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Google Offers Free / Very Low Cost Cell Phone Service in 2008?
Woooper ( Score Rank: User did not make predictions in the last 30 days ) Woooper  |  will close on 31-Dec-2008 (27 days from now)
Back to Nov 2006, the CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt, already saw a future where mobile phones are free to consumers who accept watching targeted forms of advertising. Schmidt said that as mobile phones become more like handheld computers and consumers spend as much as eight to 10 hours a day talking, texting and using the Web on these devices, advertising becomes a viable form of subsidy. In the late 2007, Google has pushed its popular app such as Gamil, Gtalk and Gmap to mobile devices, as well as its great plan of free mobile OS, Android. It may be about the time to offer free cell phone service in 2008. Will Google do so? What do you think about the business idea?
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News & Video
Add News / Video 1 - 4 of 49 news / videos
0 vote This is Good This is Bad
2008-11-28
A
Nov. 28 (Bloomberg) -- For at least five years the... (more)
0 vote This is Good This is Bad
2008-11-25
B
LONDON (Reuters) - The world's largest cell phone ... (more)
0 vote This is Good This is Bad
2008-11-21
C
The 10 Movies You Shouldn't Watch Online  - WBBM Newsradio 780 Chicago
Movies are increasingly creeping online, as video ... (more)
0 vote This is Good This is Bad
2008-11-17
D
Comments (10)
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  1. kgmontecinos92 kgmontecinos92 56 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 90% ] No
    (more)
    It would be hard to take down giants like att, verizon etc. so no
    [ reply ]
  2. msmichi msmichi 84 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    Maybe 2009 or 2010.
    [ reply ]
  3. Guru Guru 118 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 88% ] No
    (more)
    Not very likely.
    [ reply ]
  4. estimator estimator 120 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 87% ] No
    (more)
    Sounds like it is something everyone wants but never gets. Dream on, guys.
    [ reply ]
  5. ancienthart ancienthart 136 days ago
    + 1 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 100% ] No
    (more)
    Not in 2008. I'd need to see a fair bit more evidence before I thought this was likely - I.e. approaching a minor telico about merger.
    I find it more likely that Google will offer an Android app that allows a user to bypass the telicos by using an online sip, and maybe an agreement with a telico to provide data credits.
    [ reply ]
  6. will101 will101 245 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 87% ] No
    (more)
    Free mobile plan? That's an interesting thought, but not very realistic.
    [ reply ]
  7. Tony Tony 245 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 72% ] No
    (more)
    Not likely. But that would be nice. I suppose the mobile phone hardware won't be free. We are talking about a device that will support mapping service and possibly video (to compete with other smart phones). So the phone has to cost at least $250+ USD. Giving it out for free is impossible when we are talking about free/very cheap subscription plan.
    [ reply ]
  8. Wallace Wallace 246 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 60% ] Yes
    (more)
    I agree that if one company can do the free mobile service in US, it will be Google. Google can make it possible by making the mobile phone into:
    - an ad delivery platform
    - a mapping & searching tool for users to find local services
    - a shopping and payment platform

    Google already has most of these in place. Now, the missing puzzle is the hardware manufacturing cost and a few strong mobile carriers to partner with.
    [ reply ]
  9. MasterMind MasterMind 246 days ago
    0 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 83% ] No
    (more)
    That's a very interesting idea. And I truly believe Google is the only company who can offer a free (ad support) cell phone subscription plan. But 2008 is a bit too early. This is a going to be a huge investment from Google, and that is going to shake up the whole mobile phone industry.
    [ reply ]
  10. Woooper Woooper 246 days ago
    + 1 vote This is Good This is Bad
    predicted: [ Most Likely ] [ 70% ] Yes
    (more)
    As I created this topic, I believe it is possible (although a bit rush). Free mobile service is check-mate move to dominate the mobile world. However, Schmidt acknowledged that mobile phones may never become totally free to the consumer. Newspapers are still not completely free a hundred years after they started relying on advertising, but they certainly are inexpensive. Similarly, sooner or later, we should enjoy all Google mobile solutions for free or at a very low cost.

    Across the mobile market, it seems that only Google can support this free model. What do you think?

    Personally, I am willing to pay $200 as the initial cost to buy the gPhone and then enjoy a limited airtime (say 100min) every month.
    [ reply ]
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