Verizon Investigating Any Device Messaging Service

We already know that iMessage has been keeping AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson awake at night. But what’s to be done about it? Verizon appears to have come up with a solution they’d like to try.

The new plan is called “Any Device Messaging,” and it is meant to include all of the bells and whistles of iMessage (syncing across multiple devices, seeing when someone else is typing, and delivery receipts, to name a few).

But Big Red would like to up the ante by having this service work across iPhone or Android, Mac or PC. It’s all in an attempt to sway customers from iMessage (or other free messaging services) and sticking with the texting plan.

GFK, a digital research company contracted by Verizon, contacted me yesterday via email to complete a survey.Why me? Because I initially hadn’t bought a messaging plan.

I had a notion to skip buying a messaging plan at all through Verizon and solely using iMessage. Some management would be needed on my part, namely refraining from texting while on a 3G connection, but even slipping on that would only cost $0.20. Read More