Google Pledges $4.6 Billion Bid For Wireless Auction; Backs Ubiquisys’s $25 Million Funding
By David Kaplan - Fri 20 Jul 2007 08:49 AM PST
Google had been giving hints on this for a while, so this was inevitable: it will bid at least $4.6 billion in an upcoming upcoming auction to operate a license as part of the wireless spectrum, as the Federal Communications Commission has been reviewing proposals for how best to open up the upcoming 700 MHz wireless band.
Wearing its altruism on its sleeve, Google said that even if it doesn’t win the auction, it wants to ensure that consumers’ interests are served. Specifically, Google encouraged the FCC to require the adoption of four types of “open” platforms as part of the license conditions, which we listed here before: they include open applications, open devices, open services and open networks. Release
VentureBeat: The reasoning behind Google’s four-point bill of wireless rights, according to Chris Sacca, head of Google’s wireless initiatives, is that the search giant believes that the wireless spectrum for mobile phones and data is “controlled by a small group of companies, leaving consumers with very few service providers from which to choose.” The $4.6 billion could turn out to be lower than the other bids, Sacca conceded.
-- Separately, Google has participated in the second round funding for U.K. communications company Ubiquisys. Google was joined by Accel Partners, Atlas Venture and Advent Venture Partners, which also were involved in the company’s $12 million first round financing last September. The current funding will support its Ubiquisys ZoneGate Femtocell system, which allows for mobile coverage in the home through Wi-Fi networks, using their regular phones. Founded in 2004 and based in Swindon, U.K., Ubiquisys has raised a total of $37 million in venture financing. Release
