wireless world is an ecosystem. Partnering with another bidder may make sense even if it’s a token gesture. Clearwire was mentioned as a partner, which would make some sense since its Sprint deal is in limbo.
• The spectrum purchase would make sense. Just because Google bids–and possibly wins spectrum–it doesn’t necessarily have to use it. A slice of 700 MHz spectrum would be a valuable asset. It could divide the spectrum and lease it, use it as leverage in negotiations with AT&T and Verizon Wireless or create some grand plan for its Android software. The grand plan would probably add up to the long-rumored G-phone.

Technorati Tags: AT&T, Google, Wireless, Spectrum, Verizon, Mobile, Android