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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.

2 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Rural area by KublaiKhan · · Score: 5, Informative

    If they're the same weather balloons that the NOAA folks use, they float well above commercial air traffic lanes.

    --
    In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
    A stately pleasure dome decree
  2. Re:Only a 24-hour lifespan? by Cyberax · · Score: 4, Informative

    Weather balloons do not 'pop' like common toy balloons.

    If you make a tear in balloons fabric - it will slowly descend as the helium inside the balloon leaks.

    Of course, if you tear balloon apart - it will fall lake a lead weight. But it's rather hard to do.