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It’s been rumored for ages now, but what was more or less blind hope is beginning to sound a bit more like reality. That is, if this story from The Wall Street Journal holds any weight. Apparently, Google is already building a wireless network — yes, you heard right. Google Wireless Beta could be in the making. But get this, during its experimental phase (when is Google ever not experimenting on something?), the wireless network will only be used by employees at the Mountain View Googleplex and within a 2 mile radius.
The gist of the story goes that FCC filings were discovered showing Google’s plans to use 50 base stations along with 200 user devices (the next Nexus?) during this experimental period. According to the report, Google will be using frequencies currently in possession by the possibly soon-to-be-Dish-owned Clearwire. Here’s the kicker: Google’s lawyers took the time to redact very specific portions of the FCC filing citing,
“The information for which confidential treatment is sought concerns the highly competitive consumer electronics market.”
Sweet, Mother Theresa. Somethings definitely afoot. You may remember from an earlier report, Google was actually involved in meetings with Dish on the possibility of working together on a wireless network. Sounds a bit like an Android fanboy’s wildest dreams come true, eh?
[The Wall Street Journal | Steven Crowley | FCC 1, FCC 2, FCC 3 | via The Verge]
Typos.
Google fiber and now Google mobile
Out of interest, what frequencies do Clearwire own bandwidth on? Do they have any 700MHz spectrum?
Clear has 2.5Ghz spectrum, Sprint has 800 and 1900.
No but Google and Dish who plan to buy them have C block 700MHz. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMbsPSv2vatAVvbz_8n0xU3Mfvnw
I’d give my left nut for G-mobile…my other left this time…
ok, Lance.
Free WI-FI &/or cell service,in exchange for being in the ANDROID/GOOGLE ecosystem,possibly?
No.
Just wishful thinking, that’s all. Didn’t APPLE have similar plans before teaming up w/AT&T & the iPhone?
Chris – Do you know of any tests that show and compare the radio strength and reliability in Vzw LTE devices?
I doubt it, but expect it to be cheap. I remember Google saying they wanted a $9 a month unlimited data plan for Android users at one point.
You could even adjust that figure for inflation & double it & I’d be cool with that.
Sweet Mother Teresa is right!
“currently in possession by the soon-to-be-Dish-owned Clearwire”
I thought there was no way that Dish was getting Clearwire…that deal wasn’t as good as it first appeared and Sprint would have to approve it anyway.
I guess it’s only a possibility. Sprint owns half a stake in the company, but Dish is putting a lot of money on the table to sweeten the deal.
Nevertheless at this time Sprint owns 51% of CLWR, not Dish.
The Google mobile network will end up being a VOLTE (or the equivalent if Clearwire isn’t LTE) service. Since Google voice has been in beta for a few years now and for the most part is pretty reliable as a voip, they can forgo the cell antennae and use only data for the calling. This will increase battery life by removing a radio. This also should lead to cheaper plans for the end user; an unlimited data plan for $50.
Google ( and Larry ) own a huge stake in Clear already, so if someone was about to buy it Google certainly would be involved in talks with them. WiMax always will be around since it is built on open standards and those are always being worked on everywhere, even at MIT.
To give verizon AND comcast the finger at the same time…that would be the best xmas present ever.
I sent Comcrap packing about six months ago, and I bailed on Verizon in November. I LOL’d when I saw a piece of jun… er, “promotional” mail co-branded by Verizon and Xfinity a while back. They’re great for each other.
Unfortunately, I have uVerse and TMobile now. While the latter is a marked improvement, uVerse is just more of the same, IMO- just not *quite* as offensive.
I’d love to pick up Google Fiber, and I’m very interested in seeing what Google Wireless will be. Google Fiber is set to turn the cable TV industry on its ear, IMO, if it can be deployed on a larger scale- and it can’t come too soon.
is clearwire gsm?
No considering sprint owns a majority in it is using CDMA tech.
I thought what they did was only wimax and/or lte so it’s separate from that? Someone please educate me here.
BRING IT.
Yes please! Finally out of contract with Big Brother Red and this would make it even better. Yes i know it wont be for awhile but still!
It may just be an extension or added segment to the test bed that was already in place for Wimax.
http://corporate.clearwire.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=551258
Omg, Google please bring LTE for a cheap price. I hate paying VZW $270 after taxes and fees. I love you Google
Good heavens!! You NEED to look into some discounts. I’m sure you’ll find one. I can get 18% off my Sprint bill just for going to DeVry. Yes, I’m on a family plan, and yes it’s not my name as the main holder.
Clearly you do not understand the art of exaggeration in order to make a point my good sir
There are some people who actually pay that much. It turns out they’re on a family plan. So u figured it was going to turn out you just so happen to be on a family plan. This comes to a surprise to me. =.P
ermahgawd
Please, Google. Take my money.
Omg. You know google ain’t gonna screw around with data caps, and will probably give you a minimum of 20 gb mandatory data consumption per day. Verizon is already chewing its panties over these rumours I might speculate
Google is always looking to make the right moves.!
Bring it on Google, I would be the first one to get it as soon as it is available in Nashville Tennessee, Kind of sick of Comcast and Att.