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MW08 – Question #8: When will carriers open up?

by Phil Barrett

Q: When will the carriers start to let go of the grasp they have over what applications and content can be put out there on their network/deck?

A: The topic of carriers becoming less controlling & more open has been a very hot topic in the U.S. especially and even led to Google’s initial bid on the U.S. spectrum auction.

Although nearly all carriers say they are open to being open, they also say that without controls and checks built into the system, they fear losing all control of their devices – and therefore their ability to deliver a consistent and positive experience to their customers.

Whether or not you believe that, the reality is that few carriers want to open up their platforms to third party developers until they no longer have any choice – whether that be through legislation or to keep pace with a competitive force.

Having said that, “off-deck” mobile websites are growing every day and offering content and services not currently available through on-deck.  Mobile browsers are getting better and are now rendering richer and richer experiences – so the need to have a fully open carrier may become less important as most of what consumers want can be serviced through the mobile web.

  • Sylvain Boyer
    Google (Android) is open... as long as you agree to give to Google the rigths to monetize with ads your application.

    Apple is open... eh... as long as you abide by their T&Cs and go through iTunes and give Apple the key to the bulk of potential revenues.

    On the internet, well, most people running Windows or Apple so applications are built to run on Windows or MacOS. On mobile phone... you have the Symbian, WindowsMobile, BlackberryOS, AppleOS, now Android and a few more. It's a bit more complex to develop an app that will work across all, and I don't see how the mobile operators are the roadblock.

    I have a Blackberry and Bell allows me to use the embedded GPS for any application that I want. I can also load any native BB or 3rd party apps and again the mobile operator is totally open.

    What I think the real issue is: bandwidth limitations in the access. And this is true for both mobile and fixed (DSL or cable). Once I ask for applications that consume more bandwidth... like downloading a good quality video to my PC (full screen with decent resolution on my 21" monitor, or wish to capture a video from my phone that can be later played on something bigger than a 1x1in screen, then my experience is usually not great. Videos end up stopping, dropping, showing digital artifacts, etc...

    I understand that carriers have to spend $B of dollars to install the broadband infrastructure, so why can't they partner with entertainment companies, with gaming companies, with apps companies and guarantee a great consumer experience?

    I agree that the mobile web has seen great innovations in the last few years... and I feel the next frontier will be all about videos and blended communications... but we will require ways to manage the quality of experience for it to happen :-)



    but I fear the next level of innovation may not happen unless


    And I can certainly go to any website
  • "Mobile browsers are getting better and are now rendering richer and richer experiences - so the need to have a fully open carrier may become less important as most of what consumers want can be serviced through the mobile web."

    Amen to that :)
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