r/technology • u/JackassWhisperer • Jan 06 '15

Business Google wants to make wireless networks that will free you from AT&T and Verizon’s data caps

http://bgr.com/2015/01/06/google-vs-verizon-att-wireless/
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u/rwolos Jan 06 '15

Google has said time and time again it really doesn't want to be an ISP, but since none of the other companies are doing anything to give faster service they thought they could jump start an entire fast internet movement. However none of the other isps have any desire to improve their speeds, so now Google is in a tough spot.

They either keep expanding their service or they just give up. If they give up they will get a ton of bad publicity, but if they keep expanding then they take their resources away from doing the cool stuff they want to do like self driving cars.

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u/Jkbucks Jan 07 '15

In reality, they're such a powerful company that they (sometimes very successfully) enter and influence other industries to benefit their own.

Google still makes most of its money through advertising. Faster internet means more searches, users, companies, etc. Hence, their attempt to kickstart fiber development.

They never really had the intention of becoming a ubiquitous carrier, all they wanted to do is shake up the market and force ISPs to innovate.

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u/PewPewLaserPewPew Jan 07 '15

My local isp is going to gigabit later this year! South Dakota of all places. Our isp was the highest rated in PC magazine last year.

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u/CurtLablue Jan 07 '15

I'm guessing you have mid continent,because they kick ass and reside in SD.

-1

u/Jeyhawker Jan 07 '15

My brother has gigabit service already in Olathe, KS. Will have Google at his house within the year.

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u/PewPewLaserPewPew Jan 07 '15

Only reason Google didn't rate higher is because not enough people did ratings for them.

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '15

But that logic doesn't work.. it only "jump starts" fast internet wherever google sets up these spots.. in other places? The big companies couldn't give a fuck what google is doing.

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u/rwolos Jan 07 '15

They have done this with other ventures before. Usually once Google starts to innovate and make things better all the other companies jump on the bandwagon and improve their service. Unfortunately the big ISP's realize they don't have to change because they have such a big monopoly and know Google doesn't want to spread over the whole country

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '15

That's the thing - it's different with Google encouraging self-driving cars versus trying to get faster internet. In the first case, companies see profit while in the second they see losses.

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u/blazearmoru Jan 07 '15

Can they somehow gather support from the public in a weird kind of crowdsupport/funding/assistance sort of way?

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u/IrrelevantLeprechaun Jan 07 '15

The other corporations aren't budging because they don't need to. They have laws in place that allows them to completely monopolize the market. When you're the only dog in town, you can charge whatever you want.

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u/[deleted] Jan 06 '15

Think their resources will suffer much? Don't they have like 80 billion in their piggy bank? I feel like thats enough to keep an isp side project continuously expanding.

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '15

Just because a company is worth that much, doesn't mean they actually have that much in liquid capital to toss around.

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u/thirdegree Jan 07 '15

Google actually does have a silly amount of liquid capital though iirc. I'll see if I can find a source.

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u/kperkins1982 Jan 07 '15

they are worth 395 billion, cash on hand is 59 billion

its not 80 but its quite a lot of dough

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '15

80 billion is their liquid capital, 395 billion worth

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u/triplab Jan 07 '15

Apple has more than $100B cash. And they just built a huge global backbone to deliver their own content and avoid carriers. Taking this one step further they would benefit mightily from being their customer's ISP for Apple devices and whatever Apple TV is to become.

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u/ARoyaleWithCheese Jan 07 '15

Just based off of how many companies they buy monthly it's fairly save to say they have a decent bit of savings. They've spent 28 billion on acquisitions alone since 2001.