Verizon Wireless and Google Inc. announced a strategic partnership this morning designed to pair the openness of the Internet and the innovation of Google with Verizon Wireless’ broadband network, and plan to bring two devices to market in the next few weeks that will showcase what the two companies are calling a ground-breaking initiative.
The partnership likely will pit Google’s Android open operating system platform against Apple Inc.’s iPhone OS, a closed platform that runs exclusively in AT&T Mobility’s network in the United States. Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam said during a conference call this morning that Verizon Wireless would allow the Google Voice application to run on the Verizon Wireless network. The Google Voice app is a sensitive subject in the debate over net neutrality and the amount of control carriers should have over their networks. The Federal Communications Commission has launched an investigation into why the Google Voice app has so far been prevented from being offered through Apple’s App Store, asking Google, Apple and AT&T questions regarding their various involvement. Apple has said it is still considering the application, but Google said the app has been denied.
Details of the Verizon/Google partnership were scarce; it is a multi-year initiative and the two companies don’t have any hard goals about the number of devices or applications they would like to see on the network, but they do envision a family of devices, crossing feature handsets, PDAs and netbooks. Further McAdam said the two companies will combine technical and marketing resources to the drive the initiative, aiming to bring new services to customers quickly. One of the more interesting aspects of the partnership is that it will cover Verizon Wireless’ 3G and 4G networks. The carrier must follow an open-access provision on its 4G network by law, but is not required to do so on its 3G network. Further, the 4G network is still being tested and not likely to be commercial anytime soon.
“Integral to this agreement is a commitment by the companies to devote substantial resources to accelerate delivery of leading-edge innovation that will put unique applications in the hands of consumers quickly,” the companies said in a press release announcing the agreement. “The two industry leaders will create, market and distribute products and services, with Verizon Wireless also contributing the breadth of its nationwide distribution channels. Consumers will be able to purchase products resulting from the collaboration in Verizon Wireless retail and online stores.”
The scale of the partnership should entice applications developers to write for the Android platform.
In a conference call today, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said about 18 months ago when the companies began to talk about collaborating, he noticed that Verizon management was shifting its mindset to embrace openness, and as such, the two companies should be able to “pull in every device manufacturer and every developer around the world,” Schmidt said.
Verizon and Google in the past have sparred over possible FCC mandates on open access, and Verizon even filed a lawsuit against the FCC over the 700 MHz open-access provision in 2007. For its part, Google was lobbying for the open-access mandate.
Verizon Wireless and Google said they plan to co-develop Android-based devices that will be pre-loaded with applications from both parties as well as third-party developers. While Google won’t build the hardware, per se, it will participate in seeking out the best form factors.
