As long as they let me keep my SERO plan.

If they make Sprint the exclusive or at least the lead carrier for Android, all the better.

Seriously, just don't fuck with my SERO plan.

meefer

if only google could bring back the $30 SERO plan...

K-SO

Wouldn't that be insane. Google has it's own carrier to sell it's android phones on. It would be a monopoly kind of.... yikes...

Adisah

Buying Sprint just for their WiMax is like buying a car just to get the spare out of the back.

Just how much network has Sprint put in place? And why would Google pick this? And even if they did, does Google really want a CDMA network and an iDen network? It makes no sense.

Unless they were to walk up to Sprint and hand them a few billion just for the WiMax licenses I really don't see this happening.

scoobydoo

Google in charge of my cellular service? Do Not Want.

@yoshi: Other than the Usenet archive and a search engine, that company offers me nothing. Sprint, on the other hand, has been acceptable since I started using them. If a deal's to occur, I hope I get a new Sanyo phone before Google takes command.

Convair 990A

@auslander: Have you played around with an Android phone? Everyones talking like its been released overseas and they held it in their hands, made a couple of phone calls while visiting a few friends in Europe or something. All we have seen is pics, thats it. For you to say your SERO plan an Android is pure bliss is kind of pushing it. Just because Google is making the phone doesnt mean it will give you total bliss, not yet at least.

pdditty

I think Google has a bad case of ADHD.

Honestly, what has Google done for you lately?

This company has been sucking on the online advertising teet for too long.

The only thing they are good at is search.

yoshi

I would also like to add that I too would miss my SERO plan. An android phone and a sero plan would be bliss.

auslander

They need (should) buy sprint and kill nextel.

or buy tmobile :)

Stacky Botrus

@Stacky Botrus: i think t-mobile is way too big for google to buy. T-mobile usa is just a small part of t-mobile worldwide

dhlt25

@dhlt25: im guessing he is referring to just T-mobile USA

tenio

sprint might become a decent cell phone carrier?

sdgmcdon

The only roadblock to Google buying out T-Mobile USA is if T-Mobile International would be willing to sell. Buying T-Mobile USA is no less plausible than Google buying out Sprint. But just how "plausible" is it they'd even buy Sprint as a wholly owned company? Not likely. Where to begin? For starters, I don't see them coughing up the nearly $25-30 billion or so that Sprint-Nextel would be worth. That's just not Google.

Also, look at Google's history of purchasing companies and you'll see they like small companies with proprietary technology to improve or enhance their services. Owning a large expensive carrier using the same wireless technology that anyone else could launch on their own just doesn't jibe with Google's history or business model. Google's business is information services, not delivery. The fact that they are rolling out the most anticipated mobile phone OS ever doesn't mean they are looking to purchase a wireless carrier any more than Microsoft or Nokia or Apple!

As much as I'd like to believe Google will buy a wireless carrier, I just can't; the bare facts, industry history, and good ol' fashioned business common sense would indicate that Google has no desire to purchase any carrier whatsoever. Speaking as a former employee of a now defunct company that provided voip carrier services and CLEC termination that once was partnered with Google, I feel pretty comfortable in sharing this insight born out of personal experience. Google isn't interested in owning networks, or billing for network use and terminating phone calls. Trust me.

As a longshot, I am not willing to rule out the slim potential of Google purchasing non-majority partial ownership of Sprint as a means of helping to improve and expand Sprint's network and optimize it for Google services and provide a foothold market for launching Android, purely as a hedge against Verizon picking up most of the 700mhz spectrum. Like I said, that's a longshot - it would be in Google's best interest to spread Android to as many carriers as possible and not focus on one.

But Google running a phone company? Never.

zuhalter

Maybe Google will be the disruptor who stops the wireless oligopoly that we're all tangled in.

taybay