NOON -- Google could go big in WiMax.

From the Wall Street research pile, a note by Joe Chiasson at Susquehanna Financial Group, has some choice bits about Google's possible future. To wit, he says, don't for a minute think that the company would put its fate solely in the hands of the last-mile connections owned by the RBOCs:

Given Google’s well-documented efforts to set up a free WiFi network in San Francisco, we believe the upcoming spectrum auctions could represent a rare opportunity for the company to acquire something resembling an exclusive (licensed) nationwide WiMax footprint, and largely eliminate any access dependency on third parties. As such, we believe Google’s potential involvement bears watching, especially in light of the fact the company has shown little hesitation in delving into the other aspects of networking. Google’s selection of equipment vendors, such as Force 10 and Infinera, indicate to us a willingness to embrace leading edge technologies, and we believe WiMax fits that description. At the very least, it is an ideal technology for Greenfield fixed broadband access, and equipment price points should continue to drop through efforts such as the WiMax forum vendor certification process.

— Phil Harvey, Spectrum Scrum Editor, Light Reading