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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."

6 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.

      --
      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 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.
  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.