Media firms queue up for U.S. wireless auction (Yahoo! News)
Speculation on the future of advanced wireless services continues as the Aug. 9, FCC auction of airwaves approaches. The bidding is expected to raise $8 - $15 billion, but the revenue remains of secondary interest to analysts - many trying to offer the best prediction of how the airwaves will be used.
Intriguing partnerships have emerged, notably that of DirectTV and EchoStar Communications Corp. Sprint Nextel, Comcast, and Time Warner have also entered into an agreement to acquire a portion of the airwaves. The pairing of large media and telecommunication companies leads some to believe that bundles for advanced wireless services are on the horizon for the consumer. It is possible that the auction will lead to all inclusive and integrated packages for television, telephone, and the Internet.