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Google Confirms It's Getting Into The Wireless Business

Confirming numerous rumors from earlier this year, Google has announced that the company will soon formally unveil their foray into wireless services. Speaking at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Google's Sundar Pichai told attendees that their MVNO would be launched sometime in the "coming months."

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Those hoping for Google to jump into the wireless market with both feet may wind up being disappointed. Pichai noted at several points that Google's foray into wireless is going to be conducted on a "small scale" to "show what's possible" in the hopes of encouraging others.

“It’s a very small-scale compared to the rest of the OEM industry, but it pushes the needle. I think we’re at the state where we need to think of hardware, software, and connectivity together," Pichar told attendees. "We don’t intend to be a carrier at scale, and we’re working with existing partners."

In other words, like Google Fiber or Google Nexus, Google's hoping more to encourage a conversation and drive innovation -- as opposed to going toe to toe with AT&T and Verizon on a national scale. There's still no word on precisely what this service is going to look like or be priced at, but previous rumors have suggested it leans heavily on Wi-Fi and uses both the T-Mobile and Sprint cellular networks as backup.
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existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Google Fiber users only at first?

The original rumor last year claimed GW would start as a pilot with Google Fiber customers only for a while. Sounds more realistic now as it seems to be more about integration of Google products/services than about pressuring the wireless industry. It also allows GF to offer a triple play that includes mobile.

I may switch if they provide unlimited data and can integrate both TMO/Sprint. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense to give up Sprint unlimited.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: Google Fiber users only at first?

Aren't there only "thousands" of GF customers? Assuming they could convert a few percent, that would just be "hundreds". Maybe that is an alpha group tho...

Google has a horrible track record at support. I have lots of dead Google crap laying around, and I assume this requires new phones or (Nexus phones anyone:)) or reflashed ones to do the wifi/cellular handoff. Now that Lollipop seems to be settling down, maybe this is the time.

In any case, I expect them to target newer Nexus Lollipop devices, or some deal w/ a manufacture from their established stable (LG/Asus/MotoLenovo). The gotcha is Sprint's CDMA network, so only newer Nexus phone prob (5/6). I think a N4 was possible, but can't recall.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

1 edit

existenz

Member

Re: Google Fiber users only at first?

KC signups in first two cities are estimated at around 75K-100K and that's before they have started rollout to the burbs. (TWC alone has so far lost over 40K customers in KC market and there are other players - TWC used to have over 300K customers in KC market, now it's 260K according to latest report). Austin rollout is kicking into gear, not sure about Provo count. And then you have 4 more markets coming.

So yeah, a few thousand to start with as a 'pilot' sounds about right. Maybe they then expand to customers who already have a Google Wallet account and invite those who use many G services. Or they may simply make it a triple play offering for Google Fiber in the long term and have it ready for the upcoming markets.

Google Fiber phone support is about as good as you can ask for, and Google Wireless support is said to be modeled after GF support. It may simply be a triple play addition to GF support wise as well.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

-3 recommendations

KennyWest

Anon

Re: Google Fiber users only at first?

and you think that all those customers that left TWC went to GF? hardly. If it was true GF would have no problem showing their numbers. When in reality, those customers could have went to U-Verse for better promos than what TWC was giving them. You base all of your findings that GF has taken everything just on "reports". Hardly the case.

And Google has said before they wanted into the Wireless business, when in reality they didn't do anything but raise the bids up and then claimed they did what they set out to do. With Nexus they set out to change the way handsets were purchased by selling full unlocked handsets at full prices. Well that didn't happen either as nobody wanted to pay $600+ out for a phone plus a 2 year contract. They said they then said that they did what the goal was. In reality again, Google only is a hobby business that gets tired very quickly of things. GF will be next along with GWireless. These poor cities that think they're going to get service in the next 2-3 years are poor saps that have no clue what's going to happen. Austin doesn't even have service and its been over a 1-2years since they announced. Poor saps who believe fully in Google
Skippy25
join:2000-09-13
Hazelwood, MO

Skippy25

Member

Re: Google Fiber users only at first?

Straight from our resident Google hater.
bigballer
join:2014-09-25

bigballer to existenz

Member

to existenz
KC needs to move over. Rest of America needs a chance too to stay relevant.

Besides, I'm not sure how much savings or performance this will even provide. Tmobile's already looking into providing cellular access over unlicensed spectrum.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Google Fiber users only at first?

For anyone already using Sprint or Tmobile, being able to use both would have benefit. If GW comes in notably less than ATT/VZW, is unlimited and has best of Sprint/TMO, some ATT/VZW customers may also give GW a shot, especially if bundled cheaper with triple play. If being restricted to only Nexus phones (or limited selection), that may be more of an issue than concerns about the carriers they use.
elray
join:2000-12-16
Santa Monica, CA

elray to existenz

Member

to existenz
It won't be unlimited data. "Neutrality" has consequences.
Google isn't going to promise the impossible.

But I would expect them to offer a better price point than $3/GB.
chris92
join:2008-09-20
Coal Valley, IL

chris92

Member

This is good news for Sprint

This is good news for Sprint if Google chooses them. There are so many people who are all-in with Google (see Google Fiber) that you cannot question their service. Google can also make Sprint or T-Mobile look like this by demonizing Verizon and AT&T.
Cobra11M
join:2010-12-23
Mineral Wells, TX

Cobra11M

Member

Re: This is good news for Sprint

T-Mobiles network plans by end of year coverage would be a good bet, Sprint also since they are expanding cell sites

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT

SimbaSeven to chris92

Member

to chris92
I sure hope not. Sprint and T-Mobile coverage SUCKS!

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

-1 recommendation

KennyWest to chris92

Anon

to chris92
It's never a good thing when Google moves into more services, especially voice/data/sms, more of your information recorded, stored and sold. But wait, it's okay for Google to do this but not okay for AT&T nor the NSA to do it.
tabernak93
join:2015-02-16
Oklahoma City, OK

tabernak93

Member

Re: This is good news for Sprint

Google certainly isn't as altruistic as some people believe, but do you really think they are going to record more data whilst providing service than any other provider and the NSA?

What they're attempting is vertical integration so they can make more money on the internet services they already provide that are often crippled by poor networks ran by others. However, they probably would run into monopoly problems if they grew these other businesses like they have docs, gmail, google, etc, so instead they're starting these small business experiments to try to prod the industry forward.

I'm sure it's as annoying as hell to wired and wireless providers, but I don't see a very likely downside for me as a consumer.

SimbaSeven
I Void Warranties
join:2003-03-24
Billings, MT
·StarLink

SimbaSeven to KennyWest

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to KennyWest
said by KennyWest :

It's never a good thing when Google moves into more services, especially voice/data/sms, more of your information recorded, stored and sold. But wait, it's okay for Google to do this but not okay for AT&T nor the NSA to do it.

Then build your own network. You must have a few hundred billion sitting around, right?
tabernak93
join:2015-02-16
Oklahoma City, OK

tabernak93

Member

Unlimited data? Or at least reasonably priced allotments?

Google could just be happy to break even and continue to increase internet connectivity so they can make more money off their bread and butter. Considering they're supposedly pairing with the only 2 carriers that still offer unlimited, I'd imagine Google could make them some sweetheart deals to help them expand their networks as well.

Who's to say wireless doesn't start having their own "voice cutters"? With VOIP all I really need is a data package, I already use hangouts at my house.
winstars
join:2011-06-17
US

winstars

Member

Re: Unlimited data? Or at least reasonably priced allotments?

"Voice cutters" I like that!

First time I have heard that term used and a quick Google turns up zero results...

I think more WiFi is needed before most people would find that method effective in their daily lives. But you could almost do it right now, depending on your needs.

Voice cutters.

Nice.

Frenchfry
@comcast.net

Frenchfry

Anon

Rural Carries

Lets hope that Google brings on board the Rural Carries to improve the coverage off the main path.
jef3
join:2009-04-14
Redwood City, CA

jef3

Member

Re: Rural Carries

said by Frenchfry :

improve the coverage off the main path

It's not even rural areas that suffer -- You're 10 miles of copper to the CO in locations in view of the San Francisco Bay. You don't have any "consumer-priced" options past dial-up available in these places at all.