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Google reportedly planning to launch its own wireless network

A new report from The Information claims that Google is preparing to sell cellular plans directly to customers. The report, citing “three people with knowledge of the plans,” says that Google will sell customers the service and manage their calls and data, much like other U.S. carriers:

“Google plans to shake up the U.S. wireless market by selling and managing voice and data plans directly to consumers, thanks to expected deals with T-Mobile and Sprint. The move mirrors its other telecom initiatives, which aim to cause incumbents to make changes to their business in ways that indirectly benefit Google.”

Google itself will not build out a wireless infrastructure, but rather buy wholesale access to Sprint and T-Mobile’s networks. This would make Google a mobile virtual network operator, similar to companies like Cricket Wireless and Boost Mobile.

Specific details on how Google plans to market and sell its MVNO service remain unclear, although presumably one aspect of the service would be tied into the Google Play Store. A report also from The Information from April of last year claimed that Google was working on its own wireless network infrastructure in cities where it already offered Fiber service. While those plans have yet to come to fruition, Google may still be working on them, in addition to its apparent MVNO plans.

Google’s trend recently has been to put its foot into a variety of different markets, looking to diversify and further improve shopping experiences for the consumer. Earlier this month, a report claimed that Google was looking to get into the auto insurance market in the United States, something it already does in Europe.

 

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