Google to acquire Sprint Nextel for Mobile WiMax?

It's just a rumor, in fact, it feels more like speculation than anything backed by a reputable source; still, there's a Google / Sprint buzz getting a lot of play this morning. Rich Tehrani is reporting that Google is considering an acquisition of Sprint Nextel in order to grow its mobile business. Of course, Google has long touted the importance it places on mobile ad revenues, made all the more evident by their recent preparation for the 700MHz auction and the figurehead role Google now plays in the Open Handset Alliance's Android platform. Sprint, for its part, is already on good terms with Google as a member of the OHA and that WiMAX mobile services deal which Clearwire just bailed on. In fact, it's access to that beleaguered WiMAX network which has the pundits in such a tizzy. While we'd love to see Google in a deal with Apple, Intel, Motorola and others to bring mobile broadband to the masses, we're filing this one under musings from Neverland until this one can firm up a bit.

[Via GigaOm]

[Sean DL @ Nov 12th 2007 5:21AM]

Google, Comcast, who else wants to buy Sprint-Nextel? Oh course the rumors were flying around that T-Mobile was on the market a couple of months back, and we know how that turn out...

[davesweeps @ Nov 12th 2007 6:10AM]

Go Google! Wimax is taking way too long. It feels like 1982 in 2007 already now. Google ought to buy that action, bring it about tout suite and offer a Helios type all-you-can-eat price structure.

[Gerardo @ Nov 12th 2007 1:05PM]

I second that

[Genjinaro @ Nov 12th 2007 7:01AM]

Hmm I love Wi-Max but if Sprint customer-service gets better from this alleged "acquisition", I'd be all the happier.

[PEZ @ Nov 12th 2007 7:04AM]

Why wold Sprint be up for grabs? I guess it would be better than Verizon buying them. Then again, I have neither for my carrier services.

I think Verizon should by Sprint, and Google should bye T-mobile. :) I dont think DT would give them up, however, their whole wifi network is all over the place. Supplimental wireless services is what google should be looking at..

And what the hell are they going to do with all of that fibre?

[JAmerican @ Nov 12th 2007 7:25AM]

HELLS NO!

Sprint should stay independent of the overpriced and very controlling Verizon. I would like to see Google buy T-Mobile and stick to T-Mobile's pricing scheme. Then rush 3G out the door. I wouldn't mind them buying Sprint though either.

[TZK @ Nov 12th 2007 7:34AM]

I suppose it could work either way. MAybe keeping the CDMA's separate would be a better plan. I do think Google INVESTING in Tmobile could be good. A buyout would probably never happen... but I guess you never know.

[athousandleaves @ Nov 12th 2007 7:29AM]

Isn't sprint a CDMA carrier down there in the states?
If so, knowing Google they wont touch em.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Nov 12th 2007 7:53AM]

This is cool. I'm a sprint customer and it woud be nice to know my phone is controlled by one of my favorite companies =D

[badqat @ Nov 12th 2007 8:43AM]

This sounds like a pipe dream at best. I can't imagine Google buying a dog like Sprint, and I also can't imagine Google jumping into the fray as a CDMA carrier, either.

But...if anyone could clean the mange from Sprint...it would be a decent company like Google.

[John P @ Nov 12th 2007 9:00AM]

Whenever I see two companies' logos separated by a heart on Engadget, I make sure not to take it too seriously. This acquisition doesn't really make much sense. Beside the whole CDMA thing, there's also considering how Google has really remained a software company all these years. People expected an actual google phone - what we're getting is a phone OS. This isnt a bad thing, I just dont think they'd be interested in actually an entire carrier.

And for the record, I love my Sprint service, so from personal experience I dont see where the complaining comes from. Sprint has dropped maybe a call/month. My at&t phone, closer to once a day (I use the sprint phone more, too). But maybe there's more than I can know.

[Brandon L @ Nov 12th 2007 9:18AM]

I hope to god that this doesn't happen. I mean yea, there are benefits, but I'm not for all of these big companies buying out one another. I'm a happy Sprint customer (for the most part, I just received my 3rd 6700 in the past 4 months, been trying to get the Mogul), and I believe Sprint Nextel would do fine without Google for now.

[Brad @ Nov 12th 2007 1:57PM]

I upgraded from the 6700 to the Mogul recently. Biggest difference? 128mb of available internal memory. My GPS program (iGuidance) no longer sounds like its had a stroke 'cuz it has to load all the audio from the storage card.

[Brandon L @ Nov 12th 2007 2:28PM]

@Brad

Did you pay the full price for yours? And I'm guessing you're using a bluetooth receiver for iGuidance, correct? Does iGuidance have turn-by-turn voice prompts? Also, does it use maps or does it use EVDO to get the map data?

[Frank @ Nov 12th 2007 10:05AM]

As a geek who is also a huge Nascar fan, the Google Cup Series would just be way too cool. Wonder if they'll make all the cars convert to hybrid-electric engines.

[boe @ Nov 12th 2007 10:09AM]

I couldn't imagine any change in Sprint's structure could be bad - I'm on Sprint because I get a good price but customer service, billing and phone selection suck.

[Ashraf @ Nov 12th 2007 12:37PM]

uhhhh GT-Mobile?

nahhh lol

but i hope Google buys T-Mobile, it would be great for the consumers, i guess...

but if Google does plan on buying T-Mobile, wouldn't they have the buy the *big* T-Mobile in Germany??

[Sean DL @ Nov 12th 2007 4:09PM]

Rumors of BIG T-Mobile wanted to spin off and sell the US T-Mobile last year, but the BIG T-Mobile eariler this year said it was false.

[Brad @ Nov 12th 2007 1:55PM]

"While we'd love to see Google in a deal with Apple, Intel, Motorola and others"

I'm sorry, but that's got to be the worst collection of names to bring a good technology to market I've ever seen. Apple is Style over Substance, and Motorola is "OMFG IT'S A RAZR!!!!" - neither of them has released a particularly compelling piece of new technology in years. I genuinely think that these companies lack the development resources (or motivation) to actually CREATE a new wireless technology.

And before you Apple zealots start screaming about how the iPhone is revolutionary and what not, remeber: it's just a bunch of other people's parts that they assembled. Creating the technology and standards for a new wireless standard is a little over their heads.

[DONB @ Nov 12th 2007 2:16PM]

Well the WSJ reports that it will be T mobile instead of Sprint. Sprint still has some kinks to fix before the deal moves forward. T mobile seems to be the closest carrier to Google than any other....

[louis.burgh @ Nov 12th 2007 2:49PM]

This seems like a poor business decision when they can build their own infrastructure from the ground up and use new spectrms to accomplish it -- they won't have to compete if they don't do this.

[Sean DL @ Nov 12th 2007 4:12PM]

You know, this rumor came from them being apart of this Astroid alliance. Both T-Mobile and Sprint are gonig to get these Google powered phones.

[Chev @ Nov 12th 2007 4:23PM]

So...I did a google for "sprint google" and one of the results was sprint.google.com. I clicked it...and it just took me back to the google homepage. Anyone know what this could be for? Hmmmm...

[John Seamann @ Nov 12th 2007 11:40PM]

The first think I could think about is that, if this rumor becomes a reality, the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, that is becoming the Sprint Cup Series would become the NASCAR Google Cup Series. That would be hilarious.

[Lee @ Nov 25th 2007 12:33PM]

So I guess this means my Mogul is already the gPhone.