Mike, you’re just a cunt. I don’t care how much it costs AT&T or Verizon to do anything. They are making a profit, so shut the hell up about that, you sound like a little girl. So AT&T is afraid of new rules to play by? What right do they have to dictate how the auction to performed, Google can only say what they think how it should be done.

P.S. If you want to be taken seriously, grow up and use a real name you fag.

I dont like the way you said no company limits devices on purpose. Case in point Razor phone from ATT and a Razor phone from Verizon. Same phone different carriers yet Verizon blocks bluetooth intentionally on their phone. They do this because the phone is only capable of sync with their headsets.

It’s a natural reaction for these established companies to lash out when an innovator comes along and wants to change things – especially if they have the ear of the powers that be. People start crying “anti-trust” when one company begins to dominate an industry (or several). Google doesn’t give the cut throat vibe that I get from other big business. They seem to be interested in the bigger picture. If you want to read more about Richard Stallman’s freedoms and how Google is pushing his agenda to the forefront, have a look at http://rackit.gartnerwebdev.com/2007/07/21/the-google-manifesto-and-richard-stallman/

I understand that the wireless industry is competitive, but if you think that the wireless providers in America are not limiting the available devices for customers on purpose you are out of your mind. That is what creates the bottom line for them! By keeping things on an even keel, and only very slowly running out new updates and good services, they are slowly bleeding your wallet dry. This is proven by the fact that wireless providers in Asia offer more for just about the same price or less (they get video and live tv in Japan and Korea for almost 2 years now). The technology is there, but the current wireless carriers know that if they limit us they can get more in the end. If Google wins the bidding and gets their open demands, they would most likely bring in the tech from Asia and sell it immediately, forcing the other carriers to spend the same amount of money as Google is planning (to update their own service/tech) to keep their customers.

Just because the market is competitive doesn’t mean the market isn’t out to screw the consumer.

Hay douche bag, how long have you worked for AT&T? You’re exaclty the type of douche that I hope google will crush.

Google ought to either bid or not bid, and stop trying to change the rules in the run-up. If they bid and win they can implement all of their desired conditions. They are trying to change the rules to affect the outcome. That may be smart business, but it’s naive to think they are doing it because they have the backs of the consumers.

They don’t. They want to fill the space with advertising. That may lower costs to consumers, and consumers should have that option, so it’s great if Google moves into the space. As long as the rest of us have the option to pay more and not see adverts, that’s fine with me.

This battle for the 700mhz spectrum has gone towards the incumbents from the beginning. The spectrum was originally thought of a new unlicensed spread of spectrum to be used for high speed wireless service. This spectrum would allow for wireless isp’s to over broadband service to customers in rural areas with alot of trees. The spectrum allows for non line of sight coverage. The incumbents with of more money put presure on the fcc to auction it instead of making it unlicensed. I do not see any way this would benefit the public if offered to the incumbents in an auction. If it was allowed unlicensed and open to public use it would be a larger benifit to the public then in the hands of AT&T, Verizon, etc. Its just anoughter way for the goverenment to line there pockets and for the an incumbent to gain alot larger markets share.

I too think that the auction is rigged to favor incumbents. Will be interesting to see what happens.

the basic telephone AND telegraph companies have had it their way for far far too long(scores of years).