dslreports logo
 story category
Google, Microsoft Team up for UK White Space Trial
Though Details on Effort are Scarce

White Space broadband uses the spectrum freed from the transition to digital television to create an entirely new unlicensed connectivity option -- one that has taken a long time to develop. Supported by major players like Microsoft but threatened by repeated attacks by broadcasters, the technology so far only exists in the United States as a smattering of niche product trials, despite promises that the technology could be an inexpensive wireless broadband option.

According to the Telegraph, Microsoft and Google are working on a new white spaces collaboration in the UK with the goal of implementing the technology in handsets:
quote:
"They clearly see it as very, very important. They have shown extreme interest in this as a way of getting closer to customers and offering something different to Apple." The details of Google and Microsoft's plans are not known, but telecoms analysts said the latter could be eyeing the white spaces as a way of building free, automatic wi-fi access into Nokia's new generation of Windows smartphones.
The article is painfully short on specifics, though Google has shown repeated interest in bypassing the carrier ecosystem, most recently through their latest decision to sell their Nexus 4 smartphones directly to consumers for less money that most fully unsubsidized devices.
view:
topics flat nest 
tom thomas
join:2010-11-04

tom thomas

Member

google should build a wireless network of some sort

google(perhaps with microsoft) would be the perfect candidate to build a nationwide wireless network using either wifi, whitespaces or a mix of both.

they could than give the service away to people who buy specific models of nexus devices. they would make money from the device sales and advertising and applications used on the device.

the major operators 4G networks could than cater to business customers and other looking for premium/guaranteed service. but basic internet service would be free for nexus tablets and chromebooks (and select windows machines if microsoft get involved)

kevinds
Premium Member
join:2003-05-01
Calgary, AB

kevinds

Premium Member

Re: google should build a wireless network of some sort

Makes me think of the Chromebooks, 3G model includes cellular access, or used to.