Comments on: Verizon to Mobile Developers: Can You Hear Me Now?

By: Samsung Galaxy Tab Headed to AT&T, Report Says « Brian-Armstrong

Samsung Galaxy Tab Headed to AT&T, Report Says « Brian-Armstrong — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:02:35 +0000

[...] would not be pre-loaded onto Verizon devices, Ryan Hughes, VP Partner Management for Verizon, told GigaOm. Instead, users would have to download an Android Market application to buy apps outside of V CAST. [...]

By: Verizon’s Android App Store is Late, Not New

Verizon’s Android App Store is Late, Not New — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:38:21 +0000

[...] is going to open a VCAST app store for phones that run Android 2.2. We first covered this news over a year ago, when Verizon told us they were going to open the store for not just Android, but for BlackBerry, [...]

By: Is Your Carrier The Fanboy or The Underdog? – GigaOM

Is Your Carrier The Fanboy or The Underdog? – GigaOM — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:17:55 +0000

[...] certification process has been notoriously slow, and Verizon has said that its upcoming app store will be the sole marketplace on handsets it sells — meaning customers looking to shop at Research In Motion’s App [...]

By: Verizon Wireless Enters Online Payment Space – GigaOM

Verizon Wireless Enters Online Payment Space – GigaOM — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:16:57 +0000

[...] Verizon is smart to create an online payment platform that it can offer its 91.2 million wireless subscribers, but getting people to use it will be a challenge. If Verizon can get people accustomed to putting in their phone numbers instead of credit cards while shopping online, then it could own a critical element in building an application and services platform that spans the wired and wireless world. Much like Apple has such a large stake in the mobile application and commerce space today because it has millions of credit cards in iTunes, Verizon could be expanding its own payments information for a similar goal. [...]

By: Will Verizon Kill BlackBerry App World? | BlackBerry Cool

Will Verizon Kill BlackBerry App World? | BlackBerry Cool — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:35:57 +0000

[...] and they aren’t going to let device manufacturers into the pockets of their customer base. With over 3,500 developers already signed up to publish to Verizon, not to mention the incredible power Verizon offers in the way of valuable access to cell phone [...]

By: Verizon Attacks iPhone With “Droid” | Mac Bargains

Verizon Attacks iPhone With “Droid” | Mac Bargains — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:48:44 +0000

[...] not only told developers what they could sell, but how much they could charge. The company is currently planning a new store that, while not technically excluding competitors, aggregates content under its own [...]

By: TRUEcast Episode 8 « Veracity Nation

TRUEcast Episode 8 « Veracity Nation — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:32:32 +0000

[...] Verizon Buries Windows Marketplace install file. This was confirmed by Verizon rep quoted HERE. [...]

By: Mobile App Market Blowing Up (in a good way) | Software Testing Blog

Mobile App Market Blowing Up (in a good way) | Software Testing Blog — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:06:49 +0000

[...] Verizon is opening its own app store later this year [...]

By: Mobile App Developers, We Have a Problem

Mobile App Developers, We Have a Problem — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:38:01 +0000

[...] just launched its Windows Marketplace for Mobile and Verizon, which is trying to lure developers to its own app store due to open later this year, in the meantime has announced it will launch Android-based devices preloaded with apps, and access [...]

By: A Blinding Flash of The Obvious | Monday Note

A Blinding Flash of The Obvious | Monday Note — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 01:46:19 +0000

[...] other hand, isn’t ready for Steve’s rule; the company made it clear they want to set up their own App Store for all mobile devices they’ll bless. Understandably, Verizon want to stay in control, they [...]

By: The Problem with Verizon Wireless Apps | Gadget Wisdom

The Problem with Verizon Wireless Apps | Gadget Wisdom — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:05:46 +0000

[...] mind an approval process, but Verizon is shooting itself in the foot.There are rumors this may change, but innovation is [...]

By: Official Tech News » Verizon Phones Will Have Verizon’s App Store, No One Else’s [Verizon]

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:18:47 +0000

[...] up Verizon’s July 28 developer event, GigaOM drops the bit that Verizon’s “app store will be the sole marketplace on devices sold by the company [...]

By: Why the iPhone will remain exclusive with AT&T | The Brendan Blog

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:15:54 +0000

[...] But Verizon has smarter and farther reaching plans. Verizon plans to host their own app store that can support every device they sell and is the ONLY place to buy on the network. Apple’s 30% take of all app store sales is beyond desirable and Verizon plans to have a similar setup for themselves. The idea that Verizon would give up their margins or Apple would give up theirs both sacrificing the all important customer experience is unlikely. “the network operator’s app store will be the sole marketplace on devices sold by the company, meaning stores such as Research In Motion’s BlackBerry App World or Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Marketplace won’t get placement on Verizon handsets unless a consumer downloads them” Higginbotham [...]

By: Mobile Apps: In the Store or the Browser? | Modern Ui

Mobile Apps: In the Store or the Browser? | Modern Ui — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:43:56 +0000

[...] Verizon’s App Store [...]

By: Mobile Apps: In the Store or the Browser?- Modern Ui

Mobile Apps: In the Store or the Browser?- Modern Ui — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:17:56 +0000

[...] Verizon’s App Store [...]

By: Sivan

Sivan — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:38:02 +0000

The conference occurred on 7.28 but I haven’t seen any coverage on it.

Looking at Verizon’s developer site:

Any follow up on this? This got barely any coverage from the usual suspects.

Looking at http://developer.verizon.com/jsps/devCenters/Network_Enablers/

Network enablers, not sure what they are for. LBS already on many smartphones, aGPS (and Skyhook) are not new. Can’t see what Calendaring has to do with the carrier.

I can see the rationale for a store however, since Verizon is expected to open its network to apps that pass minimum certification and this is a way for them to control the process. They promised no certification fees. I’m weary of app stores, but I don’t think Verizon’s is necessarily more evil than Apple’s, RIM et all.

I’m struggling to see what’s new in Verizon’s API offerings. LBS is not new, smartphones use aGPS already, unless Verizon is thinking of their own proprietary Navigator as an example. Calendar, again, what does that have to do with the carrier? Maybe this was appropriate with the BREW platform but seems redundant with today’s smartphones.

As for the store, billing is convenient but I think it’s only an incentive to the developer and could be offered as a web service. Verizon seems to want its own store to maintain some control as it opens its network to all compliant devices and applications. I think that’s a legitimate reason for a store, or really, a gateway for certifications (no certification fees).

What I think carriers can and should is take over Push infrastructure since they maintain constant connection with the device already. But I haven’t seen any indications from carriers on this.