Well, this is interesting:  Verizon has announced that they’re opening their wireless network to outside devices by the end of 2008.  Specifically, they will allow activation of any device that meets their to-be-published “minimum technical standard”.

You may have seen my previous rant about open and neutral wireless networks.   Verizon’s news certainly seems like a big step in the right direction.   Let’s hope that (a) the technical standards are not onerous, and (b) they offer reasonable wireless plans for non-Verizon devices.

With this news, Apple’s coming iPhone SDK, and Google’s Android, maybe the US still has a chance of making its wireless network infrastructure competitive (e.g. open) with the rest of the world.

Today’s annoyance:  people that send me calendar invites with the description of “Lunch with Andy”.

I appreciate the convenience of eCalendaring, but having a week full of meetings with myself suggests that something is wrong.

I just learned another tool for fighting telemarketers.  You can ask for a written copy of their “do not call” policy, and they’re required by law to send it to you.  If they don’t, the law provides for “private action” — you can sue in state court for $500, and get 3x if you can argue they willfully ignored you.

We’re on the Federal Do Not Call list, but we still seem to get a surprising number of calls.  For a recent one, I asked the firm if they knew they were calling a DNC number, and the woman on the phone replied, “we don’t have a way to check that list, they only way we know if you’re on that list is if you call us and tell us.”

I am not making this up.

With all of the debate about network neutrality for wired networks, what we really need is neutrality for wireless networks. Tim Berners-Lee said it perfectly: when he invented the web, he “didn’t have to ask anyone’s permission“.

You should be able to write and use apps on your mobile phone without requiring your carrier’s permission. I don’t have an iPhone (yet). Apple’s recent news about a developer SDK is great, but I still need “permission” (i.e. a digital signature) to load apps.

This is getting annoying — when will I get the freedom to build the apps I want?!?

I wonder if the airline loyalty programs have gotten so loyal, they’re hurting the overall business.

I just flew from Boston to the valley on American, which I haven’t flown in a while. Even with a relatively expensive fare ($800), I was surprised how hard it was to get out of a coach center seat to an aisle. Apparently, blocks of aisle/window seats are reserved for the most loyal customers, then gradually released as departure time approaches. I did get an aisle, but I had to wait my turn.

My friends lament that loyalty programs aren’t worth much any more, because there’s always someone “more loyal” in front of you on the upgrade list. I try to fly JetBlue I can; I am part of their TrueBlue program, but they appear to let anyone buy any available seat.

I know the airlines make money by taking care of their best customers, but I wonder if over-caring for your best customers is offset by losing regular customers?