Google elaborates on the C Block auction, still happy with the results

If it wasn't clear going into the auction, it's pretty much obvious now that the dust has settled: Google wasn't in the 700MHz Block C auction to win it -- though it was certainly ready to pony up the cash in the event of a win. It was conjectured that Google was driving the bidding early on, in an effort to get hit that magical 4.6 billion reserve price that would require the winner to allow open access of devices and applications to the resulting network, and now Google has confirmed that it was pretty much a Google show in the early days of the auction. Apparently ten of the bidding rounds involved Google raising its own bid, "but it was clear, then and now, that Verizon Wireless ultimately was motivated to bid higher," reads the Google Public Policy Blog. It's worth noting that Google claims it would've nabbed the C Block license "at a price somewhat higher than the reserve price," but building out a network and becoming a major player in next-gen wireless internet would certainly be a large departure for the company, and we're sure there's a bit of relief over in Mountain View, CA at the moment.

[zfurie @ Apr 4th 2008 3:34AM]

Wow, that was a pretty huge gamble on Google's part.

[ShadowWarrior @ Apr 4th 2008 3:52AM]

I must say, I'm very glad Google made such a risky move. They made a decision that they wanted it to be open access and took a HUGE gamble to see that it happened. I applaud the minds at Google.

[Jordan @ Apr 4th 2008 4:14AM]

Haha I love the shipping and handling price :P

Sale price: 4,600,000,000.00
Shipping and Handling:$3.50 (US Postal Media Mail)

[601210 @ Apr 4th 2008 4:23AM]

That's smart right there.

[Sukhminder @ Apr 4th 2008 4:30AM]

Thanks Google!

The "Open Access" idea really took steam and even made in roads into Canada's wireless auction.

[pvanderh @ Apr 4th 2008 5:11AM]

am i the only one that can clearly see through Googles Bullshit... there reasoning is just scripting corporate pr bullshit. keep the fans happy with a nicely scripted response.

google is all hype they need to stick to pushing adwords and there spam filled search engine

[francoiswiid @ Apr 4th 2008 6:33AM]

No, they would have gladly paid the 4.6 and didn't want to go higher.

Why aren't people reading the posts anymore?

[francoiswiid @ Apr 4th 2008 6:35AM]

I'm giving up on this reply thing... oja, my reply was for zfurie

[Jack Hatch @ Apr 4th 2008 7:14AM]

Man, Media Mail and USPS. I buy the bulk of my 360 games via Half.com ... and so many MM packages have gotten shredded by USPS sorting machines.

[Jack Hatch @ Apr 4th 2008 7:16AM]

So... I'm like 99-percent sure I hit "reply" to Jordan.

[Jack Hatch @ Apr 4th 2008 7:19AM]

WHY GOD WHY!?!

[Jason @ Apr 4th 2008 7:50AM]

Because your god is a cruel god that likes to punish you.

[Dan Davis @ Apr 4th 2008 8:46AM]

A big thanks to the Googster!

LOL @ Jack Hatch

[rockridder @ Apr 4th 2008 8:56AM]

He's got big balls, she's got big balls, but google's got the biggest balls of them all. Here's to google, putting it all on the line.

[Verizon @ Apr 4th 2008 9:57AM]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo.........

[Big Al @ Apr 4th 2008 10:21AM]

Oh, stop crying Verizon, you still got your C block. Now build us that LTE!

[MARSHAK @ Apr 4th 2008 10:40AM]

Heres hoping some google employee is reading this. Thank you very much; you, your co workers and the great company you work for are actively making my life easier without charging me an arm and a leg. To you good men and women I'll click on a few extra ads.

[mattg @ Apr 4th 2008 12:27PM]

there there, it's their

[mattg @ Apr 4th 2008 12:30PM]

[yeah, it looks like reply doesnt work] above@pvanderh

[vdogg89 @ Apr 4th 2008 4:05PM]

g00gle FTW!

[Brien @ Apr 5th 2008 1:49PM]

...It'd be a federal offense to send that via Media Mail.