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Before we had our bit of morning fun over at the Android booth, Google’s Sundar Pichai — who heads the Chrome and Android teams — took to the stage at the Mobile World Congress opening keynote. The full talk was quite interesting and chock full of discussion about the now and the future.
Most of what you care about is in the future. Thankfully Pichai confirmed a few different rumors we’d been hearing since 2014 and earlier. The biggest confirmation was that Google certainly is exploring opportunities to introduce a new wireless service that leverages WiFi technology to facilitate ultra affordable mobile service.
Google’s not trying to become the next Verizon, nor do they expect to. Instead, the company will look to work with those carriers in an effort to help push connectivity and network stability forward.
Solving issues like seamless hand-offs between WiFi and cellular and the ability to have two calls automatically reconnect in the event of a drop are just a couple of the things Google wants to explore in their venture. We know it’s not purely about money — Google’s revenue stream is healthy enough as is — so we know their motives are fueled by their never-ending desire to innovate.
Google didn’t confirm who they’d be working with to get this off the ground (rumors suggest Sprint and T-Mobile are likely candidates), but the company will hopefully have more formal details to share at Google I/O later this year.
Good. Glad T-Mobile is in. Legere is always looking to change the game and this sort of thing helps.
I hope its T-Mobile.
I’m hoping it’s T-Mobile and either AT&T or Verizon. That way we get T-Mobile speeds but extra coverage. That would be a win-win.
I am hoping it is an amalgamation of T-Mobile and AT&T, so that it actually works in most of the US.
Basically, I am saying T-Mobile’s coverage sucks.
Ask yourself, does it really matter? I like T-Mobile too but what matters is the best signal at the time. T-Mobile doesn’t do me any good at my office which is on the 10th floor of a building in Times Square, NYC, they don’t have signal. You would think they would but they don’t. So, I would much rather use one of the other providers or even the WiFi if I am in range.
The signal that is strongest matters most. T-Mobile cannot provide that at all times.
Me agree! I’m happy & grateful to get 48 Mbps in Tacoma,WA.usa! Now if their coverage was on pair with (add carrier here) then my cellular life would be better!
I hope it’s more than just one carrier. Treating cell towers as just another data provider. Seemless switching to whichever has the best signal/fastest speed/cheapest rate whether it’s Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Wifi, or whatever else would be a game changer.
T-Mobile is stupid so is sprint and at&t and Verizon
Me thinks u dum dum.
Sir, that is hurtful.
Apologies.
Thank you. Have a nice day.
And Kim Kardashian.
And some dude named Sean
“Google’s revenue stream is healthy enough as is — so we know their motives are fueled by their never-ending desire to innovate.”
What planet are you living on? This is absurd.
I didn’t even know Google-flavored Kool-Aid existed. I’ve seen fanbois; that is what this site draws, but that is a bridge too far even for a self-respecting ad firm hired by google to utter, “We don’t want more money, or more of your data. We just want to innovate.”