InternetMobile Vendors Debate the 'Open' Future

Google, Nokia, Verizon -- plus a key iPhone supporter -- weigh in on the open mobile world.

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- You might not think of traditional carrier Verizon Wireless as a radical, cutting-edge player in the competitive mobile device market, but the trend toward more open systems is transforming the company. "I'm in a place to be an insurgent and give customers more choices, so you can get any applications you want on your phone," said Anthony Lewis, vice president of Open Development at Verizon. "Customers are taking us to more choice and openness," Lewis explained. "In my mind, I'm the lead dog [the rest of the company will] have to follow." This is all new for Verizon, which only created its Open Development business unit in January. "It just made good business sense," said Lewis, who notes his group has its own profit and loss statement and budget. Lewis spoke on a panel that discussed the competition for open mobile systems here at the AlwaysOn Stanford Summit. Verizon was declared a winning bidder in the auction earlier this year for the multibillion dollar 700MHz spectrum, which will let the carriers provide a new platform of services to mobile users. RELATED ARTICLES Google Shows Off 'iPhone-Like' Android Features Greater Mobile Use Brings Bigger Virus Threat Software Drives the iPhone 3G Open Source Nokia a Threat to Microsoft, Google? Inside CIOs' Investing Decisions For more stories on this topic: The company also announced it would open its system so developers will be... [ Read more on www.internetnews.com ]

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PC World - Gateway on Friday said it would not directly sell PCs through its Web site any more, but will now sell PCs through retail and...