Google signs up Sprint and T-Mobile to sell its cellphone plans – report Google's plans to become a mobile phone operator – which we outlined earlier this month – have grown closer to reality with the news that the search giant has signed deals to run calls and data over Sprint and T-Mobile's network. According to news reports, Google will become a virtual network operator by buying access to the …
My #1 objection to cellular is the restrictions on data. I wouldn't be torrenting or doing any massive data grabs but hitting a low cap is ridiculous, especially in light of the fact that despite their assertions, it's all data on those networks. If Google can do something reasonable, well I'm interested. Otherwise? Send me an email, I just might get back to you when I hit an open WiFi.
hell yeah, kick att and verizon in the teeth!!
i use an att mvno , H2o for $40 month 2g data unlimited talk/ text but the customer service is not good and they dont speak understandable english. i would give google a go , especialy if they were cheaper!!! (and i could understand what the hell they are saying!!!)
It will be interesting to see if Google can get Sprint and T-Mobile on the same page - and release a phone that can seamlessly switch between CDMA and GSM networks. Typically in the US I find that T-Mobile offers good service in cities but no service in the countryside - Sprint has much better coverage than T-Mobile nationwide but only via CDMA.
Sprint has an active LTE deployment in the US underway, so the CDMA elements won't necessarily be in the deal. I would think it makes matters significantly easier for Google if they can stick with just GSM-based technologies for the cellular bits (obvious VoIP for voice wherever they can).
Republic Wireles offer this type of service already. Calls are routed over wifi when connected, and when you are not in a WIFI zone you use the Sprint Network. My wife has their Moto X phone and the service works well.
$5 a month and you can call, text and have unlimited data. Wifi only though
$10 a month you can call and text (unlimited), data is only available on wifi.
$25 a month you can call, text and have 3G data (unlimited).
$40 a month you can call, text and have 4G data (unlimited).
Way cheaper than many other providers and the service has been uninterrupted when changing between a wifi zone and mobile network.
It'll be interesting to see Googles pricing on the phones and service. With T Mobile too, I wonder if they will allow you to change sims. That would really get my attention.
That would seem to be a sweeping statement regarding service. I have T-mobile and it works fine where I live. I will add that service can be a bit spotty "in the wilderness".
But AT&T is way more expensive and had ludicrous "we'll cap your ass" policies.
I pay $50/mth for unlimited everything, including calls/txts to Europe and I can use it there too...
P.
This is wonderful news.
And to The Register: your site is excellent, btw.
We use T-Mobile and get great service but with Verizon's recent, to put it diplomatically, malodorous and privacy-robbing UIDH activities, the U.S. could sure use another carrier as quickly as possible.
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