Verizon Wireless has broken ranks, announcing plans to open its network to third-party applications and handsets developed for other carriers, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

In a post on TechCrunch, blogger Erick Schonfeld speculated that Verizon may have decided to open its network in response to Google's Android, which promises to level the mobile playing field, much to the chagrin of carriers.

The move also comes ahead of the FCC's planned spectrum auction. While Google said it plans to participate, some industry watchers think Verizon may have opened its network to curry favor with regulators who have expressed concern over the effect of closed networks on competition.

In recent months, many in the mobile industry have underscored the importance of open networks as a critical factor in increasing the number of Americans who access the internet via wireless devices.