Google Makes Plans to Enhance Service by Moving Into Wireless Business

At the beginning of the year there was an article in The Information stating that according to three sources, Google was putting together a plan to sell mobile phone plans directly to customers and manage their calls and mobile data over a cellular network. The goal was to come to terms with Sprint and T-Mobile to buy wholesale access to voice and data networks.

It seems that each month is bringing that concept to fruition. Sundar Pichai, who is Google’s senior vice president of products, had a few words to say on March 2 at this year’s Mobile World Congress 2015 in Barcelona. Pichai confirmed that Google would start offering services for mobile users beginning sometime later this year.

The overall goal of such an endeavor would be to lower prices while also improving the customer experience. The thing to keep in mind is that while Google is talking about entering the wireless arena, it is also partners with all four tier-one carriers. Will Google be stepping on any toes as it continues to move forward with its plans? It should be interesting to see.

We know that Google already has a foothold in the wireless business through its Android platform and the Nexus smartphone. It appears that the Nexus is also a testing ground of sorts. It is a way for Google to play around and experiment with services and features to see how they interact and function. Once Google is satisfied, these features will eventually find their way to other phones.

The Verge posted a transcript of Pichai’s talk in Barcelona in which he commented that, "I think we're at the stage where we need to think of hardware, software and connectivity together.” Pichai also stated that not only has Google already been in talks with the major carriers, but is also in the process of working with them on its wireless efforts. To this end, Pichai said, "Carriers in the U.S. are what powers most of our Android phones, and that model works really well for us."

If you are waiting to see some major breakthrough or changes, don’t hold your breath. Google’s wireless efforts have been labeled as being very small scale, more along the idea of sticking your toes in to test the waters and not a full on cannon ball attempt. Not many details were revealed this week, and there is no start date, however, we can expect to hear more about it in the next few months.