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Verizon pays dearly for right to operate open network

verizon_wireless.jpgThe big winner in the U.S. government's recent wireless-spectrum auction was Verizon, having spent at least $4.7 billion and as much as $10 billion to acquire licenses nationwide. AT&T was the next highest bidder, with satellite broadcaster EchoStar the biggest of the new kids. Verizon unveiled plans to open up its wireless network to third parties yesterday, likely in anticipation of today's announcement. I have to agree with VentureBeat's MG Siegler — the real winner here is Google, which didn't have to pay a dime, but changed the terms of the contract for the eventual winner just by entering a lowball bid. Well played, Google, well played. (Photo AP/Don Ryan)

4:20 PM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Jackson West
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6 comments

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  • Image of sample032 sample032 at 06:14 PM on 03/20/08
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    From the title, I expected a follow up to the story about how they don't block BitTorrent.

    I won't call this "paying dearly." Verizon willfully bid that much, and they view it as an investment, not a nagging expense.

  • Image of eze eze at 08:12 PM on 03/20/08
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    and by "Matt Marshall" you mean MG Siegler ;)

  • Image of Owen Thomas Owen Thomas at 11:20 PM on 03/20/08
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    @eze: Corrected! But everyone knows Marshall pulls the strings. Just like Nick Denton, whom readers regularly inform me is writing all of our posts still.

  • Image of OpenTransport OpenTransport at 06:58 AM on 03/21/08
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    More importantly, how did Marshall let Siegler's post title fly? "Did Google trick Verizon into spending billions for an open spectrum auction win?" WTF? Verizon is a wireless company that desperately needs more spectrum. It didn't have a choice but win. So any notion that the company was "tricked" is inane.

  • Image of kobayashi kobayashi at 07:23 AM on 03/21/08
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    Bunch of bs! Google didn't trick anyone. If they tricked someone it is all those silly analysts. goog is not going to change the world because verizon is opening up its network. They want you to think they are.

  • Image of Blackjack Blackjack at 10:57 AM on 03/21/08
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    Verizon will open its network at about the same time Cheney opens up his energy council notes. As in 14 seconds after never.

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