Jeffy and Alex, you are both wrong. We will be 2 years behind the US in auctioning off this spectrum because while US TV broadcasters can no longer use this band to broadcast conventional TV starting in 2009, we will still have good old analog (G-d knows why) using this band till 2011. Plus currently Google could not bid on Spectrum in Canada as it is a foreign company. Unfortunately with the upcoming auction for advance wireless spectrum (presumably more 3G and future 4G+ spectrum, I'm not sure on the frequencies) our Conservative Government (who I normally agree with) made the idiotic decision to set aside spectrum for new entrants and mandate that new entrants can piggy back on the incumbents networks for up to 10 years before moving to their own networks, all at what I am guessing is extremely cheap rates. Oh and they are regional licenses rather than national ones which makes more sense. Too bad the Inq, which I love, doesn't cover Canada like it does Eastern Europe or you guys would have known this. 
Oh and Magee why have my comments never been posted?

In the CDMA world, where Verizon Wireless and Sprint live for now, SIM card are called RUIM cards. Not sure what their business reason is for not included this option in all their handsets. They're available in China and Brazil on other CDMA networks.

Selling bits of the electromagnetic spectrum? I am so proud to be part of this pathetic species. Only humans would develop such a system to achieve ownership of something so ethereal. I have to get back to my lawsuit against God for causing some flood damage.

Other carriers in the U.S. use SIMM cards, but to my knowledge, Verizon does not. This may be what they meant in the article.

Our newly freed spectrum will be under the benign guidance of Brian Mulroney, our most beloved ex-prime minister!

The same thing is happening in Canada (spectrum up for grabs). I assume that Google has noticed and is going to grab the same chunk in Canada so that we can stay relatively integrated (electronically, not electorially).

All GSM compatible handsets and cellular modems use SIM cards. Many of the European & Asian handsets are sold in US,

Currently there are 4 bands in use for GSM. 850, 900, 1800, 1900. 900/1800 is most common outside US, 850/1900 is mostly used in North America.

US handsets that have been "activated" by a US carrier can usually be unlocked for use in Asia and Europe with SIM cards purchased from local shops. I used a US T-Mobile handset with SIMs from Globe Telecom & Smart Communications in Philippines. I had a quad-band phone so no network frequency problems.

If the 700 band is used to support a GSM network then we will need 5 band capability to give the freedom to roam that is currently guaranteed by quad band phones. We will also need all new handsets since there are currently no GSM handsets using 700mhz

I have used ATT for years, and I have a SIM card in my phone. Am I not in the USA? [Dunno. We don't log IP addresses here. Are you? Ed.]

"Maybe the USA will finally see SIMM card slots in their handsets like in Asia and Europe."

The USA has already got those and has had them for quite a few years now. Do your research, chaps.

I consider spectrum auctions blatant money grabs by governments. 

Very short sighted, too. As we've seen in most of Europe and other countries such as Australia, all it does it just drives up the cost of communications and despite the false talk about everybody benefitting from the competition, the customers are the victims. 

The telcos don't have a choice, they have to have the spectrum so it's a desperate race to the bottom for them. 

Then, they have to charge accordingly. Expensive communications are not simply about big mobile/cell phone bills for parents of chatty teenagers it also raises costs for businesses which in turn, you guessed, have to build these extra costs in their prices.

Customer pays. 

This is not the only model, I think Sweden had a more sensible model for spectrum sale but I don't claim to be an expert on this.
In the case described in the article, Google with it's deep corporate pocket and strong desire to expand, may just drive up communications costs for everybody. 

I hope I'm wrong.

I'm sure my Sinclair beastie wasn't that fast!

Ho Ho Ho! :-p

The US already has SIMM cards in our handsets. All carriers.

I believe that the US had it before you Limey gits. [I am no Limey git. I am a Scotsman. Oh, and an American wrote that story. Ed.]

Do you think they will be bidding against Sovereign Wealth Funds?