Operators will open networks in 2008

IDC have been on the wires with their predictions. Mobile operators will need to open up their networks. Uh huh. I can imagine some rather uncomfortable conversations at many of the world’s grandest operator content teams.

“Right lads. We, er, need to open up.”
– “You what?”

“Yeah, open up. Give the punters access to whatever they want.”
– “Sorry?”

“Just as I said. Open up the pipe.”
– “But, you … but we’ve been spending MILLIONS on our own portals and ‘content decks!'”

“Er. Yeah. Yeah I know.”
– [Stamps feet: ‘We. Are. Not. Just. A. Data. Pipe.’] “And if we open it all up, … what will happen to our revenues? OUR REVENUES? MAN! Man!”

“Look lads, there’s lots of different options…”

[cue doughnuts]

Link: Mobile internet will open wide in 2008, IDC says – iPod/iPhone – Macworld UK

The advent of mobile broadband in 2008 will push every mobile network operator to open its network to a wide range of devices, not just those offered by the carriers themselves, IDC says.

In making their industry predictions for 2008, IDC made the case that many different factors will push carriers toward more openness, including the advent of smart phones, the wide array of mobile web gadgets expected to hit the market in the near future, and the presence of the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational group with more than 30 members dedicated to promoting Google’s open-access Android platform.

This isn’t such a biggie in the UK any more. Not since the major operators have all deployed some sort of data bundle that’s reasonably passable. They’re all opening up. Just how much can you open up before you relegate yourself to becoming a bit/data pipe?