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Google Wants To Be a Wireless Carrier

Posted by samzenpus on from the google-calling dept.

zacharye writes "Google has already conquered the software side of smartphones and now the technology giant is reportedly in talks to take over the air waves. A report on Thursday claims that Google has held talks with satellite television provider Dish Network regarding the possibility of a venture that would see Google launch its own cellular network and compete directly with the likes of Verizon and AT&T."

12 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. Shut up and take my money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When the current crop of American wireless carriers look like a group of mustache-twirling Bond villains, it won't be hard for Google to come off as the better choice. At least they'll have an incentive to give you unlimited high speed data.

    Too bad the coverage area will probably be tiny.

    1. Re:Shut up and take my money by somersault · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As long as it forces the other carriers to have a look at their rates, it's good. It probably won't affect me anytime soon seeing as I live in the UK (besides, my phone is a company phone anyway), but I'd like to see what kind of rates Google considers to be reasonable.

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      which is totally what she said
    2. Re:Shut up and take my money by History's+Coming+To · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If they follow their general model we'll probably be looking at something ad supported - in-browser, SMS ads, that sort of thing - to support "unlimited" data, and with the option to pay $5/month to remove them. If Google take this as a near-loss-leader then we could see a big shake up amongst providers, although I suspect we'll simply see a host of competitiveness lawsuits and the lawyers will be the only winners...again.

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      Please consider this account deleted, I just can't be bothered with the spam anymore.
    3. Re:Shut up and take my money by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If they follow their general model we'll probably be looking at ...

      If they follow their general model we'll probably be looking at Google tracking anything and everything your phone sends and receives, and then they'll send you ads. So, in the middle of texting back and forth to pick a time and place for dinner you'll get a Google sponsored text message telling you about a great restaurant in your area and they happen to take Google Wallet as a payment method.

    4. Re:Shut up and take my money by neonKow · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Actually, if they follow their general model, then we're looking at something data-mining supported. Google products may have ads, but don't forget how many non-google sites carry google ads.

      As for how it'll affect the industry as a whole: there won't be lawsuits. Rather, AT&T and Verizon will have to follow suit to stay competitive, and then data mining your unencrypted mobile data will become both legal and the norm. Yay for privacy errosion!

    5. Re:Shut up and take my money by EvilBudMan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      We'll the government does that tracking anyhow. So why not? That one thing that makes Google successful as their ads are less intrusive and therefore more effective. I would trust them more with my data than let's say any other third party.

    6. Re:Shut up and take my money by chill · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Uh, banging a porn star is easy, all it takes is money. Many of them have side jobs as escorts in Las Vegas.

      You DO realize porn stars are essentially prostitutes with a camera crew, don't you?

      Of course, they charge more than the $20 crack-hos you're used to so you'll need to have some serious income first. Stupid details.

      --
      Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
    7. Re:Shut up and take my money by h4rr4r · · Score: 3, Insightful

      AT&T and Verizon already do a lot of this.
      I know Verizon had an opt out page I had to go to recently to end some of it.

      http://www22.verizon.com/about/privacy/

      You will note that the document about how much they share your data is called privacy. Talk about double plus ungood.

    8. Re:Shut up and take my money by Vintermann · · Score: 3, Insightful

      If Google follow their general model, they're not doing this to make money directly, but to pave the way for their main product when unacknowledged monopolies and soft cartels threaten their advance.

      See also: Android.

      If the telecoms have any sense, the mere threat of competition ought to scare them in line. But don't count on it.

      --
      xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    9. Re:Shut up and take my money by alostpacket · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Indeed, this has been their strategy for years. Warren Buffet Called it building their "moat" around the "castle" of the search business. Datamining helps with targeting and increases the value of an advertisement. But the primary purpose here is to make sure no one can throw up a toll bridge between them and the consumer. Their original and still current goal was/is to "be the interface to information."

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      PocketPermissions Android Permission Guide
  2. Good by dnahelicase · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Competition is nice, but I don't live in Seattle or Kansas City, so it probably won't affect me. ATT will probably just come up with a new plan where my family can share just a little bit less data for a little bit more money than I'm already paying.

  3. Finally. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A carrier that wants you to spend as much time as possible using its service.