Google a "Happy Loser" In Spectrum Auction

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.

Comments

Any phone? Really?

[Itninja]

From the AP article:

The spectrum, which encompasses about a third of the spectrum at auction, is subject to "open access" provisions...meaning users of the network will be able to use whatever phones or software they wish.

From the summary:

On this spectrum Verizon will have to allow subscribers to use any compatible wireless device

So what is it? Anything, or just some phones Verizon deem 'compatible'? I hope it's really anything because I have an old Motorola DynaTAC 8000X I've been itching to dust off.

Re:Except Alaska...

[Oktober Sunset]

Oh I can almost see it now, all the racist jingoistic rednecks, whooping and hollering about going off to fight the dirty snow n*ggers.