B.E.T.A. Daily » Verizon

Google’s Moves Indicate Skepticism About Verizon’s Openness

Vikrant — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:24:21 +0000

Google really wants to push its Android mobile application platform and for that it needs open standards in mobile broadband. With this view in mind, Google had participated in FCC spectrum auction which it eventually lost to Verizon. Though it is true that Google wanted to lose the auction because it will surely not want to build mobile broadband infrastructure but Google’s participation in the auction triggered the open device and open application rules.

Not even two months have passed and Google seems to be suspicious about Verizon’s openness which is indicated by the recent two moves by Google.

It filed a petition with the FCC thrashing Verizon’s “Two Door” policy and asked the commission to issue,

an order that affirmatively rejects Verizon’s stated position regarding its open access obligations, and requires Verizon to affirmatively acknowledge, and agree to comply with, the any apps, any devices obligation as a condition to the grant of licenses.

Another move is the Google’s $500 million investment in Clearwire to build a nationwide open mobile broadband network. Clearwire will build nationwide WiMax network with its existing resources along with Sprint’s infrastructure.

Google is actively looking for open standards in mobile broadband to deploy applications and handsets that use its Android platform. The petition and investment in Clearwire certainly marks Google’s skepticism about Verizon and its quest for alternatives in case Verizon plays foul game.

AOL And Verizon Get Into Online And Mobile Advertising Deal

Vikrant — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:18:03 +0000

AOL has announced a deal with Verizon under which Platform-A will manage Verizon’s online ad inventory. Under the deal, Verizon will get to use Platform-A’s sales force, along with its ad-serving, targeting, and inventory management capabilities. This deal is a major success for Platform-A which is a the centerpiece of AOL’s restructuring.

Apart from online advertising management, Verizon will continue to use Third Screen Media, Platform-A’s mobile ad serving platofrm, to manage the sale of its mobile web advertising. Third Screen Media currently works with Verizon for providing advanced mobile advertising options including geographic, demographic, and content targeting, display, and sponsorship opportunities on Verizon mobile portal, sections and article Web pages.

The deal will give Platform-A the right to represent all of Verizon’s advertising space on the Internet, including premium space, and majority of mobile advertising space. Platofrm-A will exclusively represent Verizon’s ad inventory in the marketplace and will be the only organization to guarantee placement on the Verizon network.

Interestingly, Verizon had filed a lawsuit against Time Warner Cable last week for false advertising related to its broadband services. Both AOL and Time Warner Cable are divisions of Time Warner Inc.

Verizon Drags Time Waner Cable To Court For False Advertising

Vikrant — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:14:02 +0000

Verizon communication has filed a suit on Wednesday, at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, against Time Warner Cable for misguiding the video customers using false advertising.

Verizon has claimed in the suit, ads from Time Warner Cable’s TV ads falsely imply that Time Warner’s network is better than Verizon’s FiOS by mentioning that the video service requires a satellite dish and does not include phone, broadband and video. As per Verizon,

Once customers choose Time Warner over Verizon FiOS, switching costs, inertia, and the perceived inconvenience of switching providers keep many customers from changing.

Verizon has asked for an injunction from court barring Time Warner Cable from running the objectionable ads and a requirement that the cable company issue ads retracting the claims made in the previous ads. Verizon is looking for claiming damages which include lost profits and recovery of the attorney’s fees.

Verizon Bags Majority Of 700 MHz Spectrum, Google And Consumers Smile

Vikrant — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:22:47 +0000

In the recently concluded FCC’s auction of its 700 MHz spectrum, Verizon has won highest number of licenses and also the much talked about C-Block of spectrum. The main focus of this entire aution was the C-Block of spectrum which will provide consumers the ability to use any wireless device and application on the network.

Another highlight of the auction process was Google’s $4.6 billion bid for the spectrum which triggered lots of discussions and speculations in the blogosphere. So, everyone started speculating about Google introducing GPhone, rolling out a wireless service itself and easing the spectrum to an existing player. But, it seems that Google was not playing to win. The $4.6 billion bid placed by Google was to open gates for the open network rules which will allow its mobile applications and Android phones to operate. So, it is quite clear that Google didn’t bid to win but to create a sandbox for developers to build mobile applications. Verizon, which in the past was not in favor of open networks, now seems to be beating the drums of openness and why not, it does not have any other choice. It is still not clear how much openness it will provide and by when?

Irrespective of who owns the network, it is a victory for consumers who will have more freedom in choosing the devices and applications that they wish to use and of course Google has also won.