Nexus One...Changing the Carrier Model?

While the reviews may be mixed on Google's recently launched NexusOne, especially given some of the early support issues, the bigger question is how this changes the wireless game and the traditional carrier model.  The NexusOne not only pushes the envelope on performance with the 1GHz Snapdragon processor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapdragon_(processor) that integrates several RF standards (HSPA+, WiFi, Bluetooth) and GPS with applications processing into one processing chip, but it represents a stpe towards a carrier-independent device.  It is no secret that one of Google's frustrations with Android devices is having the carrier lock out certain features due to their own network policies and revenue models.  The NexusOne is a direct assault on this current model and also represents and important step in the evolution towards sofware defined radios that will allow devices to work on virtually any network with a software download.  This would ultimaltely put a player like Google (or even Apple) in the drivers seat and commoditize the network providers.   It would also put consumers in control of the applications, content, and network resources they use, a very different proposition then today,

As we know from history, this kind of dramatic shifts do not happen overnight.  But the early signals are appearing.   The recent announcement of a WiMax phone by Samsung http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=5348 that willl allow interoperation between CDMA and WiMax networks in another example of more flexible, adaptive devices, and the shift towards a true cloud where devices can operate across wireless networks.  Just don't count on it happening tomorrow.  VoIP only tool about a decade before it truly changed the carrier model.