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Patents Show Google Fi Was Envisioned Before the iPhone Was Released
smaxp writes: Contrary to reports, Google didn't become a mobile carrier with the introduction of Google Fi. Google Fi was launched to prove that a network-of-networks serves smartphone users better than a single mobile carrier's network. Patents related to Google Fi, filed in early 2007, explain Google's vision – smartphones negotiate for and connect to the fastest network available. The patent and Google Fi share a common notion that the smartphone should connect to the fastest network available, not a single carrier's network that may not provide the best performance. It breaks the exclusive relationship between a smartphone and a single carrier.
Meanwhile, a story at BostInno points out that Google's not the only one with a network-hopping hybrid approach to phone calls.
...and it's all thanks to Google Fi.
Unless it isn't, in which case, damn you Google Fi.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
but really good article. I would love to have a plan where it simply works on all different wireless spectrum. even short range (walkie talkie) tech when possible. If the phone knew how to switch from one to the other without dropping calls that would be simply awesome for everyone (except for cell carriers)
have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
Had that in 1999.
Patents Show Google Fi Was Envisioned Before the iPhone Was Released
Heh, yeah. Remember when all the fanbois lined up in Cuptertino so they could own a phone that automatically negotiates for their optimal data connection?
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
...people call it GooFi or Goofi.
Meanwhile, a story at BostInno points out that Google's not the only one with a network-hopping hybrid approach to phone calls.
Scratch Wireless, which is the one the link talks about, isn't quite the same thing. Google Fi is about combining multiple cellular networks, while Scratch Wireless only uses a single cellular network. Both let you seamlessly roam between cellular and wifi.
better clickbait headline.
who gives a fuck really?
Patents Show Google Fi Was Envisioned Before the iPhone Was Released
Cool story, brah. What relevance does the iPhone have to do with this at all other than butthurt fangirlism?
In this case they fucked Google rather than the usual smaller company. This time they might actual pay for being such dishonest crooks. They hate us and want us to die. That is their way. They think that while they can own property that we do not have that right. As Jobs said, he thinks he is entitled to anything we have. That entire company thinks they own us. They do own us. We can't fight against them. That is their way.
What a joke.
Fandroids conveniently forget that Google's Schmidt was on the board of Apple and stealing key design decisions from a very early stage of iPhone design, including prototypes. Thus the reason Google decided to purchase Android and build their own platform, and because they needed a lot of key details about people (location, friends, associations, emails and text data, etc, etc), which they failed to acquire from facebook after multiple take-over attempts.
I thought this was interesting. FTFA:
One part of Google's patent that wasn't discussed during the announcement was micro-auctions, in which users pay for network usage by the sip. Google's patent describes a mobile device that submits a proposal for competitive bids by network operators each time the network is used. An app in need of a network connection would send a request for a bid to nearby networks and would accept the lowest bid with the matching network service level.
Micro-auctions would provide consumers the best user experience because they would always connect to the fastest network available. Large mobile carriers would resist this change because they would forego subscriber contract revenues earned independently of network quality for revenues earned by bidding the lowest price to deliver the fastest network performance.
My only question would be how would you verify that the provider is returning a realistic answer? Remember AT&T's "Faux G"?
That said, I gotta admit that this is a neat idea, especially with the idea of network service levels. For example, I can get by with 2G service for a message to Google/Apple asking, "Is my software up-to-date?" But I'll want that 100Mbps LTE goodness when watching a high-def movie. I might be fine with something in between for casual web-surfing.
Google only got involved in cellular because of Apple's work to develop the iPhone (before the iPhone was released!) and Schmidt being on Apple's board. Apple considered becoming an MVNO long ago, before Google. Google's actions now are just for publicity.
Sounds a lot like Mesh networking ?
yush
I thought this was done by the cybiko some time back? Any message was sent via the network of any/all in-range units and this surely wasn't the first store/forward daisy-chained type networking? Or is this 'with a computer' or 'over the internet' now with 'via wireless' to make it a completely new thing totally unlike anything else before?
This same idea should be used with a credit card that is a credit card of credit cards to find at any one point the best credit card to use. So, when you swipe, you get the lowest interest rate and the best benefits automatically instead of going through thousands of cards to find the "right" one.
E Proelio Veritas.