Verizon Wireless yesterday unveiled details of a joint-venture with Qualcomm focused on machine-to-machine (M2M) services, a high-profile deal that follows recent similar moves by rivals AT&T and T-Mobile. The largest operator in the US is teaming with the world’s largest mobile chipset supplier to form an initiative (as yet unnamed) that will offer M2M mobile services to companies in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing and utilities. The venture, which is expected to kick off in 2010, will use Qualcomm’s technology and software, and a device certification process that Verizon Wireless has already established to allow network support for mobile devices it does not sell itself. The operator has already been offering connectivity for M2M services for companies such as utilities, and sees the partnership with Qualcomm as a way to expand this business by making it easier for customers outside the mobile industry to develop wireless applications, such as e-book downloads or remote electric or water meters. Verizon’s efforts follow AT&T’s deal with M2M firm Jasper Wireless aimed at connecting devices such as personal navigation, e-readers, mobile Internet devices, gaming, healthcare, tracking, and in-car navigation systems. T-Mobile USA also struck a deal recently with smart power grid company Echelon to use its network to link so-called ‘smart meters’ to utilities using a special embedded SIM.

In other news emanating from its Developer Community Conference in Silicon Valley this week, Verizon Wireless announced the launch of its developer portal and the upcoming launch of the V-CAST Apps storefront. The US operator is set to join the application store sector – joining vendors such as Apple, Microsoft and Nokia, as well as operator efforts from the likes of Vodafone and China Mobile – and says the store will debut before the end of this year. Verizon aims to attract developers by promoting a goal of having applications launched within 14 days of submission and enabling developers to set their own prices for applications. However, no details appear to have been released regarding revenue share between Verizon and its developers. Interestingly, the Verizon storefront also claims to make it easy for developers of applications for BlackBerry devices and BlackBerry’s App World to offer their wares via Verizon’s store. If an application has been developed for App World, created by RIM, “you’re good to go, and it gets populated – boom – with Verizon,” said John Stratton, CMO at Verizon. Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM, also appeared at the conference and confirmed RIM will support both its own App World and Verizon’s new storefront.