Google and Verizon In Talks To Prioritize Traffic (Updated)

Nrbelex writes "Google and Verizon are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content's creators are willing to pay for the privilege. Any agreement between Verizon and Google could also upend the efforts of the Federal Communications Commission to assert its authority over broadband service, which was severely restricted by a federal appeals court decision in April. People close to the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly about them said an agreement could be reached as soon as next week. If completed, Google, whose Android operating system powers many Verizon wireless phones, would agree not to challenge Verizon's ability to manage its broadband Internet network as it pleased." Update: 08/05 20:03 GMT by T : nr3a1 writes with this informative update excerpted from Engadget: "Google's Public Policy Twitter account just belted out a denial of these claims, straight-up saying that the New York Times 'is wrong.' Here's the full tweet, which certainly makes us feel a bit more at ease. For now. '@NYTimes is wrong. We've not had any convos with VZN about paying for carriage of our traffic. We remain committed to an open internet.' Verizon's now also issued a statement and, like Google, it's denying the claims in the original New York Times report."

Comments

"Don't be evil."

[oDDmON oUT]

My @ss.

Re:Get ready to Bend over America

[Jafafa Hots]

Sure, that's handy. Verizon will not discriminate between Gmail and Hotmail. They will download at the same rate. Nice and speedy because Verizon doesn't make any money on email.

Verizon won't discriminate between Flickr and and Picasa, they will download at the same rate, pretty speedy because Verizon doesn't make any money selling photo hosting - but possibly a bit slower than email, because pics use more bandwidth which costs Verizon money.

Verizon won't discriminate between Hulu and Netflix or Amazon video downloads. They'll all download at the same rate - so slow as to be unusable, or at least so slow as to make Verizon's pay per view an attractive alternative, because Verizon sells video downloads and will have that incentive.

Sort of like giving McDonald's authority to set the prices on Wendys, Hardees, Burger King, Jack In The Box and Carl's Jr. hamburgers.

McDonald's promises they won't show favoritism in setting their competitor's prices, they'll do it uniformly across the board. And they will. All their competitor's burger prices will be set at $100 each.

Thanks Google.

You are right. It is enlightening to hear Google's side of the story. Not a surprising side, pretty much the same side as any corporation. Their side? "we will do whatever makes us the most money regardless of the damage it causes." Of course - not articulately that clearly, that honestly... because deliberately giving being deceptive and obfuscating the message better serves that amoral aim than being truthful.

"Don't be evil?" Marketing speak. Keep your prey, er I mean the public mislead. Better for profits. No different than Apple saying "Think Different" as they sell their products as the ultimate symbols of conformity, a conformity so important that people will literally line up at the doors waiting for a new product so as not to be seen for a second as being on the "outside" of what's desirable.

Same as Fox News, selling lies and propaganda with the slogan "Fair and Balanced."

Thanks, Google. Thanks for selling us all out. I hope your profits are worth it. And to the OP, I hope your bonus is worth the selling of your personal integrity, considering that the only thing a person has that can never be taken by force is their integrity. I wouldn't want you to have sold this one thing you truly would have owned forever too cheaply.

Re:Get ready to Bend over America

[commodore64_love]

>>>I don't know where you live, but highways here aren't restricted by how much you.

Maryland's I-95 through Baltimore. Rich people can pay extra and take the express lane, and then the Annapolis government gets to keep the money to pay off its debt.

So basically we have a government acting just as evil/greedy as a corporation.