Verizon to Release Specs for "Any Device, Any App."

For a few months now Verizon has said that it will begin allowing non-Verizon devices to operate on its network.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Verizon Wireless today said its upcoming Open Development Device Conference will feature the release and publication of Version 1.0 of the technical specifications for new wireless devices that will work on its "Any Device, Any App" network-only service option.
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For consumers, the network-only option, which is expected to be available later this year, will provide the option to use these wireless devices and new applications not offered directly by Verizon Wireless. Verizon Wireless' Open Development initiative is driven by the company's desire to encourage innovation, give customers new wireless choices, and quickly address opportunities to expand the wireless market.

This should be pretty exciting news to any VZW customers who are reading.  Any mobile device that meets the Version 1.0 specs will operate on  Verizon's network.  With all of the innovations in mobile web apps combined with the fact that Verizon operates an Ev-DO broadband network could lead to some amazing new functionality.

This same principle behind "Any Device, Any App" also applies to the current FCC 700 MHz auction.  Because bidding has long since broken the $4.6 Billion threshold that Google fought for, the network will be "Open Access."  What that means is that, eventually, the winner of the auction will build out and administer the network, but they won't have control over what devices run on it.  It means that the winner, like Verizon, would sell access to that network via a service plan but would allow any device meeting its specifications to operate on it.  A big part of why that open access stipulation was so important to Google is their Android mobile operating system.  Developers and handset manufacturers designing Android handsets combined with the guarantee that those devices will operate on the 700 MHz network means that Google will be able to run all of its applications on a wide variety of phones without having to try and start its own wireless service or build its own devices. 

I think that seeing how well Verizon's version of open access will be a good test of how it might work in the 700 MHz spectrum. 

A few months ago phonescoop.com reported that Sprint was going to adopt the same policy, which could become more important when they roll out their Wi-Max broadband network nationwide.  Wi-Max is the technology that Sprint is running with instead of participating in the 700 MHz auction.  There's still not been any new word from Sprint regarding specs for developers or for bringing over a CDMA device from another carrier.