Los Angeles Times's John Healey wrote on Verizon Wireless' decision to open its network to independent developers and phone manufacturers. Here's an excerpt from Healey's Opinion Piece quoting New America's Sascha Meinrath:

Some observers aren't convinced by Verizon Wireless' turnabout. In particular, they note that the degree of openness will depend on how the company implements its plans. Will Verizon Wireless offer discounts to people who supply their own phones? After all, its current rates are bumped up to cover the subsidies for the free or heavily discounted phones it offers. And when it tests phones from unaffiliated companies, will it impose restrictions not related to network safety, such as a ban on using Bluetooth connections to swap ringtones? Noting the company's insistence on certifying equipment before allowing it on the network, Sascha Meinrath, research director of the Wireless Future Program at the New America Foundation, said, "By definition this means that they will not let certain devices on their network. This and other inconsistencies leave me deeply concerned." ...

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