Verizon sues the FCC

[Taranatar]

Being able to afford it and having to sell ALL of your shares in a company are two vastly different things.

If one of those guys dumps 14.5 billiion worth of controlling stock or assets the market would go nuts and their respective companies would hurt bad.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by Taranatar

Being able to afford it and having to sell ALL of your shares in a company are two vastly different things.

If one of those guys dumps 14.5 billiion worth of controlling stock or assets the market would go nuts and their respective companies would hurt bad.

They could easily afford 14.5 billion. It is called investors and banks people. Not hard to raise that kind of cash for a company like Google, jesus...

[Aulirophile]

Originally Posted by Taranatar

Being able to afford it and having to sell ALL of your shares in a company are two vastly different things.

If one of those guys dumps 14.5 billiion worth of controlling stock or assets the market would go nuts and their respective companies would hurt bad.

They'd just take out a loan against the stock... considering their personal gains history any bank with the cash would jump at the chance to loan them the money, if they wanted to do it personally. The idea that the actual Google company doesn't have enough money, or can't raise the money, to do this is ludicrous.

[Phoenix]

So how would having those frequencies be beneficial for apple/google?

[Korbal]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

So how would having those frequencies be beneficial for apple/google?

I dunno about apple, but I heard google is planning on setting up wireless internet for the entire US which will be free to use. I'm guessing their plan will be to set up google advertising that you will have to put up with if you use the google internet.

Also there are rumours about a gPhone, but that's probably bullshit.

[Cybsled]

Wireless Internet for the whole country? Heh. That will cost them far far far more then whatever they pay for the frequency.

[Cynno]

Originally Posted by Cybsled

Wireless Internet for the whole country? Heh. That will cost them far far far more then whatever they pay for the frequency.

Ever heard the term.....INVESTMENT.

I'm about 90% sure people here don't know shit about business.

[Soriak]

Originally Posted by Cynno

Ever heard the term.....INVESTMENT.

I'm about 90% sure people here don't know shit about business.

I doubt the system is going to truly cover the whole country...

Ever heard the term.... RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

[Sharmai]

Originally Posted by Soriak

I doubt the system is going to truly cover the whole country...

Ever heard the term.... RETURN ON INVESTMENT?

If you consider a few possibilities then it is possible..

Most of googles revnue comes from advertising. Their advertising fees are likely to not be cheap and in the event of a free wireless service in their control that covers the entire US their fees would go MUCH higher.

Everyone in the population from the poorest of poor to richest of richest would see reasons to use this service. Its Free. They might speed cap you to say 256k unless you decide to pay a fee but seriously a nationwide wifi network? Even if it wasn't free I would pay for it to have the chance to access the net from anywhere!

All subscribers to all other networks save business would be VERY enticed by this. I mean seriously get on their network and all you need is a google like I.E. browser with ads on the top? 100% free? You kidding me? A free wireless nationwide network based on ad revnue would make a KILLING ANYWHERE in the world if the speed is around 128-256k or better.

[Teger]

First off, its not like Google would just hand over $17 billion dollars, they'd borrow it from a collection of banks. The real question is do they want to assume the responsibilities that come with winning the auction.

700MHz auction: What's really up for grabs, and why it won't be monopolized is a good helpful article.

Also the concept that Google would make a nation-wide wireless network is crazy. If they did anything they'd only cover major cities, IF that.

[Akileese]

There's talk of Google or Apple using it for cellular service (Steve Jobs is said to fucking despise the telecom industry as it is so he'd love to fuck them even more). There's all the rumors of the GPhone and what not. Fun stuff. I hope google started their own cellular service. Anything to fuck the big telecoms up.

[Teger]

Yea I'd almost put money on Google starting their on cellphone service with integration to all their website utiliities, could be the first real portable internet device

[Eggplant999]

Originally Posted by Lenas

I find it hard to believe that Google can't afford that. Google is taking over the world, man.

Google has 14,857.52 million (14.8 b) in current assets right now, meaning cash / liquid assets that can be liquidated in < 1 year. More importantly they have 20b in equity right now meaning they could borrow for much more than that. They could also do another IPO like their recent secondary IPO.

[Intrinsic]

And screw 700 MHz reallocation / rebanding too. . .

[Morbeas]

Very interesting article on the subject: I, Cringely . The Pulpit . The Power of Six | PBS