How Google's wireless service could push down everyone's cellphone bill

[KamaAina]

http://www.vox.com/2015/3/9/8172063/google-republic-wireless-wifi

Google is getting into the wireless business, a company executive admitted last week. That might mean cheaper wireless service for all of us.

Google isn't building its own cellular towers — that would be way too expensive. Instead, Google will purchase capacity from other wireless carriers and resell it as a Google-branded service. The new service might launch before the end of the month.

By seamlessly combining expensive cellular service with cheap wifi, Google is expected to offer a service that's a lot cheaper than conventional wireless plans. Google wouldn't be the first to use this technique — it was pioneered by a startup called Republic Wireless — but a Google service would help to push the concept into the mainstream. And that will put pressure on wireless providers to cut their prices....

Google may be trying to do something similar in the wireless market. The two biggest wireless providers, AT&T and Verizon, have been charging high prices for plans that limit how much data users can download. If Google is able to offer a cheaper service, it would pressure conventional wireless providers to offer cheaper plans with fewer restrictions. That can only help Google's many online services. And it would be good for consumers, too.

[Politicalboi]

1. How are the CEO's of AT&T and Verizon

Going to buy that new yacht.

[jehop61]

2. I already have this service

via a small company called Republic. My android phone from them cost much less than an iPhone and unlimited data and phone service is $25.00 a month. It uses the Internet when available and satellite service when it's not. Can Google match that?

[KamaAina]

3. From the article:

In 2011, a startup called Republic Wireless launched a new service designed to use wifi networks more efficiently. Today, the company offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $40 per month using a high-speed 4G network. Or, if you can live with the slower speeds of older 3G networking technology, you can get unlimited talk, text, and data for $25 per month. That's two to four times less than the cost of a conventional wireless plan.

I'm kind of surprised that Google didn't just hoover up Republic.