GoogleNet--massive Google WiFi in the works?

Suddenly Google local (and maps, and video, and so on) makes so much more sense—Business 2.0 reports that they've learned from "telecom insiders" that Google is hard at work on a nation-wide high-capacity data network, buying up unused fiber lines and cheap backbone access to really flesh out their capacity. B2 theorizes this could result in a massive digital video db, on-demand television (IPTV) system, or free ad-based WiFi network, which in conjunction with location-tracking hotspot firm Feeva, has already been pilot launched in San Francisco serving up Google Local-based ads. Could Google really power not just Internet search, but a sizable portion of the Internet? Beats us, but if they want to make it happen, they better get that AdSense click fraud thing sorted out asap.

[Long Zheng @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

And I'm presuming such service never reach Australia.

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

/me shrugs

This seems like rampant speculation... I can't see google being able to make enough cash through ads to pay for this.

But they surprised the hell out of us with gmail (1 gig of mail? Announced on April 1st? I was sure it was a joke.), so who really knows what those guys are up to...

[Demens @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Massive, total, flawless world domination.
All hail SUPREME GOOGLE!

(in the end those things will turn us into "wireless google zombies" in scifi -way or that other)

"What's my name again? - oh, i'll google"

[masmad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

http://wifi.google.com/

[Liam Billington @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Well it could be good for wi-fi phones if google were to buy skype or bring out their own VOIP service.

Imagine having a wide coverage for WI-FI and using a WI-FI VOIP phone. It sure will be alot cheaper than current mobile tarrifs.

Im in the UK and I'm still waiting for WIMAX

[DerekJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

What I see happening is growing hostility and competition between Microsoft & Everyone else.
Intel, a former Microsoft stronghold has started supplying for Apple.
Google has actively recruited Microsoft brass.
What I see is Yahoo, AMD, and Microsoft going down, and Google, Intel, and Apple going up. I think huge alliances are being forged.
If google launches a huge free network, to me, it sounds like the groundwork that could make iVideo (apple's movie version of itunes) possible.

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

DerekJ: Hand me a toke of whatever you're smoking, please! ;)

1. Intel doesn't care about Apple that much. All Intel is doing is providing off-the-shelf procs for Apple... if they were making custom procs for Apple, then you might be on to something.
2. Microsoft is so HUGE, as far as number of employees go, you're bound to find ex-Microsofties in just about any Sillycon Valley tech co. You can plot an infinite number of curves when you only have 1 point.
3. Where's the Google/Apple alliance? I don't see any collaboration between Google and Apple.

Please back up your wild theory with at least some evidence...

[Lindsey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

A huge wireless network is going to happen sometime, I don't think anyone can disagree with that. True there may be a huge upfront cost but I think the possible solutions are beyond are imagination. So if it going to be accomplished by someone why shouldn't Google stick their neck out and take the risk?

[DerekJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

http://www.tuaw.com/

[alek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

haha im excited.

[Juan Carlos @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Wow... Derek J is a freaking moron. Intel is sure apt to breaking off ties with the largest supplier of OS's that run on their processors. Because everyone knows it makes alot of sense to forge ties with the companies that have a smaller market share in a complementary product to yours. That's like Coke actively pursuing partnerships with freaking "Checkers" (a small chain of fast food restaurants for those of you who have never heard of them) all the while breaking ties with McDonald's. And Google's software (the little there is of it) still mainly runs on PC's. So I agree with Richard, what the hell are you smoking?

The most likely scenario is that Google continues to boom for a while, Apple becomes extinct, or primarily a hardware, or primarily an OS supplier, or remain as it is now(because of the Intel move). And Microsoft's Windows OS remains with it's dominant market share.

It's also much more likely that Google develops it's own proprietary on demand tv service. Especially since Apple can't make up their mind on the issue. I remember a certain Steve Jobs being quoted as saying something to the tune of people not wanting to watch videos on portable media devices.

I hate you Apple fan boys. Get a life. It's a freaking company, and a freaking OS, not a way of life, and not the next Messiah.

[Steamboat Springs Real @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I hope you are right. It would be a huge step towards utility like omnipresence for the internet. Google thinks big, the question is do they think this big and if they do will it make it here to Steamboat Springs.
I've talked to the wireless internet carrier here and the new base stations they are installing are all Wi-Max capable so we will have something within a couple of years either way.

[Rick @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Google Wifi would be awesome, its barely anywhere where I live.

[Eugy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

About on demand TV, I don't know how things are in US, but in Europe, digital terrestrial TV is going to be the only TV signal available, and that means being able to get TV in a cellphone or in some future device. From that point, on demand services are easy to integrate and grow from that base. So I don't see the need for a data network for video. A data network like that being mentioned would be great, if ever exists, but basically for the same uses we give now the data networks at home.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Google getting into WiFi? Sounds curious.

If Google are looking for WiFi device location accurate to 1 foot, they ought to check out Newbury Networks in Boston. They provide WiFi security products that devices off of wifi networks if devices are outside off sanctioned access areas. They also provide wifi management and performance solutions to increase the accessibility and coverage of wifi networks.

[DerekJ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Jesus,
I was just thinking out loud. I wasn't saying that intel was going to drop Microsoft, but I do see Microsoft losing a lot of grip.
So shit on my chest for just putting up what I was thinking.
I see your point and you make a good argument. But what about the hostility between google and microsoft? Does that not exist? And I wasn't talking about google recruiting just anybody, I was talking about google recruiting a microsoft EXECUTIVE. So there's the tension there.
Also, has ANYONE heard about the possible itunes/google tie-in? ANYONE AT ALL?!
For chrissake, I didn't mean no more Microsoft. I could have phrased it better, and I sincerely apologize. But don't be the ____ that you were.

[Boynamedsue @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I'm convinced that the people that complain about apple fanboys are now more annoying than the actual apple fanboys themselves.

[super_structure @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Well, I'd say the general reaction to DerekJ's post would have to go down as typical weblog hypersensitivity. You people read one little post and completely overreact.

TUAW (which is, incidently, one of Engadget's sister sites) had a story this morning from the Street about Google and Apple pairing up on the iTMS.
http://www.tuaw.com/2005/08/15/google-itunes-collaboration/
Just because some of you didn't catch that piece of news doesn't make DerekJ's musings about a rumor any less valid. This is Engadget for chrisake! Rumors are just about the number one thing on here. Just go look at any of the posts by Ryan or Peter and most all the comments.

I really don't see the trend that DerekJ is proposing, but that doesn't mean I'm going to trash the guy. Try to keep the flaming down to minimum by at least acting like a 10 year old.

[WickedOwl @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

"Massive, total, flawless world domination.
All hail SUPREME GOOGLE!"

-you said it, Demens. i personally welcome our new Google overlords.

[JL Jones @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I just hope Google stays true to their mantra
"Do No Harm"

More power to them!

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Next step: Google Body Cavity Search.

I'm feeling lucky!

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Next step: Google Body Cavity Search.

I'm feeling lucky!

[purpledog @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

So its google that builds skynet!

[Bruce Turner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

According to a recent TWIT podcast and comments by John Devorak, there is pending federal legislation being pushed primarily by Verizon and some others, to make this not possible. Specifically the legislation will force anybody considering providing free wifi to a city to make sure that there is no "private" company planning on providing a wifi service in that area. This bill is partly sponsered by Senator John McCain of AZ. It's very anti-consumer. Anyway... if anybody can do it, Google might.

[Ibrahim @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

It would be awesome if Google made free, text ad-based hi speed wifi internet service. I wouldn't mind having google ads on my web browser if I could get free internet. Well since Google is a company now it might be a pay thing but (and correct me if I'm wrong) Google has yet to make a pay service besides their sponsored ads on google searches.

[Willmonwah @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Don't forget Google Web Accelerator, which claims to route traffic through Google's networks for faster access.

[DK1 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

For some reason, I can see Google eventually adopting "We are the internet" as their slogan.

[Antti @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I wonder if they could call this wi-fi hotspot service GSpot? Then they could post posters that say "Find a gspot, it's very near." or " You're standing under a gspot."

[Bruce Turner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

The information about the "Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act" can be found on John Dvorak's blog... http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=2447. The bill does not currently have a number as of yet.

[Mike Hogan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

GoogleNet could have some very Orwellian ramifications, see here for more details:
http://thinklocal.blogspot.com/2005/08/googlenet-echoes-of-orwell.html

[Scott H. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I would be suprised by the hotspot being WiFi only. It would make more sense for them to put in the infrastructure to be first on the the market with WiMax. The timeing would make sense as well.

It doesn't really need to be free either, it could be some nominal monthly charge.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

http://wifi.google.com/download.html ...What the heck is that?

[Thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

there is no set subdomain or file, so it all goes to the google front page. Duh!

[Dean @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Why would I want to download and install Google Secure Access?

Google Secure Access allows you to establish a more secure connection while using Google WiFi. By using Google Secure Access, your internet traffic will be encrypted, preventing others from viewing the information you transmit.

[srh @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

I downloaded the google wifi client and tried it in DFW airport yesterday..and it worked flawlessly, for free

[Jimtac @ Dec 19th 2005 1:05AM]

Theseare simple questions to answer. check out my take: http://jimtac.blogspot.com