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Google Won't Include Phone in Google Fiber
Insists That State and Federal Regulations Too Difficult

Google considered including voice services with their Google Fiber deployments in Kansas City, but balked at the idea after studying state and federal regulations for voice services. "We looked at (offering voice service)," Milo Medin, vice president of Google Access Services insisted at an event this week. "The cost of actually delivering telephone services is almost nothing. However, in the United States, there are all of these special rules that apply."

Medin claims that the complications of calculating two different tax rates for Missouri and Kansas also contributed to the decision. Unmentioned of course is that once a user has a symmetrical 1 Gbps connection and a cell phone (likely with a Google OS, since the company now dominates a large part of the market) there's really not much of a need of a voice line. If there is, they can still nab service from a VoIP provider with oh, an ocean of bandwidth left to spare.

While Medin did take additional questions from the audience, he didn't answer questions about where Google Fiber could pop up next.
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LightS
Premium Member
join:2005-12-17
Greenville, TX

LightS

Premium Member

At least they're honest

and admit it, haha
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: At least they're honest

Google should just buy Ooma, which already has the regulatory/tax thing figured out and billing in place. Ooma already has options to tie into Google Voice. I use it and is a pretty good service - Google could beef it up even more even for non-Gfiber customers, and use Ooma to boost Google Voice service.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: At least they're honest

Google has the ability to move into the voice market very easily. They choose NOT to. Why? customer service.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: At least they're honest

said by TBBroadband:

They choose NOT to.

Thank god. I would rather they focus on Internet and TV.

AnonPerson
join:2000-08-26
Lexington, KY

AnonPerson

Member

lol

Give me a 1gig/1gig connection and I'll happily use my cellphone for conversations.
pkorx8
join:2003-06-19
San Francisco, CA

pkorx8

Member

doesn't stop anyone

This doesn't stop anyone from using Google Voice from the normal web interface or using one of those Google Voice-compatible VOIP boxes on their 1G/1G connection.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: doesn't stop anyone

Exactly As the first thing I thought of was one word... OBIHAI !

for those who dont know... »www.newegg.com/Product/P ··· -NA-_-NA

Ive been using this with google voice for quite some time and it has not failed me yet.

Interesting story, An old friend did once say to me in a conversation... "will it does not have 911 service!" As he was on Vonage and had that included and a vonage sales rep used that as a ploy to keep him as a customer as he was debating switching to google voice. I just replied.. "well everyone in my household has a cell phone with 911 service and most have the GPS enables so hypothetically they can pinpoint where we are without even needing to tell the operator a physical address, so I think were covered." I then replied.."does not everyone in your house hold own a cell phone as well?"
Needless to say on his fixed income He soon started saving $25 plus taxes a month.

However to each his own if you dont want Google voice because theres no 911 theres always Nettalk ( which I previously used) Magicjack ( had them before nettalk), & etc...
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: doesn't stop anyone

Although more than 98% of 911 call centers - including major metro areas- do NOT have GPS tracking on cell phones. They can see your number but not your location. To obtain that location would take time and some man work with the phone companies. And then you don't even get an address, you get an "area" off the cell tower.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: doesn't stop anyone

Not Really because Ive had them pin point my area before when an accident happened to a vehicle traveling in front of me that hit a dear on a empty highway, it did not take them more than a few minutes( 10 mins +/-) thats with calling my cell provider, I knew what road I was on but had no idea how far In I was on it. Now its not as fast as having a physical address pop up on the 911 operators screen when theres a home emergency but they are still able to find you rather quickly if needs be. Also if your at home I'd hope you know your own address anyway to give to A 911 operator ( exception to small children) in case of an emergency. It really depends on what system is in use in what part of the country and "area" pin pointed me down to with in 500 yards in the case I spoke of.

jfleni
@bhn.net

jfleni

Anon

Re: doesn't stop anyone

There are dozens, if not scores, of places to get very reasonable IP telephone service. Only an IP telephone (about $25 and up) connected directly to the router or computer is needed. This avoids conversion from old analog phones, and their crappy audio.

Google surely knows this; they should publish a list of companies that offer this service. Eventually somebody else will if they don't.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband to buddahbless

Member

to buddahbless
And that's what i said. But thanks for reposting . As i said, most of the country is NOT upgraded to e911's 2nd stage of updates. it stopped with caller id.

Also not many people can remember their own name in an emergency let alone their address. I was attacked one night outside of my house. I could get back to my door, but couldn't figure out what key to use to get inside, nor remember my name and address. I had a landline then and was greatful for it as 911 was able to find me. With my cell, no so lucky, even in major metro areas.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: doesn't stop anyone

your example only shows just the difference in persons you and I are, as I have been in an emergency situation before and I was able to rattle of the address of the friends house I was at and give it to the 911 operator and what was happening right in front of me. Then again you live in Toledo you may want to consider moving to a safer area.

please cite your source and show me where the 98% its not operational at as for one I know its available in most of FL.

Napsterbater
Meh
MVM
join:2002-12-28
Milledgeville, GA
(Software) OPNsense
Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-PRO

Napsterbater to TBBroadband

MVM

to TBBroadband
said by TBBroadband:

Although more than 98% of 911 call centers - including major metro areas- do NOT have GPS tracking on cell phones. They can see your number but not your location. To obtain that location would take time and some man work with the phone companies. And then you don't even get an address, you get an "area" off the cell tower.

Definitely gonna need a citation on that.

For Instance last report I saw for GA stated all but 3 counties has E911 Phase 2 , And now 1 of of those has been upgraded since then.

1 requirement of E911 Phase 2
"Wireless network operators must provide the latitude and longitude of callers within 300 meters, within six minutes of a request by a PSAP. Accuracy rates must meet FCC standards on average within any given participating PSAP service area by September 11, 2012"

tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Gulfport, MS

tc1uscg to TBBroadband

Member

to TBBroadband
said by TBBroadband:

Although more than 98% of 911 call centers - including major metro areas- do NOT have GPS tracking on cell phones. They can see your number but not your location. To obtain that location would take time and some man work with the phone companies. And then you don't even get an address, you get an "area" off the cell tower.

E911. It works and has nothing to do with GPS. Not as close but darn close and enough to get help on the way. Once your call routes to your PSAP, it's the phone companies system that provides your location and unless the 911 op knows what they are doing, most use to not go to the proper screen to obtain this info. It's not the same field as the persons address. I've done hundreds of 911 test calls during my years with Sprint and 9 times out of 10, I had to 'remind' them to go to the next page/screen to see my location. Which in the beginning, was the address to the tower that i was connected to. Those kinks have for the most part, been worked out.

Napsterbater
Meh
MVM
join:2002-12-28
Milledgeville, GA
(Software) OPNsense
Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-PRO

Napsterbater

MVM

Re: doesn't stop anyone

said by tc1uscg:

said by TBBroadband:

Although more than 98% of 911 call centers - including major metro areas- do NOT have GPS tracking on cell phones. They can see your number but not your location. To obtain that location would take time and some man work with the phone companies. And then you don't even get an address, you get an "area" off the cell tower.

E911. It works and has nothing to do with GPS. Not as close but darn close and enough to get help on the way. Once your call routes to your PSAP, it's the phone companies system that provides your location and unless the 911 op knows what they are doing, most use to not go to the proper screen to obtain this info. It's not the same field as the persons address. I've done hundreds of 911 test calls during my years with Sprint and 9 times out of 10, I had to 'remind' them to go to the next page/screen to see my location. Which in the beginning, was the address to the tower that i was connected to. Those kinks have for the most part, been worked out.

It can use GPS, in fact early on Verizon Opted for GPS while ATT opted for Cell triangulation, both had pros and cons but I'm sure its changed and can use a combination of methods to get the information.
travelguy
join:1999-09-03
Bismarck, ND
Asus RT-AC68
Ubiquiti NSM5

travelguy to buddahbless

Member

to buddahbless
I use an ObiHai device with Google Voice for free outbound calls, a Google Voice local number forwarded to a free Callcentric DID for inbound calls, and a $1.50/month Callcentric 911 service.

Aside from a short period of Sandy induced disruption, it works very well.

AVD
Respice, Adspice, Prospice
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Onion, NJ

AVD to pkorx8

Premium Member

to pkorx8
said by pkorx8:

This doesn't stop anyone from using Google Voice from the normal web interface or using one of those Google Voice-compatible VOIP boxes on their 1G/1G connection.

THIS, and its unregulated from a wireline provider point of view. Plus, its probably not a money maker
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

1 recommendation

TBBroadband

Member

"there are all of these special rules that apply."

Aka- we we couldn't get anything bent for us like we did for the build.

But the taxes and service deployment should be easy. Especially since they have a CLEC on board for GoogleVoice and for Google411.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

said by TBBroadband:

Aka- we we couldn't get anything bent for us like we did for the build.

But the taxes and service deployment should be easy. Especially since they have a CLEC on board for GoogleVoice and for Google411.

And this little whine by Google is bogus:
quote:
The complications of calculating two different tax rates for Missouri and Kansas
Google already has to deal with varying tax rates around the country for cellphone devices they sell and for Google Apps. Google should just have said what they meant - they didn't want to staff the customer service positions needed to deal with complaining telephone users.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

That as well.

Although a true but if Google was smart from the start, they'd hire an outside call center that would know what they're doing. Instead of trying it themselves. That is what is going to hurt them long term, not having a customer service center that can actually trouble-shoot and provide answers to something that does NOT work instead of saying "please visit us online at: help.google.com/fiber.

The interesting thing though; they already have to deal with the two different taxes for their cable network. So why not add 2 more. Would be easy enough to program the billing system to do that. But wait, I forgot that involves someone that knows what they are doing.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

said by TBBroadband:

That as well.

Although a true but if Google was smart from the start, they'd hire an outside call center that would know what they're doing. Instead of trying it themselves. That is what is going to hurt them long term, not having a customer service center that can actually trouble-shoot and provide answers to something that does NOT work instead of saying "please visit us online at: help.google.com/fiber.

The interesting thing though; they already have to deal with the two different taxes for their cable network. So why not add 2 more. Would be easy enough to program the billing system to do that. But wait, I forgot that involves someone that knows what they are doing.

Can't hire a call center and still be able to provide free internet/dirt-cheap service and be able to turn a profit. Google wants to stick it to the telcos, not offer customer service.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

and without customer service they won't be anywhere. and they're not trying to kick it to the telcos. If they did, they'd deploy Google voice over their fiber services instead of crying about the taxes and "rules" that they'd have to follow. The big rule they'd be required to have is customer service. Google's CSRs are nothing but an auto-reply system that NEVER provides answers like their own help site.

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

said by TBBroadband:

and without customer service they won't be anywhere.

TW and ATT have no customer service in this area and do pretty well.

So there goes that argument.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
Ill give you that the excuse was bogus, but there are already work around items that would make this dedicated service pointless and an extra cost that can be worked around. So google decided to not join in with paying more taxes to uncle sam and his local friends for 911 service, for those that truly want google voice at home as a landline A easy google search for "google voice adapter" will provide everything you need on page one!
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

they already pay taxes on their Voice services. Those are purchased from bandwidth.com - the company behind Republic Wireless and was the company behind Goog411. Remember the little advertising saying "your call is being connected by Bandwidth.com? They're the backend provider for the entire network of Google Voice.

buddahbless
join:2005-03-21
Premium

buddahbless

Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

Please read the post fully TB, I never said they don't pay taxes, I said pay MORE taxes... big difference.

JasonOD
@comcast.net

JasonOD to FFH5

Anon

to FFH5
said by FFH5:

And this little whine by Google is bogus:

quote:
The complications of calculating two different tax rates for Missouri and Kansas

I think google was referring to the line item municipal tax on phone service, which vary widely, and are a can of worms (granted google fiber is in what, two municipalities).
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: "there are all of these special rules that apply."

they service 2 cities. It's not like they service the entire country.

Oh_No
Trogglus normalus
join:2011-05-21
Chicago, IL

Oh_No to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
Yeah it is not worth the hassle to be a landline.
I guess the issue is when you position yourself as a landline instead of voip (even though its all the same thing) you become on the radar of politicians who fight for seniors.
Its not worth fighting politicians over some grandma somewhere not being able to make a phone call.

I would also say they know the home phone is dead and its a break even effort not a profitable one. Even ATT has already started to offer only cell to landline hook up in many areas.
Also, they have google voice which you can use for phone calls if you want for free.

Cheese
Premium Member
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL

Cheese

Premium Member

Goverment and thier Rules....

Even a company like Google doesn't want to have to deal with the rules and regulations to bring out competition for Voice. And we wonder why we don't have much competition in this country.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: Goverment and thier Rules....

The reason is Google couldn't get the rules bent and had to deal with taxes. And then add customer service on top of it. You can bet if someone was treated the way Nexus customers were/are treated that Google would have some issues with Voice customers. Something Google does NOT want to deal with.

•••
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd to Cheese

Premium Member

to Cheese
I think taxation of some things is complex just to make it harder to question the tax.

One reason internet vendors resist sales taxes is they do not want to get mired up in city, county and state sales taxes. if the states win the right to sales tax in Congress regardless of company and warehouse locations the counties and cities will want in too.

Donut
join:2005-06-27
Romulus, MI

Donut

Member

Who gives a shit

There are tons of VoIP providers. Aint like you have a cap to worry about on Google fiber.

•••••••
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

done and done

Google already offers basic voip service through google talk and 3rd party hardware.. and if you want the full paid versions there are plenty of vendors from ooma, to magic jack, to nettalk which offer hardware solutions for pennies on the dollar w/ e911 services.

backup is ANY cellphone, with service or not..
Kamus
join:2011-01-27
El Paso, TX

Kamus

Member

Don't care.

I don't care for their phone services and i don't care for their TV services one bit.
Their connection with no restrictions is exactly about that. It's so fast that you don't need any of the "old ways" of communicating or using media.
ShellMMG
join:2009-04-16
Grass Lake, MI

ShellMMG

Member

Still work to be done?

I'd jump at the chance for Google fiber. Any time, any place, any way, almost any price.

Several years ago my young daughter and I were involved in a car accident. I was hit on the drivers' side by an older gentleman who was from another state and didn't know the roads, and fortunately none of us were hurt. I had a cell phone and called 911...

...and got the county Prosecutor himself.

He asked me why didn't I dial 911 and sounded pretty shocked when I told him I did! He was quick to help and I don't know if the switching problem was with their office or the network.
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

Google Talk?

Why can they not provide Google Talk ?

••••
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Good

There's no point to fiber or cable phone. If you want something reliable, get copper, if not, cell phones and/or voip is fine.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Re: Good

said by BiggA:

There's no point to fiber or cable phone. If you want something reliable, get copper, if not, cell phones and/or voip is fine.

I don't know about that. My phone company is going to discontinue their copper as soon as they can. I am going to get their phone service over fiber as soon as I can. It may not be as cheap as your typical voip service, but it is going to be a whole lot more reliable with unparalleled service. If it stops working, they will come out and fix it the same day for no charge. The no hassle is worth it.
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

Re: Good

Maybe telco fiber, i.e. FIOS is reliable if you have backup power locally for it. However, Verizon is NOT getting rid of their copper plant, so you can keep copper, unless of course you're in lower Manhattan, where the copper plant was destroyed.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

I'll take FiOS

There may be a possibility that FiOS may be making its way to Springfield, MA. I have seen a lot of Verizon crews and subcontractors around town. I asked if that line he was pulling was fiber optic, he said yes. I asked if FiOS is coming, he replied it was for a data center that is going up and I am not aware of any data center projects and I've seen them outside of the central business district, I suspect they are upgrading the back haul infrastructure for a possible FiOS deployment. Considering the possibility of a casino in town (with the passed casino legislation, I'll save discussion on that for the Red Room), they want to upgrade the infrastructure to support the possibility of a resort casino (which includes upgrading the residential infrastructure as well).

At least with FiOS, I can get a home phone so my burglar alarm can dial in to the central station.

••••