Microsoft, Google, and others pushing for Internet over TV airwaves

Sharp-eyed readers will no doubt remember this image from a certain FCC filing from Microsoft, which some had speculated to be evidence of a forthcoming Zune phone. That possibility seemed to be unlikely at best at the time, and it looks like the filing was indeed for something else entirely, with The Washington Post now clearing up the confusion. Turns out, the filing in question is for a device that allows for the Internet to be delivered over TV airwaves, and is part of a larger push by a coalition of tech companies lobbying the FCC to allow the technology to be implemented. In addition to Microsoft, the group includes Google, Dell, HP, Intel, and Philips, who say the devices could be rolled out as soon as early 2009 if they're given the go ahead. Of course, there hasn't been much revealed in the way of speeds or other technical details, or how much it may eventually cost, but the FCC does at least seem to be open to the idea, with one commissioner saying the devices have "the potential to take the success of the WiFi phenomenon to another level." The FCC's main concern, it seems, is whether these new Internet "channels" would bleed over and interfere with existing broadcasts, although it's not clear when it'll come to a decision on the technology, only that it will undergo "months of testing."

[Via Slashdot]

[Jonathan Keim @ Mar 13th 2007 3:13PM]

And I thought we were trying to get TV on the internet (IPTV)

[Manuel @ Mar 13th 2007 7:47PM]

Oh The Irony!

[BAMF @ Mar 13th 2007 4:06PM]

Sounds like a good use for all that new found spectrum when analog TV broadcasts cease in 2009.

[Richard @ Mar 13th 2007 4:05PM]

I'd be interested to see how they plan this...
The UHF TV bands aren't exactly the best for the type of high-bandwidth signal required for any sort of substantial data transfer rate...

And why a discone? I would think a directional Yagi would be a better choice of an antenna.

[Jakob Pless @ Mar 13th 2007 4:10PM]

Hehe, Internet via TV and TV via Internet... so TV via Internet via TV via Internet via TV a.s.o... :P

[Andrew Paul Baisden @ Mar 13th 2007 4:13PM]

^thats true we can use these waves because after 2 years no one else will. also i am also waiting for IPTV it is in the Florida legislator.

[Kevlar @ Mar 13th 2007 4:14PM]

A Readable link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031201395_pf.html

[crackpipe @ Mar 13th 2007 4:39PM]

And will this be a free service as it is with broadcast television?

[Del33t @ Mar 13th 2007 4:35PM]

Tune to channel 2 for Google. If hackers get a hold of the technology... tune to channel 666 for the illegal channel.

[srw985 @ Mar 14th 2007 1:43PM]

So whilst everyones pushing TV over internet, all of a sudden theirs a demand for internet over TV?

WHAT THE HELL!

[Mike @ Mar 13th 2007 4:51PM]

Sounds more like a basis for google to do their Google phone off of. A phone with a nice large display that can handle video and music being streamed to you from your online google storage account (ala gmail's 3ish GBs). Sounds quite sexy to me, as long as it's cheap, fast, and reliable :)

neways, when the date when all TVs are supposed to go all-digital, wouldn't that mean that more channels would be freed up for this?

[Sam @ Mar 13th 2007 4:56PM]

The govt plans to auction off the analog spectrum after 2009. I bet Google and Microsoft can outbid AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint.

[J @ Mar 13th 2007 5:25PM]

wouldn't this be one-diretional? or at least a lot faster in one direction?

[Crazylink @ Mar 13th 2007 5:53PM]

That's what I was thinking. Upload would be pure crap.