Google wants to own spectrum and release a new breed of mobile phones by Corina Ciubotaru

It appears the fight for spectrum in America is not coming any closer to an end. Google and a few other organizations including Free Press have urged the FCC to change the rules for the upcoming spectrum auction in January 2008. This lead to a series of concerns and opposition from large telephone carriers Verizon and AT&T, who currently divide the market and who might have to change their inflexible policies if companies like Google enter the market and decide to give customers more freedom in choosing their mobile carrier. But why the sudden interest in cell phones from the search engine giant? Well, it appears the company intends to release customized Google phones, with incorporated features like search and e-mail. And since part of the spectrum is going to be used exclusively for unlocked phones, it's easy to imagine Internet-enabled Google phones, probably at much lower selling prices than Verizon or AT&T's current offer. The mobile ad market is growing fast, and the search company from California gets the most part of its income from contextual ad revenues so it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone if controlling part of the spectrum will mean controlling part of the ads. It is still unclear if Google still intends to take part in the auction with the $4.6 billion it promised to bid had all the requested rules been approved. Even so, partly modified auction rules may mean smaller investors might be interested to buy some spectrum though competing against the likes of Verizon would be an intimidating venture.

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by Corina Ciubotaru for SigEx Telecom (http://sigex.com)

SigEx Telecom is quickly becoming the leading telebroadcasting communications provider allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share video clips through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, websites, blogs, video-mails and SMS. SigEx Telecom captures many add-on services for its clients generating royalties and fees in a broad spectrum of marketing services including public relations and promotions.