dslreports logo
 story category
Google Will Bid In 700Mhz Auction
Makes their plan official ahead of deadline

Google has officially announced that they'll be participating in next year's 700Mhz auction ahead of the December 3 FCC deadline for declaring intent. The spectrum, considered the last great batch of "waterfront property," could be used to offer a national wireless broadband network that could challenge incumbent interests.

The FCC refused to meet Google's demand that auction winners be forced to offer wholesale access to competitors. The FCC did apply some Carterfone-esque rules requiring carriers allow any mobile device to access the network, but some legal experts believe the rules are filled with intentional loopholes making them all but meaningless.

Click for full size
Google had argued that the current auction process was rigged so that companies like AT&T and Verizon held the upper hand. The search giant's primary concern has been that incumbent wireless operators will strangle Google out of the mobile market with their own mobile services (and advertising platforms).

Google has stated they'll be bidding alone, but they may sign on partners later to manage the network. They could also lease out the spectrum to another company with the understanding that their content and services would take priority.

"We believe it's important to put our money where our principles are," says Google CEO Eric Schmidt. "Consumers deserve more competition and innovation than they have in today's wireless world. No matter which bidder ultimately prevails, the real winners of this auction are American consumers who likely will see more choices than ever before in how they access the Internet."
view:
topics flat nest 

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Will they bid enough to win ?

Will they bid enough to win, or are they just in it to make themselves not look like hypocrites after making all that noise about open networks?

The minimum bid set by the FCC won't be enough to win.

»Re: Apple as a GSM provider ?

JasonD
@comcast.net

JasonD

Anon

Re: Will they bid enough to win ?

Not sure about this HTC, is this an open, closed, or % over bid? If VZ and AT&T are forced to bid too high because they can't see what google puts on the table, it will mean higher prices for consumers.

dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium Member
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ

dvd536 to FFH5

Premium Member

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

Will they bid enough to win, or are they just in it to make themselves not look like hypocrites after making all that noise about open networks?

The minimum bid set by the FCC won't be enough to win.

»Re: Apple as a GSM provider ?
I could see it now.
if apple were a cell provider it would be your basic $49.99/month verizon plan but because it would probably be called iCell it would cost $149.99/month. everyone knows apple weenies pay triple for what somethings worth because its got the apple logo on it.
iphone anyone?

Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium Member
join:2004-01-06
NYC Metro

Tzale

Premium Member

Re: Will they bid enough to win ?

said by dvd536:
said by FFH5:

Will they bid enough to win, or are they just in it to make themselves not look like hypocrites after making all that noise about open networks?

The minimum bid set by the FCC won't be enough to win.

»Re: Apple as a GSM provider ?
I could see it now.
if apple were a cell provider it would be your basic $49.99/month verizon plan but because it would probably be called iCell it would cost $149.99/month. everyone knows apple weenies pay triple for what somethings worth because its got the apple logo on it.
iphone anyone?
haha.... So true... Say what you want about Microsoft, but Apple is 1000X worse... I mean, who would elect to pay for an OS that barely anyone makes software for and that is primarily built for proprietary hardware???? It seems it is the rich children of the world who didn't grow out of their rebel stage and don't mind giving away half the house when Apple releases a new POS every month.

-Tzale
ricep5
Premium Member
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL

ricep5

Premium Member

Who Wins?

"the real winners of this auction are American consumers who likely will see more choices than ever before in how they access the Internet."

Sounds like Mel Karamazin of Sirius explaining the benefits of the XM/Sirius merger. Just replace 'internet' with music.

Putting on the cynical corporate hat here, anyone who says they are benefiting the consumer while having a $625 a share price makes me just a little skeptical.

Will 700Mhz become the Google channel of non-stop ads? Will it become what TV became, "a vast wasteland"

DaSneaky1D
what's up
MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou

1 edit

DaSneaky1D

MVM

Re: Who Wins?

said by ricep5 See ProfileWill 700Mhz become the Google channel of non-stop ads? Will it become what TV became, "a vast wasteland"


When has Google ever used intrusive ads anyways? Ads you see on people's web site are placed there my the site hosts themselves. Gmail's are so far off to the right, I forget they're there.

Google Maps moble doesn't have any. Picasa doesn't have any. None of their other apps have any. What makes you think a paid service would all the sudden make Google change their whole business practice to simply piss off people?

JasonD
@comcast.net

JasonD to ricep5

Anon

to ricep5
Not sure where your point is leading on the XM/Sirius merger, but both are under severe pressure. If they don't merge, we might loose both of them.
Ahrenl
join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA

Ahrenl to ricep5

Member

to ricep5
Would you feel better if they did a 100 to 1 stock split so the share price was 6.25? Share price is meaningless, that's why people look at market cap.
ricep5
Premium Member
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL

ricep5

Premium Member

The point of relating it to the XM/Sirius merger is the duplication of purpose, "benefit to consumers"

Any company with a high share price like Google's (which translates to market cap), shows they have a dominant position with the financial markets. Anyone with that kind of position saying "consumer benefit" is subject to scrutiny.

So yes, they do relate and that was the point.

Titus
Mr Gradenko
join:2004-06-26

Titus

Member

Never fear

The 'Googles' will never be allowed to strap on their Do_No_Evil dildo and save us from ourselves.

XcceLL
join:2004-03-16
Bogart, GA

XcceLL

Member

Go Google!

I hope the Google giant will have a chance against the sharks.

MarkyD
Premium Member
join:2002-08-20
Oklahoma City, OK

MarkyD

Premium Member

Imagine...

if Apple and Google teamed up to bid on the spectrum? That's pretty much the only way either one of them stand a chance at getting it.

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: Imagine...

said by MarkyD:

if Apple and Google teamed up to bid on the spectrum? That's pretty much the only way either one of them stand a chance at getting it.
GOOG has a 210 billion market cap and AT&T has a 227 billion cap. GOOG has just as much money to throw away in the auction as any of the incumbents.

This is an auction, lobbyist's can't get their fingers in this one. If Google wants it, they simply have to be willing to spend more money than AT&T or Verizon.

And PLEASE don't let Apple get a hold of it, look at the closed nature of every product they release.

sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ

sporkme

MVM

Re: Imagine...

said by Matt3:

said by MarkyD:

if Apple and Google teamed up to bid on the spectrum? That's pretty much the only way either one of them stand a chance at getting it.
GOOG has a 210 billion market cap and AT&T has a 227 billion cap. GOOG has just as much money to throw away in the auction as any of the incumbents.
And AAPL has a 159B market cap. They've been pretty friendly with Google lately too.

Coma
Thanks Steve
Premium Member
join:2001-12-30
NirvanaLand

Coma

Premium Member

Re: Imagine...

said by sporkme:
said by Matt3:
said by MarkyD:

if Apple and Google teamed up to bid on the spectrum?
GOOG has a 210 billion market cap.
And AAPL has a 159B market cap. They've been pretty friendly with Google lately too.

Maybe they will time the ceremony to coincide with the auction.

. . . I wonder what they will call the baby ?

Matt3
All noise, no signal.
Premium Member
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC

Matt3

Premium Member

Re: Imagine...

said by Coma:

Maybe they will time the ceremony to coincide with the auction.

. . . I wonder what they will call the baby ?

Google has already stated they will be bidding individually.
Alphy
join:2001-12-31
Troy, MI

Alphy

Member

Awesome

This is the best news I've read in quite some time.
chris1239
join:2002-07-23
Highland, IN

chris1239

Member

Great news

I think this is great news. We've already seen what the big guns do with their "waterfront property" and I'm not all that impressed.
Techie714
join:2005-08-02
Anaheim, CA

Techie714

Member

ATT & Verizon

Is that sweat I'm seeing guys.....
Maggs
Premium Member
join:2002-11-29
Jackson Heights, NY

Maggs

Premium Member

GOOG is the..

$693 pound gorilla in the room. Google may not will be they will force the hand of At&t and Verizon.
kcir
join:2005-07-30
Butner, NC

kcir

Member

how will the bidding occur?

Ebay? Private/Public? It might be interesting to see this as it goes down.

fsadfds
@comcast.net

fsadfds

Anon

Google

I hope google gets it, it would be great for consumers. Otherwise the cell phone carriers will end up monopolies just like all the cable providers today.
stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA

stridr69

Member

GSM/CDMA

Not to mention, ANOTHER frequency that isn't on ANY cell phone in the world(I exclude Japan's/Europe's 2100Mhz frequencies used for 3G services). I'm also mentioning T-Mobile's scheme to bring 1700Mhz 3G service to the U.S. as well. 1700Mhz would be U.S. exclusive to T-Mobile's network.
We folks in the U.S. of A. already have to deal with 2 competing networks, whereas our friends in Europe have no such problem.
Granted, 700Mhz would be great for cell service as far as penetration into buildings, broadcast range, and the like-but now were looking at:
850; 1900 Mhz CDMA.
850, 900, 1800, 1900 Mhz GSM. Note: 850, 1900 is used in the U.S.

I currently own a Nokia N95 that can use all 3 3G networks as well as being a quad-band GSM phone..and it kicks ass on ATT's network when I'm in range.
Also, my Motorola RAZR(Sprint) does the job on Sprint's EV-DO network as well.

When I travel outside of North America-my N95 is my best friend.

Here's my point, do we need ANOTHER cellular frequency that's exclusive to the U.S. only?
Or..will phones be offered that can use another network-preferably GSM.

Either way, the American consumer WILL have to purchase another phone-are you listening Google, T-Mobile?
ATHF
join:2004-12-20
00000

2 edits

ATHF

Member

Google

so what will those 11 or 10MHZ get us in terms of speed per user not mode or tower

don't sound like much spectrum but am no expert.

if google wins

hope they don't waste there time with phone service(voice) and do data only they can make deals with VOIP company

RF
@swbell.net

RF

Anon

Re: Google

A little spectrum goes a long way with the frequency reuse in cellular systems.

chakey
Premium Member
join:2004-06-14
Gladstone, NJ

chakey

Premium Member

Where does this money go???

This may be a fairly obvious question, but where does all the money that the FCC will make from this auction go?

UFGator
join:2005-08-14
Saint Cloud, FL

UFGator

Member

Re: Where does this money go???

The Kevin Martin retirement fund.........
Nuts65
join:2006-04-27
Forest, OH

Nuts65

Member

Re: Where does this money go???

Extending Broadband service to areas not served. NOT