Google and Unity - Under Sea Communications

What is being called "yet another foray into the telecommunications business," Google is considering joining a consortium, known as Unity, which wants to lay high capacity underwater cables across the Pacific Ocean. As I've mentioned before, Google is also looking to bid for the 700 MHz spectrum in January.

What does Google not have its hand in?

According to the above "Bits" article, Google has considered becoming part owner of undersea cables because it needs the bandwidth to move massive amounts of digital information between its international data centers. The company already leases bandwidth on some underwater cables, but having a hand in ownership may be less expensive.

Google's massive footprint is looking to extend itself. "Faster, Higher, Stronger" doesn't seem to just be the Olympic credo anymore. I'm starting to see Google as the new Microsoft. Instead of Windows, Google harnesses the power of Web 2.0 to deliver a truly universal platform. They web applications are quickly approaching the features and reliability that we've come to expect from Microsoft Outlook or Apple's iLife. They've even surpassed Microsoft with innovative map solutions, unprecedented search engines, including blogs, patents, scholarly reports, video, products, and images. They're even looking to step in on Microsoft's most prized possession; word processing and spreadsheets. With Google docs and spreadsheets, I can see users writing and editing documents on the go, from any internet capable device.

Convergence is coming along nicely, and Google has shown the ability to adapt. With a hand in telecom and a dynasty in data, Google's looking good. Google's looking very good.

Verizon files suit over FCC ruling n 700 MHz spectrum

According to this Reuters article, Verizon Wireless is filing suit, asking the FCC to overturn the open-access rules imposed on the 700 MHz spectrum to be auctioned off in January.

Verizon asked the U.S. Court of the Appeals for the District of Columbia to strike down the FCC conditions, which requires that the winner of the new spectrum allow users to connect to this network using any device or software.

This spectrum is a big deal - it's supposed to raise about $10 billion. This is pretty much the last chance for another player to enter into the wireless market.

The current spectrum being used by wireless network carriers restricts users to use only certain types of phones. Verizon claims that the FCC rules overstep its authority - an argument that is very heated at the moment. Verizon would obviously want to maintain the current norm - they're deals are working for them. A new network with any hardware/software solutions available would be quite a competitor for Verizon.

Google, Apple, Verizon, and many other big players are interested in this spectrum. If one of the network-neutrality supporting companies win this valuable spectrum, cell carriers will have to rethink the way they deal with hardware and software solutions.

Apple To Obtain Wireless Spectrum?

According to this eFlux Media article, Apple may enter into competition for the wireless spectrum to be auctioned off on January 16, 2008 (the 700 MHz band).

According to the article, Apple is also interested in competing for the White Space that the FCC has been hesitant to release for broadcast, despite the urging of a Coalition of Technology's Biggest Players (including Microsoft, Google, Dell and Intel). This space is becoming even more valuable as analog TV is going digital by February 2009.

Using analog signals to provide internet access provides many advantages. Increased speeds (from 50 to 100 Mbps), decreased prices, and more accessibility are all claimed to be obtainable using this coveted white space.

With Apple's having sold 1 million iPhones in a little over two months, their deeps pockets could make them serious contenders. One conflict of interest presents itself as Eric Schmidt, the outspoken Google CEO who also sits on the board of Apple. Google is also looking to purchase the 700 MHz spectrum in January.

The White Space, or the spectrum ranging from 43 MHz and 698 MHz, is still facing issues with the FCC, as television broadcasters fear interference with their programming.