Google has given the strongest signals yet that it may bid in the FCC’s 700 MHz wireless broadband auction in the U.S. next January. “We are making all the necessary preparations to become an applicant to bid in the auction,” the firm said in a statement. “FCC rules require us to reveal our plans by December 3, and we fully intend to do so.” It is not yet known whether Google plans to bid with partners or go it alone.
The spectrum move follows Google’s entry into the mobile phone software market with its Android platform, announced earlier this month. The firm intends to put together an open-source software environment for handsets, backed by a group of operators and hardware and software vendors. Alliance members include operators China Mobile, KDDI, NTT DoCoMo, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, Telefonica and Telecom Italia. Vendors include HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung, Broadcom and Qualcomm.