Verizon open handsets clear new avenue for developers

first announced their open initiative, I was a bit skeptical. It wasn’t truly open, after all, so to me, the skeptic, it seemed like a publicity ploy. But as we’ve moved along the timeline, it has seemed like a better and better idea. Verizon laid down the guidelines for its new handset developers recently, so the process should get underway shortly. The best part, though, isn’t in the handset development itself. It’s in the small business potential therein. To start from the beginning, obviously, the developer manufactures the handset. They then ship it to Verizon for their rigorous testing process. If it passes, it’s given a serial number. Now, here’s where the developer has a choice. He or she can opt to make it a personal handset — that is, just for the individual who created it, or maybe a couple of close friends. Or they could go into business. Of course, we’re talking about developers, not businesspeople. And you know what they say: “Stick to what you know.” But aren’t there salespeople out there who would do well to peddle these new handsets? Surely there are. It’s even better than that, too. Developers have the option of starting a “mini-MVNO”. They can buy wholesale minutes from Verizon and resell them, along with their handsets. And then…

Once everything is activated, customers will presumably be able to download whichever applications they choose and also can select the extent of the relationship they desire to have with Verizon. That means there are no contracts, and no early termination fees. How soon will all this happen? The certification process will be up and running by the end of this month, and the entire shebang should be operational in the second half of the year.

Note to independent Verizon resellers: Get in on this. [InformationWeek]]]>