dslreports logo
 story category
Google Plans To Offer Wireless Services

Last Spring, paywall-loving tech news outlet The Information floated a rather vague rumor that Google was considering a very serious jump into the wireless industry. Eight months later and the news outlet is back with some additional information, claiming that Google's essentially going to be operating an MVNO that utilizes, at least in part, the T-Mobile and Sprint networks:

quote:
Click for full size
Google is preparing to sell mobile phone plans directly to customers and manage their calls and mobile data over a cellular network, according to three people with knowledge of the plans...The new service is expected run on Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks, two people familiar with the product say. Google is expected to reach deals to buy wholesale access to those carriers’ mobile voice and data networks, making it a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO, they say.
Google's got about a million irons in the fire when it comes to wireless and creative uses of spectrum right now, so it should be very interesting to see what the end result of all this tinkering will be. Especially on the pricing and plan side of the equation.

A report in the Wall Street Journal notes that Google has been lobbying the government to free up around 150MHz of unused spectrum on the 3.5GHz band. The move is part of an initiative that's been underway for some time to create new shorter-range broadband alternatives using unlicensed spectrum. Google has been conducting tests across numerous bands on potential wireless technologies the company one day hopes could help complement Google Fiber.

The Journal makes it clear that Google's been a very busy boy when it comes to pushing the FCC on the issue across 10 meetings and in more than 100 pages of "highly technical filings." Google's also been busy acquiring companies and talent that could help its efforts reach fruition:
quote:
Milo Medin, a Google executive who previously led Google Fiber, is heading up an unspecified Internet access project. The company also recently hired Andrew Clegg, a spectrum expert at the National Science Foundation, and Preston Marshall, a spectrum expert formerly of DARPA. This summer, it bought wireless startup Alpental Technologies, which was founded by two former Clearwire Corp. engineers and specializes in developing cheap, high-speed wireless access technologies.
Unsurprisingly the bigger carriers have been a bit less excited about the possibility of spectrum sharing across these bands (given it might open the door to competitors), and have urged the FCC to slow down the pace of considering Google's proposals. They're likely just as uninterested in facing a new wireless Google competitor that could do for wireless what Google Fiber has done for the conversation regarding fixed-line broadband competition.
view:
topics flat nest 
criggs
join:2000-07-14
New York, NY

criggs

Member

Google's MVNO Nova Product: Unlimited Data?

Like the subject header says. What's the data cap if any on non-mobile phone plans, i.e. laptop plans? What will be the monthly rate? Etc. etc.

Anyone heard anything?

Love to be able to read the Information.com article, but they're demanding a minimum of $39 for one month in order to read it. Screw that.
SunnyD
join:2009-03-20
Madison, AL

SunnyD

Member

Sprint AND T-Mo?

I know Sprint is slowly migrating to something useful with their network vision crap, but using both Sprint and T-Mo? How are they planning on doing interop on the networks? Or are they even going to?
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Sprint AND T-Mo?

Data should be easy to switch between the two. Voice maybe picks one or other perhaps based on market or option on the phone.
existenz

existenz

Member

Re: Sprint AND T-Mo?

The bigger question is will they get Sprint's roaming coverage, which is very good - you just don't want to live in it. I may switch from Sprint to this if they have Sprint's native/roaming footprint in addition to TMOs. Sprint's 800LTE/voice rollout is significantly improving coverage/building penetration as well.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest

Anon

Re: Sprint AND T-Mo?

Why not? It's an option for MVNOs if they wish to pay for it. Straight Talk pays for it. So does republic wireless.

franklinn
@comcastbusiness.net

franklinn to SunnyD

Anon

to SunnyD
said by SunnyD:

I know Sprint is slowly migrating to something useful with their network vision crap, but using both Sprint and T-Mo? How are they planning on doing interop on the networks? Or are they even going to?

actually quite a few recent phones including the latest iphone and nexus support all the bands and technologies used by the 4 carriers and and roaming between t-mobile AWS LTE and sprint LTE at 800mhz and 2.5ghz bands should be quite feasible.

stoppingBYE
@comcast.net

stoppingBYE to SunnyD

Anon

to SunnyD
I have a feeling Google will perhaps make a bid for Tmo. Could be a stretch but could be a huge shake up.

But probably not, I see Google Voice\Hangouts integrated some way. Could be a collaboration to test their Loon tech in a production infrastructure. I imagine this isn't just for revenue. This is a live study to ge them in the game via Loon and LEO satellites.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

to what end?

How is google going to make TMO and Sprint QOS better and/or cheaper?!? None of the exiting mvno's have made an impact!

What a confusing turn of events... does this mean they're going to hit regulatory roadblocks in their Google Fiber TO THE UNSERVED/UNDERSERVED (or monopoly/duopoly price gouged)HOMES of America plans? Stay tuned...

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

2 recommendations

KennyWest

Anon

Re: to what end?

There has never been any regulatory road blocks with GF. It's that Google doesn't want to play fair. Go back and read their issues with KC and wanting to put their fiber lines up above the power lines and didn't want to pay to have it done and cried and cried and stomped their feet over it until things were changed around.

Google is another big baby that needs smacked. and an MVNO? Hardly. The only MVNO that is making an impact is Carl Sims and his companies and Republic Wireless. Otherwise other MVNOs are just repackaged and same priced Sprint services. Plus who wants to use Google as their phone company? Every thing you'd do on that phone will be recorded and tracked for their great services to "improve" how your phone works. The same as they like to keep the GPS on plus your Wifi to "improve" your location results and search. But they don't tell you up front is that they want to use your Wifi to send home the information that they're gobbling up.
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

Re: to what end?

I would call straight talk a pretty major impact player and you can choose between all 4 with them.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest

Anon

Re: to what end?

You do realize that Straight Talk is Carl Sims right??? it's one of his many MVNOs of the world. He's actually the largest MVNO in the world according to some reports of the company.
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

Re: to what end?

Nope, did not know, I tried doing a search on it before my post but did not come up with anything. I have been giving him my money the past couple years then.

saronian
join:1999-09-07
Oakland, CA

saronian to KennyWest

Member

to KennyWest
I think Carlos Slim's América Móvil owns StraightTalk
mikesco8
join:2006-02-17
Southwick, MA

mikesco8

Member

Re: to what end?

There we go, a little spelling correction makes all the difference in a search.
OldCableGuy (banned)
join:2014-12-19

OldCableGuy (banned) to KennyWest

Member

to KennyWest
Someone with a clue about the real Google, on DSLR?

You're not going to last long here...
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080 to KennyWest

Member

to KennyWest
I don't see how Google's special deal and so-called whining is all that much worse than the BILLIONS of dollars that telcos have got from the taxpayers over the decades in exchange (in some cases) for NOTHING but shareholder and management bonuses padding. Some subsidy should be expected. The big problem I have with google's decision to get into MVNO cell service is, the market place is a mess. Why associate the Google brand with that right now?!?
It would be better to push ahead with more FTTP deployments in the lost telco cities instead! Once google reaches a some threshhold it will wake telcos up to the fact that they no longer have an incumbency status and profits wich were taken for granted are at risk. NY state is about to hand out 500 Million of the taxpayer's money.. but will get screwed in return. There is really no contest here. Google fiber can become a great last mile ISP business.. they just need to dig deeper into that multi billion dollar warchest and come up with a decent name.. Google Fiber won't cut it..
Paying around $70 for 50 megbit service in NY state sucks... gigabit would be much better.. incumbents just dont' give a crap. They know they've got you.. and take you for granted. So do cell phone companies-- even tmo & sprint-- regardless of churn, customers still demand the product from one of them.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

-4 recommendations

KennyWest

Anon

Old News

Google claimed this before and it never happened. Another hobby again. Google really needed to decide what they're going to focus on and stop spending their poor sucker's money. SEC seriously should be called at this point for some investigations. First a search engine, then email, then YouTube, a half ass ISP- that is losing money out the ass, purchasing a SpaceX and now a cell phone company? OH! Don't forget the whole Moto deal that they lost everything on.

If they were smart they should have taken Moto and sat on it, and then went and purchased RIM and became a real player instead of going to other companies for other devices they could have made themselves. Stupid mgt sounds like other retail's MGT, they have no clue what they are doing let alone will ever until they run the company into the ground.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

If Google is going this route via acquisitions, Ting already has TMUS and Sprint integrations set up, and the new fiber network projects are icing on the cake. Then Google spins off the downloads side of things and calls it a day.

Alternately, they acquire bandwidth.com...Google's probably their biggest customer anyway...and put the Republic Wireless tech to work. Though they'd need to get an MVNO set up for TMUS if they did that.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

Acquiring Ting might get them in more quickly but they probably want to setup their own model and terms with carriers.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest to iansltx

Anon

to iansltx
Bandwidth is worth more than Goog. They are a national CLEC that powers many companies and services. That includes MSFT and Skype. Bandwith.com is also a law firm. One of the largest. They just don't throw money away on hobbies like Google's idiot mgt.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

said by KennyWest :

Bandwidth is worth more than Goog. They are a national CLEC that powers many companies and services. That includes MSFT and Skype. Bandwith.com is also a law firm. One of the largest. They just don't throw money away on hobbies like Google's idiot mgt.

You really hate Google.


KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest

Anon

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

That is still not a true 1gig as they advertise. Especially on the upstream. But the fact is they have no clue how to run any business. They have too many hobbies and will fall. All things fall when they get too big- MaBell- it fell- MSFT- it fell. Best Buy- it fell and is losing money. The list goes on.

but the fact is- they do NOT have the money nor the know how to run an actual phone company. If they did, they would not be at Bandwidth right now powering Google Voice and all of the other Google Voice Products. And any business in their right mind would NEVER let Google touch their information- especially medical offices and schools.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com



Different test server
existenz
join:2014-02-12

1 recommendation

existenz

Member

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

Don't feed the troll. Has been explained to him several times that there is tcpip/app layer overhead and he still doesn't understand. Is OK if uninformed but after explained and ignoring it, it's called ignorance. When repeating the explanation to him and he still spreads misinformation, he can justifiably be called a fool.

Gbit devices can truly deliver a full Gbit at physical layer but with tcp/app layer overhead, 930 or so is about as high as it will show on speedtests, even with local LAN Gbit. And a single computer test doesn't always max out a Gbit ISP, may need to use 2 or more at same time.

»How to properly test a Gigabit network connection
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

He may be trolling but it is worth noting that At&t got sued for failing to deliver promised speeds due to overhead.

v6movement
@pppoe.ca

v6movement

Anon

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

said by silbaco:

He may be trolling but it is worth noting that At&t got sued for failing to deliver promised speeds due to overhead.

This comment is pretty vague and until details are provided its hard to even compare the two scenarios.
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz to silbaco

Member

to silbaco
Did ATT lose the lawsuit and if so, how off was it? If they lost based solely on overhead difference, then literally every Gbit hardware maker can be sued for marketing Gigabit switches/routers/devices. They do deliver a full Gbit at the physical layer, but not app/tcp layer - ditto with Google Fiber. GFiber can even delivers a Gbit (factoring overhead) outside of their own network to the coasts if tested properly.

v6movement
@pppoe.ca

v6movement to KennyWest

Anon

to KennyWest
said by KennyWest :

That is still not a true 1gig as they advertise. Especially on the upstream.

Taking away the flaws in this comment due to TCP/IP overhead.. 99.9999% of the population couldn't care less if the service is 920Mbps vs 1000Mbps (even though that isn't possible). The whole point is that that connection is leaps and bounds faster than anything else out there and unlike the typical broadband networks built by the cable companies and telcos it is built to be able to handle those speeds a lot more consistently even during peak hours.
said by KennyWest :

they do NOT have the money nor the know how to run an actual phone company.

The people running phone companies don't know how to run a phone company. If they did they wouldn't have the lowest consumer satisfaction numbers of any industry bar none. Most of these companies are run by complete idiots.

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

Camaro to KennyWest

Premium Member

to KennyWest
said by KennyWest :

but the fact is- they do NOT have the money

I am no financial expert but....

»www.theirnetworth.com/Bu ··· /Google/
OldCableGuy (banned)
join:2014-12-19

OldCableGuy (banned) to DataRiker

Member

to DataRiker
1ms ping? I can get thsoe speeds on my LAN too.

v6movement
@pppoe.ca

v6movement

Anon

Re: Wouldn't be surprised if they bought Tucows or bandwidth.com

said by OldCableGuy:

1ms ping? I can get thsoe speeds on my LAN too.

That is pretty high for your LAN. But it was pretty obvious he wasn't talking about his local network.
ISurfTooMuch
join:2007-04-23
Tuscaloosa, AL

1 recommendation

ISurfTooMuch

Member

Why not just buy T-Mobile?

Why not just buy T-Mobile and be done with it? DT clearly wants to sell, and it would almost certainly face little regulatory opposition. Is it that they don't want to piss off the other carriers by both making Android and competing against those carriers? But, realistically, what will the carriers do? Stop selling Android phones? I doubt it, since they sell a ton of them, and Android is the only platform that allows them to pre-load all their damn bloatware.

••••••
floydb1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA

floydb1982

Member

I don't this will work out

If your driving and talking on your Nexus phone and your phone has to say switch from T-Mobile to Sprint then you would loose your call because Sprint uses CDMA and T-Mobile uses GSM. Then again maybe Google has figured out how make a phone keep a cellular signal when switching between CDMA and GSM. Now I could see Google using AT&T and T-Mobile on a single phone because they both use GSM networks.
gamersglory
join:2012-11-11
Chapel Hill, NC

gamersglory

Member

Re: I don't this will work out

It will be called Nexus Wireless i bet

NetEng
@comcast.net

NetEng to floydb1982

Anon

to floydb1982
VoLTE...
Jim_in_VA (banned)
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA

Jim_in_VA (banned)

Member

Verizon and AT&T

..watch your back, there be demons ... you greedy bastards

AnonDude
@charter.com

1 recommendation

AnonDude

Anon

T-Mobile & Sprint= non-starter

Offer a service with terrible coverage. real smart.

w0g
o.O
join:2001-08-30
Springfield, OR

w0g

Member

hi. :)..

The potential for this network is carrier aggregation across bands, where t mo and Sprint's network can be used as one network. This is rare but possible, reason it is not likely is general system incompatibility but it could in theory work if they wanted to make it work.

Next is just a network where you can roam onto either T mo or Sprint. This seems likely. Devices are already compatible with spectrum from both companies .. It would create a super network, perhaps where it hops onto the best network possible in each region, such as Sprint in Spark areas, and T Mo in areas Sprint lacks Spark, or Speint 3G in areas T mo lacks 3G/LTE, or either LTE where the other lacks LTE. It sounds like a super combination for roaming, Sprint + T mo network.. Sprint also has waaay better voice coverage outside of city limits in many regions, with at least 1xAdvanced data.. Ie in Oregon's eastern parts, where t mo has no coverage.

tmh
@verizon.net

tmh

Anon

All your privacy are belong to us

Google already knows where you are and what you do. Now they will know everything you say. Happy goldfish bowl everybody.

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest

Anon

Re: All your privacy are belong to us

Don't forget they also were one of the first that gave up information to the NSA for emails and such. Then lied about it when it came and and tried to "fight" their warrants and such after it.

v6movement
@pppoe.ca

v6movement

Anon

Re: All your privacy are belong to us

said by KennyWest :

Don't forget they also were one of the first that gave up information to the NSA for emails and such. Then lied about it when it came and and tried to "fight" their warrants and such after it.

It is more like who wasn't on the list of companies providing information to the NSA and they all behaved in the same manner.
floydb1982
join:2004-08-25
Kent, WA

floydb1982

Member

I don't this will work out

If your driving and talking on your Nexus phone and your phone has to say switch from T-Mobile to Sprint then you would loose your call because Sprint uses CDMA and T-Mobile uses GSM. Then again maybe Google has figured out how make a phone keep a cellular signal when switching between CDMA and GSM. Now I could see Google using AT&T and T-Mobile on a single phone because they both use GSM networks.

w0g
o.O
join:2001-08-30
Springfield, OR

w0g

Member

Re: I don't this will work out

The one thing about this is the LTE networks are the same so handoffs could happen. Google might even have some type of virtual system to allow two operators networks to intermingle.. So handshakes and hand offs become mostly transparent.

I figure without knowing their plans and tech inside and out , it is not possible to speculate as it may or may not work together with today's tech.

frankyman
@comcast.net

frankyman to floydb1982

Anon

to floydb1982
said by floydb1982:

If your driving and talking on your Nexus phone and your phone has to say switch from T-Mobile to Sprint then you would loose your call because Sprint uses CDMA and T-Mobile uses GSM. Then again maybe Google has figured out how make a phone keep a cellular signal when switching between CDMA and GSM. Now I could see Google using AT&T and T-Mobile on a single phone because they both use GSM networks.

its all VoLTE pretty soon.

odreian615
join:2006-01-18
Chicago, IL

odreian615

Member

This is just for Chrome laptops

Willing to bet

KennyWest
@sbcglobal.net

KennyWest

Anon

Re: This is just for Chrome laptops

Same here. Especially since they already work with VZW on the laptops for the data service. And that is if anything happens.
ptb42
join:2002-09-30
USA

ptb42 to odreian615

Member

to odreian615
said by odreian615:

Willing to bet

This is the second forum that I've seen a posting about Google and Sprint/T-Mobile, and no one here has figured it out, either.

Google is partnering with US wireless companies now, to enable US deployment of their modular phone in the near future:

»projectara.com/
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pr ··· ject_Ara
»www.theguardian.com/tech ··· ject-ara

stevek1949
We're not in Kansas anymore
Premium Member
join:2002-11-13
Virginia Beach, VA

stevek1949

Premium Member

Radio Shack > Sprint > Google

With the rumor of Radio Shacks demise and Sprint taking over leases, it makes room for a Google Storefront. A place to sell subscriptions and hardware.

Also, what about Google Wi-Fi? No mention of a Wi-Fi net for users/subscribers.

Abby Normal
@verizon.com

Abby Normal

Anon

Customer Service?

curious how they will handle customer service and it's true expense
existenz
join:2014-02-12

existenz

Member

Re: Customer Service?

When the rumor first started last year, it implied that Google would start wireless in Google Fiber markets first. Starting small would allow them to ramp up customer support in controlled manner instead of potentially a massive wave.

GFiber phone/online support is pretty good. The reps have problem solving skills and able to do deductive reasoning, rather than reading from scripts.

anonomeX
@comcast.net

anonomeX

Anon

Google Mesh?

...anyone? ...anyone? ...Bueller?
cmla
join:2013-10-01

cmla

Member

Google Could Purchase Freedompop

Freedompop seems to be in talks with carriers. Google could purchase this freemium service. Would go well with GV/Hangouts, and offers of free goodies. They could make some money with the purchase of premiums services and their new Freedompop wifi access.

Freedompop platform could prob be adjusted to work on CDMA and GSM. They would be purchasing a subscriber base. Hmmm...

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

Coverage map mashup

I would love to see a data coverage mash up between sprint and t-mobile. They couldn't merge but t mobile could bring them together and not even have to buy them.