Why is this a big deal?

[PAULBACH]

All you IT types,

So what makes this so important?

Verizon Wireless to Open Its Network to "Any" Device

Tue Nov 27, 2007 10:48AM EST

In what could well be a game-changing move, Verizon Wireless just announced that it will open up its network to non-Verizon phones and applications—provided they meet "the minimum technical standard"—starting next year.
The Link (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/8647)

[rkasal]

All you IT types,

So what makes this so important?


The Link (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/8647)


Let's look at another example. Say all the poor souls who bought the iPhone thinking it was a Ferrari but by their purchase had to be on the AT&T network. For the record, I was a sucker and took the low Blackberry Pearl purchase price offered by AT&T (Cingular at the time).

The AT&T network is the worst (slowest) of the nationals. So, the iPhone crowd purchased in effect, a Ferrari but had to drive on a dirt road using diesel fuel.

Now keep in mind the iPhone is designed to work only on the AT&T network. The work around, I'm told, was patched by Apple.

But the point is, as long as a phone (or other device) is not tied to a certain network, it will work on Verizon's system. Verizon has a great system.

Let's look at one thing they're working on.

There is synchronous and asynchrnous data transmission. Syn means the upload and download speeds are the same. Asyn means they are different. Most are asyn. but Verizon is soon to release syn. for their broadband which will also apply, as I understand, not only to their data cards but also smart phones.

What this means is the speeds for personal videos from couples uploaded to the Internet will be the same speeds as the videos downloaded by the pervs in their own rooms. This is good economic news all around. Competitors will have to keep up, fail, or be bought.

These are just some of the things arising from this news.

[kbasa]

All you IT types,

So what makes this so important?


The Link (http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/8647)

For people like me, who live in a valley that only has service by Verizon and Sprint, it means I can shop at other carriers and still get service at my house.

I like it.

[PAULBACH]

Is there anything in all of this, ordinary folk using a cheap cell phones can celebrate?
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Smilies/tweetyconfused.gif

[PAULBACH]

For people like me, who live in a valley that only has service by Verizon and Sprint, it means I can shop at other carriers and still get service at my house.

I like it.

Then why not go with Verizon or Sprint to start with?

[rocketman]

There is synchronous and asynchrnous data transmission. Syn means the upload and download speeds are the same. Asyn means they are different. Most are asyn. but Verizon is soon to release syn. for their broadband which will also apply, as I understand, not only to their data cards but also smart phones.

What this means is the speeds for personal videos from couples uploaded to the Internet will be the same speeds as the videos downloaded by the pervs in their own rooms. This is good economic news all around. Competitors will have to keep up, fail, or be bought.

These are just some of the things arising from this news.

Ha Ha! Funny but you know I was thinking about how it was such a shame the phone pervs had to wait unduly for their naughty vids to get to their friends, and now I'm told its been solved! Boy what a relief, I'll be able to sleep tonight for the first time in weeks!:brad

RM

[jdmetzger]

I'm an IT guy, and I don't see this as big news. I have T-mobile service. Twice I have provided my own phone, because they didn't offer a phone I wanted, OR I could get it cheaper, elsewhere. The benefit of being with T-Mobile (or AT&T) is that they use GSM phone, which are the most common cell phone worldwide. Actually, everywhere EXCEPT the US (Canada?) uses GSM. So, I get a phone that supports US and Euro networks, and I'm covered. It was nice back in 2002 to be in Europe and still get calls from people back home.

See, GSM phones carry their ID on a small chip called a SIM card. To switch phones you just pull the SIM card and put it into another phone. Mind you, some carriers "lock" their phones to only work with their service. This is because they sell the phones below retail (which is why they lock you into a contract). Even T-mobile does it. So you can't use the phone elsewhere. Of course, you can call T-Mobile in 3 or 6 months (can't recall which) and they WILL unlock the phone for you. That way I could put in a European SIM card while I'm in Europe and not pay $1 a minute for phone calls. Most phones sold on Ebay or non-cell company websites sell "unlocked" phones - they will work with any service that supports GSM. For companies like Sprint and Verizon, the ID is carried in the phone itself, so they would have to accept it on their network. There is no "chip" to transfer between phones. It makes things much harder to do a transfer. Now Verizon is going to start allowing this. As far as I'm concerned it's NOT a big deal - T-Mobile and possibly AT&T have been doing this forever. Also, since Verizon uses a different phone standard, it's not opening much up, except the ability for people to sell their phones on Ebay to other people. I see it as more of a PR stunt than anything else.

[PAULBACH]

Interesting. When I was in England every good sized craft fair and gathering of amateur radio types had at least one vendor unlocking cell phones.

[jdmetzger]

Interesting. When I was in England every good sized craft fair and gathering of amateur radio types had at least one vendor unlocking cell phones.

Yup. Since all the carriers over there use the same network technology, it's HUGE business. You'll see they sell phones "unlocked" for a VERY high price, and then they have contracts that make the phone cheaper, depending on the length of the contract. Of course, these "unlock" companies make a mint. There are a few places online that offer unlocking in the U.S. as well. Sometimes it's a code you type in, sometimes it's a cable and some software.

[rkasal]

Ha Ha! Funny but you know I was thinking about how it was such a shame the phone pervs had to wait unduly for their naughty vids to get to their friends, and now I'm told its been solved! Boy what a relief, I'll be able to sleep tonight for the first time in weeks!:brad

RM


Glad I could help your insomnia! :wave

[Kutcher]

The only other thing to keep in mind is say, you have a NON verizon phone/ blackberry/ smackberry etc...

You say, Mr Verizon...I want to use your service but I got my own phone, thank you.

Expect the monthly charges to be even higher...

[kbasa]

Then why not go with Verizon or Sprint to start with?

I'm with Verizon now, but I really would have rather stayed with TMobile. I liked the features I could get with the phones and the way that TMobile left the phone open. For example, I could plug my Razor into my computer and just copy files off of it or drop them on. Verizon doesn't let me do that, which kind of sucks.

I use my phone for a lot more than just making calls, so that kind of stuff is important to me.

[PAULBACH]

Aha saw the blind carpenter as he picked up his hammer and saw! :thumb

[jdmetzger]

I think this may end up confusing consumers. if someone thinks they can switch from Sprint to Verizon or T-Mobile to Verizon or AT7T to Verizon and keep their phone, they have another thing coming. "Minimal technical requirements" puts Verizon in the clear, of course.

[PAULBACH]

Maybe they figure their is no bucks in hardware but there is a ton of money is "celling" lots of services. :scratch

[Stuff2C]

Wow! this was awesome! I just learned nothing...thanks.:scratch

[eosnut]

Yup. Since all the carriers over there use the same network technology, it's HUGE business. You'll see they sell phones "unlocked" for a VERY high price, and then they have contracts that make the phone cheaper, depending on the length of the contract. Of course, these "unlock" companies make a mint. There are a few places online that offer unlocking in the U.S. as well. Sometimes it's a code you type in, sometimes it's a cable and some software.

I was in Kazakhstan earlier this year and checked out phones. They only had "unlocked" phones and they were VERY expensive. Monthly service was about the same cost as here.

My Cingular Treo worked just fine over there, if you wanted to pay the $5.00 a minute roaming charge :eek

[BubbaZanetti]

I'm an IT guy, and I don't see this as big news. I have T-mobile service.



that actually works outside NYC, Chicago, LA, parts of Boston, Hot-lanta if i'm in a dirty south mood and occasionally Seattle near the airport??:scratch cool, i might consider it since they're a bit cheaper. How was the reception in Radisson?:wave

[jdmetzger]

that actually works outside NYC, Chicago, LA, parts of Boston, Hot-lanta if i'm in a dirty south mood and occasionally Seattle near the airport??:scratch cool, i might consider it since they're a bit cheaper. How was the reception in Radisson?:wave

I've been with T-mobile since they were Voicestream, actually. I generally don't have coverage issues; although sometimes the signal doesn't like to penetrate buildings like Home Depot very well. Of course, that's better than having my calls drop out randomly like my Verizon work phone does.

I was shocked by the GSM coverage I had in Canada. Most places I went around Lake Superior, I still had a signal. I got a VERY good signal in Timmins, North Bay, and even Manitoulin Island in the middle of a campground - the latter really surprised me.

No cell coverage in Radisson, for anyone; aside from a satellite phone. Collect calls from there are quite pricey, too. :doh