Yesterday Google revealed one of the worst kept secrets in both the Android and mobile phone world in general with the Nexus One, but behind the scenes Google is soliciting the FCC to administer white spaces.
My feeling is that for a true Google SUPER phone it would need to completely bypass the mobile service providers by allowing VoIP anywhere calls which the recently freed up white spaces could provide.
Google stated in 2007 that, “white spaces — could be used to expand Internet access through low power personal devices, akin to Wi-Fi. Best of all, new spectrum sensing technologies can ensure that this spectrum could be used for mobile broadband service without interfering one bit with television signals.”
Google initially formed the White Spaces Coalition back in 2006 to deliver high speed broadband internet access via these whites spaces in unused television frequencies between 54-698 MHz which was freed up in June 2009 with the analog to digital TV conversion in the US.
Google even formed a Free the Airwaves campaign in 2008 to prod the FCC to allow unlicensed use of this spectrum but has since dropped the site along with the campaign and according to PC World changed tactics.
Just as Google said it wouldn’t themselves create or sell a “Google Phone” they also stated a year ago they would not seek to administer white spaces.
Since the FCC requires a database to be created before the white space can be used, Google is now advocating that the FCC consider an open architecture for this database, with a clearinghouse that would collect and distribute changes to other database providers with Google as the admin.
So if the FCC approves of Google to be an administrator for this white spaces database then that could be one of the final hurdles for VoIP anywhere calls that would usher in a true SUPER Google phone in my opinion.
6 comments… read them below or add one
Don't know if it's common knowledge, but looks like Bluetooth OBEX is in 2.1, see 1:00 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7I_-pfQyoo
I'm most impressive with speech to text across the board especially with it learning corrections as you use it.
Flash demo looks good too.
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"VOIP anywhere calls" are what I'm waiting for too. Until then, I'm not buying a damn thing when it comes to a smartphone. I can get buy using a regular cell phone, or one of the few wifi-incapable phones out there that's "semi-smart" to get around paying for mandatory data plans, but I won't be buying the device I really want until I'm no longer paying for talktime, which I barely use and don't think is worth $40.00+ a month through providers. F that.
I hear you, will the white noise freqs that they use for voip work with any of the current wifi enabled phones?
Preach On!
I totally agree with you as I barely use my minutes which is why I am on the minimum talk plan.
Along similar lines to get a subsidized phone now w T-Mo you have to "upgrade" to a higher plan which is why I signed this petition – http://www.petitiononline.com/nexusone/petition.h…
,Michael Martin
Too bad most of the spectrum mentioned would be useless for wireless broadband service. Antenna systems including combiners and filters would have to be built at sizes that far exceed what we currently know from commercial base stations 800MHz and up. The handsets would also likely require telescope antennas again, just like in the age old days, how would we like that…