Skip to main content

Google and Verizon Bury the Hatchet, Partner on Android

Mobile operator Verizon Wireless and Internet giant Google have announced a broad new partnership designed to put the Android platform and Android devices front-and-center in Verizon’s smartphone offerings. Although the announcement is short on specifics and long on smoothing over the historically rocky relationship between the two companies, a few things are clear: Verizon will be rolling out a number of Android devices in the near future (most likely with full support for the Android Market) and Verizon is positioning itself as a an open carrier where customers have a wide range of devices, platforms, and applications.

Google+Verizon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“The nation’s best wireless broadband network is a perfect complement to the innovation of Android-powered services and devices,” said Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, in a statement. “Together, we’ll work to deliver a compelling new experience to our customers.”

Verizon is promising to unveil its first Android devices in the coming weeks, at least one of which will be from Motorola. Additional handsets and product families should follow, along with a strong push for mobile applications running on the Android platform; apps will come both from Verizon and Google as well as third-party developers.

Google and Verizon have a rather contentious history, recently coming to a head over the 700MHz spectrum auctions that provide frequency space for forthcoming LTE services; Google put $4.6 billion on the line in an effort to ensure openness for any device, content, application, or service. Verizon, in turn, attempted to brand itself as an open network via an “Any Apps, Any Device” plan that would let customers use non-Verizon devices and applications on their network…so long as those devices and apps met Verizon’s specs. After Verizon came out the big winner in the 700 MHz spectrum auction, Google stayed on their case to force the company to comply with the openness principles the FCC actually put in place.

Now the companies seem to have found common ground in Android—and while specific announcements will happen in the near future, Verizon is explicitly saying it will support Google Voice on Android devices.

Industry watchers point out that the tie-up between Google and Verizon has deep ties to mobile advertising, a burgeoning field where both Google and Verizon want to be major players. If the companies can put enough Android handsets on Verizon into consumers hands, both companies will certainly be looking to sell behavioral-based advertising to those mobile users.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
How to find downloaded files on your iPhone or Android smartphone
Download folder

Believe it or not, finding files you’ve downloaded on your iPhone or Android phone can be tougher than you think. Even the best smartphones can quickly become a handheld electronic briefcase. Along with the apps you need to get you through your day, it’s packed with photos, videos, files, and other media. While it’s all too easy to download a photo or a restaurant menu to your mobile device, when it comes to actually finding where downloads reside on your phone, the opposite is true. It can be difficult to find a particular file amid heaps of other folders.

Read more
Something strange is happening with my Google Pixel Fold
Google Pixel Fold in Obsidian open on Google News.

Google’s first foldable, the Google Pixel Fold, is now available for everyone. Even though Google is a few years late to the game compared to other brands like Samsung, it’s better late than never, right?

The Google Pixel Fold has received mostly positive reviews, including our own. But like any other foldable, it’s not without some issues. Since there are moving parts with foldable devices, there are more points of failure than a simple slab-style smartphone, especially as this category is still only in its infancy.

Read more
How to add your ID or driver’s license to Google Wallet
The new Google Wallet app running on an Android phone.

Between credit cards, store loyalty cards, and identification cards, our wallets are on the beefier side these days — and it makes digging through them to find the one correct card a real chore. Wouldn't it be nice if you could just show someone or scan your phone instead?

Well, now you can if you have an Android smartphone. Following on from Apple, Google Wallet now allows you to upload your driver's license or state ID into your Google Wallet account, giving you a quick and easy way to show your credentials when needed. If you live in certain states in the U.S., that is.

Read more