The rumors were true: Google is planning a wireless service that could launch sometime this year. But it's not going to become a full carrier, owning spectrum bands and infrastructure itself -- which is precisely why "Google Wireless" could shake up the industry.
The Federal Communications Commission just divulged some of their plans to free up wireless spectrum in the U.S. If successful, the FCC's plan will allow for more open airwaves that could lead to better WiFi, Bluetooth, and wireless broadband innovation, but setting it up is not an easy task.
The Federal Communications Commission announced its planning on moving forward with a proposal to experiment with wireless spectrum - the limited resource that increasing mobile internet use has made even more precious.
Could there be free Internet and cellphone service in the near future? One company seems to think so, and it could happen as early as 2015, thanks to a partnership with tech giant Microsoft.
WhatsApp will add voice calling later this year, putting even more pressure on big telecommunications companies, after Facebook recently acquired the insurgent company for $19 billion.
In 2010, powerful wireless internet providers scored big when the Federal Communications Commission exempted wireless telecommunications companies from key "Open Internet" (Net Neutrality-related) regulations. That exemption, which at the time was seen as an obvious, confusing oversight, has come back in the form of what could be a substantial challenge to Net Neutrality from AT&T's new "sponsored data" policy.
