The last wall has crumbled: at&t Wireless says it will "immediately" open its network to any device and use of any application, without contract requirements, with the exception of Apple's iPhone, which still will carry a two-year contract requirement and remains subject to Apple's own requirements.
Consider what has happened in just a month: Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile agree to work with Google on Android, the open operating platform for mobile devices. Then Verizon says it will open its network next year. Today, at&t Wireless says it is open "now" to any GSM devices.
In the process, the entire U.S. wireless industry has moved to an open, unlocked devices regime that, although the norm in Europe, never has been the U.S. regime.
Give credit to Google. It has done what no other company could do: it has forced openness upon the entire U.S. wireless industry, proving that, at least sometimes, only a very large, very powerful contestant can cause massive industry innovation.
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