Storage tank-monitoring modem becomes Verizon's first open network device
by Donald Melanson 
posted Jul 13th 2008 at 4:43AM
While we can't imagine there are many bottles of champagne being broken over it, Verizon's much touted open network initiative finally has its first device: a modem that helps monitor the contents of large storage tanks. It is part of SupplyNet Communication's Prophet line of devices, and makes use of Verizon's network and SupplyNet's own TankLink service to send out an urgent text message before the tank runs dry. Not exactly the most exciting device to be sure but, as MocoNews points out, it is just the type of thing that Verizon had in mind with the initiative, which it hopes will help bring in revenue from all sorts of unexpected sources.
[Via MocoNews]
[Via MocoNews]
Filed under: Peripherals, Verizon Wireless
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mjkboston @ Jul 13th 2008 9:58AM
Does anyone know what the economics of this look like for the Tanklink guys? Maybe $30/month works for a storge tank but it does not work for a home alarm system or a Brookstone Weather Watcher (currently using paging network). They not only need to open the network to 3rd party devices but also need to come up with pricing models that work for low bit-rate or infrequent use applications. In a perfect world they would let you aggregate your air-time and bandwidth from multiple devices under a single account. Here's an example. I have a vacation home and do not have broadband (borrow wireless from my neighbor when I need it). I'd love to have a wireless video camera that could jump on the Verizon network when someone drove down my driveway and send me some pictures. I am not going to pay $30/month for that - I would pay an extra $5 per month/per activated device and for bandwidth when I used it. They have the tower infrastructure in place, it seems like they would want to get some more recurring revenue to raise ARPU from these types of applications.
youngcalihottie @ Jul 16th 2008 3:35AM
i agree with what you are saying on having lower price structures for low use devices.
but that conflicts with your last statement about ARPU. they definitely want higher ARPU.
having 1 million people paying $30 will bring $30 ARPU and a total of $30,000,000.
having 3 million people paying $10 will bring $10 ARPU and a total of $30,000,000.
why manage three times as many accounts and increase risk of churn to end up with the same amount of money in the bank with lower ARPU?
basically what im trying to say is you cant raise ARPU and lower prices. those two are not friends with each other.
and i still dont get what the hype is all about with "Verizons open network." almost since the beginning of GSM there have been devices that you simply need to put a SIM card into to get them to work like this. just add a line and get it a text or web plan, then insert your SIM. so easy and many years old! and i dont have to make sure my "open network" approved of the device.