Verizon, Motorola hold little hope for Windows Phone 7

The Microsoft-Nokia partnership on Windows Phone 7 has captured attention...but Verizon Wireless and Motorola don't think it'll be a slam dunk success.

Nokia’s all-or-nothing move to embrace Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform as its smartphone future has certainly caught the attention of the mobile world—but not everyone is impressed. In an interviews at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, executives from Verizon Wireless and Motorola tried to be diplomatic about how they viewed the prospects for Nokia handsets with Windows Phone 7…and largely failed, essentially saying Microsoft and Nokia are going to have to turn water to wine if their partnership is to have any significant impact on the mobile market.

Earlier this week, Motorola indicated the company has all but shut the door on the notion of making Windows Phone handsets, saying it’s very comfortable being the only company with its entire lineup built around Android. Although some of Motorola’s decision to skip the Windows Phone platform had to do with timing—it just wasn’t ready when Motorola needed it—Motorola executive VP Christy Wyatt also indicated the locked-down nature of Windows Phone turned Motorola off, turning Motorola into essentially an OEM for a Microsoft platform that offered commodity hardware to consumers. “We would like an opportunity to create unique value and we don’t feel we could with a closed platform.”

Nokia allegedly will be working around the roped-off nature of Windows Phone by having the exclusive ability to customize WIndows Phone: according toPhone Scoop Nokia says it will have a free hand to customize Windows Phone 7, although any deep changes will be pushed back to Microsoft to be included in the broader Windows Phone platform available to all handset makers. Although that means any innovations Nokia sneaks under the hood won’t be exclusive to Nokia, it does mean that Nokia isn’t likely to be significantly lagging in its ability to update handsets to new versions of WIndows Phone. That could be a significant benefit—just ask the myriad Android handset owners still waiting to upgrade to Android 2.2 “Froyo.”

However, more troubling for the Microsoft-Nokia partnership may come from U.S. carrier Verizon Wireless, whose response to the deal seems tepid at best. In an interview with Cnet, Verizon’s CTO Tony Melone indicated that the company would love to see a third major platform in the smartphone market, but seemed to hold out little hope that Windows Phone would make the grade.

“I think it would take a really compelling device from Nokia or any new vendor to break in. It doesn’t mean that it can’t happen, but it would have to be really good,” said Melone. “I don’t think Verizon needs the Nokia and Microsoft relationship.”

To be fair, Nokia abandoned its CDMA business back in 2006 and the company is not currently a handset partner with Verizon. However, if Nokia wants to re-establish its presence in the North American market, it’s almost certainly going to have to reach out to the top mobile operator in the United States.

Verizon to acquire Terremark for $1.4 billion

Verizon and Terremark have announced a definitive agreement under which Verizon will acquire Terremark, a global provider of managed IT infrastructure and cloud services, for a total equity value of $1.4 billion.

This move continues to move Verizon in the direction of implementing its “everything-as-a-service” cloud strategy by delivering a powerful portfolio of secure, scalable solutions to its portfolio of business and government customers.

Verizon plans to operate the new unit as a wholly owned subsidiary, retaining the Terremark name and with Terremark’s current management team continuing to manage the company.

“Cloud computing continues to fundamentally alter the way enterprises procure, deploy and manage IT resources, and this combination helps create a tipping point for ‘everything-as-a-service,’” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon.  “Our collective vision will foster innovation, enhance business processes and dynamically deliver business intelligence and collaboration services to anyone, anywhere and on any device.”

Manuel D. Medina, chairman and CEO of Terremark, said: “This transaction, first and foremost, provides Terremark’s stockholders with the opportunity for immediate, maximum value and liquidity for their investment in our common stock.  We are very proud of all we’ve accomplished in building and developing a world-class business that delivers industry-leading services. This agreement represents an exciting opportunity to accelerate our strategy and serve our enterprise and government customers with even greater innovation on a global scale with Verizon’s resources and extensive reach. We will continue to work with leading hardware, software, systems integrator and carrier partners to build on our unique business model.”

Terremark is one of the larger Infrastructure-as-a-Service companies delivering cloud-based resources. Terremark operates 13 data centers in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. The company combines secure cloud computing, colocation and managed hosting services as a turn key solution.

Hands on with Verizon debut LG Revolution 4G

We go hands-on with the new LG Revolution at Verizon's CES press conference. The Revolution is LG's debut 4G LTE phone.

Verizon debuted 10 new 4G devices at its CES press conference today. One of the most interesting was the LG Revolution, the manufacturer’s first LTE device. It’s screen can’t match the Super AMOLED Plus display on the new Samsung 4G phone, but it is comparable to the new HTC Thunderbolt and one of LG’s finest looking touch smartphones and proves the manufacturer is really getting its act together and competing with the best.

The most striking thing about the phone is how well it handles the high speeds of Verizon’s network. We visited several media-rich Websites and the phone didn’t appear to miss a hitch. It currently runs Android 2.2, but will be getting the Android 2.3 update before release. The touchscreen is capacitive and rings in at 4.3 inches (the size of the Droid X screen) and the phone can share its 4G connection and become a mobile hotspot for upt o 8 other Wi-Fi capable devices. It comes with 16GB of internal memory, a micro HDMI connector (like a lot of new phones), a 5MP rear camera, and a front-facing camera as well.

My favorite new feature: the phone has a sensor that will lock the touchscreen when the phone is up to your cheek and you’re talking, again making it possible for me to talk with the phone jammed between my cheek and shoulder without fear of accidentally hanging up.

The LG Revolution will launch in the first half of 2011. No pricing has been announced, but it will likely launch for $200-$300 with a 2-year Verizon contract.