Business 2.0: What if Google (GOOG) wanted to give Wi-Fi access to everyone in America? And what if it had technology capable of targeting advertising to a user’s precise location? The gatekeeper of the world’s information could become one of the globe’s biggest Internet providers and one of its most powerful ad sellers, basically supplanting telecoms in one fell swoop. Sounds crazy, but how might Google go about it? More…
I think this is a great idea. Wi-Fi is so key to making information readily available to anybody anywhere.
I recently spoke with somebody who worked on the Sprint ION project, which was WAY ahead of its time. They built their infrastructure with very expensive pipes, so they have more bandwidth than anybody out there. Personally, this made me very excited because it’s good news for us in the greater Kansas City area. We’re talking about the types of download and upload speeds that could rival South Korea.
Let’s hope they deliver solutions that incorporate this fat pipe in their next technology. The Digital Prairie has some life in it yet. 🙂
If I understand this correctly, Google is basically creating its own last mile access through use of wifi hot spots and an internet network transport system to feed its servers. Basically an infrasturcture play that enables content and applications at full ownership / low cost. Similar to the Robert Murdoch strategy on owning content + pipe.
Excellent piece, Om. Location based advertising services will certainly become very attractive.
They can throw in Wimax or Flarion WBB and take out more coverage.
So Google is the next CARRIER based on advertising revenue, so that subscribers get free access. A la, the TV model.
Wow, incredible.
Thanks OM.
Om,
Is the date on your article (1900) some sort of inside joke, or just a bug?
Also, Om, do you remember Winfire? I would be interested in hearing your memories of that failed national free DSL service.
Location based advertising: YES (but in an unobtrusive way)!
But blanket the world with WiFi? It is a LONG way from SF Union Square to the whole world. I would be rather surprised about that move being part of Google’s strategy.
Also google is investing on BPLs. So the idea is for everyone to connect to “Google Grid” which can be accessed through Google browser from anywhere in the world.
Store, share, stream your files with anyone.
The other interesting aspect of having broad Wi-Fi access with location capabilities built in is the potential to create a kind of Google Desktop for your like, i.e., the ability to create your own private, searchable index to every place that you have been and seen within the physical coverage area of the network (assuming you have had your Wi-Fi device with you and on at the time). The privacy issues are significant to say the least, but the potential value to the end user is immense… And it would be very easy to embed massive amounts of virtual information into locations without having to use something like ShotCode.com.
Google is simply taking advantage of the low costs of fibre now to reduce their overall bandwidth costs and i dont think free Wi-Fi is in google’s plan !
Now all we need is Google and Apple to merge to be the ultimate competitor to Microsoft. This would create some real competition and potentially drive the market. Maybe now that Steve is selling a multi-button mouse, he might aso be open to this.
Somebody, please make it happen. Thanks in advance (even if I’m only dreaming). 🙂
this is just so needed. I’m sicking of having to juggle all these various WiFi ISP’s and what not. The current situation is like the old days of the cellular industry where you had a guide to show you all the analog roaming partners and there rates. a pain in the as!@#$.
Om,
I have to ask; has anybody run the numbers on this? I mean it is one thing for Google to buy a few strands of dark fiber and light them, even light them with WDM switches and then use WiMAX or Flarion to back haul thousands of WiFi AP’s to what? Will Google also become an Internet Cloud? Peer with Above.net? UU.net?
We’re talking about a lot of traffic here. Granted Google, as one of the most heavily trafficked properties on the web knows something about bandwidth, but taking care of your own infrastructure is a far cry from providing free WiFi to the world. (or even all the major US cities).
In fact, this whole idea got me thinking. So much so that I’ve devoted a more comprehensive post…rant if you will…to it at the Mobile Weblog.
In any case, I don’t necessarily disbelieve you, I respect and enjoy your ideas far too much, it just seems to me that there are a lot of unanswered questions about Google and these tend to be extrapolated to their most massive possible conclusion.
-Oliver Starr “stitch”
http://www.mobile-weblog.com
Om,
I have to ask; has anybody run the numbers on this? I mean it is one thing for Google to buy a few strands of dark fiber and light them, even light them with WDM switches and then use WiMAX or Flarion to back haul thousands of WiFi AP’s to what? Will Google also become an Internet Cloud? Peer with Above.net? UU.net?
We’re talking about a lot of traffic here. Granted Google, as one of the most heavily trafficked properties on the web knows something about bandwidth, but taking care of your own infrastructure is a far cry from providing free WiFi to the world. (or even all the major US cities).
In fact, this whole idea got me thinking. So much so that I’ve devoted a more comprehensive post…rant if you will…to it at the Mobile Weblog.
In any case, I don’t necessarily disbelieve you, I respect and enjoy your ideas far too much, it just seems to me that there are a lot of unanswered questions about Google and these tend to be extrapolated to their most massive possible conclusion.
-Oliver Starr “stitch”
http://www.mobile-weblog.com
Om,
I have to ask; has anybody run the numbers on this? I mean it is one thing for Google to buy a few strands of dark fiber and light them, even light them with WDM switches and then use WiMAX or Flarion to back haul thousands of WiFi AP’s to what? Will Google also become an Internet Cloud? Peer with Above.net? UU.net?
We’re talking about a lot of traffic here. Granted Google, as one of the most heavily trafficked properties on the web knows something about bandwidth, but taking care of your own infrastructure is a far cry from providing free WiFi to the world. (or even all the major US cities).
In fact, this whole idea got me thinking. So much so that I’ve devoted a more comprehensive post…rant if you will…to it at the Mobile Weblog.
In any case, I don’t necessarily disbelieve you, I respect and enjoy your ideas far too much, it just seems to me that there are a lot of unanswered questions about Google and these tend to be extrapolated to their most massive possible conclusion.
-Oliver Starr “stitch”
http://www.mobile-weblog.com
A national free GoogleNet raises some scary Orwellian prospects, see more detail here: http://thinklocal.blogspot.com/2005/08/googlenet-echoes-of-orwell.html
Google could give away even more (all voice, hardware, TV service, etc.) and in exchange you give them increasingly uncomfortable amounts of personal data. At the other end of the revenue model, you pay for the services you pay for now (i.e. voice, hardware, tv, etc.) and you receive certain privacy guarantees and more commercial-free programming with every dollar your spend.
It creates an interesting dichotomy to be sure…
Well,
i think the plan of google is the right way to show the rest of the world how a company can make it! My personal opinion about Google as a company is very lucky and myself uses google more than one time every day. Google is a synergie effect of many things who people needs. The most important point about google is, that this company is listening to his users and not so many to the other companys. Look at microsoft, billy sure thinks, that many million dollars fly away trought the google concept, which can earned by microsoft.
I think, let google go his way. It will be the right way!
Regards
Shade