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Wireless Giants Blocking New Mobile Services

Verizon, AT&T, keep competitors away

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2007 10:54 PM CST
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(Newser) – Wireless service giants AT&T and Verizon may be blocking other companies' devices and applications to defeat potential competition. Business Week reports that a discount international cell phone service, a wireless banking service, and PayPal, trying to bring its online payment service to wireless, were all obstructed by one or more of the major carriers.

"We don't need to provide special access to our customers and network to a company that's in direct competition." a Verizon spokesman said. The dispute involves so-called short codes, which lets cell-phone users access special services, like sports scores—or numbers for cheap international calls. The big carriers say they can can legally reject short code applications to keep competitors off their networks.

We don't need to provide special access to our customers and network to a company that's in direct competition with us, said a Verizon spokesman regarding the apparent roadblocks implemented by Verizon and AT&T.
"We don't need to provide special access to our customers and network to a company that's in direct competition with us," said a Verizon spokesman regarding the apparent roadblocks implemented by Verizon...   (Shutterstock.com)
The AT&T, Inc. logo is seen on on of the company's buildings in San Antonio in this April 25, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)
The AT&T, Inc. logo is seen on on of the company's buildings in San Antonio in this April 25, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, file)   (Associated Press)
The Verizon store is seen in this file photo. While publicly trumpeting advances in wireless technology, companies like Verizon Wireless and AT&T are quietly hindering new services that could act as potential competitors.
The Verizon store is seen in this file photo. While publicly trumpeting advances in wireless technology, companies like Verizon Wireless and AT&T are quietly hindering new services that could act as potential...   (Getty Images)
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cell phones • Verizon • Wachovia • AT and T • PayPal • Sprint • wireless service • Nextel • SunTrust Banks • Rebtel • short code

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