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Google officially in auction

Joe — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:58:03 +0000

We didn’t get a chance to follow up on this on Friday, but Google has officially announced their intentions to bid in the coming 700 Mhz spectrum auction. It had been assumed that the company would put down billions for the spectrum, but they had not registered their intent with the FCC until Friday. They’re looking to become fully ensconced in the wireless world, having formed the Open Handset Alliance in November. Now they could have their own carrier on which to run the software (though they don’t necessarily need one — Sprint and T-Mobile are part of the Alliance).

Despite much speculation that Google could take on partners such as Apple or a carrier like T-Mobile, they will bid on this by their lonesome.

“If they’re not partnering, it means that they have sufficient funds to win the auction,” said Trip Chowdhry, an analyst at San Francisco-based Global Equities Research. Google could ask another company to help it build a network if it wins, he said.

Google may spend $12 billion or more to acquire airwaves suitable for wireless Internet access, including the portion the FCC has designated for open access, said Chowdhry, who advises buying the company’s shares and doesn’t own any.

The airwaves the government is selling are optimal for high- speed data connections. Google wants wireless service providers to allow more handsets on their networks to increase the time consumers spend surfing the Web. Online advertising accounts for 99 percent of Google’s sales.

Sprint could be the company to build out the network (though we’re not sure how likely that is), since they will not bid on the spectrum. There is no word, at least at this point, of T-Mobile’s intentions, but it’s unlikely that they’d get into it with corporate supergiants Google, Verizon, and AT&T.

And remember, AT&T has some leverage after the purchase of Aloha Wireless, which had some 700 Mhz spectrum of its own.

[Bloomberg]

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Google officially in auction

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Google officially in auction

Google to announce 700 Mhz plans today

Stuart — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 15:16:02 +0000

We can only provide a sliver of this information, as our “free preview” of the Wall Street Journal covers the first paragraph and a half of this report. The gist, though, is that Google plans to officially announce their intent to bid on the 700 MHz spectrum. More as it comes.

[Wall Street Journal]

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Google to announce 700 Mhz plans today

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Google to announce 700 Mhz plans today

Google ponying up for mobile apps

Joe — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 16:43:52 +0000

The New York Times Bits blog raises an interesting point. Mobile software developers are already developing on too many platforms, including Windows Mobile, Symbian, Palm, Reasearch In Motion, and even the iPhone is opening doors to third-party developers. So why would they want to take on another platform, specifically Google’s Android? It appears that Google has considered this question, too, as they are offering 10 million incentives for developers to give their platform a go.

The top 50 applications — and trust us, 50 is a lot of applications — will get $25,000 prizes. It would seem from there (the wording is a big ambiguous) that the finalists ranked 11 through 20 would be eligible for $100,00 each, and the top 10 $275,000. So Google isn’t skimping on the prize money.

This is similar to the system Google used for the development of iGoogle gadgets. So there is precedent here. Facebook also has opened a grant fund to reward those who develop applications for their social networking service.

[Bits]

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Google ponying up for mobile apps

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Google ponying up for mobile apps

The Google announcement cometh

Joe — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:04:09 +0000

So it appears that, for now, there is no miraculous Gphone. What will be available, according to Google, is software that will “transform mobile phones into powerful mobile computers that could accelerate the convergence of computing and communications.” This we actually like. We’ve been holding off on getting a PDA for a while, and it appears that our wait might be worth it. By the second half of next year, we can expect to see the software available on handsets made by HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung. Now, for their mobile carrier partners…

We shared last week that Google was in talks with Verizon, among others, regarding this software. However, with the 700 MHz spectrum auction — er, Auction 39 — coming and the fundamental differences between the companies, we weren’t quite sure they’d come to an agreement on a mobile platform. And they haven’t.

T-Mobile and Sprint are the partnered carriers in the U.S., giving Google a CDMA and a GSM carrier. Over the rest of the world, Google will work with China Telecom, NTT DeCoMo and KDDI — leading Japanese carriers — T-Mobile in Germany, Telecom Italia in Italy, and Telefonica in Spain.

The 34-member Open Handset Alliance, as the group is called, also includes many of the leading makers of mobile phone chips, like Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, as well as SiRF Technology Holdings, Marvell Technology Group, Nvidia and Synaptics. EBay (which owns the Internet calling service Skype), Nuance Communications, NMS Communications and Wind River Systems are also members of the group.

The software will be open source, which means that in addition to being free, it will be customizable for handset manufacturers. This puts Google in the same league as Apple, Microsoft, Palm, and other mobile OS makers — maybe even a step up.

“We are not building a GPhone; we are enabling 1,000 people to build a GPhone,” said Andy Rubin, Googleâ€™s director of mobile platforms, who led the effort to develop the software.

We’re hoping this story doesn’t fade away. We’d be interested to hear developments. For instance, will the overall functionality of phones change with this software, or are we looking at old phones with new operating systems?

All we know now is that it’s called Android. And you can look for it next year.

[New York Times]

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The Google announcement cometh

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

The Google announcement cometh

Awaiting the Google announcement

Joe — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:09:55 +0000

We’re dying here. We really are. Today is the day that Google will finally announce its plans regarding the wireless telecommunications industry. It’s now 9 a.m., and we’ve heard nothing, which is only fueling the fire more. We’d expect the announcement in an hour or so, and we’ll post on it once all the information becomes available. But for now, a bit of speculation, courtesy of Amol Sharma of the Wall Street Journal.

Today, Google will be “announcing an alliance with various handset makers and cellphone operators around the world that are willing to push its ‘open’ platform for cellphone applications, sources say.” Okay, so we shouldn’t be expecting the announcement of a phone, per se. It’s going to be partnerships and a rough game plan.

The U.S. carriers likely to be part of the announcement are T-Mobile and Sprint, according to our sources, but there could be others by the time Google says its piece. While Sprint appears to be agreeing to work with Google to put the Web giantâ€™s new Linux-based open operating system into phones, T-Mobile will probably go even further: the company has worked with Google for months on plans to build Google-powered phones with a variety of Google software and applications. As far as handset partners for Google, Taiwanâ€™s HTC is a likely bet, our sources say. Samsung, LG, and SonyEricsson are also possible, but weâ€™ll wait and see the full roster.

Sharma also shares that we shouldn’t expect to see any devices until mid-next year. Than again, given the ambiguity of this “announcement,” we really shouldn’t expect anything. Hell, they might even go and delay the announcement, which would certainly anger those anxiously awaiting word of…well, anything.

Check back around 10 EST. And then at 10:30, 11, and yeah, all day if that’s whatcha please.

[Wall Street Journal]

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Awaiting the Google announcement

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Awaiting the Google announcement

GPhone ahoy: Google in talks with Verizon

Stuart — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:00:20 +0000

So remember when we were asking whether Google’s mobile development would be a physical phone or just an operating system? New developments suggest that it is the latter. The company is reportedly in talks with Verizon to “work together on mobile-phone software and services.” If the reports are true — the information is coming from leaks, not directly from either company — it would signal no bad blood between Google and Verizon, who fundamentally oppose one another on the rules of the coming 700 MHz spectrum auction.

Ah, but don’t think that Verizon is the only player in this game. Sprint Nextel wants in on the action, too. This would make sense, as they seem to be moving towards a more data-oriented service (by the way, they have a new, cheaper BlackBerry plan).

The partnerships would help Mountain View, California-based Google parlay its dominance of Internet advertising into the wireless market. For Verizon and Sprint, the pacts may expand the companies’ sales of more profitable data services such as Web browsing. About 1 billion Web-enabled phones will be sold by 2011, according to researcher IDC in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Verizon and Google aren’t close to an agreement, said the person. Verizon Wireless spokesman Jim Gerace confirmed that the companies have talked, declining to comment further. Google spokeswoman Erin Fors also refused to comment. Sprint spokesman James Fisher didn’t immediately return a phone message. The Wall Street Journal said Google may make an announcement in two weeks.

Google and Verizon are discussing how they would put together a partnership and ways to make money off the developments, the person said.

It appears that all three companies are taking a favorable tack with this. They’re allowing news to get out about it, which sates the public. But they’re not commenting on it themselves, which lends more mystery to the situation. So clearly, people are going to become more and more interested in this.

Our comment; This would be a bigger coup for Verizon than the iPhone would have been. The iPhone isn’t a hit because of the physical phone; it’s a hit because of the platform and ease of use. If Google was to develop Verizon’s OS, it could quickly and easily rival the iPhone. That would be better than any miraculous “iPhone killer,” of which we’ve seen none yet.

[Bloomberg]

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GPhone ahoy: Google in talks with Verizon

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GPhone ahoy: Google in talks with Verizon

So is it a GPhone, or a G-mobile OS?

Stuart — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:00:10 +0000

Gphone, Gphone, Gphone. That’s all we hear nowadays. The speculation will likely continue until we hear confirmation from the company themselves, but until then, it’s fun to just guess, right? So yesterday, Lehman Brothers reported that we could see a Gphone by February 2008. Very nice. But then we go and read things other places that say it won’t be a Gphone, but rather a Linux-based mobile operating system. No, there is no further clarification on this issue. Both are still possibilities.

We give Google massive credit for keeping this all under wraps. It’s well-known that they have an interest in entering the telecommunications industry; they went through great lengths to get the open-access provision in the 700 MHz spectrum auction. So what better way to make an entrance than by introducing your own phone?

The idea of a mobile OS comes about because of all the complications of hardware manufacturing, especially for a software company. Beyond the manufacturing process and inventory, they also have a relationship with Apple to consider. If the GPhone comes to fruition, it will rival the iPhone. And because Google wants to give away their phone eventually — yes, for free — that would put the screws to Apple.

Schmidt has not been shy about his vision for the mobile market. He’s even gone so far as to suggest that cell phones should be given away for free in exchange for targeting mobile ads to the consumer. While free Gphones may get consumers excited, Google won’t make any friends with the major phone carriers like AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Honestly, Google shouldn’t want to be making friends with them. They’re the antithesis of them! Whichever way they do it, though, hardware or software, we’ll likely back Google in their foray into the telecommunications industry. After all, it’s in dire need of a hero.

[CNN Money]

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So is it a GPhone, or a G-mobile OS?

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

So is it a GPhone, or a G-mobile OS?

Spectrum fight!

Stuart — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:00:55 +0000

vs.
So it appears Google is really serious about this 700 MHz spectrum bid. Don’t get us wrong…we always thought Google was in this thing. But before, it seemed more of a position of aloofness. They talked about what they want, saying “yeah, maybe we’ll bid; it’s a possibility.” Now that Verizon has challenged the FCC rules, though, Google is a bit ticked. They’re telling it how it is: Verizon wants to squash competition and basically own the airwaves.

“As far as we can tell, Verizon appears to be arguing that two of the key provisions in the auction rules designed to spur competition — the requirements for open devices and open applications — should not apply to a licensee’s own devices that use this block of 700 MHz spectrum,” Richard Whitt, Washington media and telecom counsel for Google, said in his public policy blog.

We do understand Verizon’s position. They want to control what information and software goes on the network, because they don’t trust people. Yet, third party apps are allowed on BlackBerry, and there aren’t any widespread problems there (though there have been a number of outages in the past month, but those have been spread out and short-lived). Verizon wants to save you the agony of someone loading a virus onto their phone, and then on the network.

However, just because we understand doesn’t mean it’s right. The locked devices allow Verizon a position of power, particularly in pricing. They woo you with a lower phone price, so long as you sign your life away to them. Honestly, we’re pretty sure at this point that the wireless companies could afford the lower phone prices even for prepaid customers. They’re just throwing up smoke and mirrors to make you believe their story.

We’re glad Google is taking up this fight. And we really want to see Google partner with some other larger companies so that they can outbid Verizon and AT&T for this crucial spectrum. We need competition in the wireless industry, and we need it badly. So bring it.

[Information Week]

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Spectrum fight!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Spectrum fight!

Huge roadblock to Google’s spectrum bid

Stuart — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:00:17 +0000

You ever get that feeling that you’re missing a key piece of information when making an argument? Yeah, we had that feeling with Google and the 700 MHz spectrum auction. Yeah, their bidding on and winning a block of open-access spectrum seemed highly appealing; they’ve done a lot of good with the company, and it makes perfect sense that they would be the ones to bring us sensible cell phone service. However, there’s quite the obstacle standing in their way: the physical network. Current estimates have it costing $12 billion, and taking three years to build out. So is Google willing to make such a commitment?

Google rep Rick Whitt talked with students at George Washington Univeristy about the auction, how much it would cost, and how Google could go about its bidding. He didn’t talk specifics, but he did offer up this:

“We may line up some other high-tech companies or smaller telecoms. Some of the second- and third-tier companies may be willing to work with us,” Whitt said, adding that Google is willing to talk with “anybody who thinks it makes sense to join us on this.”

Once again, people have to be thinking of a partnership between Google and Apple. With Verizon’s lawsuit apparently changing the open-access provision, Google is going to have much more serious competition. By pairing with Apple, they bring the financial might to outbid the AT&Ts and Verizons.

The partnership would also split the costs among the parties, rather than having Google foot the entire bill. Honestly, that’s how we see this going down if it goes down at all. Verizon will cause the government to abolish the open-access provision, so if Google is to win in a bid against Verizon, they’re going to need help. Probably more than just Apple, too.

[eWeek]

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Huge roadblock to Google’s spectrum bid

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Huge roadblock to Google’s spectrum bid

Apple, Google in cahoots?

Stuart — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:00:37 +0000

Speculation arose earlier this week that Apple was so fed up with wireless carriers in general — AT&T specifically — that it would enter its own bid in the 700 MHz auction. This unfounded rumor was quickly put to rest by the invocation of simple logic. If Apple profits so handsomely from their hardware sales, why would they make this foray into a completely unknown (to them) industry? As Mike Dano of RCR Wireless News might say: Would you want to get a haircut from Apple? But maybe this is all a little of what magicians would call misdirection.

Google, as we know, is planning a spectrum bid. As time wears on, it appears less and less that this will be a token bid and more and more that it will be a legitimate one, with the only goal being to start the nation’s fifth major wireless carrier — sixth if you count Alltel, seventh if Leap and MetroPCS merge.

We’re actually disappointed in ourselves that we didn’t remember this when the Apple story first ran: Google CEO Eric Schmidt is on Apple’s board of directors. Ah, so now we’re starting to see the connection. Apple is fed up with wireless companies; Google wants to enter this arena. Together, they just might win it.

The reserve bid on the open-acess portion of the spectrum is set at $4.6 billion. Both Google and Apple could do this alone, as they sit on “gobs” of cash (it seems every analyst is using that word now, gob). However, if Google is the main bidder and has financial backing from Apple and a couple of other companies, their chance of winning the spectrum is far greater. After all, the rules don’t exactly favor the big telecoms.

The only further question we have is: what about the GPhone? Would it and the iPhone be able to co-exist on the same network? Well, we suppose that question is kind of moot, since the iPhone has an exclusive deal with AT&T for the next billiondy years. But we wonder if there isn’t a loophole in the contract that would allow Apple to use its own device on its own network. We’d consider Apple that savvy, and AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson that oafish.

[Wired]

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Apple, Google in cahoots?

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for NET 10 Prepaid information on the web!

Apple, Google in cahoots?