Google, Sprint, Others to Build Wireless Data Network

Nerdposeur writes "Google has announced that it will partner with several other companies to build a high-speed mobile data network. In a separate but related deal, Google will also become the default search provider for Sprint, including having one-click search access and Google Maps pre-installed on some Sprint phones. 'The consortium includes a disparate group of partners: Sprint Nextel, Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner and Clearwire. The partners have put the value of the deal at $14.5 billion, a figure that includes radio spectrum and equipment provided by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire, and $3.2 billion from the others involved. They expect the network, which will provide the next generation of high-speed Internet access for cellphone users, to be built in as little as two years, but there is no timetable on when it will be available to users and the price is not determined. The partners are seeking to beat Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless to the market.'"

Comments

What is their masterplan?

[Anonymous Coward]

It does give food for thought, google have some much resources, and apparently a finger in every pie, but have stated little publicly about what their eventual goal is.
They seem to be moving into telecommunications, as well as data warehousing, on-line information storage, retrieval, and personal communications...
Does it make anyone else wonder whether we heading towards a future where there's only one communications company?

Re:What is their masterplan?

[DamonHD]

Uh, I don't ever remember M$ being that favourite child. My one and only communication with Mr Gates was 20-odd years ago (by telex) to ask him to force his UK office to honour its bloody contract with us. Which he did, very quickly, all credit to him.

Also, the most expensive (and pretty much the most crap) technical manual I ever had to buy was a £100 ($200 today) book from M$ in the same sort of epoch, so maybe £300/$600 today.

No, M$ was never ever as highly regarded as G still generally is, tin-foil-hat wearers et al aside. And G sets out to do good whereas M$ never gave a rat's arse if the alternative was more $$$.

A perfectly legitimate way to behave for a company, but G is trying not to be in that mold IMHO. They do have duties to shareholders of course, and other than Google.org, they're not a philanthropy.

Partial disclaimer: I use Google (and Microsoft) products, and know people at Google.

Rgds

Damon

Have to make the market - lot of risk.

[mediocubano]

Sprint has the spectrum, they paid for it a long time ago. Now that Nextel isn't generating as much free cash they don't have the money to build the network, so that is where the outside investors come in.

The tightening credit market has not helped either.

You have to spend money to make money. There are already a lot of last-mile data solutions out there, so someone has to spend a lot of money get the ball rolling. Have to make the market in this case.

Rats...

[MsGeek]

...looks like the Android train has left the station, with only Sprint aboard. So much for T-Mobile offering Android and Google stuff. This also means I'm going to have to ditch my GSM phone too. Dammit Sprint!!

Re:Rats...

[MBCook]

I agree. If I had to chose one specific strategic reason for this I'd say it's to keep things open for Google.

Microsoft has MSN which they like to try to push (quietly so as not to upset the DOJ). If AT&T, Comcast, Verison, Sprint, T-Mobile, or others decided to start giving preference to their own search (this includes site-finder like stuff) or net neutrality falters (so Google services are reduced unless someone pays extra) then Google could be in for a world of hurt. By the time the mandatory court case got far (at least far enough for an injunction) this could have become quite bad for Google.

Should the court not grant such an injunction, take a long time to grant it, or the ISPs did it sneakily enough Google could suffer some real harm by the time things got "fixed".

Google wants more people on the 'net. There is no question about that. This also serves branding ("I get my internet from Google", "Google lowered my broadband prices"). But it promises Google that even if net neutrality is denied by the supreme court, they have a possibly big partner that they can try to prevent from pushing stuff like that on them.

This is at minimum (and skeptically) a preventative measure. In the short term I think the other benefits will be better, but this is a safe play for Google.

This is also poised against Apple & Microsoft

[postbigbang]

Google maps as defaults on Sprint Phones. Who's ox is gored by this one?

Apple, who doesn't have any one in particular for GPS and mapping, and their 'business partner' AT&T.

Microsoft, whose strategy is clear as mud, and can't seem to get mobile working very well at all.

T-Mobile/DT, who doesn't partner and eschews WiMax altogether.

Verizon, who is more proprietary than any of the aforementioned, in my personal experience.

Nice move Sprint. Too bad WiMax has proven so difficult and expensive to deploy.

Sprint's Network

[TimeSpeak]

Nextel/Sprint had an inferior cell tower technology and was forced to place the towers at a closer proximity than most other carriers. This turned out to be a big bonus for the new spectrum... Closer towers=faster more reliable speeds. The other carriers are going to have to play catch-up on the technologies or invest a lot more on towers....