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Google Interested in Wireless Bandwidth Balloons

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the or-just-want-to-suck-on-helium dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google is reportedly looking into investing in or buying a company called Space Data, which provides wireless voice and data services to remote areas with a fleet of weather balloons fitted with transceivers." My mind is sorta tripping over how something like this could work, but I gotta admit that the idea is really cool.

12 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Dear Google by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have a BB Gun.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
    1. Re:Dear Google by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
      Sorta like shooting swamp rats back on Dagoba, yeah?

      I was going to correct you but realized that being a pedantic Star Wars nerd is more embarrassing than being an inaccurate one.

    2. Re:Dear Google by trollboy · · Score: 3, Funny

      This has been done before. When there wasn't enough coverage you got a verbal warning msg.
      "Spawn more overlords"

      --
      That which is not dead may eternal lie,and in strange aeons even death may die
    3. Re:Dear Google by Zerth · · Score: 2, Funny

      Red Ryder, of course.

  2. Be sure not to paint 'em red by KublaiKhan · · Score: 4, Funny

    We all know what happens when 99 red balloons are floating in the summer sky.

    If they're carrying data, well, so much the worse...

    --
    In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
    A stately pleasure dome decree
  3. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    i have to admit it seems like the idea of a stoner... "dude... we're going to send people wireless internet from a balloon... "

  4. Re:It's a Niche Business Model by rootofevil · · Score: 2, Funny

    cornering paranoid schizophrenics?

    that doesnt sound like a good idea to me.

    at least not if you want to live.

    --
    turn up the jukebox and tell me a lie
  5. Re:Helium Shortage by DrData99 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just use hot air...

  6. I wonder what they'll call it? by Kelbear · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let me be the first to suggest:

    "Skynet"

  7. Re:Rural area by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would have modded you up, but you misspelled pole.

  8. Re:The Internet as a Mesh Network by zienth · · Score: 4, Funny

    The internet is a series of balloons...

    Zienth

  9. To the US Government... by Piranhaa · · Score: 2, Funny

    At least if Google loses contact with the balloon, it's still in the earth's atmosphere and won't necessarily need missiles to shoot it down, but merely a sniper rifle would suffice