Wireless carriers have long been playing their own game where they make the rules. Apps, voice, wireless data – it’s all controlled by the carrier, and motivated by the bottom line. While the financial aspect is important, carriers’ over-controlling stance on wireless access has largely stifled innovation in the mobile space. One of the discussions at Mobile Beat 2009 addresses the issue of carriers giving up control to help foster growth of the wireless industry.
Sprint’s Russ McGuire admitted on stage that carriers aren’t exactly pushing innovation, adding that “you don’t want to move at carrier speed, you want to move at [Silicon] valley speed.” Carriers need to be more open and allow services to cross their network freely. Indeed, “openness is about not having to ask for permission.”
On the other hand, become too open and you have to worry about degrading user experience. Take, for example, the PC market. All the openness that the PC market enjoys (think about all the random hardware and software you can buy for your computer) comes at the price of security and user experience. You have to have virus scanners for this, ad-blockers for that.
It all comes down to balance. Control points are needed to ensure security and a clean user experience. But, these same control points hinder an open user experience. There are three types of control points – protecting the network, protecting user privacy and environment, and control over business model. Russ McGuire claims that Sprint is on the leading edge of the idea that carriers need to adapt their control points to better serve the customer. But, ultimately, carriers need to all work together and foster discussion with subscribers before we can all realize the dream of open wireless ecosystems.
Let’s hope that happens soon.