Would Google ever consider buying a wireless carrier?

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Based in no small part to the comments posted on blogs everywhere, including yours truly that have followed the news Deutsche Telekom might IPO or possibly spinoff its US division. Interestingly enough, readers on almost every blog/news outlet that posted this article are tossing around the notion that Google should consider purchasing T-Mobile. Google, having released its Nexus One and having expanded its Google Voice offering is clearly interested in the telecom industry. However, is Google a suitor T-Mobile would even consider? Should consider? More importantly, would the government allow it? Google has its fair share of detractors regarding its size, privacy issues and its sudden expansion into almost everything internet related. Nevertheless, let us be honest for a minute, Google is not thinking about today or tomorrow, they are thinking about tomorrow a year from now, especially in respect to technology and their investments. I cannot even pretend to know what sort of huge undertaking this would be if such a deal were to piece itself together. For the record, this is complete speculation, there are no hints whatsoever that T-Mobile is actually for sale or that Google has even heard of yesterdays Wall Street Journal report.
I bring this up, not just because of the comments I have read but also because of a Gerson Lehrman Group, report that says it makes sense for Google to buy T-Mobile. However, it is thin on information and even thinner on reasons why?but the fact that the article was written shows that people are starting to think of what a T-Mobile sale could look like. I mean let us just placate these rumors for a moment. Imagine Google suddenly has 33 million Google Voice customers. What is to stop them from giving away their phones ad-supported? Would people really go for phones that are free, but inundated with ads every time they make a phone call, or go to browse the web. Free sounds great in theory, but there is a price for that freedom and speaking frankly, I?d MUCH rather pay for a phone and not deal with ads than receive something for free than view an ad for a watch company every time I go to browse the web.
Therefore, for the moment, this is all rumor, speculation and a little fantasy. I do not want to see T-Mobile go by the wayside and I do not think any of our dear readers do either. That being said, if the wheels are turning somewhere, Google might be using their bright minds and wondering if this is a chance to begin their global takeover.

http://www.tmonews.com/2010/02/would-google-ever-consider-buying-a-wireless-carrier/
 
I think Google may be looking beyond phone companies, there will be a time in the not-so-distant future where you'll have the right kind of coverage to make all calls via VOIP. In 20 years, your typical cell phone company model won't exist anymore.
 
I'd rather not deal with ads either. I am waiting to root my N1, but will root only for the ability to install AdFree to block all the annoying ads. It's really disappointing on a $530 phone they show ads. On a subsidized phone, yes. But not on one I paid good money for.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if they made bigger strides into free wifi (similar to what they did in airports over the holidays) as they become more entrenched with gizmo5. I expect once gizmo5 and google voice start getting tighter integration they will be making some very large strides in that area. but as far as a mobile carrier... it's probably the same reason apple isn't buying at&t, they make more money if they let the other company do the work...
 
Ya, they wouldnt do that, simply for the fact that the would be competing with themselves when selling phones for other carriers.
 
after the globe has complete wi-fi access we will all be talking on google voice over wi-fi and explaining to our grandchildren what a 'phone carrier' and 'cable company' was
 
lol...im picturing that commercial for Netflix...where the older brother was telling his little brother how they used to go to the "video store" where they has walls and rows of boxes and the movie you wanted was always out.

I honestly could not see Google getting into this game though. I would actually imagine that someone like Comcast would step up with an offer first...

from what I hear though Comcast+FCC=bad relationship...so, who really knows.
 
Google will be an ISP before they are a wireless carrier. It make much more sense for their over all business strategy. Besides, if America finally got a reliable, fast and reasonable ISP it could really rock the boat in that market.

All of the ISPs in America suck. Don't try to argue that fact.
 
Uh...BMcClure...Google IS getting an ISP of sorts... they are upgrading a city to their new internet that supposedly runs at ridiculously fast speeds. Check out this website: Google ISP
 
I already know this... haha but that does not classify them as an ISP yet

Google is basically testing the waters of the ISP market to see how people react to their services and to test if they would be able to provide service on a large scale. I hope to God that it happens and is available in my area because I would switch instantly without question.
 
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