When I started covering the telecom industry years ago, I used to hear "Carterphone" references all the time. I didn't know what it meant; it only made me think of the Batphone. In time, I became less stupid and learned about the Carterphone ruling in the 1960s (no, nothing to do with Jimmy Carter either), which essentially opened AT&T's landline network to non-AT&T devices.
VoIP player Skype has wanted the Federal Communications Commission to extend the Carterphone ruling to open up wireless networks, but FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said at the CTIA's Wireless 2008 convention this week that recent wireless open network commitments by carriers mean there is no need for such regulation in wireless. This is good news for the leading carriers, who can establish their own open network methods and timing.
For more:
- read this report at FierceWireless.com