For the past several months I have been hoping that Google would be getting into the wireless market place with the hopes of providing ad supported free Internet access. Yesterday the FCC finalized the rules for the upcoming bids for the 700 Mhz band that will soon be placed on the auction block. Google has previously stated they may be interested in bidding using some $4.6 billion dollars they have stored in their war chest. With the new bidding rules now being finalized, Google is still considering what role, if any, they may play in securing wireless access.
I know some of us have also been following the situation in San Francisco in which Google has partnered with Verizon to provide free Internet access to the masses. Unfortunately it seems that Verizon has run into some financial problems and is wavering on whether they will be able to support a full wireless network. So it is anyones guess whether this experiment in free wireless access will even come to pass. Started in 2004 the deal between the City of San Francisco and Google could end up in the bay. 🙁
Which makes one wonder? Even with the popularity of Google and the hopes of free wireless access almost on the horizon, can Google pull this off without joining forces with another telecom? In view of the iPhone and Apple having to partner with AT&T the answer to this question may be no. Even though Google has a hefty war chest of funding, the search giant may need some added muscle to pull this off.
Only time will tell if Google will even consider bidding on the new spectrum in view of the latest rules by the FCC if they don’t join forces with another company.
So what do you think? Can Google pull this off?
Comments welcome.
[tags]google, fcc, wireless, free, access,[/tags]