{"id":6093,"date":"2007-11-16T14:33:46","date_gmt":"2007-11-16T14:33:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/e-commerce\/google-in-wireless.html"},"modified":"2007-11-16T14:33:46","modified_gmt":"2007-11-16T14:33:46","slug":"google-in-wireless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/technology\/google-in-wireless.html","title":{"rendered":"Google in Wireless"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">More discussions regarding Google getting into the wireless game were sparked today by a Wall Street Journal <a href=\"http:\/\/online.wsj.com\/article_print\/SB119517445580795065.html\">article<\/a> focusing on Google&rsquo;s wireless ambitions.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">In summary:<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<ul style=\"MARGIN-TOP: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Google will likely <a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/14562-abi-700mhz-spectrum-auction-likely-shake-things-up.htm\">bid<\/a> on the 700 MHz spectrum or lose good will in Washington<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">The company&rsquo;s bid will be $4.6 billion or more.<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Google has a test FCC license and has cell towers at its campus which it uses with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/snapshots\/snapshots.aspx?Company=Android\">Android<\/a>-based phones.<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">The company has been in semi-serious discussions with Clearwire regarding building out a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/snapshots\/snapshots.aspx?Company=WiMAX\">WiMAX<\/a> network.<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Google has invested in femtocell maker <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/snapshots\/snapshots.aspx?Company=Ubiquisys\">Ubiquisys<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Everyone and their brother is on record explaining how difficult it is to build a wireless network.<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Wall Street is enthusiastic about lending money to Google to bid at the auction<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Google will think about bringing in partners after the auction is over and it sees what happens.<\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">The company has brought on game theory experts to help it in the bidding process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><img decoding=\"async\" hspace=\"3\" align=\"left\" vspace=\"3\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/www.digitaljournal.com\/images\/photo\/swallowsprint.jpg\" \/>There has been a great deal of speculation regarding the rumors of Google <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/google\/rumor-mill-google-acquiring-sprint.html\">acquiring<\/a> Sprint with many thinking the idea is farfetched. It would seem however that since Google is working on its own wireless network, they are very serious about getting into the wireless space.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">As we discussed in my recent <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/google\/rumor-mill-google-acquiring-sprint.html\">post<\/a> on the matter, Google likes to build everything itself from scratch. This is just the way the company operates. However if you are going to go into the wireless business it will take years to put towers around the US and then the world.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Think about the layers of negotiation which need to take place&hellip; City by city&hellip; Neighborhood by neighborhood &#8212; the company has to place base stations with antennas on tall buildings, water towers and hilltops as far as the eye can see.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Sure this can be done, but it will take such a long time&hellip; Let&rsquo;s say five years to cover the U.S. which is more than a decade in Google years. The question is can the company be so patient? The answer is probably yes but they move at a breakneck pace and having to roll out base station by base station would likely be more akin to water torture than progress for the search behemoth.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">It would seem that the rumors regarding Sprint or even another wireless provider being acquired by the Silicon Valley tech company are a real possibility. It is becoming more apparent by the day how serious Google is taking the wireless market and it should also be obvious that the company can get a tremendous head start by acquiring. It may not be the company&rsquo;s style to make such a large acquisition but I am sure many hours of boardroom meetings looking over <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/tag\/google%20earth\">Google Earth<\/a> maps of the United States reinforces what a daunting task building a wireless network from scratch can be.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">For this reason I feel more confident in predicting the company will at least make some sort of investment in a broadband wireless provider and at most a full acquisition.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Without a doubt, this is an exciting time for the wireless space and it is worth watching what Google does very closely.<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><strong>See also:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><em>TMCnet<\/em>:<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<ul style=\"MARGIN-TOP: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/14562-abi-700mhz-spectrum-auction-likely-shake-things-up.htm\">ABI: 700MHz Spectrum Auction Likely to Shake Things Up<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/usubmit\/2007\/11\/13\/3092421.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Google&#8217;s $10 Million Android Challenge<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/visualvoicemail.tmcnet.com\/enterprise-mobility\/articles\/14450-google-android-search-killer-mobile-applications.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Google Android: In Search of Killer Mobile Applications<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/visualvoicemail.tmcnet.com\/enterprise-mobility\/articles\/14431-google-announces-android-platform-enter-cell-phone-market.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Google Announces Android Platform to Enter Cell Phone Market<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/14234-open-handset-alliance-android-may-revolutionize-mobile-handset.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Open Handset Alliance, Android May Revolutionize Mobile Handset Industry<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/11406-frontline-protests-fcc-spectrum-auction.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Frontline Protests FCC Spectrum Auction<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/10531-apple-bidding-wireless-spectrum-probably-not.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Apple Bidding on Wireless Spectrum? Probably Not<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/wifirevolution\/articles\/9413-nokia-siemens-networks-shows-interest-700-mhz-spectrum.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Nokia Siemens Networks Shows Interest in 700 Mhz Spectrum Band<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/8969-arcadian-networks-supports-open-auction-700-mhz-spectrum.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Arcadian Networks Supports Open Auction of 700 MHz Spectrum<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tmcnet.com\/wifirevolution\/articles\/8479-fighting-over-700mhz-spectrum.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Fighting Over 700MHZ Spectrum<\/span><\/a> <\/li>\n<li style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><a href=\"http:\/\/internetcommunications.tmcnet.com\/topics\/broadband-mobile\/articles\/8405-wireless-consumer-advocacy-groups-prep-congressional-testimony-call.htm\"><span style=\"COLOR: purple\">Wireless Consumer Advocacy Groups Prep for Congressional Testimony, Call for Network &#8216;Openness&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n<div style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><em>GigaOm<\/em>: <a href=\"http:\/\/gigaom.com\/2007\/11\/16\/googles-grand-mobile-ambitions\/\">Google&rsquo;s Grand Mobile&nbsp;Ambitions<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More discussions regarding Google getting into the wireless game were sparked today by a Wall Street Journal article focusing on Google&rsquo;s wireless ambitions. &nbsp; In summary: &nbsp; Google will likely bid on the 700 MHz spectrum or lose good will in Washington The company&rsquo;s bid will be $4.6 billion or more. Google has a test<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[171,179,172,160,163,212,199,198,156,189,118,177,191,175],"tags":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6093"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.tmcnet.com\/blog\/rich-tehrani\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}