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There has been a lot of buzz in the blogosphere on how to unlock an iPhone so that it can work on networks other than AT&T's rather slow network. Sprint and Verizon have faster CDMA networks, and new handsets that are not network-specific are expected in 2008. These handsets will use the open source software that Google is releasing that is java-based.

Google is lobbying the FCC to require the 700-megahertz spectrum that is coming on the market (as soon as UHF TV moves to digital) be open to to any device. These wireless networks are expensive to build and Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T are entitled to be paid for their work, but people should be able to use the handset they want. I am eager to try the linux/java handsets in my continuing effort to free myself from Microsoft. I'm glad that Verizon is going to give me a shot at it. I think they have the fastest, most robust wireless network. Expensive, though...!

Posted by Anet Dunne at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The NYTimes article today followed yesterday's Sunday magazine article about the Googlephone. Google will not be making hardware, they will be providing phone software using open-souce linux and JAVA from Sun Microsystems to members of the Open Handset Alliance. More than just phones, hand-held touch-screen devices are predicted. Intel, an alliance member, has been promoting a new hardware category that they call Mid that is halfway between a cellphone and a laptop. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, predicts that advertising on mobile phones was likely to eventually bring the cost of making calls to zero. That might not include AT&T and Verizon which together account for 52 percent of the wireless market in the US.

Posted by Anet Dunne at 02:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)