May 1, 2024

Steve Jobs Wanted to Build His Own Network Using Unlicensed Spectrum

Posted November 15, 2011 at 7:43pm by iClarified · 17425 views
Steve Jobs wanted to build his own wireless phone network with unlicensed spectrum used by Wi-Fi, according to a ComputerWorld report.

Chairman of venture capital firm Trilogy Partners, John Stanton, says he spent a fair amount of time with Jobs between 2005 and 2007.

"He wanted to replace carriers," Stanton said of Jobs, the Apple founder and CEO who died Oct. 5 after a battle with cancer. "He and I spent a lot of time talking about whether synthetically you could create a carrier using Wi-Fi spectrum. That was part of his vision."

Stanton says that after around 2007, Jobs gave up on the idea; however, he still managed to have a major impact on wireless operators.

"If I were a carrier, I'd be concerned about the dramatic shift in power that occurred," he said.

Read More [via James]