07-25-2007, 02:30 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,074
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Google will Bid for Wireless Spectrum
"If you have been following the drama around the 700 MHz wireless spectrums, then you know a lot of mud has been flung around by all parties involved: FCC�s Kevin Martin, The Google Camp, Frontline Wireless, and of course the incumbents, AT&T and Verizon. They are all trying to basically control the piece of spectrum that is going to be vacated when analog television shuts down. The spectrum is going to be auctioned off in February. This morning, Eric Schmidt sent a letter to the FCC and said Google will also bid for the spectrum in the wireless auctions, and have indicated that they are going to bid a minimum of $4.6 billion, as per requirements. This is a gutsy move by the search giant: it is saying we got the money and we will spend it to get our way. Google is using money to force the issue � something Microsoft used to do. They know Bells have some, if not many financial constraints. Given how much money they have tied up in new efforts like 3G and broadband upgrades, the Bells should be looking at an auction which can get as crazy as the auction for a rare Rembrandt."
Lately we have been hearing about Google flexing its money power, and doing a lot of lobbying in Washington D.C. Its latest efforts sound really very good on paper and sound pro-consumer, but the little bit of the capitalist mind in me wonders if the open platform will benefit the winner of the 700MHz wireless spectrum? One of the reasons why the wireless carriers setup restrictions on the types of applications and handsets, or setup the walled garden is because they want to protect their investments. Am I brain-washed? If are interested in reading more about this story, then I definitely recommend you to follow all the links in GigaOM's post. Also, this PC World article has a good writeup. We would definitely like to hear your thoughts on this interesting proposal from Google. Is Google really interested in winning this auction? I know they have the money, but are they really interested in winning the bid or just getting their terms across?
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