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FCC approves 12MHz spectrum purchase deal by AT&T; U.S. iPhone to get nationwide WiFi?
Thursday, February 07, 2008 - 08:59 AM EDT

"The US Federal Communications Commission has approved the purchase by AT&T of 12MHz of wireless spectrum that covers 60% of the US," Grant Gross reports for Macworld UK.

"AT&T bought the spectrum from Aloha Spectrum Holdings. The spectrum, in the highly coveted 700MHz band, covers 196 million of the 303 million US residents and includes 72 of the top 100 media markets in the country. Aloha acquired the spectrum in earlier FCC auctions and from other auction winners," Gross reports. "This portion of the 700MHz spectrum is not part of the FCC auction now in progress."

"The 700MHz spectrum band carries wireless signals three to four times farther than some higher spectrum bands, making it optimal for long-range broadband networks. This is raising speculation that Apple and At&T could be implementing nationwide WiFi rather than 3G," Gross reports.

More in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Adam W." for the heads up.]

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Feb 07, 08 - 10:08 am Comment from: TowerTone

Aloha, Wi-Fi!

Feb 07, 08 - 10:09 am Comment from: John Gee

I like iPod Touch more now smile

(as long as I can purchase WiFi from AT&T;.)

maybe I don't like it.

we'll see!

Feb 07, 08 - 10:10 am Comment from: Tom

Never, never, never bet against the phone company.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:10 am Comment from: El Guapo

¡Ay caramba!

Feb 07, 08 - 10:13 am Comment from: Still Waiting

Oh good

I was looking for a excuse to put off a iPhone/iPod Touch purchase, now I have it.

Got to remember, US is in a recession and we just no longer can buy every iPhone/iPod Touch upgrade like we did iPods.

My landlord is bleeding me try, because he's in debt past his eyeballs. He keeps trying to invite himself to dinner...

Feb 07, 08 - 10:17 am Comment from: Still Waiting

Oh by the way, my friends AT&T;phone is 3G and it's tempermental to say the least.

So better the iPhone is 2.5G right now, at least it's reliable.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:20 am Comment from: Mac_Myke

This sounds good, but what does it mean for Iphone owners and when will we will this happen?

Feb 07, 08 - 10:20 am Comment from: Jim

Yet another example of  'Thinking Different'

MW: air

Feb 07, 08 - 10:21 am Comment from: silverhawk

I wonder what nationwide wi-fi would do for Europeans who want 3G? Apple needs to have a European iPhone and a north american version. What about South America? A lot of people live south.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:24 am Comment from: qka

U.S. iPhone to get nationwide WiFi?

Short Answer: NO!!!!

This is NOT the WiFi frequency.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:25 am Comment from: jtsnyc47

This would explain a lot if it ends up being the case. The delicious cramming of the "3G moan" into the eyes of critics would almost be enjoyable as watching the Pats choke in the Bowl.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:26 am Comment from: katter

@ silverhawk

What about South America?

Can't worry about those people, by the time we could get iPhone down there, most of the people will already be crossing into Texas.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:27 am Comment from: ron

@Still Waiting. My landlord is bleeding me try.

He's bleeding you dry also.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: ron

Your landlord is temperamental as well.

Funny things, these words.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:31 am Comment from: I love glossy

I thought that spectrum could travel far but was not that fast. Can wifi really run in that band?

Feb 07, 08 - 10:32 am Comment from: Jeremy

this is great and all but the US is not the world. The biggest problem the iPhone faces today is the world-wide market and if it cannot crack it, it will not succeed.

I live within 20 minutes of the USA border in one of the largest cities in North America and the iPhone is not even for sale here. There are also no movies in iTunes and only a small handful of non-DRM music available.

Not to be a downer but Apple really needs to do something world-wide here just to survive the next few years in the market. The phone market is *not* the same as the computer market.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:36 am Comment from: Bill H.

The 700MHz band will work with WiMax. Interesting.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:39 am Comment from: Lilochris

Would of been awesomet if this applied ONLY to Apple laptops as well. That would of been sweet. That this signal would only work with Airport cards. Of course along with the iPod Touch & iPhone.

Feb 07, 08 - 10:45 am Comment from: shen

"U.S. iPhone to get nationwide WiFi?

Short Answer: NO!!!!

This is NOT the WiFi frequency."

not the one the chips in your laptop use right now, no.

and i am sure that AT&T;and Apple could NEVER come up with a chip that uses a different frequency or anything! </sarcasm>

Feb 07, 08 - 10:54 am Comment from: Buster

@katter

I think you flunked geography and social studies didn't you.

Feb 07, 08 - 11:03 am Comment from: Jimbo von Winskinheimer

Jeremy, you are saying that if the iPhone does not succeed outside the USA border then it will be a failure? I disagree. It will not be the worldwide success it could be, but it won't be a failure.

That said, I do think that Apple needs a worldwide strategy for the phone, and they are trying to provide that via different carriers in different countries. T-Mobile is the biggest carrier in Germany, so Apple chose them. ATT may be best apt to provide nationwide service for USA, so they were the choice.

My guess is you live in Toronto? Who would be the best carrier for Apple to team with in the GWN?

Feb 07, 08 - 11:04 am Comment from: Spark

@Still Waiting
"Got to remember, US is in a recession..."

The US is currently in a slowdown of growth, not a recession. A recession is defined as two quarters of negative growth. We haven't had negative growth in years, and the last quarter showed growth, albeit smaller. By definition, the worst happens, the soonest we can be in a recession is late summer.

Feb 07, 08 - 11:08 am Comment from: mini

@Spark

Point taken. However, we could be in a recession now. We just won't know it until we get the data.

Feb 07, 08 - 11:37 am Comment from: HotinPlaya

@katter
"Can't worry about those people, by the time we could get iPhone down there, most of the people will already be crossing into Texas."

Vast majority of Mexicans are proud and happy to live in Mexico!

There is a lot of money south of the border, I have unlocked over 10 iPhones in Playa Del Carmen , one for the kid down the street who drives a brand new Mercedes sports coup, but only with a parent until he turns 16 next month and gets his license!

Feb 07, 08 - 12:13 pm Comment from: Trey

Driving around Denver, CO and up in the mountains on I70 my iPhone sometimes gets a wifi network called 'hpsetup' I can't access it but I get a strong unwaivering signal for miles and miles.

Feb 07, 08 - 12:18 pm Comment from: Jubei

Nationwide WiFi is a dream. Can you imagine having this for your iPhone/Touch? Simply awesome and make it Apple exclusive only for five years, better yet FOREVER! This is where Apple needs to spend their 18 billion in the bank!

Feb 07, 08 - 12:18 pm Comment from: TheConfuzed1

For all of you people crying, "recession," the best thing that we can do to turn that around is create commerce.

In other words, spend some money!

Feb 07, 08 - 12:28 pm Comment from: Ampar

"Aloha, Wi-Fi!"

Poi-sed for greatness? The taro says yes.
It sounds lava-ly, but isle believe it when it's done.

(Aloha Partners LP is based in Providence, RI, but they can still lei it on.)

Feb 07, 08 - 12:59 pm Comment from: John Gee

I guess I don't know what national WiFi is. Is it Wifi that current lap tops/devices can pick up, or is it a cell phone signal running wifi. any way. ignore my first comment.

Feb 07, 08 - 01:03 pm Comment from: Katter

"Vast majority of Mexicans are proud and happy to live in Mexico!"

Could you guys come get the rest..??

wink

Feb 07, 08 - 01:08 pm Comment from: Mac-nugget

@HotinPlaya
Right on brother. It's easy to forget that the riches man in the world is Mexican. The wealthiest people that I know personally are also Mexican.

If Apple was to sell the iPhone down in Mexico, it would make a killing. Mexican society is structured in such way that even if you can't afford one, you will still buy it. In Mexico is more important to flaunt wealth then to actually posses it.

Feb 07, 08 - 01:20 pm Comment from: almux

Ha! Haaaa! Finaly the States will have a modern and descent 3G distribution and get to the level of Europ. Nice! Good news for iPhone sales to really start in Europ!

Feb 07, 08 - 02:20 pm Comment from: Your Life On A Platter

The "New AT&T;", actually the old SBC/Southwestern Bell, is and has been opposed to an open neutral internet, handed your private information over to the NSA without a FISA Court order in violation of US law and just happens to render really crappy cell phone service. No Thanks.

If you Apple Fambois want to hand your money over to the Dark Side just to get your Geek on, go right ahead. SBC/AT&T;is not welcome in my home, car or life. As long as Apple has this deal with AT&T;- no dice.

Feb 07, 08 - 02:33 pm Comment from: Mac-nugget

@Your Life On A Platter
& Verizon is much better because...?

Feb 07, 08 - 02:38 pm Comment from: Dogadoga

Trey:
RE: "Driving around Denver, CO and up in the mountains on I70 my iPhone sometimes gets a wifi network called 'hpsetup' I can't access it but I get a strong unwaivering signal for miles and miles."

Funny that you mention that. I was driving around parts of lower Westchester, NY, Tappan Zee bridge and Jersey, and sometimes I got that "hpsetup" for a few miles -- much longer than any body's signal could be coming from their home if I was driving by it.
Oh and I also saw it while I was riding on the Metro-North R.R. going to Grand Central Station with my iPhone. Strange.

Anyone have any clues about this?…

- Doga

Feb 07, 08 - 03:01 pm Comment from: Rob

WeeeeeeeMAX, WiMAX?

Feb 07, 08 - 05:05 pm Comment from: ron

@HotinPlaya
Right on brother. It's easy to forget that the riches man in the world is Mexican. The wealthiest people that I know personally are also Mexican.

So are the most destitute!

Feb 07, 08 - 06:08 pm Comment from: Mac-nugget

@ron
How do you think the rich get rich?

Feb 07, 08 - 09:40 pm Comment from: Dialtone

Can we just stop with the picking on Mexico? Thousands of US citizens cross the boarder into Canada every month to steal free medical insurance BTW. And not all undocumented aliens are from Mexico -- also Ireland, UK, Russia, etc.

The wireless business is huge in Mexico, and it would be great if Apple could be part of it.

Feb 08, 08 - 11:32 am Comment from: ripper

So true about wireless in Mexico. Basically everyone has a cell phone down there, because regular land line phone service sucks. I know a ranch hand in southern Baja near Pescadero who actually carries 3 cell phones with him (one for his wife, one for his girlfriend and the third for other business.) Even a fisherman I spent an evening with on an isolated beach polishing off a bottle of El Conquistador tequila had a later model Motorola cell phone with bluetooth, photo and video capability. Neither of these guys can even fake being rich. I found that even in remote areas of Baja, I got better and more regular reception with my GSM phone than I do in Oregon - go figure that one out... Apple would do well down there, but just don't think they could arrange some kind of fee sharing, most phones are pay as you go - buy a telcel or other card in any little store for adding to your balance, no monthly bills, no subscriber plan. Apple should just sell the iPhone for top dollar to offset the revenue loss, and the rich Mexicans won't bat an eye.

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