Comments on: AT&T, Verizon Wireless Underwhelming Plans for 700MHz Spectrum http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/ Viodi - The Bridge Between the Heartland and Hollywood Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:13:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alan Weissberger http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-604 Alan Weissberger Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:11:42 +0000 http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-604 RCR Wireless News: 700 MHz to be LTE heavy THE NATION’S TOP TWO CARRIERS plan to deploy Long Term Evolution network technology over their recent spectrum winnings. However, Verizon Wireless executives said an LTE rollout won’t happen until 2010 at the earliest, while those from AT&T Mobility pegged a rollout date as far back as 2013. Nonetheless, the news sets the stage for 4G network interoperability between what are today the nation’s two largest carriers. Indeed, CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless and GSM operator AT&T Mobility — longtime rivals that currently operate different network technologies — may well sign LTE roaming agreements in the coming years. http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/SUB/581566019/1002/FREE Our take: Wireless competition no longer exists now that AT&T and VZ Wireless have strengthened their hold on available spectrum. If SPRINT proceeds with their mobile WiMAX roll-out, then there won't be nationwide roaming or interoperability with AT&T or VZ Wireless. Not good for cellular network customers or for a healthy broadband wireless US market. RCR Wireless News: 700 MHz to be LTE heavy

THE NATION’S TOP TWO CARRIERS plan to deploy Long Term Evolution network technology over their recent spectrum winnings. However, Verizon Wireless executives said an LTE rollout won’t happen until 2010 at the earliest, while those from AT&T Mobility pegged a rollout date as far back as 2013.

Nonetheless, the news sets the stage for 4G network interoperability between what are today the nation’s two largest carriers. Indeed, CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless and GSM operator AT&T Mobility — longtime rivals that currently operate different network technologies — may well sign LTE roaming agreements in the coming years.

http://www.rcrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080404/SUB/581566019/1002/FREE

Our take: Wireless competition no longer exists now that AT&T and VZ Wireless have strengthened their hold on available spectrum. If SPRINT proceeds with their mobile WiMAX roll-out, then there won’t be nationwide roaming or interoperability with AT&T or VZ Wireless. Not good for cellular network customers or for a healthy broadband wireless US market.

]]> By: Alan Weissberger http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-453 Alan Weissberger Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:30:03 +0000 http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-453 Ken, you are right on target. Google was the big winner by bluffing. They now admit this on their blog. Google talks about their super secret war rooms and bidding strategy at: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/cone-of-silence-finally-lifts-on.html At the CTIA show last week, ATT and Verizon Wireless expressed interest in Google's Android platform. So Google seems to be winning the hearts and souls of the wireless industry. However, we think devices that comply with Android may be several years away from mass market winners. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/technology/04phone.html?em&ex=1207454400&en=dbcf856fbea14728&ei=5087%0A Ken, you are right on target. Google was the big winner by bluffing. They now admit this on their blog.

Google talks about their super secret war rooms and bidding strategy at:

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/cone-of-silence-finally-lifts-on.html

At the CTIA show last week, ATT and Verizon Wireless expressed interest in Google’s Android platform. So Google seems to be winning the hearts and souls of the wireless industry. However, we think devices that comply with Android may be several years away from mass market winners.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/technology/04phone.html?em&ex=1207454400&en=dbcf856fbea14728&ei=5087%0A

]]> By: Ken Pyle http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-448 Ken Pyle Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:25:42 +0000 http://viodi.com/2008/04/04/att-verizon-wireless-underwhelming-plans-for-700mhz-spectrum/#comment-448 Alan, well put. The $19 Billion may go to the treasury, but ultimately, consumers will pay for this in the form of subscription fees or advertisements. I still go back to the question of whether the public good would have been better off if the spectrum had been opened up like the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands. On the other hand, Google seems to be the winner and maybe they outsmarted the telecom providers. By getting the telecom rivals to invest billions in spectrum lease, they will be at a disadvantage if Google can open up the white spaces to unlicensed applications. Interesting times. Alan, well put. The $19 Billion may go to the treasury, but ultimately, consumers will pay for this in the form of subscription fees or advertisements. I still go back to the question of whether the public good would have been better off if the spectrum had been opened up like the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands.

On the other hand, Google seems to be the winner and maybe they outsmarted the telecom providers. By getting the telecom rivals to invest billions in spectrum lease, they will be at a disadvantage if Google can open up the white spaces to unlicensed applications. Interesting times.

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