BizJournals Portfolio
Home >   Business Views, Opinions and Blogs >   Business Blogs >   Tech Observer >  

Wireless Auction Google Playing Chess Ten Moves Ahead

Tech Observer

by Kevin Maney
Main
Techie Bill Gross, Going for the Auto X-Prize   Some Good Suggestions for Newspapers

Recent Blog Posts

Links

Mar 21 2008 12:00am EDT

Wireless Auction: Google Playing Chess Ten Moves Ahead

This has to be one business schools will study -- assuming Google's maneuvers in the FCC's 700 Mhz auction were all thought-out and well-considered.

Google wanted open cellular networks so it could offer services to anyone, much as it does on the Internet. Google made noises as if it was going to bid on wireless spectrum and go into competition with the established wireless carriers and told the FCC that if it won, Google would keep the networks open. That put pressure on Verizon and AT&T to say they'd open up their EXISTING cell networks, and Google influenced the FCC to make the new 700 Mhz spectrum stay open.

So Verizon won the biggest block of licenses, and AT&T won a bunch -- but Google didn't pay a dime and wound up with basically what it wanted. Not many companies can pull off something like that.

. □

blog comments powered by Disqus
Real Business, Real Results
Out of the 'Family'

Did anyone at Microsoft ever watch the (gasp!) offensively funny show Family Guy?

Cruz Missile Lands

Ex-Morgan Stanley exec Zoe Cruz is now heading her own hedge fund. Are Wall Street's leaders done?

Scandal Chic

Martha, Bernie and Skilling know that what you wear for court can go a long way in public perception.

spotlight on

Health Care

Bad to the Bone No More

Companies such as General Mills say they're stepping up efforts to change employees' bad behavior and promote healthier lifestyles. Read More