Verizon backs limited open-access 700 MHz auctions
With Google about to possibly compete with established telcos for some precious radio space, Verizon Wireless has joined fellow telephone company AT&T in supporting "some" open access suggestions for the upcoming 700 MHz radio auctions. Verizon Wireless appears to be treading carefully here though, as it agreed to give a certain "portion" of the 700 MHz band up for wireless usage by any carrier's wireless device but did not elaborate on support for anything else open access-wise in the 700 MHz band (yet). Obviously, the carrier said that it would not give any quality assurance for wireless equipment and devices other than from itself.[via phonescoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fletch F Fletch @ Jul 31st 2007 3:21AM
How kind of Verizon! I'm sure they had our best interests at heart.
Frankly, I hope Google gets complete and utter freedom. I'd LOVE to see some competition. I'm tired of the price fixing going on with wireless companies. Every year, they jack up prices, extend contract times, take away features, decrease service, and make more empty promises. I'm sick of it. I bought unlimited data from Verizon. They do not allow you unlimited. They have changed their measurements in the middle of my contract. I'm not abusing it, but the fact that they can just change the rules in the middle of the contract? If I did that, they'd sue me, send my account to collections, and file reports with credit-reporting agencies.
nonoboy @ Jul 31st 2007 8:23AM
i agree. i hope google gets it. t-mo recently changed SMS to 15 cents
without my consent, of course.
Droo @ Jul 31st 2007 4:31AM
Verizon already owns a buttload of 850mhz cellular spectrum, I think that's enough really.
Google is getting extremely large, but I do believe that they would work toward the public interest better than a huge ass telco would.
chris @ Jul 31st 2007 5:47AM
fletch... your insane to belive in price fixing that or you do not understand the tearm you used. Now as for changing things around... they did not you just never read the fine print so your complaints are unfounded. As for other details you may have been told upfront of data limits though you never heard them. As this is the issue with most people. Hear one thing but not useualy what it is the reps are saying. Back to the topic at hand. They are doing this because it will benifit them in one way or another. companies like all people think this way. Google and verizon may have some sort of contract in the works to make huge amounts of money between the two. That or google may just lease the spectrum. Thats my thought on it all.
PEZ @ Jul 31st 2007 7:52AM
I hope Google gets it (even though they will probably do evil with it, mwahahahaha) and gives these carriers a stick in their asses! YAYYAYAYAY!
I want to know what google has up their sleeves.
Todd @ Jul 31st 2007 10:06AM
"...Verizon Wireless has joined fellow telephone company AT&T in supporting some open access..."
HA! Allow me to paraphrase the old line that warns against trusting the government too much:
"We're from the phone company, we're here to help."
jrk @ Jul 31st 2007 12:39PM
for nonoboy, you do realise that T-Mobile placed a bill insert and allowed you to cancel your contract without an ETF due to the change in the contract, as required by law....? And at the same time that SMS rates went from $0.10 to $0.15, MMS rates dropped from $0.25 to $0.15...
that, and T-Mobile was the last of the big 4 carriers to raise their SMS prices, in addition to already having offered completely unlimited messages for $14.99 for several years now (something the other big companies are only just now getting around to, and at higher rates... HMMMMM)
But of course, that's irrelevant isn't it?
Hopefully T-Mobile'll get some of the open network and keep it open.
Iscariote @ Jul 31st 2007 1:30PM
Yeah, this spectrum would be handled best by Google, but if it has to go to a telco T-Mobile would be my choice.