Will Verizon kill Wi-Fi in 2008?
By Danny Mendez
Verizon recently announced its plans to transform its wireless network to a more open service. Such a move has the potential to kill Wi-Fi, although it may take a few years to happen.
In 2008, Verizon plans to begin the transition to a more open network. This includes two big goals: the move to LTE and the introduction of non-phone devices to the wireless network.
LTE will open Verizon to work with many of the phones available around the world, but this isn’t what can kill Wi-Fi.
Early in 2008, Verizon plans to publish the technical standards every device must meet in order to work on the carrier’s network. Any device that meets the minimum requirements can be activated on the network. This includes everything from cars and refrigerators to video game consoles and computers.
If Verizon gets its way, there may no longer be a need for Wi-Fi networks. Every device that benefits from a connection to the Internet may only need to be activated on Verizon’s network. Customers won’t have to fiddle with DSL, routers, home wiring, and weak signals in the far corner of the house. Every device will have an always-on, speedy, and reliable 4G connection through Verizon wireless no matter where the device is located.
Furthermore, several companies and indivduals have expressed intentions and plans to introduce city-wide Wi-Fi networks. Large Wi-Fi networks are expensive to maintain and they’d be far from speedy. If Verizon fills this need, such large Wi-Fi networks won’t be necessary.
This is all speculation, so don’t take it as fact. It’s very possible Verizon won’t “open” their network as much as we’d like, and we have to keep in mind that Verizon is also introducing extremely fast fiber optic service around the nation in order to replace DSL. It may not want to kill its sales in that department, and, for those that want really fast service, LTE could never win a race against a fiber optic connection.
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December 2nd, 2007
[...] Will Verizon kill Wi-Fi in 2008? » This Summary is from an article posted at TECH.BLORGE.com on Sunday, December 02, 2007 This [...]
December 6th, 2007
What is LTE? and that would be sick but yeah idk if they will do that with plans to put FiOS across the nation. and from my speculation fios will be waaay faster than 4G would be.
February 20th, 2008
I hope Verizon makes my dream come true i cant wait to see this happen.
March 30th, 2008
Without knowing what LTE stands for -
May 14th, 2008
“Any device that meets the minimum requirements can be activated on the network. This includes everything from cars and refrigerators to video game consoles and computers.”
That sounds great, but when I see, “can be activated,” I translate as, “can enable Verizon to collect a separate fee from me.”
With WiFi I pay a single monthly fee for the incoming broadband signal and my wireless router makes the signal available to any device with a WiFi card, no extra fee.
With Verizon’s plan, will I be paying a separate fee for every device with a SIM card inserted?
If so, not interested.
I already hate the cable/satellite TV model of paying an upcharge for every TV that is activated onto the service. I’m not switching to a broadband service that nickles and dimes me the same way, with each activation.
March 20th, 2009
Yeah, with verizon’s stellar wireless internet access rates I’m sure every wealthy individual without care for expenditures will be delighted to use only verizon’s access waves. WiFi is an open standard, and LTE wont be nearly as accessible on nearly as many devices. Please. The only way verizon kills WiFi is by not allowing its phones access to it.