White spaces refers to frequencies that are allocated to television broadcasting but are not being used. The FCC last week put out a call for bids for white spaces vendors (). It asked vendors to reveal how they might turn a buck, not just by selling devices, but by charging users fees to access the database that will allow devices to operate on vacant television spectrum. The big question has now become: Which vendors will respond and which will want to charge fees for white spaces database services?

Microsoft has been working feverishly on white spaces development, and was one of three vendors that . Meanwhile Google has not publicly demonstrated any technology, although it has been active in database development, a company spokesperson says. Sources close to the company have told me that Google intends to respond, though the official word from Google is that it is still looking over the proposal and hasn't decided if it will toss its hat in for a bid or not. Google doesn't have much time. The deadline for bids is Jan. 4.

Even if Google does bid, and offers to host the database for free, Microsoft may still have an advantage, particularly if the FCC opts to grant a monopoly. Moreover, after so much promise, white spaces may be regulated into being an underwhelming option.

In November 2008, the Federal Communications Commission approved the use of white spaces spectrum by unlicensed devices. One of the FCC's requirements was that devices will be required to access a white spaces database which will control which channels the device may access before it can transmit data. This will prevent devices from trying to tap into channels that might cause interference with television broadcasts. Microsoft and Google had both originally advocated embedding detection technology in the devices. These were to discover which TV channels were in use and dynamically avoid them. White spaces spectrum would remain free, like WiFi. Vendors would make money on devices, or by licensing their white spaces technology to other device manufacturers.