SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora - 03-25-2008 Part I
Abstract: 1. Google Proposes Plan To Utilize Unlicensed "White Space" For Wireless Use, 2. Netflix Service Outage Blocks Online Access
Vanessa Zamora
Video Content Producer, SearchEngineWorld
6:09 pm on Mar. 25, 2008 (utc 0)
Transcript
Tuesday March 25, 2008
Google Proposes Plan To Utilize Unlicensed "White Space" For Wireless Use
Internet search giant Google, backed by companies including Dell and Microsoft, has proposed that the Federal Communications Commission free up vacant television airwaves, known as “white spaces” for unlicensed use by personal devices, including mobile devices which could use the spectrum for high speed Internet access. In an industry where portable technology is outselling personal computers, Google would benefit if the FCC agrees to the proposal, by leveraging an increase in wireless access for use of mobile handsets running Google’s open-source Android operating system. Google has said that it plans to develop Android devices later this year. An increase in high speed mobile Internet access would also provide more opportunity for Google to capitalize on advertising. Google filed a letter with the FCC Friday aimed at eliminating concerns from TV broadcasters and microphone manufacturers related to the possibility of harmful and disruptive interference caused by the introduction of new devices using adjacent airwaves. Whether or not the FCC agrees, the spectrum wouldn’t be available for use until 2009, after broadcasters convert to digital signals.
A technology breakdown blocked online access to Web DVD rental company Netflix starting Monday morning. Some 7.5 million Netflix subscribers were unable to access the service’s Web site from approximately 7am to 6pm Pacific Standard Time Monday, and Netflix expects some members may experience a shipping delay of up to one day. Netflix has not yet revealed the cause of the glitch, but did assure its customers that stored movie picks were unaffected. The outage occurred on the same day shares of Netflix climbed more than 9% to a new all-time high. In related news, Netflix has been exploring different options to stream movies onto customer televisions, with a recent survey taken to gauge customer interest in streaming movies to their televisions using Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Netflix already has a partnership in place with LG Electronics to provide customers with streaming movies to their high definitions televisions using a set top box.
