Verizon Takes Down Its Walls

Verizon (VZ) wants a piece of the wireless open standard movement, but on its own terms.

The telco, notorious for keeping tight controls on what runs on its cellular network, says it will soon allow its customers to use devices and applications not offered by the company. Software developers and phone makers, though, will have to put their products through a Verizon certification test.

The move comes just four weeks after Google (GOOG) announced Android, its open handset alliance, a software development effort aimed at bringing more Internet applications to phones.

Verizon Wireless says it has a $20 million state-of-the-art lab where new devices will be tested, and consumers will have new choices by the end of next year. However, the No. 2 wireless shop says it is not tampering with its conventional service offering.

"This sets the table for the next big leap," Verizon Wireless executives said on a press conference call. It will help "usher in a whole new era of wireless devices and applications," the executives added.

Verizon's sudden interest in open standards comes after years of criticism over the closed nature of the company's wireless strategy. The joint venture between Verizon and Vodafone (VOD) hasn't exactly kindled friendships with gadget lovers over the years, at times limiting and even crippling services like music sharing and Bluetooth to its subscribers.