Google and the spectrum
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Posted by: stak
Posted on: 2007-09-16 12:28:54

So with the 700 MHz wireless spectrum auction coming up, Google has a chance to really shake up the wireless industry and essentially hijack the US communications network. See Cringely's latest column for a blow-by-blow of how they would do it. I'm convinced that they can do it (i.e. it is technically feasible to do it), but the question is: will they? Does it make sense from a business standpoint? Or will they suddenly remember their mission statement and decide to do it even if it's a financial drain? What do you think?

Will Google buy the spectrum?
Of course! No price tag is high when you're going for world domination.
Maybe, if the wireless guys don't put up too much of a fight.
Nah, they're all talk and no action.


(My vote is: yes, they'll do it, just because they can.)

Posted by varun at 2007-09-16 13:14:24
then how come we can't vote the same way for the same reasons!? :)
[ Reply to this ]
Posted by Eric at 2007-09-16 18:01:47
I, for one, would welcome our new "Do No Evil" wireless ISP overlords. Mesh networks are sexy.
[ Reply to this ]
Posted by Eric at 2007-09-16 19:54:36
Also, their mission statement is "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" [emphasis added]. Seems right up their alley to me.
[ Reply to this ]
Posted by stak at 2007-09-16 20:42:54
Yeah, but it seems like few of their other recent projects are in line with their mission statement. I'm also not sure how far I trust them to "Do No Evil". If they actually did something like end-to-end secure encryption of all data flying across the GNet (gotta have a name for the new Internet, no?) to prevent deep packet inspection and governmental snooping, I might start trusting them again.
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