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Optimal Markets, Inc. has announced the launch of the BidXplorer, a real-time auction analytics tool for Thursday’s FCC (News - Alert) 700MHz Auction 73.

 

The Optimal Markets BidXplorer is said to be the only tool that automatically downloads the FCC data and creates real-time, interactive color maps showing the bidding activity by license, region and band.

 

The BidXplorer calculates various metrics previously only available in the war-rooms of the large bidders, according to Optimal Markets’ officials.

 

Officials said that Optimal Markets assembled a stellar team to design and build the software, the team comprised of -- Karen Wrege, of Wrege Associates, who managed the creation of the first FCC auctions in 1994, and Brett Tarnutzer of BTconsultancy who was formerly chief of auction Operations at the FCC.

 

“We are pleased to make available, for the first time ever, the tools previously only available in the war-rooms of the largest bidders,” David Moshal, CEO at Optimal Markets, said in a press statement.

 

He also pointed out that now everyone can observe and analyze, in real-time, the largest spectrum auction in a generation.

 

Optimal Markets provides auction software platforms for electricity, petrochemical, and natural gas markets.

 

Over 200 bidders are expected to compete in the auction for the right to broadcast on the 700 MHz frequencies freed up when TV goes all digital in 2009.

 

The signals travel exponentially further at 700MHz, thus requiring far less infrastructure, and making these frequencies more valuable, than the 1.7 and 2.1 GHz frequencies auctioned last year for $13 billion. There has been speculation in the media regarding the interest of internet heavyweight Google (News - Alert) in this auction.

 

The rules of Auction 73 are new, combining 'package bidding', where bidders bid on groups of licenses, and 'blind bidding', in which only partial information is being released at the end of each round.

 

Noting that previously, the bidding information was made available during the auction, officials explained that however, in Auction 73 only a 50,000 line data file, and a few spreadsheets will be released at the end of each round over a projected 4-6 week timeframe --150-200 rounds, and added, hence the need for new analytics tools.