Verizon’s decision to give customers the option of connecting to its network through outside devices is, to say the least, a departure from its past views on open-access rules. In this FAQ, we discuss the possible reasons for Verizon’s change of heart, as well as what this decision means for the future of open-access networks.

What does Verizon’s new option mean for the typical consumer or business?

It means you can connect to Verizon’s network without using only a Verizon phone. In theory, open-access networks will allow consumers and businesses to switch carriers without having to purchase a whole new set of devices. Verizon’s decision to open its network is another step toward separating carriers’ services from the devices they offer.

So Verizon Wireless now says that it’s opening its network to any device. Weren’t they opposed to this sort of thing in the past?

You bet they were. Verizon actually sued the FCC earlier this year because it was displeased with the commission’s open-access requirements for about a third of the 62MHz of spectrum in the 700MHz band scheduled to be auctioned in January. Though they eventually dropped their suit against the FCC, Verizon has been a consistent opponent of open-access rules for carriers.

So why the change in heart?

Verizon spokeswoman Nancy Stark says Verizon has actually been thinking about opening its network for quite some time. According to Stark, the company sees that a “small but growing” number of customers want to connect to Verizon’s network without having to use a Verizon device. She insists that the company’s decision was not a reaction to rival carriers Sprint and T-Mobile joining the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational group dedicated to promoting Google’s Android platform and open access to networks. Verizon’s new open-access option, she says, is simply “an opportunity for growth and for meeting customer needs.”

Others, however, are more skeptical. Mike Jude, a senior analyst at Nemertes Research, thinks Verizon is smart enough to see which way the winds are blowing and is changing accordingly. In particular, he thinks the FCC’s decision to promote open access in a portion of the 700-MHz auction and Google’s open Android platform were key factors in Verizon’s decision.