The Haj is unwired: The annual pilgrimage to sacred sites in Saudi Arabia now comes with free Wi-Fi. The service, paid for by the government and handled by local telecom services, is designed to help pilgrims better understand the Haj and connect with their muftis for counseling. The Haj takes place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 21 this year.
Interesting bidders in 700 MHz auction: The FCC released lists of accepted bidders and those who applications are incomplete for this coming January's showdown. The 700 MHz auction covers a set of coveted national licenses (six in total), that Google and others are bidding on, as well as a host of regional licenses and a combined public safety/commercial network that Frontline is a leading contender to win. You'll find Google, Verizon, and AT&T on the list, as well as the Paul Bunyon Telephone Cooperative. Some of the regional licenses are tiny, and could be huge boons for rural telcos, who, if their revenue is low enough, also receive bidding credits.