Tim Wu had a great analysis in Slate.com recently about Google's new Open Handset Alliance and how they're locked in a potentially zero-sum tussle with the vestiges of Ma Bell in the form of AT&T and Verizon. But before reading the excerpt below, have a look at the video explaining what Android is all about.

Here's the excerpt:

In Google's words, its recently unveiled "Android" is the "first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices." But it is a signal of much more. Google is as much an ideology as a firm and can resemble a nation-state in its pursuit of power rather than a mere corporation chasing quarterly numbers. Google and its allies are now trying to make the principles of openness—the commanding ideology of the Internet—the conquering principle of the wireless world, and the Android announcement is just the first step.

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Following last week's outage of RIM's BlackBerry service, many in business and government alike (that's Karl Rove and Company at right) are starting to wonder if their dependency on the device with such a soft underbelly (according to competitors) is such a good idea.

"The NOC-centric nature of RIM's solution has always been a target of its competitors in the past, but usually the competitive message has been FUD [fear, uncertainty, and doubt] around security ('Do you REALLY want your data flowing through someone else's system?')," explained Avi Greengart, principal analyst for mobile devices at Current Analysis. "NOC service outages are a huge gift to competitors' marketing departments, because service outages are real -- end users feel those."

Russell Shaw on the BlackBerry Beat gave a failing grade to carriers as well:

There were some bright points, but all in all I was not pleased with the information flow and presentation.

First, let us discuss how each major U.S.-based BlackBerry carrier conveyed this data when I called them.

T-Mobile and SprintNextel did best. As soon as I called the T-Mobile trouble line, I was greeted with a newly updated recording. Same when I called "611" from my Nextel BlackBerry.(read more)

Following discussions of possible bankruptcy by the troubled VoIP provider Vonage, BusinessWeek opined this week they thought recent rumors of Sprint considering a purchase of the company were even more troubling... for Sprint.

Despite an acquisition cost that would amount to, as one analyst described it, "a rounding error" (hey, where I come from, $1 billion is still a lot of money) for the wireless company, it could put to bed a patent suit that Sprint is ready to fight (or leverage?) against Vonage (while offering the chance to poke at Verizon a bit in the process in their current IP proceedings). Most analysts said they it would amount to little more than a distraction from the business at hand for Sprint as the company tries to successfully capitalize on its Nextel merger while also trying to harness partnerships with cable companies like Comcast for faster growth, even as it stems the tide of customer churn in its "postpaid" business.

I say, "BUY 'EM!" - for lots of reasons.

Forgetting for a second how much I despise their marketing, as I mentioned recently, I want Vonage for one simple feature - SimulRing - which allows incoming calls to ring on up to six other lines, effectively delivering as a bonus most of the much vaunted "unified communications" over VoIP that other telcos have touted as premium services. Likewise, Sprint's CDMA-oriented network canopy isn't making any friends with the international jet-set of the world who can't use their phones in Europe or Asia (though China and South Korea have CDMA networks... oh, and Iraq).(read more)

Coincidence is amazing.

After months of waiting, the very same day that I found out Vonage, the VoIP vendor that I want to switch over to (mostly because of their "SimulRing" feature) was now offering my home phone number prefix in the town where I live... I also saw the judgment handed down saying that they couldn't add any more new customers.

Hours later came the stay of execution for this "bullet to the back of the head" (as Vonage's own attorney called it).

Sheesh! So can I get this service or not? Forbes runs it down for us:

Internet telephone company Vonage got a break late Friday in its patent battle with telecommunications giant Verizon Communications.

The U.S. Court of Appeals granted Vonage a temporary stay late Friday, allowing it to continue signing up new customers. An earlier ruling from a federal judge barred Vonage from marketing to new customers while it infringes Verizon's patents.
(read more)