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from the informations-sans-frontières dept.
Wired had a story Sunday where they make the case that, between it's own wireless service and current negotiations with phone companies that would let customers move its service and international cellular networks at no extra cost, Google is doing its best to keep users locked into its network:
...you'd be able to travel across the US, the UK, Italy, Hong Hong, and Sri Lanka while paying the same fees for calls, text, and data—an attractive option for anyone who's ever carried a phone overseas. Carriers tend to charge inflated rates for this kind of "roaming," forcing you to think twice about using your phone at all while traveling. "Roaming fees in Europe and Asia can kill you," says Richard Doherty, an analyst with New York-based research firm Envisioneering.
...Google said it doesn’t comment on "rumor or speculation." But the report fits nicely with what we already know about Google's plans for its unconventional wireless service. Google appears to be envisioning a wireless world where we can move effortlessly from one wireless network to another, making it easier for us to stay online.
Of course that just means more ad revenue for Google:
The more you're online, the more you'll use Google's search engine and other apps—and the more the company can serve you ads. "Google needs reach," Doherty says. And what better way to extend that reach than by offering what so many of us want: ready access to the internet at all times?
Having just opened my wireless bill that included a recent week spent in Cancun, Mexico I can personally attest that roaming charges hurt not just in Europe and Asia.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday April 08 2015, @08:12PM
I might be wrong but, searching for an answer as to why the GP didn't think the once-a-year-holidaty-tourists are a significant target demographic, the only hypothesis I could come is that the Americans don't have time to consider spending their vacations overseas. By all means, please correct me if I'm wrong, any insight in the issue will be welcomed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by goody on Thursday April 09 2015, @02:43AM
I get 15 paid days off a year, plus holidays. I could easily go to Europe in that amount of time. I don't. Cost is one factor, but some of it is there's just plenty to do here in the US on vacation and if I'm going out of the states I'd just as well go to Canada. I can use Verizon or AT&T in Canada and Europe fairly easily, and for some extra, but not outrageous additional cost (I've looked into it). But I digress. Maybe things are different in your neck of the woods, but I can guarantee you anyone here in the US who has the means to "travel across the US, the UK, Italy, Hong Hong, and Sri Lanka" as the article mentions is not going to be interested in an MVNO new kid on the block, even if the carrier is Google.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday April 09 2015, @03:04AM
Well, I think there's one-word mistake in the above to be corrected for the entire phrase to make a good business case for "flat-fee roaming". Let me see what I can do:
You still think it doesn't make business sense and there is no target demographic for it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford