Google's Latest Ambition Is to Become Your Wireless Carrier

Google is responsible for providing the software on which the majority of smartphones out there run, but soon enough we might see the tech behemoth manage our voice calls and mobile data too.

Google has been always looking for opportunities to branch out and the fact that the company is looking to sell you your next mobile plan doesn’t really come as a shock.

According to a report coming out of The Information, Google is actively working on what’s being touted as project “Nova.” This involves the tech giant paying carriers like Sprint and T-Mobile to be allowed access on the network.

Nova will transform Google into your wireless carrier

Nova is currently under development under the watchful eye of Google executive Nick Fox, but before you get excited at the prospect of having Google as your carrier, you should know the project won’t be ready to launch until later this year.

According to the sources familiar with the matter, the endeavor is meant to lower prices of mobile plans and improve overall experience for customers.

But Google won't be a mobile network operator in the real sense, but more of a virtual kind. That’s because the search giant wouldn't actually own the infrastructure which allows the offering of the services.

As mentioned above, Google will have to pay good royalties to be given access to Sprint’s and T-Mobile’s networks.

The tech giant is expected to start selling its mobile plans via a Web Store, in a move that isn’t probably designed to undercut carriers. The network giants have an already established, strong consumer base and they have the marketing force and brick-and-mortar stores to attract others.

Anyway, this isn’t the first time Google has showed interest in wireless connectivity projects. The search giant is actively trying to bring more people online, which in turn will expand its consumer base.

You might remember that the company developed its own fiber-optic network, called Google Fiber, a service which provides broadband internet and TV to a small number of locations (for now).