With a nationwide transition to digital television slowly taking place, Google may be interested in participating in the federal auction of the 700MHz wireless bands. Those bands will not be needed once the digital transition happens in 2009. Many companies have an interest in grabbing this bandwidth for themselves.
Google has been thought to be one of the big Internet players leaning toward shelling out some cash when the auction takes place. The decision to buy or not hasn't been made in Mountain View yet, as Google's Richard Whitt, Washington Telecom and Media Counsel, said on the company's• Open applications: consumers should be able to download and utilize any software applications, content, or services they desire; • Open devices: consumers should be able to utilize a handheld communications device with whatever wireless network they prefer; • Open services: third parties (resellers) should be able to acquire wireless services from a 700 MHz licensee on a wholesale basis, based on reasonably nondiscriminatory commercial terms; and • Open networks: third parties (like internet service providers) should be able to interconnect at a technically feasible point in a 700 MHz licensee's wireless network.Though Google is being as coy about participating in the auction as Bud Selig is about showing up for Barry Bonds' 756th homer, we would be very surprised to not see them participate. The potential for them becoming a wireless phone player has been sotto voce in the background.
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!