With all the buzz over the $16 billion spent for 700 Mhz radio spectrum recently, it's easy to forget about 1700 Mhz, the "advanced wireless services (AWS)" spectrum snapped up last year by various wireless carriers.
The big winners there were T-Mobile, who intend to use it eventually for 3G high-speed so they can catch up to the other major carriers; flat-rate unlimited-use carriers Cricket and MetroPCS; and a consortium of Sprint and cable companies, who might use it for WiMax in the vague future.
In fact, if you're looking for additional cell-phone competition and "freedom," you want to keep a closer eye on AWS than on the much-ballyhooed 700 Mhz. The 700 spectrum was bought by huge incumbents AT&T and Verizon and won't be built out for years. But AWS was bought mostly by smaller, scrappier entrants, and it's starting to come on line now.
Cricket and Metro have both started rolling out new cities on the new frequency. Today Cricket introduced two new phones for their AWS markets (right now, just Tulsa), the Samsung MyShot and Samsung Spex. Both are pretty middle-of-the-road affairs with relatively run-of-the-mill features.
The next big steps for AWS (and for consumers) are for T-Mobile to start turning on 3G, and for Cricket and Metro to step into some of the biggest, most competitive metro areas, like New York City. That would really shake up the wireless landscape. I'm hoping some of that action will take place in 2008.
What's out on 1700? Let's recap. (Links go to our friends at PhoneScoop.com)
* Nokia 6263 for T-Mobile
* Nokia 3555 for T-Mobile
* UTStarcom CDM7126 for Cricket
* Samsung Spex for MetroPCS
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