After months of
fevered debate, last minute
legal maneuvering,
bitchy press releases, and drastic
reversals of course, the most boring part of the 700MHz saga begins tomorrow: the actual auction. Yep, the pre-battle snipefest between Google and Verizon is over, the last participants have
registered, and the FCC has set a minimum price of $10 billion per five blocks of spectrum, so it's time to ante up. Of course, the auction will take two months and is totally confidential and sealed, so we won't know how anything plays out until March, but the FCC will be posting each day's bids anonymously on its web site, so that'll be fun. Interestingly, most analysts are predicting that Google will walk away
empty-handed after making a token bid at the outset, since it's basically already won all the
open-access provisions it wanted. Of course, that doesn't explain why we've heard that there's a
secret 700MHz test network down in Mountain View and why Eric Schmidt has said that he'll put Google's
"money where our principles are," but again -- we won't know till we know. Paddles up!
posted Jan 23rd 2008 1:51PM
maybe their principles involve sound fiscal policy, so they'll just walk away.
GO GOOGLE!
In other news, Verizon's txting charges are on the rise....
Oh boy, here we go! Let's get ready to ruuuuuuuuuuuuumble!!!! I know its all up in the air, and its most likely that the most evil, greediest company will win "coughAT&Tcough* but there's a chance a new era of communication COULD start tomorrow...
Who is actually covering the event, in person? Ryan Block?
After MacBook Air, this is boring news.
What does these actually mean for consumers?
it means that whoever wins this auction will be able to manufacture devices and design protocols that utilize the 700MHz band, meaning that it could be a great advent for wireless, or another way for AT&T to screw you. In the US at least.
I'm reminded of the tagline to the first Aliens Vs. Predator film: whoever wins, we lose.
I wish they'd have made the auction affordable for those of us with vision, rather than keeping the status quo in power because the rest of US can't afford it...
How do you make an auction affordable? The purpose of the auction is to get as much money as possible.
A++++++ EBAYER. LIGHTENING FAST SHIPPING!!! HIGHLY RECOMENDED
Loving the ebay pic.
"L@@K! 700MHz FREQUENCY GOING FAST! MONOPOLY!"
This is Engadget at its very best: Real news, funny picture, and reader's comments - see below - even more fun. Thanks!!!!
It depends on who wins the bid and what their vision/adgenda is... free, inexpensive, some profit, mega profit, or just buying things up so no one else has access to it. Public use, private use, or no use at all.
I might snipe it.
Why? it's got a buy it now!!
but alas, no Paypal.
Google probably won't bid, but I wish they would. It would change data communication as we know it. I don't know if that's good or bad, but it would.
Instead of wireless spectrum, package contained bobcat.
Would not buy again.
I read that comic at least a dozen times and laughed every time.
Hearts for XKCD, and any of its readers.
Well played.
ok $50 on 751Mhz! lol
hope Google takes some action.
I'm really surprised they would use Ebay for the auction, that's a lot of extra fees, especially if they use Paypal.
Sorry - my sarcasm meter broke. Did you really think the auction was on Ebay?
Until I read the article I thought so, It would be funny if it was on ebay.
Thinking of Weird Al song right now :)
I was just joking.
That's a relief. See, I was confused - there was no little winking emoticon or ellipsis at the end or anything to let us in on the joke.
Government will not vacate spectrum. WILL NOT BUY AGAIN. BEWARE!
>Ed Schmidt has said that he'll put
Um ... *Eric* Schmidt.
Go AT&T...not!
Uh....it's Eric Schmidt...not Ed.
2 million per block? If you buy the 10 pack of block from newegg, it's only 1.35 million per block. And tiger direct is running a buy one get one on block at 1.5 million a block. I think the FCC is trying to scam us!
If one were to want to sit in and observe the auction, where would one go? Or is this one of those non-auction auction, and no one know what anyone else is doing until it's over? It's been a while since I've gone to an auction. The last one I've gone to, I bid one two things and got my second choice. Everyone thought I was crazy buying that cow, but it did get me reserve champion shorthorn steer. I certainly showed them!
Go google go!!!!!
Wow, my brain just made up a movie about the "700MHz Cold War". You know, spies, threads, nuclear warfare, hackers messing up with XBL, etc. Man I love my ADHD.
ADHD? Great - a third entry into the format war...
oh Google Please win!!! if not, then at&t. Verizon can die
Hmm, only "$10 billion per five blocks of spectrum"? CLEARLY this was setup to benifit small businesses and independant owners, and not mega-corporations. Thanks, gubment. Good lookin' out!
Sarcasm yes? If it was, well played because I almost thought you were serious and I'm never not sarcastic.
Psh what do you do for a living? My candle making website easily pulls in 20 billion a year :P
is the 700mhz cold war movie adhd exclusive?