Last week, Google submitted paperwork to the FCC in order to gain approval on an “experimental radio service” with a two-mile radius that covers its Mountain View campus. Our initial thought – Google Wireless! Or is it? Or will it ever be? Here is what we know.
First, a Google spokesperson has declined to comment on the purpose of this application, saying that they regularly experiment with new things. Second, the first deployment of this experimental network will happen inside the building that houses the Google Fiber team. Third, the frequency they are looking to use ranges from 2524 to 2625MHz, the same frequencies that are owned/used by Clearwire, which almost no Android or smartphone can currently utilize. Clearwire refused to comment on whether or not it’s working with Google.
So what’s the point then? Wireless engineer Steven Crowley, who initially spotted the FCC application, is claiming that the only reason to use these frequencies, “is if you have business designs on mobile service.”
Countries like China, Brazil and Japan are building wireless networks that use the same frequencies that Google is asking to use, so maybe that’s a sign of where they are looking. At some point, if networks there are using those frequencies, it only makes sense that there will be phones that can use them.
Other than all of that, the rest is a confusing mess. At least we know one thing, Google is at least experimenting with some sort of wireless network. And we like it when Google experiments.
Via: Wall Street Journal
Cheers David, John, and everyone else!
I’d give my left nut for Google Wireless. I hate VZW so much and their ridiculous high prices.
Isn’t that going too far?
Google can experiment on me anytime. And yes, I mean that exactly as it sounds.
So this is why Schmidt was in North Korea! Google Wireless is going to N Korea…nooooo!! Spread the word.
I finally helped find an article.. yay!
That’s a pretty high frequency for covering a large area. I doubt it would penetrate buildings well.
If Google offers affordable plans and decent coverage, you will see many many many people jumping on that train…
i would so drop vzw for G Dubireless !
mountains out of mole-hills
“is if you have business designs on mobile service”
It could be that since their campus is so large, standard-issue walkie talkies don’t extend far enough and they need something ‘more’ that they could use. Or, they are using the frequency to carry GPS-like data to better map out the campus for in-house techs to get to where they need to go faster…. any NUMBER of things could be why they chose a frequency no smartphone can use….
This is a very valid point… The best businesses Practice what they Preach! Would only make sense that Google “invent” something they can justify the use for internally before producing for consumers!
Not trying to down-play the rumor mill, but, you really do have to consider this may be for the greater good of Google and not for all of us minions….
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY
Google Wireless ? HELL YEAH BABY !
This can’t happen fast enough.
I would use Google as a carrier even if I never had service. That’s how much I love them
Should read:
… “Third, the frequency they are looking to use ranges from 2524 to 2625 Googlehrtz”
Makes sense to me. The rest of the world gets all the best technology. They get the best phones and they can take their phones to any carrier.
Amazing.
The last sentence of the article gave me goosebumps. In a good way.
Stiiiings the nostrals. 😉
EHRMERGERD!
Google Waves…. or X Wave
OOOOoooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh. Now THAT’S good.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtryQqtNSNIFWyiouY5TvgbzBlwGF4v2JQ-I9r3tCRqSJciqtwR1b46WWy4A
I was all like, “WOOOT!”
And then I was all like, “Awww.”
Now I’m all like, “Hmmmm.”
Maybe they will go with something like “X Wireless” to go with their X Phone…
Yes. To go with the Motorola X phone.
“Google wireless” just has a nice ring to it”
It does, right?
which is like, an irony because everything Google does is already “wireless” (a.k.a. synced in the cloud)
Google “insert random word here” sounds good!!!!… I love THE GOOG!!!!!
Google Fiber Wireless, with mobile data speeds of 1 gb up and down, or 500MB