Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Google says it will be bidding on some wireless spectrum here in the US. Apparently the 700MHz spectrum is suitable for broadband applications like WiFi (WiMax?).

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/g...tions-are-met/

Now combine that with recent acquisition of GrandCentral. Hmm... What are they up to? Maybe Google will leap over the whole cell phone thing and come up with a GPhone (you heard it here first)! Here is what I would like to see Google come up with:

A data-only device, much like cellphone, but without GSM built-in, connecting directly to Google's new wireless network.

On the device, a set of apps including:
1. GTalk for voice (and video?) communication. Device would have a real telephone number (courtesy of GrandCentral).
2. Always on, real-time Gmail.
3. Always on, real-time Google Calendar.
4. Integrated GPS module with Google Maps working with it.
5. Firefox based web browser that supports flash and java!
6. Google Docs properly working through the browser.
7. And support for endless sea of Google Gadgets!

Ok, so maybe they can throw in a GSM chip and an empty sim slot for traveling outside the US.

Hmm... I'm sure Nokia can build this device in a jiffy ;-)

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

I'm sure what my imagination is thinking (including your list) is better than what they will(?) deliver, but I can't help but dream. Although....by the time Google could get a network established, Maemo and its apps (and Google integration?) should be quite mature, and maybe Nokia will release an IT compatible with this network....hmmmmm :D

EDIT: So, my original post and what I ended-up posting are not the same. I went back and reread it, realizing I didn't really contribute much to your thread. Anyway, this could be exciting. That's all I really wanted to say :p

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

A device that only works on the 700mhz band will be useless to anyone that travels internationally. It needs to support other means of communicating if it is to have any success in the business world.

If it supports Boingo's wireless client, then it could quasi get away with only the 700mhz support plus WiFi support. There are a few metro WiFi networks in Europe that Boingo would provide automatic roaming to. But limiting it to WiFi would still mean there would be a lot of areas you'd have no coverage. So ultimately, it also needs to have some form of wireless data coverage (ideally via HSDPA with fallback to GPRS).

I'd also add that for me, personally, it'd have to do Skype if I was to ever even think about purchasing one.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

From a network point of view Google is late. In Europe we have 3G. The normal version and the HSDPA (3.6 to 7.2 mb/sec), so as far as Europe and much of the rest of the world, Google acquisition will not matter much.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Can you imagine search on anything but Google? Or how many people on this forum alone use gmail? Yet, Google was late to both of these.

It's their uncanny talent for taking over the world that makes me pay attention.

2G, 3G, 3.5G, who cares. I'm saying they can leap over all that. It's about what comes after "the phone" thats interesting. It's not about the phone that can do other stuff, it's about a new device that can also do the phone. Nokia, Apple and RIM are all working on it. But Google has proven they can think outside the box and deliver.

Also, there are already dual standard phones that support both US networks (Sprint, Verizon) but also have GSM for traveling internationally. So that is not an issue. Or better yet, buy some similar spectrum in other big markets and provide the same seamless service worldwide. No roaming, no extra charges. Now that's what I'm talking about.

As for the Skype, I wouldn't hold my breath for Gizmo or any other SIP provider to make a ding in Skype's market share. But Google? If I was Skype I'd have my panties in a bunch right now.

This is just me rambling, and none of it may happen, but it doesn't hurt to dream.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

This is not totally correct.

Google is interested in buying but only under four (unlikely) conditions being placed on it for everyone bidding on it.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Right. And who knows what's gonna happen by the time this all is done.

But the fact that they are even thinking about it and that they have more money then many countries in the world makes me wonder.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

As someone pointed out the 700 mhz range is limited. Second, 3.5G is here now with 4G on the way. You stated: This sounds like someone that has not had the luxury of watching TV on their phone, or making VoIP calls from their phones, surfing the web, streaming video, etc..... Google offers nothing new that I can not do now. I get all of those feature for the low, low equivalent price of $30. Not to mention a QoS thrown in. Google can't match this. While this might be all the rage in the US, Google and the ad driven revenue model will have a hard time in Europe.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Maybe its more of a home centered move, you buy a device that receives and xmits 700mhz, it has a wifi Access Point in it converting it to 802.11bg..

They roll it out over the entire USA, google offers free internet all over the USA.. the catch would be they then are your ISP and know exactly what your looking at on the web and can target ads to your tastes.

If they do that then you will see devices like the n800 popping that receive it.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Maybe I am misunderstanding your response but if you substitute USA for Europe, you have this now. All without Google or ad driven revenue, and without the privacy issue. The GSM operators already know where you are via the phone. They have the presence info on you, so this too is solved. I still do not see the "Google" advantage. Maybe the US market is more in tuned for this type of model. Can't see it being much of an advantage in Europe and the rest of the world.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

.."Can't see it being much of an advantage in Europe and the rest of the world."
guys, if you think a little, it will be clear that google is going to offer the wireless service most probably .. hold on .. for free.
just recall gmail: how much do you actually pay for a 2+GB storage place?
or.. googleEarth, googleMaps, whatever. They are for free. The busines model is no more based on the money from the customers to the serviced provider,
The model is based on the money from the companies putting ads online to the service provider. These are the ones that pay. Virtually.
Then, of course, these are the customers who will pay at the end, but
the extra cost is hidden in the price of things you will buy thnx to those ads.
maybe online, maybe in their shops. but you will see their ads.
no fight, just wanted to point at this option. cheers, mrn

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Good points MRN. I was mainly saying that for the most part Europeans will not jump on the "show me the ads" bandwagon. They are more than willing to buy into a two year subsidized phone contract but they hate the branding. In Finland for the most part, branding has failed. I could be wrong but I think that services based on ads will fail as well. People just don't want them. It is considered and invasion of privacy.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

It's pointless comparing 3G or any other existing European wireless networking infrastructure with what Google have planned unless there is a similar area of the spectrum available for Google to purchase Europe-wide and to be honest, the chances of that are slim to non existant.

Assuming Google do buy the 700Mhz spectrum on offer, I can't see Google expanding beyond the US market due to insufficient spectrum available world wide. That, or Google will be forced to develop hardware using frequencies specific to each region (and even country) which gets seriously expensive on the hardware front, let alone purchasing the frequencies in the first place! Multiple frequencies is also "messy" for the consumer.

What Google are trying to do sounds interesting, but I can't see it having any impact in Europe (or anywhere else outside of the US) anytime soon.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

I think the advantage would be FREE, google is all about FREE to the user, as it gets more users to see ads that are paid for by business.. Thats was there whole move on the FREE wifi in select cities. They could then direct ads based on your location.. as they know within about 300 feet of where your at based on what WIFI access point your are using.

Google has a brilliant ad based revenue stream.. if they an tap into local ad revenue then there going to make more money the only way to do that is show local advertisers that there are customers nearby that are using there service. The way to get users to use it in masses is offer it free. Its a model that works.. This is exactly what they did with there search system.. they built a killer search platform built it to the point that it was used by huge numbers of people.. then they went and said, hey we got xxxxxxxxx users per second.. what to advertise?? the advertisers said heck yeah...

Basicaly if you can track what users are looking for you can direct pertinate advertising at them, its more effective than TV where your broadcasting to a mass of people and only touching a small percentage of interested viewers.

Its the same reason websites that deal with hardware reviews etc have ads for hardware.. they have a captive audience. If you know exactly what a user is doing on the net at all times you can start offering some highly directed ads to them.. and sales from those directed ads will be higher and thus command more cost from the advertiser.. thats what google wants higher priced ads to fund there company.

If Google offered free wireless internet for the entire US how many people do you thing would sign up? I would bet almost anyone that could use it would use it.. thats a huge subscriber base when you think about advertising.

I don't know if you have gmail but there advertising in gmail is very good, there very directed to the subjects in my email, I actually kind of like the advertising its kind of a RSS feed of what out there in context to what I'm actually doing. When people see advertising as freindly assistance.. thats when you know a company is doing a dang good job..


For example, I open a email about Ron Paul and the adverts are for his running mates.. I open a email about offroading the adverts are about offroading.. It's quiet amazing actually. There system works very very well. There trying to take it one step further.

Does this make more sense now?

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Ill take the ads in return for freeservices, I now have a free inbound gizmo land line phone number because of google and grand central... free is good, now if it were popups id say diffrently, but google does ads well, no large bandwidth suckers and non intrusive.

eville

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

i live in germany and sell to the internet service providers and mobile operators. and so far, the mobile operators (T-Mobile and O2, for example) tell me data services with mobile operators are nowhere near meeting expectations. why? too expensive!!! they admit it. europe, i would argue is years behind the US in their price model. why does t-mobile earn so much more in the US than germany? don't know, but prices in the US are much lower.

i don't know finland, but UK, france, germany, netherlands are crazy. why do i pay 1 euro ($1.38) per minute to call france?

give me google!

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

O2 simply don't understand data - in the UK they have data tariffs that are beyond a joke (you'd have to be insane to sign up) and their 3G network has no HSDPA support, nor is any planned. If you are remotely interested in data, avoid O2.

T-Mobile UK on the other hand offer quite reasonably priced data tariffs - £7.50 ($15) for 1GB HSDPA (3.6Mbit/s) isn't too bad but it doesn't allow modem usage, for this you need to pay £12.50 with an increased 3GB cap. Three offer a 1GB capped HSDPA service for £5/month ($10) - again no modem usage allowed but they don't seem to care if you do - and there is a rumoured £10/month 10GB service (including modem usage) coming soon on Three which will shake up the data market if it materialises.

Mobile data isn't cheap, but it's not prohibitively expensive either and it will come down in price as competition increases, perhaps to the point where it replaces fixed line broadband for some users.

Re: Google to buy 700MHz spectrum in the US
 

An update:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070731/latu182.html?.v=3