Verizon to Open Network Next Year

CrunchGear reports:

By the end of 2008, you’ll be able to BYO device to Verizon’s high speed wireless network, according to a press release issued today.

Verizon “will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company.” This could be seen as a reaction to upcoming Android phones but probably won’t be accessible to the average hobbyist, as devices will need to be “tested and approved in a $20 million state-of-the-art testing lab” before being activated on the network.

Apparently you can even bring home-brew CDMA hardware onto the network for a small certification fee. This is a very gutsy move and I’m not sure what it means, in general. Considering GSM carriers have had this portability and ease-of-use for years, I wonder what economic force is causing them to backtrack on this.

via CG