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Google a "Happy Loser" In Spectrum Auction

Posted by kdawson on from the status-quo-pretty-much-ante dept.

Large cell service providers won almost all of the licenses in the recently concluded FCC spectrum auction. Google didn't get any and won't be entering the wireless business. Verizon Wireless was the big winner, laying out $9.4 billion for enough regional licenses in the "C" block to stitch together nationwide coverage, except for Alaska. On this spectrum Verizon will have to allow subscribers to use any compatible wireless device and run any software application they want. AT&T paid $6.6 billion, Qualcomm picked up a few licenses, and Paul Allen's Vulcan Spectrum LLC won a pair of licenses in the "A" block. One analyst called Google a "happy loser" because it got the openness it had pushed for. The AP's coverage does some more of the numbers.

11 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Android by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    yes they can.

    "Oh sorry, internet acccess requires our patented "poopboost" technology. and we are not ready to license it yet. it's only available on verizon licensed phones."

    You bet your arse they will do everything they can to lock you into their crap-phones with everything disabled. They will find a loophole, they hate the customer that much
    .

  2. Except Alaska... by ActionDesignStudios · · Score: 5, Funny

    Except Alaska. Except Alaska. Everything is except Alaska! I say we secede and form our own country of Alaskanistan!

    1. Re:Except Alaska... by emag · · Score: 3, Funny

      Crazy kayaks.

      There, I fixed your spelling...

      --
      "The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." --H.L. Mencken
    2. Re:Except Alaska... by QuantumRiff · · Score: 4, Funny

      You do know what happens when you threaten the stability of oil deliveries to mainland US, don't you? You will be expected to greet us as liberators..

      --

      What are we going to do tonight Brain?
  3. Re:Who won Alaska by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Russians

    LOL

  4. That won't end well by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    We'll just invade you for your oil... err, I mean, to liberate you.

  5. Re:Android by marnues · · Score: 2, Funny

    So you're saying I should not feel bad about rounding up Verizon executives and burning them?

  6. Okay I goggled "a Happy Loser" by anss123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    What now?

    1. Re:Okay I goggled "a Happy Loser" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      They do nothing!

      Oh, you mean "Googled"...

  7. Re:Android by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > If they were dumb enough to do that, then they would be forced to license the patent, or loose the spectrum.

    Or in some strange parallel universe, they might just go right on doing business without any consequences to them whatsoever. Thank god we don't live there and companies are actually held accountable, eh?

  8. Re:Conspiracy Theory by geekoid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't litter the discussion with 'facts'

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect